Thursday, July 2, 2009

Camellias: Hybrid grafting

Sometimes grafts don't take.

When the rootstalk sends out a new shoot, don't cut it off. It has given you a new opportunity for grafting. This article will describe how to graft onto the new growth.

Wait until the shoot has three leaves. The third leaf still unopened.



With a sharp exacto knife, cut off the leaves.



Carefully cut the soft stem vertically about 1/2 inch.



The scion for grafting should be green new growth. With the exacto knife, cut a long wedge for inserting into the split shoot.



Cut a 1/2" strip of aluminum foil and wrap the graft. With a fan fold, the foil will be snug but able to expand with growth. Either before or after the graft, trim the scion's leaves to about 1/3 the orginal size. I used little scissors after the graft was complete.



To keep the graft humid while the leaf bud sprouts, put a baggie over it.



Once the bud starts to grow, I'll add more photos.