Grafting is a horticultural technique used to join the tissues of one plant (the scion or graft) to another plant (the rootstock or stock) in such a way that they grow together as a single plant. This method is commonly employed in fruit tree cultivation, ornamental plant propagation, and in situations where it’s advantageous to combine the desirable characteristics of two different plants. Grafting allows for the production of plants with specific traits, such as improved disease resistance, faster growth, or different fruit varieties.

Here are the basic steps and types of grafting:

Basic Steps of Grafting:

1. Selection of Scion and Rootstock: Choose a healthy and disease-free scion (the plant material you want to propagate) and a compatible rootstock (the plant onto which the scion will be grafted).
2. Prepare Matching Cuts: Make precise cuts on both the scion and the rootstock to ensure they fit together well. The cuts should be made at matching angles to maximize contact between the cambium layers (the actively growing tissues) of the two plants.
3. Join the Scion and Rootstock: Place the scion onto the prepared cut surface of the rootstock, ensuring that the cambium layers align. This alignment is crucial for successful grafting. Use a grafting clip or rubber band to hold the two pieces together.
4. Seal the Graft: Seal the graft union using grafting wax, tape, or a similar material to prevent desiccation and infections. This helps create a moist and protected environment for the graft to heal.
5. Allow Healing: The grafted plant should be kept in a controlled environment with proper humidity and temperature for a period of time, allowing the graft to heal and the scion to grow onto the rootstock.
6. Monitor Growth: After successful grafting and healing, the scion will begin to grow, and the plant will continue to develop as a single entity. Over time, the graft union becomes stronger and more integrated.

Types of Grafting:

1. Whip-and-Tongue Graft: This is one of the most common types of grafting. It involves making matching cuts on both the scion and rootstock and then creating notches or “tongues” in both cut surfaces to interlock them. It’s often used for grafting fruit trees.
2. Cleft Graft: In cleft grafting, a vertical split or cleft is made in the rootstock, and the scion is inserted into the cleft. This method is often used to rejuvenate older fruit trees.
3. Bud Grafting (T-budding or Shield budding): Instead of using a scion with multiple buds, a single bud is taken from the desired plant and inserted into a T-shaped cut in the rootstock. This method is commonly used for propagating roses and some fruit trees.
4. Inlay or Bark Graft: In this method, a rectangular section of bark is removed from the rootstock, and the scion, including a small piece of the bark, is inserted into the gap. It is often used for trees with thicker bark.
5. Bridge Graft: This method is used to repair or bridge a damaged area of a tree, such as a wound or scar. A small scion is grafted onto the affected area to encourage healing.
6. Side-veneer Graft: In this method, a scion with a single long cut is grafted onto the rootstock’s side, creating a slanting or side-veneer union.

Grafting is a valuable tool for plant propagation and horticultural purposes, allowing for the combination of desirable traits and the production of plants that may not be easily propagated by other means. It requires some skill and knowledge of plant anatomy, and the success of grafting depends on factors like compatibility between the scion and rootstock and the care taken during the grafting process.