Hornbeam thead graft

[OTown]

I collected this hornbeam in 2020 and it gave me braces is several good locations. However, one side was bare. I decided to thread graft it and thought I would share my progress.

This is the photo from March 2022 when I did the thread. I had to bend a pencil size branch about 30 degrees to get the whip I threaded into position. The hole was drilled starting at the exit point so it stayed nice and clean.. The whip went about 8" through the hole with about 6 intact buds.

 

[Johnnyd]

I collected this hornbeam in 2020 and it gave me braces is several good locations. However, one side was bare. I decided to thread graft it and thought I would share my progress.

This is the photo from March 2022 when I did the thread. I had to bend a pencil size branch about 30 degrees to get the whip I threaded into position. The hole was drilled starting at the exit point so it stayed nice and clean.. The whip went about 8" through the hole with about 6 intact buds.

Very nice! Looking forward to the current pictures.
I was looking to see if anyone had thread grafted hornbeam last year and did not find much information. I ended up just doing a bunch (5 thread grafts) using some information from the "grafting 101" thread. All grafts took on the European hornbeam and one out of two for the Korean hornbeam and one successful one try for an American hornbeam. So they seem pretty reliable to thread graft. Good luck with your design!

 

[Shogun610]

I thread grafted my American Hornbeam, but the thread graft died , so I’m growing out branches to do next spring before bud break , I did it during growing season so I think the trick is to thread before buds open and to thread graft it wide enough to not tear branchlet

 

[BobbyLane]

Ive still never tried this. I guess ive just been lucky in always having material with branches where I need them.

 

[OTown]

Here is the thread today. You can see the branch with some 6mm aluminum wire that i had to bend. Pro tip...drill your hole the right direction so you have a clean hole on the exit hole. I also stuck a small piece of bamboo on the top of exit hole so you get the cambium contact with the branch. The bamboo is on the top so it works with gravity.

 

[BobbyLane]

Nice, solid trunk on that.

 

[Shogun610]

What’s your goal for the top?

 

[OTown]

I thread grafted my American Hornbeam, but the thread graft died , so I’m growing out branches to do next spring before bud break , I did it during growing season so I think the trick is to thread before buds open and to thread graft it wide enough to not tear branchlet

I think my thread worked so well for a few reasons. I waited until the buds were close to pushing out. That was early March for my area. I had a long whip to work with and I got several buds through the hole undisturbed. I also got good contact between the cambium and the whip. This was possible because the whip was thin at the tip and tapered to just under the size of my hole.

 

[Jcmmaple]

Appalachian bonsai has a good YouTube video on thread grafting an American Hornbeam. I have 3 I’m going to attempt this spring, hopefully they all take.

 

[Shogun610]

Appalachian bonsai has a good YouTube video on thread grafting an American Hornbeam. I have 3 I’m going to attempt this spring, hopefully they all take.

Yes anyone who does native bonsai should watch his channel

 

[OTown]

What’s your goal for the top?

I'm not sure yet. I have a couple of options. Once I get this repoted I'll think more about the style.

 

[OTown]

Appalachian bonsai has a good YouTube video on thread grafting an American Hornbeam. I have 3 I’m going to attempt this spring, hopefully they all take.

Yes, I would recommend this video too. I watched, did some reading, and asked a few people from my local club before I gave it a go. Hopefully those reading this find this helpful!

 

[OTown]

This photo was taken today. First styling was completed right after Thanksgiving as the leaves were turning color. Styling was a collaboration with my mentor Nacho Marin who teaches classes here in FL twice a year. The thread grafted branch is the one on the left side of the tree. I would say it worked!

It would definity be a different tree without that branch.

 

[Shogun610]

Good to see that thread graft took. I have another year of mine unless they are super strong next growing season. Did you completely cut yours off or did you take chunks out

 

[OTown]

Good to see that thread graft took. I have another year of mine unless they are super strong next growing season. Did you completely cut yours off or did you take chunks out

I did this...

 

[Scrogdor]

How long did you wait to separate the graft? I currently have a thread graft in a european hornbeam I've left attached since last march.

 

[OTown]

How long did you wait to separate the graft? I currently have a thread graft in a european hornbeam I've left attached since last march.

I left it longer than it probably needed...18 months. I knew it was ready when the insertion side was smaller than the exit side. It was about twice the thickness.

 

[OTown]

Update to my thread grafted hornbeam (left branch). It will be in this box one more season with a repot in 2026.