Grafting two rootstock together

[Starlight]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

That is basically one grafting method. If one is RS and other scion, they would cut off RS top and scion's root (and toss it).
Now if you keep both roots the scion should get nutrients from both roots. So in theory you will get a much bigger plant.

Normally a person would use one rootstock and one scion like Bill does and have good success with lots of practice. That method, you get better disease resistance and hopefully better producing plants and more fruit.

If I was going to try and graft with two rootstocks, I would use like Big Van Vader suggested and do a side graft.

But, these are the questions I have regarding using a two rootstock system verses just one.

If you have two root systems and cut the scion of one plant off, ( I think you were only planing on one leader, right?) won't the roots of the cut off scion just die? Wouldn't you have to leave a small portion of the cut off scion and then just keep removing and new leaves and branches from it that might form.

Also, I wonder if with the sharing of the root system if by chance say the plant still showed types of diseases, wouldn't that affect both root systems and possibly create more potential problems?

Now this is what I am wondering and if you have enough plants Heirloomtomatoguy, maybe you can try this.

In tree branches you can see all the time inosculation and even some perennial plants like Hibiscus will grow 3 or four plants together, and twist and band the stems together and eventuallu the plant grows one ginat twisted stem. It takes time to do that.

I just don't see how having two different root systems would be beneficial unless you get the roots, only, themselves to bond together to form one strong root system.

I don't know if it is possible, but while the seedlings are young, wouldn't you have to take two rootstock plants and besides doing a side grafting of the stem also try and do a side grafting of the roots. Has anybody even tried grafting some of the roots.

I wonder if to start just several small side grafts of the roots could be done and plant both those grafted roots, or just bind some of the roots together tight enough so they will grow together, but not so tight as to prevent circulation. Seems to me it would have to be done when the seedlings were very young. Maybe even just trying to graft the tap roots together. Then let them grow together , then add your scion later.

I could be way off here, but to my way of thinking, to get the benefit of both rootstocks feeding the plant, you have to have the whole root system feeding the plant together, otherwise won't nutrients possibly go maybe to one side or the other rootstock and actually slow developmental process down and possible cause loss of rootstock disease resistances?

It will be interesting to read how this experiment goes. Seems like a whole lot of work, but who knows you guys may be on to something new. Me, I think I'll either use Bill's method or just plant the root stock vertically with a scion.

[BigVanVader]

To clarify, if it was misunderstood, my suggestion was to take the rootstock and slice into 2 sections like this | | then do the same with the second RS, then join the halves of the 2 different RS and allow it to recover, form roots, then top graft as normal. This way you have half the roots from each RS on one stem. I may try one or two this way next year once I get more practiced at grafting, so I would be very interested to see your results. If I had to bet I'd say it wont make any major difference, but you never know till you try.

[Starlight]

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

To clarify, if it was misunderstood, my suggestion was to take the rootstock and slice into 2 sections like this | | then do the same with the second RS, then join the halves of the 2 different RS and allow it to recover, form roots, then top graft as normal. This way you have half the roots from each RS on one stem. I may try one or two this way next year once I get more practiced at grafting, so I would be very interested to see your results. If I had to bet I'd say it wont make any major difference, but you never know till you try.

Thanks! I get ya now. Seems like in theory your method should work well.

[BigVanVader]

Possibly, but advantageous roots would likely be an issue since the whole stem would be split. Other than that I see no reason why it wouldn't.