How to Graft Cuttings Onto Rootstock
If you want a plant to grow faster, grafting a portion of it onto rootstock may be an option. Grafting can produce plants that are sturdier, hardier and it can create hybrids that mature and produce fruit years earlier than if they grew from seedlings. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Choose rootstock, closely related to the donor plant for the best results. Rootstock is simply a plant or tree with a well-developed root system. Difficult fruit species achieve better growth when grafted from cuttings, resulting in a quicker harvest of fruit.
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Cut a stem from your desired plant, called a scion, between bud nodes at a 45-degree angle. Use a stem that shows active growth with either new leaves, buds or suppleness.
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Notch your rootstock between bud nodes with a sharp knife to the same angle and size as the point you just made on the scion. Choose an area on the rootstock where the stem is at least as large in diameter as your scion or a little larger.
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Slide the scion into the matching notch in the rootstock, taking care to line up the inner green layer on one or both sides of the cut. This is the middle of the stem or tree where active growth takes place.
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Seal the newly-grafted scion with grafting sealant and support it with stakes cut from lightweight wood or plastic straws or anything that will secure it without weighing it down. Secure them with rubber bands or grafting tape.
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Allow the graft to remain undisturbed. Fruit tree cuttings, grafted onto established rootstock will often produce fruit by the third year, with a branch strong enough to hold the produce.
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Tips & Warnings
Once you begin cutting, move quickly, without interruptions. Inner stems will suffer damage from the air if they are exposed for very long.
It is illegal to propagate trademarked plants for resell. You may graft them for your use only. Research the plant name if you have any doubts.
