boston university college of arts and sciences

  The Art and Science of Grafting:

A Beginner’s Ultimate Guide Grafting is one of the oldest techniques known to man as far as horticulture is concerned. This means connecting two growing plants so that they become one. Such a practice has existed for years to clone certain good traits in plants, improve the plants, increase the production and diversify the plants. Grafting is often the most complicated of all plant care tasks, but it is a great skill which, with practice, every novice should be able to master – it is not such a daunting task after all.

This article aims to offer an in-depth analysis of grafting. We will begin by looking at the very definition of grafting and the reasons it is availed of and proceed to practical matters dealing with various grafting methods and techniques. I bet by the end of this article you won’t only have the basics of grafting with you, but you will also have the guts to start trying your hands on… is Grafting?

Grafting is joining two plant parts of different plants to make a single plant. There are two parts: The two parts to be joined during the grafting process include: The scion: This is the top part of the graft, which is typically chosen for its desirable qualities such as sweet fruits, showy flowers, or interesting growth patterns.

The rootstock: This refers to the bottom portion which is responsible for the root system. It is usually resistant to cold, diseases or adverse growing conditions.

This way by fusing two sections the grower gets the desirable hybrid that has all the best features of both the scion and rootstock. Grafting is frequently observed in fruit trees and other ornamental plants as well as some crops like. 

The Fundamental Principle of Grafting: Cambium Layer Matching: The cambium is defined as a narrow zone of actively dividing cell layers located in between the bark and wood of a plant. It is important that the cambium layers of the scion and rootstock are positioned next to each other in order to facilitate successful grafting. When the cambium layers are in the correct position with respect to each other, they start to intergrow and create a vascular structure. No resources can be transported from the rootstock to the scion as no connection exists between them. This facilitates the growth of the scion through the functioning of the vascular system. In cases where the cambium tissues are not well positioned, the grafting process is bound to be unsuccessful because the scion shall not be supplied with the needed resources. Will it be Graft?
There are numerous advantages for which grafting is the most preferred technique among many that are used for the propagation of plants. Some of the major benefits are the following:

Shorter Time to Start Production of Fruits: The process of grafting reduces the age of fruit bearing plants as compared to that of growing them from seeds. For instance, trees grown from seeds can take between seven and ten years before they start blooming and producing fruits yet it is possible for grafted trees to produce fruits in couples of years’ time such as between two to four years.

Enhanced Resistance to Pests or Diseases: The grafted plant can avoid the effects of some pests or diseases by simply selecting a grafted variety which possesses a certain rootstock.

Useful Cultivars: Grafting enables plant propagation and cloning of certain plants possessing favorable features for example fruits tree crops where uniformly acceptable flavor, shape, and size of the fruit is targeted by the growers.

Suitability to Different Types of Soils: There is an option of rootstock which can be based on the rootstock’s ability to cope with particular soil conditions or climates which means that such crops can be grown in areas which might otherwise be unproductive.

Healing Infected Or Damaged Plants: There are some grafting techniques that can help mend a tree after it has been injured by abuse or inclement weather such as in . Kinds Of Grafting Methods There are many specific types of grafting techniques and each type has its own suitable plant, condition, and purpose. Some of the commonly used grafting techniques .

Whip And Tongue Grafting Whip and tongue grafting is a method that is mainly used on fruit trees and happens to be the most trusted technique. The procedure entails cutting both a scion and the rootstock at angles and creating tongues in each cut which allows the two parts to fit snugly.

Steps:

1. Choosing the scion and rootstock of the same thickness.

2. Diagonal cuts on both scion and rootstock.

3. A tongue or slit on each cut to facilitate the interference of the two pieces.

4. Cambium layers should touch, and after a ligation with grafting tape apply some pressure on the graft.

5. After applying grafter wax the graft area does not expose to water or moisture . Cleft Grafting Cleft grafting is considered in cases where the thickness of the rootstock greatly exceeds the thickness of the scion. This technique is suitable for top working of trees. This method is used in making a vertical split of the root stock.

2. Create a wedge shape out of the scion.

3. Place the wedge-shaped cut into the cleft making sure that the layers of cambium are aligned.

4. Fix the grafting joint with the help of grafting tape and apply wax on it.

C. Bud Grafting (T-Budding)

Bud grafting is also called as scion g simple of grafting where only one bud from the scion is etched onto to the rootstock. This type of procedure is common with fruits trees and roses where people want to reproduce certain . Go back up in size and make a T cut in the bark of the rootstock.

2, Cut the scion to the branch, about bark with a bud.

3. T-bud in the incision from the scion with the bud at the end.

4. Place grafting tape around the bud and the graft to protect them and let the bud sprout.

D. Side Veneer Grafting

This technique refers to grafting methods more common in ornamental plants and evergreen trees. Specifically, it means that scion is placed on the side of the rootstock, instead of being on the top.

1. First make longitudinal cuts to the rootstock.

2. Then match the end of the scion to the leaf axis of the rootstock.

3. Place the sides containing the cambium layer together and tape the graft.

5. Choosing the Suitable Scion and Rootstock

The rootstock and scion closely interacting mainly determines the success of grafting. Here are some factors to consider when selecting both :

As a general rule, grafts will only succeed where the rootstock and scion are of closely related plant types. Members of the same species or even genus tend to have a higher success rate. In this case, it is easy to graft varieties of apple trees with other varieties of apple trees but it would be difficult, if not impossible, to graft an apple tree with a peach tree.

Disease Resistance: Choose rootstocks that are resistant to prevalent pests and diseases. This is to ensure grafted plant survivability.

Environmental Adaptability: Analyze the water, moisture and content levels where the plant will reside. Certain rootstocks are more resistant to chilling, aridity or particular soil profiles than others.

Growth Characteristics: The presence of a rootstock can influence the dimensions, growth rate as well as the plant’s growth pattern. A case in point, dwarfing rootstocks are desired where large size fruit requires the use easier to manage smaller plants.

Equipment and Supplies for Grafting

There are a few tools and materials you will need to get started with grafting:

Sharp Grafting Knife: A clean, sharp knife is paramount in order to make clean cuts.

Grafting Tape or Rubber Bands: These materials are used to facilitate holding the grafts together after they have been made.

Grafting Wax: A type of wax that is applied on the grafting area to save that portion on the grafted plant by preventing any moisture loss and at the same time not allowing any pathogens in.

Pruning Shears: Shears for cutting the scion and the rootstock prior to . Most Appropriate Season for Grafting

The timing of grafting is one of the very important factors affecting the success of grafting. In most of the plants, the best period for grafting is the dormant period when there is no active growth in the plant. While it is usually winter dormant to early spring period in temperate regions, this period falls usually before the buds begin to swell.

Not all grafting procedures carry this limiting factor; for instance bud grafting can be performed in the active growth phase of the plant. The only trick is to make sure that this stock is growing healthily so that it will be able to meet the demands of the scion.

8. Steps to Grafting Successfully

Having gone through the essentials, let us give you a layman guide on how to graft.

1. Choose the Right Method: Depending on the plant species and your objectives, grafting methods (e.g. whip and tongue, cleft, bud grafting) should be selected accordingly.

2. Prepare the Rootstock: Follow the steps in rootstock preparation. First sift the rootstock by removing the overgrown wild shoots on the upper portion. At the same time, give a clean cut to the part of the rootstock beforehand which will serve as the grafting site, using a sharp knife or pruning shears.

3. Prepare the Scion: From the plant you want to graft, cut a healthy section of the stem, having, two or three buds at least. Cut down the base of the scion such that its length corresponds to the cut made on the rootstock.

4. Align the Cambium Layers: The next thing to do is to gently put together the cambium layers of both the rootstock and the scion surfaces. This step probably is the most important component of a successful graft so far.

5. Secure the Graft: Scion and rootstock have to be pressed together firmly and secured with actors or rubber strips. Ensure that the graft is firm and would not shift.

6. Seal the Graft: Cover the thorned area with grafting wax so that moisture does not escape and the plant does not get any infection.

7. Care for the Graft: Set the grafted plant in a warm spot without direct sunlight. Tap water, not soaking the soil, would suffice. In time, the scion and the rootstock will join together and new growth will emanate.

Aftercare and Troubleshooting

The next step after grafting is ensuring that the graft is well taken care of, in order for the plant to further flourish. Here are a few suggestions for what to do after a graft is complete:

Monitor Moisture Levels: Maintain an average moisture content within the soil, however, do not allow the soil to become saturated. Moisture levels are very delicate within grafted plants.

Remove Suckers: Rootstock may grow suckers which are growths from shoots at the base of the plant. These should be cut off as soon as possible, otherwise, they will compete with the grafted scion for nutrient.