How to Graft Plants

Gardening is one of the most refreshing and most satisfying hobbies taken up by people. At the same time, it also provides us with an opportunity to not only commune with nature, but also add to it. These days, people have gone ahead of just planting and taking care of trees. Many individuals today indulge in activities like grafting plants. It is the process of combining two plants into one, in order to create a stronger or differently shaped variety. You can undertake plant grafting in case of almost all the type of plants, be it fruit plant, a flowering plant, and so on. Given below are a few tips to help you with the process of grafting plant cuttings.

How to Graft Plants

Items Needed

Flat-Bladed Knife
Grafting Sealant
Two Plants
String/Rubber Band

Instructions

The time of cutting the plant for grafting should be selected with care. The best time to do this is the winter season, as during this time, the plants are dormant. In other words, they are storing up their growing energy for the spring season.
Cut a small growth off the plant you want to graft, making sure to make the cut near the central trunk. The size of cutting should be almost equal to that of the plant you want to graft it on to (host plant).
Immediately after hacking the plant, store the cutting in the fridge. This is because the low temperature inside the fridge tricks it into thinking that it is in an extended winter.
Now, it is the time to decide on the exact place on the host plant, where you want to graft the cutting. At the decided spot, make a cut into the host plant. The cut should be deep enough to get you through the outer layers of bark, to the nutrient rich inner area of the tree (the area actually credited with the growth of the plant).
Notch the host plant in your garden, in such a way that the grafting piece interlocks with the host plant or tree. If you don’t find doing this possible, try to get at least one side well aligned.
With the help of a string or a cut rubber band, bind the two plants together. This will hold the cut sides of the pieces together, encouraging them to bond together.
Next, apply a light coat of sealant on the plants. You can also use stakes if you find that the weight of your small plant is resulting in its pulling away from the larger one. The graft will be complete in a couple of years.

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