Bougainvillea grafting method

Grafting preparation

Preparing tools

Home grafting does not require any professional tools, just keep it simple. Scissors, utility knife, garbage bags, raw tape (or colored tape with better sealing properties).

Cut garbage bags

Fold the garbage bag (as shown below), cut it into pieces about 1.5 cm wide with scissors, and use it as a grafting membrane.

Select branches and rootstock

It is best to choose branches with more water as scion. One-year-old semi-lignified branches have the fastest germination and the highest survival rate as scion. Old branches can also survive as scion, but the survival rate and effect are not as good as semi-lignified branches.

grafting

Rootstock scion

Use a utility knife to cut the rootstock and scion of Bougainvillea into the shape shown below, so that the rootstock and scion are tightly combined.

Then trim it.

Wrap with raw tape (tape)

The reason for choosing raw tape or adhesive tape is mainly because raw tape (adhesive tape) is stronger and can wrap the rootstock and scion more tightly. You can also wrap it directly with plastic film, but it will easily break if you use too much force.

Garbage bag packaging

Wrap the previously cut garbage bag around the scion as shown in the picture. Note that only one layer is wrapped around the eye of the bud.

Post-grafting care

After grafting, you can expose the scion to the sun directly, but avoid long-term rain. Generally, the scion will sprout in about 10 days.

The picture below shows what it looks like on the 14th day, and the buds have already broken through the plastic film.

Bougainvillea grows very quickly. After 20 days, when the new branches grow to 10 cm, they need to be topped.

After the grafting is successful, the wrapping film will generally be removed after one month depending on the condition of the scion.