Not sure it anyone still looks back at this section of the forum, but I found it extremely interesting. The question I have is more of a top-down question. I currently grow blue spruce, in multiple numbers (hundreds/maybe a thousand potted up now, and maybe another thousand almost ready to pot ). Mine are 2-3 years old, so early stage. Grown from seed. Some from "majestica" blue spruce seed which seem to grow quite eratically to be honest. In any case, I read of blue spruce cultivars like Hoopsi, and Fat Albert. I believe they are grafted onto Norway Spruce understock. What I don't understand is how the colour (very vibrant blue) is common to all grafted stock. I assume that "they" (whoever "they" are) select specific/specimin adult trees and take scions exclusively from that tree? Who would maintain the Hoopsi "trademark" i.e. select consistent adult trees? I assume certain of the "progeny" may then be a source of scions, thus improving the variety? Also, I know I can buy grafted Hoopsi grafted stock (a year or two old) but if I wanted to graft my own Hoopsi, how would one proceed (and is this type of activity monitored? i.e. purchase a Hoopsi adult tree and presumably take my "scions" from that tree??) Alternatively, if one of my current trees grew with a vibrant blue colour (I seem to have a few out of a thousand) could I then use that tree for scions, a number of years from now? (provided I obtained or grew Norway Spruce or some other suitable understock). Sorry, you can tell I'm very new to this. But any information will be helpful.

Seems to be different in many ways from how I graft. Needles removed from scion. Scion buds waxed. Top grafted. Does anyone on this forum use these techniques for grafting conifers? Thanks.

Does anyone know about 2 part plastic resin coating? I used it on a mosaic table last year and its fabulous...it evened out the lumpy tile and made a glass smooth surface. I was thinking of using it on my kitchen floor...it is 150 yr. old pine with large cracks that open up in the winter when the heat drys it out, then swell back in the humid summer...also, the dogs beat them up. I was thinking the resin would fill the cracks and give a good mopable surface, but I have no idea how long it would last with foot traffic. Just wondered it anyone has used it? I'm tired of restaining and revarnishing them and want something reall tough.

Peter - Ask your sister who works at Bunnings why they don't get them. They only had 10 beautiful plants stuck in orchid mix in orchid pots. They don't know how to look after them.