Plant Grafting & Gardening

Here's a basic guide on how to splice plants:

Materials You'll Need:

1. Scalpel or Sharp Knife: Used for making clean cuts on plant stems.

2. Rootstock Plant: The base plant onto which you'll graft another plant.

3. Scion Plant: The plant part (usually a stem or bud) that you want to graft onto the rootstock.

4. Rubber Bands or Grafting Tape: To hold the graft in place.

5. Pruning Shears: For trimming any excess growth after the graft has taken.

Steps to Splice Plants (Grafting):

1. Select Compatible Plants: Choose a rootstock plant (usually a sturdy, established plant) and a scion plant (the one with the desirable traits you want to propagate). Ensure that the plants are closely related or compatible for successful grafting.

2. Prepare the Rootstock:

• Trim the rootstock stem or branch cleanly and horizontally, usually just above a node (a small bump where leaves or branches grow).

1. Prepare the Scion:

• Cut the scion from the donor plant at a diagonal angle, creating a long, slanted surface. The scion should ideally have at least one bud or growing point.

1. Match the Cuts: Place the cut surface of the scion against the cut surface of the rootstock, ensuring that they fit together as snugly as possible. The cambium layers (the innermost layers of the plant) of both the scion and rootstock should be in contact for successful grafting.

2. Secure the Graft:

• Use rubber bands or grafting tape to tightly bind the scion to the rootstock. Make sure it's snug but not so tight that it damages the plant tissues. The graft needs to stay in place until it heals and forms a strong connection.

1. Protect the Graft:

• Apply grafting wax or a similar protective substance over the graft to keep it moist and prevent diseases or drying out.

1. Monitor Growth: Over the next few weeks, monitor the graft site for signs of successful fusion. New growth from the scion should indicate a successful graft.

2. Trim Excess Growth: Once the graft is established, you may need to trim away any growth that emerges below the graft point, as it can divert energy from the grafted scion.

3. Provide Care: Water and care for the grafted plant as needed to support its growth.

It's important to note that successful grafting requires practice and skill, as well as an understanding of the specific requirements of the plants you're working with. Additionally, different types of grafting methods exist, such as :

Cleft Grafting:

• Purpose: Used to graft scions onto larger rootstocks with thicker branches or trunks.

• Supplies:

• Rootstock plant

• Scion plant

• Pruning shears

• Grafting chisel or knife

• Grafting tape or rubber bands

• Grafting wax or sealant

Steps:

1. Make a vertical split or cleft in the rootstock, usually with a grafting chisel or knife.

2. Trim the scion to a wedge shape.

3. Insert the scion into the cleft, ensuring a tight fit.

4. Secure the graft with grafting tape or rubber bands.

5. Seal the graft with grafting wax or a similar sealant.

Whip-and-Tongue Grafting:

• Purpose: Suitable for joining two plants of similar size, usually used with woody or fruit-bearing plants.

• Supplies:

• Rootstock plant

• Scion plant

• Pruning shears

• Grafting knife

• Grafting tape or rubber bands

• Grafting wax or sealant

Steps:

1. Prepare both the rootstock and scion by making matching diagonal cuts. Then, create a tongue-shaped cut in each piece.

2. Insert the scion into the rootstock, ensuring that the tongues fit together snugly.

3. Secure the graft with grafting tape or rubber bands.

4. Seal the graft with grafting wax or a similar sealant.

Bud Grafting (T-Budding):

• Purpose: Typically used in late summer when the bark is slipping and can be peeled away from the rootstock. Common for fruit trees.

• Supplies:

• Rootstock plant

• Budwood (scion)

• Bud grafting knife

• Rubber bands or grafting tape

• Paraffin wax or budding tape

Steps:

1. Select a healthy bud from the scion, ensuring it has an "eye" (bud).

2. Make a T-shaped incision in the rootstock's bark.

3. Insert the bud, including the eye, into the T-cut.

4. Secure the bud with rubber bands or grafting tape.

5. Seal the graft with paraffin wax or budding tape.

Side-veneer Grafting (Flute or Inlay Grafting):

• Purpose: Used for grafting onto the side of a rootstock, often with larger branches.

• Supplies:

• Rootstock plant

• Scion plant

• Grafting knife

• Grafting tape or rubber bands

• Grafting wax or sealant

Steps:

1. Create a vertical, tapered cut on the rootstock.

2. Make a matching wedge-shaped cut on the scion.

3. Insert the scion into the rootstock cut.

4. Secure the graft with grafting tape or rubber bands.

5. Seal the graft with grafting wax or a similar sealant.

Each method has its own techniques and purposes. Beginners may find it helpful to start with simpler methods and gradually progress to more advanced grafting techniques.