BROCHURE - Buddy Tape Info and Instructions - 200124

Buddy-tape

SPECIAL TAPE FOR GRAFTING AND BUDDING

[Image: A box of Buddy-Tape and three rolls of tape on a table]

HIGH PERFORMANCE OF GRAFTING AND BUDDING Easy and Speedy Operation

BUDDY-TAPE (for Grafting and Budding)

Buddy-Tape is an innovative tape for budding and grafting devised with a unique formulation and properties to allow easy and rapid application, reduced labor costs, and high success rates in the crop.

In order to fully utilize the unique characteristics of Buddy-Tape, we recommend that it is stretched gradually as it is applied. Although there is a natural tendency to stretch the tape to fuller size and then simply wrap around, this can cause the tape to become stringy which can mean that the tape cuts into the growing plant like standard grafting tapes.

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The Unique Properties of Buddy-tape

■ BIODEGRADABILITY Buddy-Tape biodegrates naturally in exposure to sunlight, eliminating labor costs necessary to cut away standard tapes after use, and providing an environmentally responsible answer to the problem of waste.

■ ELASTICITY Buddy-Tape can be stretched to up to six times its original length. The elastic nature of the material allows small pieces to be used for the application and ensures an extremely tight grip on the bud or graft to keep it firmly in place, as is necessary to allow successful growth. Elasticity also means the tape expands as the plant grows, avoiding cutting into the plant which is common problem with standard budding and grafting tapes.

■ SELF-ADHESION Buddy-Tape is not adhesive in its normal stored form, but become self-adhesive when stretched. This allows quick application with no need for tying knots.

■ WATER-PROOFING Buddy-Tape has a wax content to keep it waterproof, so the bud or graft will not dehydrate, but air can pass through the permeable tape allowing the bud to breathe. The wax content also means that use of Buddy-Tape can eliminate the need for waxing in covered areas.

■ POINT OF CAUTION

1. Storage Please keep Buddy-Tape out of direct sunlight within a temperature range of 10-30°C (In particular, avoid leaving the tape in a hot car). Lengthy exposure to UV light will begin the degradation process of the tape and could effect its performance.
2. Weather Once the tape has been applied it will be resistant to rainy and windy conditions. However, we recommend avoiding applying Buddy-Tape in the rain as water on lower than 15 °C, the elasticity of the tape is reduced. Do not remove Buddy-Tape from its protective case before application as this is necessary for protection from pressure and UV light.

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Method of Use with Buddy-tape for Chip-budding and T-budding

[Diagrams showing (Chip-budding) and (T-budding) with hands stretching the tape]

Stretch Buddy-Tape enough by both hands

[Diagrams showing the application process for chip-budding and T-budding]

• Press the stretched Buddy-Tape tight to rightly over the area of the bud. Wind the tape around the rootstock while stretching it. The area of the bud should be wound with only one layer of Buddy-Tape.
• Wind the tape around the rootstock fully covering the bud. The tape is not adhesive in its normal stored form, but become self-adhesive when stretched.

NOTE;

Good Example (Providing that the stalk of the budding chip has been cut to the appropriate length) The tape has been stretched so that it lightly touches the bud. This allows the solid bud to break through the stretched tape as it grows. [Diagram showing the tape touching the bud lightly]

Bad Example (Providing that the stalk of the budding chip has been cut to the appropriate length) A gap of air exists between the stretched tape and the bud. This prevents the bud from breaking through the Buddy-Tape because it has softened by the time it reaches the tape. [Diagram showing an air gap between the leaf stalk, stock, and tape]

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Method of Use with Buddy-tape for Grafting

[Diagrams showing the grafting process]

Begin winding Buddy-Tape from bottom to top of the grafting joint

[Diagrams showing winding the tape around the grafting area and upward to the graft]

• Wind Buddy-Tape around the grafting area while stretching the tape. Elasticity of Buddy-Tape ensures an extremely tight grip on the graft to keep it firmly in place. Buddy-Tape can make grafting application easy by means of spinning the rootstock.
• Wind the tape upward to the graft from the grafted area while stretching in order to protect from drying up of the graft. Bud area should be covered by 1 to 2 layers of Buddy-Tape. If it is wound up more than 3 layers, delay the growth of the bud can be caused.

[Diagram showing the scion wrapped with Buddy-Tape]

Scion is wrapped with Buddy-Tape including the grafting joint.

Buddy-Tape Australian Stockist: Fernland: P: | E: | W: