About Grafting

Sometimes a plant just isn't cut out for the modern world of cultivation. It may have weak roots or take too long to flower. It may other undesirable traits as well. The process of grafting sometimes involves fusing two different plant types together, which helps to clear up some of the disabilities that plants have. Although this is one of the ways grafting fits into modern cultivation, it is also a process that can help repair or regrow damaged plants by fusing multiple pieces of the same species together.

Basics

Plant grafting is a pretty simple process at its core. The roots from one plant are bound to the stems of another plant. The root is known as the stock, and the stems are called the scion. At the point where the stock and scion meet, the vascular cambium tissue of the two different plants need to fuse together. This takes a couple of weeks, but when it's finished, the grafting process is complete and a new plant is created.

Agricultural Use

Grafting is used in agriculture often because it can create numerous advantages for both the plant and the farmer. For example, apple trees are often grafted because they can be made shorter and therefore easier to cultivate. Other crops are grafted so that they have disease-resistant roots or so that they can increase the quantity of fruit or vegetable product they produce. Still others are grafted in order to "rebuild" damaged plants by grafting parts together. As the demand for foodstuffs grow, agricultural businesses dedicated to producing fruits and vegetables are almost completely reliant on grafting to keep their business growing.

Methods

There are a few different methods of grafting that are put into regular practice. Budding is very popular, for example. Here, a small bud of one plant is attached to the stem of another. After the two plants fuse, the stem is cut off just above the bud so that the bud plant begins to grow more.
The most common method is the cleft procedure. Here, the stock of one plant is detached and the scion of another is attached to it. It is very simple and best done with mature stocks and scions. Other methods include veneer grafting and awl grafting (see References).

Natural Grafting

Grafting is not just a process performed by man. It also occurs readily in nature, where it is known as inosculation (see References). When a variety of trees grow close to each other, their root systems can begin to graft to each other, creating one large mass of roots that is shared by all the trees involved. This is both dangerous and beneficial. Although these trees are able to share water and nutrients among each other, the natural root grafting also makes it easier for disease to transfer from one plant to another.

Other Uses

Artistic gardeners and scientists also perform grafting. Trees can be made to grow in specific patterns through grafting, which can create ornamental plants. Wildflowers can also be grafted to give a garden a more solid root foundation. Orchids are also often grafted when they become damaged. Scientists use grafting to study seasonal flowers throughout the year, as certain techniques induce flowering in plants. Grafting is also performed to study plant diseases and how they affect and transfer between various plants.