At 06:21 PM 05/21/2002 +0000, Del wrote:
This is pretty interesting, wouldn't cutting off a peice or pieces of the
bark with a knife do the same thing? If the toothpick wasn't used would
the wound heal too soon?
I suppose that bark removal would work. The person who brought this
technique to my attention was putting it forward primarily for gardeners
who were novices in attempting to root cuttings. I suppose this method is
perhaps easier, mechanically, for the neophyte than trying to lift bark,
and insertion of the toothpick ensures that the plant will have to produce
a significant amount of callus tissue in its attempt to close the defect.