At ECHO North America we experimented with grafting Achacharu (Garcinia humilis) onto Lemon Drop Mangosteen (Garcinia intermedia). We had fairly high success with cleft grafting young budwood onto young rootstock.
We chose a rootstock Garcinia intermedia that was a similar diameter to the Garcinia humilis budwood. The first cut was to remove the top part of the stem leaving at minimum four healthy leaves below where the graft union will be. These leaves are important for keeping the graft alive while it heals. In our nursery we particularly focus grafting into the “transition zone” - the zone around 8-12in above the soil where the stem is transitioning from young and green to more lignified.
On our budwood we made two cuts about 1.5in long, one on each side of the base. The result was a V shape with a fine point (circled in red below).
Next we quickly transitioned back to the cut rootstock and made a clean cut 1.5in straight down the center of the stem. If your diameters do not quite match up you can shift your cut off center to make a better match.
We slid the prepared budwood down into the slit created on the rootstock and secured it with a rubber band or grafting plastic tape. We always make sure to label our grafts (Species - Variety - Date - Grafter - Comment) so that months later we know what we have. Finally, we inserted a bamboo stake and covered the graft with a clear plastic bag. This was placed on the ground next to the table with the rootstock.
Grafts heal best with some shade, careful monitoring, and slow adjustments to their environment. These grafts took about 2 months before they were healed and ready to pot up.
We have also experimented with grafting Achacharu onto Imbe (Garcinia livingstonei). I think they are better propagated by seed, but have any of you grafted Achacharu? How do they respond to grafting? How long after grafting does Achacharu fruit in your experience?