Best time for grafting?

I'm really new to Bonsai and I've been watching Youtube videos about grafting. They never mention what season is the best time to graft. I have seen the video on thread grafting and another type that was done on a black pine. When is the best time or month to perform grafting and what is the best type of technique to use in grafting?

Depends on what species you are working on and what you are intending to graft to it, and what you intend the graft to do?

But I can only wonder why someone who is "really new" to bonsai is thinking about grafts.

Thanks for replying. I want to graft some Japanese Maple trees.

I'm trying to learn everything I can about Bonsai and the grafting looked really interesting.

I'm trying to learn everything I can about Bonsai and the grafting looked really interesting.

That's fine, and grafting IS interesting. But newcomers to this sport usually have enough trouble keeping a half-dozen plants alive for more than a year without having to add the worry about grafts taking.

Like other areas of learning, bonsai is perhaps learned easiest in a step-by-step manner . . . 1, 2 and 3, etc. in which grafting usually is about step 25 -- or 40.

But, before some of my very best buddies push themselves forward to tell me that I should shut up and let the kid learn how he (or she?) wants, be assured I'm trying to save you some headaches and even heartbreaks.

By the way, you do have a very good bonsai society in the Charlotte area, as well as a good bonsai nursery (still perhaps under a bit of flux from change of ownership???). Here's the club info (and it too may be out of date).

NORTH CAROLINA - Charlotte

The Bonsai Society of the Carolinas, the oldest bonsai club in the Carolinas, normally meets the second weekend of each month at the Bonsai Learning Center at 4416 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte, NC. Meetings vary between Saturday and Sunday, depending upon the availability of the speaker. Both beginner and advanced programs are offered. Out of state artists are frequently featured. Annually, the society sponsors a bonai pavillion at the Southern Spring Show in Charlotte, NC. This event is usually the last week in February. For more information, visit the society web page - http://www.bonsaicarolina.com For more info contact: Bob Wymer, 8328 Kapplewood Ct., Charlotte, NC 28226, tel: (704) 541-5776 or Tel: (24 hour bonsai hotline) - (704) 552-6551

Hi Bonsaikat,

If you are curious about grafting how about you buy a cheap tree from the local garden centre, plant it in your garden and practice on that. Try trees that are known to take. If I were you I'd buy an apple tree and try grafting many varieties on to that. After some time satisfying curiosity and practicing the skills required to successfully graft then I'd go on to grafting onto bonsai. You can get plenty of instruction on youtube with grafting fruit trees and apply the same techniques to bonsai later. I haven't grafted any bonsai yet but I have successfully grafted cherry and apple. This gave me some idea on challenges of grafting onto deciduous trees. Plenty of horticulture books are available to show you how and you can also take a class. Goodluck!

Cheers,
Adam

thanks for your reply. I will check out the grafting of fruit trees. I have several fruit trees that I purchased from a farmers market, and i was going to use as a bonsai. But, thanks for the advice.

It may sound a little wacky. But I read once that a great plant to learn grafting techniques on are Tomatoes. Grow 'em out good and strong then try different styles of grafts with them, whip, tongue, approach..etc

-Jay

I've read you can graft a tomato onto a potato or even a tobacco plant. I cannot vouch for the flavor of said tomatoes.

As Jim said, you probably just want to work on keeping your plants alive and practicing basic pruning techniques. I'm not sure if making the graft, or even keeping it alive is the difficult part. It's probably understanding what the specific plant likes, and how it will grow best. You only understand that once you've worked with it for a while.