Wax

[figologist]

For those of you who use beeswax to seal cuttings - what are your thoughts about cutting the beeswax 50/50 with paraffin wax?

 

[DCallahan]

@figologist
Are you looking for a more cost effective route?

 

[figologist]

@figologist
Are you looking for a more cost effective route?

yeah basically. i just really like the smell of beeswax

 

[DCallahan]

Gotcha , I can understand that.

I like mixing paraffin wax with toilet wax ring wax.
It makes the paraffin malleable so it doesn't crack and flake off, it's also very cheap to make up.

 

[betdempster]

I use 1/3 paraffin 1/3 beeswax and 1/3 toilet ring. I'm glad Dcallahan said that . It sounds weird but it really works. It's very sticky

 

[Figjake]

I got a Kurume from shopbunker this week and that thing has some sort of wax concoction that don’t peel off at all. I need to ask them what the mixture was. It was yellow so it’s partially beeswax for sure.

 

[figologist]

I got a Kurume from shopbunker this week and that thing has some sort of wax concoction that don’t peel off at all. I need to ask them what the mixture was. It was yellow so it’s partially beeswax for sure.

Strange. The cuttings I’ve gotten from her in the past were just parafilm wrapped.

 

[Figjake]

It was waxed on both ends and wrapped all the way in parafilm.

 

[Figjake]

She said it was straight beeswax pellets that she melted.

 

[NYC_Fignetic]

She said it was straight beeswax pellets that she melted.

same here i use the pellets and so those out there, if you have a coffee warmer all you need is a ceramic cup, don't go out and buy a wax melt, i did and dont use it.

 

[figpumper]

I use a parrafin wax, I buy it in blocks off Amazon it s what i use for sealing mushroom logs, so I had alot on hand and it works fine for me, it doesn't smell as good as beeswax @figologist lol but it does the job. I find if the temp. Is too hot it goes on too thin, I keep mine around 145f and that seems to be ok. Haven't had any problems with it cracking or crumbling.

 

[superdave336]

Troy has a video where he is dipping his cuttings in wax and he used the Treekote grafting wax and just melted in the tin. Search says it is a composition of rosin, beeswax, tallow, and similar materials. Just sit on a coffee warmer, easy peasy I think. I might try it this year myself. Also, just learned they sale beeswax at Hobby Lobby if anyone has a local store and wants to pick some up to try.

 

[betdempster]

I bought a little crock pot the size you do dip in i- t was under 15 $ and I turn it on let it melt then unplug it and let it cool so it's not so hot. As long as my cutting are clean and dry it doesn't get contaminated and I dip very, very quick so it's not too hot. I only do the 1/2 inch at the top - as little as possible. I haven't seen any problems with the cuttings and it works fine for me

 

[pjmac]

It was waxed on both ends and wrapped all the way in parafilm.

This was a major pain for me, and there was a node at the bottom of one i had to scrape all of it off. The wrap was fine but that wax was awful tbh

 

[betdempster]

I'd really rather have any cuttings I buy not wrapped treated/ washed or waxed.

 

[snarfing]

I bought a little crock pot the size you do dip in i- t was under 15 $ and I turn it on let it melt then unplug it and let it cool so it's not so hot. As long as my cutting are clean and dry it doesn't get contaminated and I dip very, very quick so it's not too hot. I only do the 1/2 inch at the top - as little as possible. I haven't seen any problems with the cuttings and it works fine for me

i got fondue pot kit from my local thrift store thats perfect for 8 bucks lol.

Its some version of this https://www.michaels.com/product/wi...melting-pot-10771855?michaelsStore=2759&inv=2 but it came with a bucket that had it broken into 3rds so i dont need to fill the whole thing haha. the rubbery pot is great for removing the wax at the end

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

I agree, I would much rather no wax on any cuttings I receive.

Everyone has their mix of different waxes, but some mixtures that people use are a huge pain in the butt and cause rot.

The only cuttings that I struggled with were the waxed ones.

In the future, I’m going to ask sellers not to wax any cuttings I get. It causes more headache than benefit for me.

 

[GoodFriendMike]

I use a parrafin wax, I buy it in blocks off Amazon it s what i use for sealing mushroom logs, so I had alot on hand and it works fine for me, it doesn't smell as good as beeswax @figologist lol but it does the job. I find if the temp. Is too hot it goes on too thin, I keep mine around 145f and that seems to be ok. Haven't had any problems with it cracking or crumbling.

That is what I use as well.

 

[figpumper]

Well when you wax the cutting, you are first supposed to make sure that the outside of cutting is dry, otherwise just like with parafilm you are trapping the moisture underneath and that is when you are going to have problems, I dont know what other people do but you only need to wax the top 1/2" of the cutting, you dont need to go halfway down with the wax.

 

[DCallahan]

Well when you wax the cutting, you are first supposed to make sure that the outside of cutting is dry, otherwise just like with parafilm you are trapping the moisture underneath and that is when you are going to have problems, I dont know what other people do but you only need to wax the top 1/2" of the cutting, you dont need to go halfway down with the wax.

If a person was using wax instead of parafilm for rooting and not just storage why wouldn't they wax the same length that they'd cover with the parafilm?