What Tree Is Used to Graft Longan? Detailed Guide to Methods and Best Time

Longan is a fruit native to southern China, an evergreen tree widely planted in warm, humid climates. It is usually propagated by grafting, air layering and sowing. So what trees can longan be grafted with? What are the grafting methods? When is the best time?

1. What trees can longan be grafted with?

Longan of different varieties and ages can all be grafted. For example, longan trees given low-position grafting can be of various ages, but from the standpoint of ease of operation, young and middle-aged trees under 10 years old are the best choice.

2. When is the best time to graft longan?

The best time to graft longan is in February to March, when the temperature is stable at 15-25 degrees. At this time the plant's physiological metabolism is weak, the flow of sap is low, and the roots and branch tips are in a semi-dormant state, so grafting is more likely to survive.

3. What are the longan grafting methods?

There are many methods for grafting longan, such as bud patch grafting, tongue grafting, side grafting, splice grafting, cut grafting, approach grafting and bud seedling rootstock grafting. When grafting, simply choose the most suitable one according to the actual situation. For example:

1. Cut grafting

(1) Preparation: Use a sterilized knife to make a cut 1.5-2 cm long on each of the upper and lower sides of a healthy, pest- and disease-free rootstock. Then cut a scion 5-6 cm long, with 1 to 2 plump (swollen) axillary buds at the upper end, and cut the lower end at a break angle of about 45° to the scion.

(2) Operation: Gently insert the scion along the incision into the rootstock's cut, press firmly with your hand, and make the long cut surface fit tightly against the bark. Then tie the joint tightly with plastic film, then wrap the rootstock and scion; the axillary bud part of the scion needs to be wrapped with a single layer of film. Finally, sprinkle insecticide on the joint and the saw cut of the rootstock.

2. Bud patch grafting

(1) Preparation: At a height of 10-20 cm from the ground on the rootstock, use the tip of a knife to make 2 vertical parallel cuts from bottom to top, deep enough to reach the xylem. Then cut two arcs at the upper part of the incision so that they cross each other, forming a tongue shape. Then use the bone piece of a budding knife to lift the bark from the tip of the tongue shape, tear it downward, and immediately press it back in place. With the budding knife, 1.5-2 cm from the bud, cut a bud patch with xylem 4-15 cm long and 1.0-1.5 cm wide.

(2) Operation: To place the bud patch, first cut the upper part of the rootstock bark at the budding site shorter by 2/3, then place the prepared bud patch in the center of the budding incision, insert the lower end into the remaining rootstock bark, and keep a gap of 0.5-1.0 mm between the bud patch and the top and both sides of the budding site.

(3) Fixing: After placing the bud patch, use a film strip to tie the bud patch firmly with even force. About one month after grafting, if the grafted site is growing well, the binding can be removed.

3. Side grafting

(1) Preparation: At the grafting site on the rootstock, cut diagonally downward with a knife, with the incision at an angle of 20-30 degrees to the rootstock, to a depth of 1/3 or 1/2 of the xylem. Then on the lower part of the scion first cut a long cut surface 2-3 cm long, then on the opposite side of that cut surface cut a small cut surface 0.5-1 cm long, so that the lower end is slightly pointed.

(2) Operation: Insert the large cut surface of the scion all the way in facing the inner side of the rootstock, then tie it tightly with grafting plastic string; after the callus tissue has fully formed, remove the wrapping film.

There are many ways to graft longan trees, and each method is different. The above is for reference only; the specific operation should be based on the actual situation.