For successful grafting to take place, the tissues of both the stock and scion plants must be placed in contact with each other. Both tissues must be kept alive till the graft has taken, which takes a few weeks. While successful grafting only requires that a close connection takes place between the two tissues, many graft joints are often weakened because the tissues of the two distinct plants, such as wood may not fuse.
Budding is also a process that consists of in-grafting the bud of a plant into another plant. This method is frequently used as a technique for grafting fruit trees, but can also be used for many other kinds of trees and plants. The rootstock or stock plant may be cut off above the bud at budding, or one may wait until it is certain that the bud is growing.
T budding is another common style. With this method, a T-shaped slit is made in the stock plant, and the knife flexed from side to side in the lower slit to loosen up the bark. Scion wood is chosen from young and growing shoots. Usually, buds at the tip of the shoot are discarded, and only 2-4 buds are taken for use.
Then, an oval of the main stem is sliced off, including the bud, and is slipped into the T on the rootstock, before it can dry out. A winding of rubber band or other material that will hold it until sealed holds the joined bud and rootstock.
The percentage of success of the buds depends on the natural compatibility of the stock and scion and the skill of the gardener. Don’t be surprised if your first attempt at budding is unsuccessful. As with anything, practice makes perfect.
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