How to Graft Gardenias

Grafting a gardenia produces large blooms.

Gardeners fond of the gardenia are at no loss for varieties -- more than 200 types of this fragrant flower exist. If you want an especially vigorous gardenia plant that produces many large blooms, you should graft your plant with a scion from another lively plant. Grafted gardenias do especially well as house plants. You can graft your gardenia in just a few minutes using the splice grafting method.

Things You'll Need

• Scion
• Rootstock
• Rubber ties
• Knife

Instructions

1. Wait until the rootstock is at least 6 inches long and the diameter of a pencil before attempting a graft.

2. Cut the rootstock in half, making one long, sloping cut in a downward direction.

3. Remove any side branches beneath the grafting point on the rootstock.

4. Select a scion that has a diameter approximately the same as the rootstock. Make a cut on the scion in the same sloping fashion as the cut on the rootstock.

5. Join the open cut on the scion with the cut on the rootstock. Ensure that the cambium layers align on at least one side; the cambium is a thin, green layer between the bark and the interior wood.

6. Secure the graft by wrapping it with a plastic tie or rubber strip. Make sure that the union of the rootstock and scion is completely covered to prevent the entry of water.

7. Move the grafted plant to a shaded area with a high humidity. Provide a mist of water at least once a day to prevent the scion from wilting.

8. Remove the bindings in approximately one month, when the grafts become self-sufficient as evidenced by callousing on the cambium.

References

• University of Florida: Gardenias