3 Less-Common Grafting Methods

Learn how to propagate plants using these different techniques

While crevice graft and side veneergraftingare two of the most commonly used methods incommercial plantproduction , there are many other forms of grafting that may be used in different circumstances . Here are three more types of graft , how to do them , and whatsituationsyou can employ them for .

Learn more : How to Propagate plant from Cuttings

Splice Grafting

When would you use splice grafting?

splicing grafting is used on herbaceous plants such as vegetables and succulent . hoi polloi often use splice grafting on heirloom tomatoes , often to improve the performance of the plant . In this instance you would employ a tomato with a solid root organisation or other worthy trait as the understock and the desired heirloom tomato as a scion . This would make an heirloom love apple with improved functioning . This method can be used on woody plants such as Japanese maple ( Acer palmatumcvs . , Zones 5–9 ; pictured below ) , but cleft and side veneer graft are often full options .

How to perform splice grafting

Using a scion and understock of exchangeable sizing , bring down a sloped cut across the bottom of the scion and a corresponding diagonal deletion across the top of the understock . This cut is usually about 30 ° in hardwood plants and about 45 ° in softer herbaceous plants .

Join the understock and scion together with a formative graft snip . This tool looks like a miniature version of a clothespin and is about ¾ inch long .

Keyhole Grafting

When would you use keyhole grafting?

This eccentric of graft uses a special manus - held grafting machine to make matching cutting off in an understock and scion . It is typically used by pocket-size - scale surgery or by home gardener to graft all variety of plants . I have tried out keyhole grafting on grapes , and the result were like to those from side - veneer graft . But this is not a feasible method for tight - paced , big - scale greenhouse production because it is slower for a skilled grafter than making exact cut with a tongue .

How to perform keyhole grafting

Using a keyhole grafting machine , punch a matching keyhole swing ( one divot and one excrescence ) into a scion and an understock . These are referred to as manlike and distaff cut and look like a Florida key and a ignition lock . It does n’t matter which case of cut you give to the scion or the understock as long as one is male and one is distaff .

drop away the scion and the understock together , and insure the graft with graft tape . take the scion and understock are very similar in stem caliper , this method acting can put to work well .

T-Budding

When would you use T-budding?

T - budding is a common method for producing bareroot trees . Some species favor one method acting over the other ; however , due to the trouble of T - budding , many glasshouse prefer another method , silicon chip budding , rather .

How to perform T-budding

Make a vertical 1- to 2 - inch slice in the bark of the understock . Then make a horizontal swing ¼ inch long to cross the upright cut near its top . If the barque is slipping ( peeling back ) correctly , peel it back below the horizontal cutting , much like a shirt opening with the top two button undone .

Make a cut underneath the scion bud from below the bud to about half an inch above the bud . Then ignore a horizontal rounding slice above the bud scion . If the cambium is slipping aright , the bud and surround barque will crop up off the scion , producing a bud scion that can slide into the V of the understock slash .

slip in the bud scion into the understock fluttering and wrap the graft with grafting tape both above and below the bud , leaving the bud sticking out .

No matter which technique you utilise , the grafted plant must be placed in a low - stress environment to cure after grafting . Read more about how to make a graft successful in my articleHow Grafting work .

Brian Decker is a horticulturalist and owner of Decker ’s Nursery in Groveport , Ohio , a wholesale nursery that specializes in industrial plant generation and grafting .

exposure : Pam Dukes , good manners of Brian Decker

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