A detailed guide to kapok grafting propagation techniques, with a full breakdown of methods and steps
Kapok is a plant with very high economic value; it not only has considerable ornamental value, but its flowers, bark and other parts also have certain medicinal value. In addition, the cotton-like fluff produced after the fruit matures can replace cotton as a raw material for quilts and padded jackets. It has a wide planting area in our country, but whether grown for ornamental or medicinal purposes, it needs to be propagated. Therefore, today the editor brings you kapok grafting propagation techniques. Let's take a look below!
1. Cultivating rootstock
Kapok seeds mature around Qingming Festival each year. Kapok seeds have a relatively high oil content and poor storability, and they easily fail to germinate, so they are generally sown immediately after collection. When raising seedlings, broadcasting and drilling are generally the main methods. When drilling, pay attention to row spacing and depth. After sowing, cover with fine soil and cover well with rice straw. They will roughly germinate in about a week, and the seedlings will be complete after two weeks. After the seedlings break through the soil, do a good job of loosening the soil and weeding, and thin the seedlings appropriately. When the seedlings grow to about 6 cm and produce 2 leaves, transplant them into nutrient bags. When the seedling diameter at breast height grows to 20-30 cm, carry out grafting.
2. Selection of scions
We should select from mature, already flowering, robustly growing kapok mother plants thick, plump-budded, non-flowering branches without wounds or pests and diseases as scions. The diameter of the branch scions should be kept at about 1 cm, and the bud eye spacing should preferably not exceed 2 cm. After cutting off the scions, remove the leaves on the branches to prevent water loss from the branches, then wrap the branches in a wet cloth and place them in a cool place. If storage is needed, seal both ends of the branches and bury them in a sand bed, then cover the branches with a sand layer of about 5 cm, water appropriately, and do a good job of ventilation.
3. Grafting at the right time
Different regions have different grafting times. Generally, April-May should be avoided, because the temperature is relatively high at this time, which can easily cause the scions to wither and die. First, select a plump bud on the scion, and on the opposite side, at a position 15 mm from the lower part, cut a flat surface about 1.8 cm long with xylem. Then cut the opposite side into a slanted surface at about 46 degrees, cut it off at 0.9 cm from the top, and control the scion length at about 5 cm. Then cut open the rootstock seedling at about 16 cm above the ground, make a vertical cut at the graft union, insert the prepared scion into the graft union, ensuring close contact on both sides, with the top of the scion exposed white. Then wrap and tie it tightly, clamp on the grafting clip, and wrap a layer of grafting film at the bud eye.
4. Post-grafting management
About half a month after grafting, check the survival of the grafted seedlings. If the buds are shiny and fresh, and the leaf stalk falls off when gently touched, it means they have survived; otherwise, it means they have not survived, and timely re-grafting should be carried out. After survival, let the bud eyes break through the film on their own. When all the grafted seedlings have turned green and unfolded, loosen the protective film in time to prevent affecting the growth of new shoots, but the healing area should be unwrapped appropriately later to avoid injuring the scions. Also promptly remove rootstock sprouts to prevent nutrients from being too dispersed and to concentrate nutrients on the new shoots. Finally, do a good job of intertillage, weeding, and fertilizer and water management. When fertilizing, mainly apply more but in small amounts, and increase the proportion of nitrogen fertilizer.
The above is a brief introduction to kapok grafting propagation techniques. After kapok grafting survives, attention should also be paid to pest and disease control. Generally, the main damage is from pests such as leaf beetles and geometrid moths, which seriously harm the growth of surviving grafted seedlings and reduce planting benefits. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you all for reading and supporting.