Detailed Guide to Osmanthus Grafting Techniques: Full Analysis of Methods and Steps
Osmanthus is a species of the genus Osmanthus in China. The osmanthus tree is mainly used for landscaping, and secondarily, osmanthus can also be used for brewing tea, making wine, and preparing pastries, giving it certain edible value. Finally, the twigs of osmanthus varieties such as Dangui and Jingui are also a commonly used Chinese medicinal herb. Nowadays, there are many methods for propagating osmanthus trees, such as seed propagation, cutting propagation, layering propagation, and grafting propagation, and today the editor wants to share with you the grafting propagation technique for osmanthus. Let's learn about it together.
1. Rootstock Selection
When using grafting to propagate osmanthus trees, the choice of rootstock is very important. Not all rootstocks are suitable for grafting osmanthus trees, so we need to choose suitable rootstocks. Generally, seedlings such as glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum), Chinese ash (Fraxinus chinensis), fringetree (Chionanthus retusus), holly (Ilex chinensis), and wax privet (Ligustrum obtusifolium) can all be used for grafting osmanthus trees. Selecting these rootstocks is more beneficial to the growth of osmanthus branches after grafting, and to a certain extent shortens the growth cycle, allowing them to enter the flowering period earlier.
2. Scion Selection
The scion is the selection of osmanthus branches. Generally, we only need to choose osmanthus branches from excellent varieties that are free of pests and diseases, relatively robust, true to type, and produce many flowers. Secondly, the osmanthus branches used as scions are best taken from well-developed one- to two-year-old branches, because scions selected this way can heal with the rootstock more quickly and grow new shoots.
3. Grafting Methods
Osmanthus grafting also requires choosing the right time, generally during the two periods of March to May and October each year, when the survival rate of grafting is somewhat higher. When grafting, we need to choose a suitable scion according to the thickness of the rootstock and select the appropriate grafting method, whether it is bud grafting, tongue grafting, chip budding, approach grafting, cut grafting, cleft grafting, or bark grafting. For relatively thin rootstocks, one- to two-year-old scions can generally be used for tongue grafting, cut grafting, chip budding, and approach grafting; thinner rootstocks can use one-year-old scions for bud grafting; finally, thicker rootstocks use cleft grafting and bark grafting. When grafting, align the cut surfaces of the rootstock and scion, and wrap the joint tightly with plastic film or cling film.
4. Post-Grafting Management
To promote the healing ability of the grafted seedlings, we need to check whether there is air or water leakage near the joint, so as not to affect the healing of the rootstock and scion. If we use the bud grafting method, then we need to cut off the upper part of the rootstock above the joint, keeping only about 1 cm. If it is approach grafting, after the rootstock and scion have healed, promptly cut open below the girdling notch of the scion, then after about another month of growth, separate the mother plant from the scion and remove the new buds. Only when new branches and leaves finally grow can the binding plastic film be untied.
That is basically all there is to osmanthus tree grafting techniques. In fact, the grafting methods for many seedlings are much the same. The most critical things are the selection of the rootstock and scion, followed by using the correct grafting method, and finally proper management techniques, so that the survival rate of grafting is extremely high. That is all the editor wants to explain to everyone today. If there is anything else you would like to know, you can leave a message for the editor to inquire.