How to Graft Camellia Old Branches? Methods and Step-by-Step Guide

Camellias are usually propagated quickly through grafting. Some precious varieties do not root easily from cuttings, but grafting can improve the survival rate. So friends who love camellias should be familiar with old-branch grafting of camellias. Here, the editor introduces the key points to note when grafting camellias.

Camellia (details)

1. Rootstock: strong-resistant, fast-growing red camellia varieties such as 'Shizixiao', 'Hongluzhen', the single-flowered 'Jinxin Dahong', and 'Jinpan Lizhi'.

2. Technique: The rootstock cut should be level, and the cut surface should be wrapped in tin foil or sealed with yellow clay. The leaf buds on the scion should be plump, and half of each leaf can be cut off. The lower end of the scion should be cut on both sides into a 1cm-2cm wedge-shaped surface. The cut surface should be flat and smooth. It is best to use bark grafting, and one side of the scion should be aligned with the cambium.

3. Best time: February in early spring. At this time the temperature is relatively low, so the rootstock and scion heal more slowly, and the large amount of nutrients stored by the rootstock and scion in autumn and winter can fully supply their healing. After grafting, it coincides with the vigorous spring growth period, so the scion can sprout, grow shoots, and unfurl leaves relatively quickly. Once an old-branch graft has healed, the scion grows especially fast.

4. Management after grafting: For old-branch grafting, special attention must be paid to temperature and humidity because the temperature is low at the time of grafting, and after grafting the plant is kept in a plastic tunnel for a relatively long time, so the temperature and humidity inside the tunnel must be well controlled. For softwood grafting, pay attention to shade management. After grafting, use two layers of shade; after half a month, one layer is enough.

Old-Branch Grafting Technique for Home Potted Camellias

  Camellia grafting can enable excellent camellia varieties to be propagated quickly. Some precious camellia varieties do not root easily from cuttings, but can survive through grafting. Some varieties undergo bud mutation through grafting, and a single color can become variegated. The variation after grafting can be used to breed a new variety. Through grafting, a single plant can also produce camellias of various colors, flower forms, flowering periods, and multiple varieties. In recent years, camellia producers in Jinhua have used this knife in their hands to boldly graft large-flowered varieties introduced from abroad onto old oil tea rootstocks, thereby greatly advancing camellia production in Jinhua and achieving obvious benefits.

  Cover with a plastic bag 

  Grafting notes: 

  Rootstock: strong-resistant, fast-growing red camellia varieties such as ‘Shizixiao’, ‘Hongluzhen’, the single-flowered ‘Jinxin Dahong’, and ‘Jinpan Lizhi’.

  Technique: The rootstock cut should be level, and the cut surface should be wrapped in tin foil or sealed with yellow clay. The leaf buds on the scion should be plump, and half of each leaf can be cut off. The lower end of the scion should be cut on both sides into a 1cm-2cm wedge-shaped surface. The cut surface should be flat and smooth. It is best to use bark grafting, and one side of the scion should be aligned with the cambium.

  Best time: February in early spring. At this time the temperature is relatively low, so the rootstock and scion heal more slowly, and the large amount of nutrients stored by the rootstock and scion in autumn and winter can fully supply their healing. After grafting, it coincides with the vigorous spring growth period, so the scion can sprout, grow shoots, and unfurl leaves relatively quickly. Once an old-branch graft has healed, the scion grows especially fast.

  Management after grafting: For old-branch grafting, special attention must be paid to temperature and humidity because the temperature is low at the time of grafting, and after grafting the plant is kept in a plastic tunnel for a relatively long time, so the temperature and humidity inside the tunnel must be well controlled. For softwood grafting, pay attention to shade management. After grafting, use two layers of shade; after half a month, one layer is enough.

Old-Branch Grafting Technique for Potted Camellias

Camellia grafting can enable excellent camellia varieties to be propagated quickly. Some precious camellia varieties do not root easily from cuttings, but can survive through grafting. Some varieties undergo bud mutation through grafting, and a single color can become variegated. The variation after grafting can be used to breed a new variety. Through grafting, a single plant can also produce camellias of various colors, flower forms, flowering periods, and multiple varieties. In recent years, camellia producers in Jinhua have used this knife in their hands to boldly graft large-flowered varieties introduced from abroad onto old oil tea rootstocks, thereby greatly advancing camellia production in Jinhua and achieving obvious benefits. 

   Cover with a plastic bag 

   Grafting notes: 

   Rootstock:Strong-resistant, fast-growing red camellia varieties such as ‘Shizixiao’, ‘Hongluzhen’, the single-flowered ‘Jinxin Dahong’, and ‘Jinpan Lizhi’. 

   Technique:The rootstock cut should be level, and the cut surface should be wrapped in tin foil or sealed with yellow clay. The leaf buds on the scion should be plump, and half of each leaf can be cut off. The lower end of the scion should be cut on both sides into a 1cm-2cm wedge-shaped surface. The cut surface should be flat and smooth. It is best to use bark grafting, and one side of the scion should be aligned with the cambium. 

   Best time:February in early spring. At this time the temperature is relatively low, so the rootstock and scion heal more slowly, and the large amount of nutrients stored by the rootstock and scion in autumn and winter can fully supply their healing. After grafting, it coincides with the vigorous spring growth period, so the scion can sprout, grow shoots, and unfurl leaves relatively quickly. Once an old-branch graft has healed, the scion grows especially fast. 

   Management after grafting:For old-branch grafting, special attention must be paid to temperature and humidity because the temperature is low at the time of grafting, and after grafting the plant is kept in a plastic tunnel for a relatively long time, so the temperature and humidity inside the tunnel must be well controlled. For softwood grafting, pay attention to shade management. After grafting, use two layers of shade; after half a month, one layer is enough.