How to Recover From Grafting
Grafting a plant is an excellent method of propagation that has a multitude of uses. Horticulturists frequently graft trees to make them shorter or to control their growth rate. Grafting can also be used to add new and interesting features to existing plants. Although there are many different types of grafting, the care instructions are nearly identical. If followed properly, they ensure the success of the procedure. Nevertheless, grafting can be stressful on a plant. Therefore, proper care and protection of the graft is essential to help the plant recover from the procedure. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Use your grafting tape to wrap the graft area. This helps to protect the graft from invasion by advantageous parasites. It also helps the graft heal because it assists in maintaining contact between the cambial areas of the grafted plants.
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Apply the grafting wax to the area. For best results, make sure to apply the grafting wax as uniformly as possible. Grafting wax is important because it helps prevent the graft area from drying out.
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Check the wax regularly. After several days, check the area to make sure the graft area was properly covered. After that, it is only necessary to check the wax occasionally. After about three weeks, the wax will begin to fall off and the plant should be strong enough to support the graft. If you feel the graft is still weak or at risk of drying out, apply another light layer of the wax.
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Prune the area as necessary. For many types of grafts, you should refrain from doing any pruning until a full year has elapsed. Afterwards, prune buds selectively and only if necessary to promote branching.
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Fertilize and water the plant on a regular schedule to promote plant health. This step is a general care tip that will keep the plant strong so that it will be able to take and support the new graft.
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Tips & Warnings
If the grafting material does not naturally decay off the plant after a month, cut it off to avoid girdling the plant.
Although all-purpose fertilizers are great vitality-boosters for the vast majority of plants, some varieties may require a slightly different fertilizer for best results.
