I made this graft three days ago.. a second was almost as tattered. Anyone have experience with this? I only assume because there were ants climbing up and down the two canes with tattered grafting tape
In decades of budding using Parafilm, I have never seen anything like that. I don’t doubt it’s what you are experiencing, I’ve just never encountered it. Perhaps you might want to treat for the ants to prevent them from being so destructive of your efforts? From experience, Ortho Home Pest, available almost everywhere, is water based and can be safely used on roses. I’ve used it to control ants in pots and on plants for roses and hibiscus with no issues. I experienced the pest issues and knew it was water based, so there are no oils which might burn plant tissues. I’ve used it in Newhall, CA (mid desert, zone 9b, frequent high nineties to low triple digits); Encino, CA (inland valley heat with marine influences in the evenings, zone 10a, not quite as extreme heat as Newhall) and here in Santa Maria, CA, coastal cool, damp with arid periods and extreme UV and sun intensity, another zone 9a. I’ve never experienced any damage to any plant tissues I’ve applied it to, so it may help there in Texas. You wouldn’t have to spray the entire plant, just the soil surface around the plant as the ants will avoid the spray if at all possible, but will cross it if necessary to return to their nest and carry some of it back with them on their feet. When ants infest a pot, I’ll spray the surface then flood the pot. Even diluted by the hose, it appears strong enough to take care of the ants in the pot as they disappear and don’t return. I hope it helps.