Yew branch snapped under rafia and wire ....

[Jimdavis]

Was attempting a pretty drastic bend on one of my taxus . Branch is about 3/4 inch diameter. I channeled out what I thought was enough heartwood and inserted some aluminum wire but I pushed her too far. I'm gonna leave her rapped for a good while and see if the cambium on the front side survived and is still breathing life to the limb. Anyone have any positive feedback or pics of what it might look like if it does survive ? I'll post a picture of the front all rapped and bent tommorow.

 

[justBonsai]

I'd say having the xylem attached is more important than the cambium. If the xylem is completely broken there won't be enough water to sustain the branch and it will die. The cambium can provide sugars and carbohydrates but not enough water to offset transpiration loss.

 

[Jimdavis]

@bleumeon sorry that was a typo.. I've been doing a lot of grafting this week and cambium layer is burned into my mind. Lol

 

[0soyoung]

I'd say having the xylem attached is more important than the cambium. If the xylem is completely broken there won't be enough water to sustain the branch and it will die. The cambium can provide sugars and carbohydrates but not enough water to offset transpiration loss.

That is hard to say. Scion grafts work by matching the cambiums so that a continuous layer of xylem will be grown - the mother plant's roots will then supply the scion with water (and minerals).

I suggest you run down to your auto parts store and buy a roll of self-amalgamating silicone tape - it is sold for radiator hose repair. Tightly wrap it (atop the rafia) around the area of the break.

Silicone is a water barrier, so it will keep the cambium from desiccating and dying (raffia alone won't do it). Also, it transmits oxygen, so it can be left in place for years, if necessary.

 

[justBonsai]

That is hard to say. Scion grafts work by matching the cambiums so that a continuous layer of xylem will be grown - the mother plant's roots will then supply the scion with water (and minerals).

I suggest you run down to your auto parts store and buy a roll of self-amalgamating silicone tape - it is sold for radiator hose repair. Tightly wrap it (atop the rafia) around the area of the break.

Silicone is a water barrier, so it will keep the cambium from desiccating and dying (raffia alone won't do it). Also, it transmits oxygen, so it can be left in place for years, if necessary.

True, but this is a big branch not a little scion graft. I had a similar issue before. On one of my junipers a larger branch cracked and was only held by cambium. I just pushed the ends back together and wrapped up the branch but it ended drying up and dying.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Agree keep protected and see if life persists. Believe you weakened limb too much before bending. Might have been better notching to bend.

 

[0soyoung]

True, but this is a big branch not a little scion graft. I had a similar issue before. On one of my junipers a larger branch cracked and was only held by cambium. I just pushed the ends back together and wrapped up the branch but it ended drying up and dying.

Wrapped with self-amalgamating silicone tape?
Wrapped with HDPE?
Wrapped with parafilm?
Grafting wax?

How did you stabilize the break so it wasn't wiggling around?

If there is a line of cambium a new, continuous layer of xylem can be grown. Bag the foliage on the broken stem to make a humidity tent to keep the broken branch (scion) from desiccating in the meantime.

The principles are the same, are they not?

 

[justBonsai]

Wrapped with self-amalgamating silicone tape?
Wrapped with HDPE?
Wrapped with parafilm?
Grafting wax?

How did you stabilize the break so it wasn't wiggling around?

If there is a line of cambium a new, continuous layer of xylem can be grown. Bag the foliage on the broken stem to make a humidity tent to keep the broken branch (scion) from desiccating in the meantime.

The principles are the same, are they not?

That was just my experience. Not saying it could work otherwise. My point being that it is much harder to sustain the water requirements of a large branch compared to a small scion graft.

On a juniper I recently styled I had a branch that cracked a good bit and I decided to treat it as a graft. Bagged it up with a tuff of wet spagnum and it survived. It was a tiny branch though.

 

[Jimdavis]

Thanks for the feedback guys I'm gonna send some pics in a few . I think I'll rap it with electrical tape over the rafia and bag the entire foliage with a ziplock for a spell. Hope for the best.