Grafting is a method of joining two different part of plants together to allow the two parts of the plant to grow as one plant. The process of grafting involve two separate parts of plants: a scion and a rootstock. The scion is the part of the plant that will produce the fruits of the plant, while the rootstock is the part of the plant that contain the root system of that plant.
For a grafting attempt to be successful, the scion and the rootstock must be compatible with each other. Compatibility occur when the cells of the scion can join with the cells of the rootstock. Compatibility between scions and rootstocks can be determined by the biological relationship between the two types of plants.
How to Graft Plants
Many types of tree are members of the same botanical family. The botanical families of the scion and the rootstock must be the same in order for them to be compatible. Thus, for instance, it is possible to perform grafting with an apple tree scion and an apple tree rootstock, or with a pear tree scion and a pear tree rootstock.
However, the plum tree rootstock will reject grafting an apple tree scion onto the rootstock of a plum tree. This rejection is caused by the inability of the cambium layer of the apple tree scion to join with the cambium layer of the plum tree rootstock. The cambium is the layer of living plant tissue that exist just beneath the bark of both the scion and the rootstock.
Timing is important in the process of grafting. Grafting usually occur in the late winter or early spring months when the levels of sap within the plants are low and the bark of the plants is easy to slip. Temperatures between 50 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit are best for performing grafting.
At these temperatures, callus tissue begins to form between the scion and the rootstock. Callus tissue is a spongy mass of new cells that begins to form between the scion and the rootstock over a period of two to four weeks. If a person attempts grafting during the summer months when the temperatures are hot, the moisture within the scion and the rootstock may evaporate too quick.
There are several different methods of grafting, depending off the size of the scion and the rootstock. When the scion and the rootstock have similar diameters, one can perform a whip and tongue graft. This type of graft form a stronger junction between the scion and the rootstock due to the way that the whip and tongue graft increases the surface area of contact between the scion and the rootstock.
When the rootstock is larger than the scion, one can perform a cleft graft or a bark graft. In these methods, the cambium layer of the scion must become in contact with the cambium layer of the rootstock in order for the graft to be successful. The rootstock of a tree is important in that the rootstock determine the size of the tree.
Growers that wish to have small trees from which they can easily harvest the fruit without the need to use a ladder often use dwarf types of rootstocks. Vigorous types of rootstocks result in large trees, which are beneficial in orchards or in areas of soil in which it is difficult for trees to establish themselves. Semi-dwarf types of rootstocks create a medium-sized tree that produces a moderate amount of fruit.
Rootstocks must be compatible with the type of scion being grafted, as well as the environmental conditions in which the grafted plants will grow. The failure of a grafting attempt can occur for several reason. For instance, if the scion and rootstock are not properly aligned, the cambium layers of the two plants will not be able to establish an adequate connection between them.
Desiccation can also occur if the scion and rootstock are not wrap in an airtight manner after performing the grafting procedure. In this instance, the plant will lose moisture. Using grafting tape to seal the scion and rootstock together can avoid desiccation.
Finally, if the grafting tools are not sterile, bacterial rot may develop at the site of the graft. Therefore, the use of sterile tools is essential to the grafting process. Similar to grafting, budding is a method in which a single bud is used instead of a cutting of a stem.
For example, people often perform T-budding in the summer with types of trees like peaches and cherries. T-budding only works well when the bark of the trees is easy to slip. Chip budding can be used year around, but chip budding works well for trees whose bark is tight and difficult to slip.
Each of these budding methods have a specific use in the process of grafting, and each aims to ensure the joining of the scion and the rootstock. Finally, one can remove the grafting tape that was used to seal the scion and the rootstock together once the bud has swelled with the growth of the plant. If the grafting tape is left on the plant for too long after the bud has swollen, the tape will begin to girdle the tree, preventing the growth of that tree.
Its important to realize that you should of checked the tape regularily. One should of ensured the tape isnt too tight. Youll need to check youre equipment too.
If you want to recieve a good result, you should follow these steps. The moddern method of grafting can be quite luxuruis for the garden.