What rootstock is good for camellia grafting? How to graft camellia?

1. Rootstock Selection

The rootstock for grafting camellia is generally selected from the seedlings of oil tea tree or camellia. Both plants belong to the Theaceae family, have a high affinity with it, are easy to survive after grafting, and grow relatively fast.

2. Grafting method

1. Grafting time: The time for camellia grafting can generally be from Qingming Festival to Mid-Autumn Festival, mostly in June and July. At this time, the leaves have just unfolded, the temperature is relatively high, the wound heals quickly, and the survival rate is higher. If the temperature is low, it will be difficult to graft the plants successfully. The scion will not get nutrients for a long time and will slowly wither.

2. Scion treatment: Camellia scions are generally made from healthy branches that are free of diseases and insect pests. A quarter of the leaves should be retained on the top, and the buds should be full to facilitate subsequent growth. After cuttings are cut, a slanting cut is needed at the bottom to expose its cambium from the side, with a length of about 1.5 cm.

3. Grafting: Cut the camellia rootstock from the cut end along the woody part, with a depth of about 2 cm. Just separate the bark and the woody part, do not cut it off. After cutting, insert the bottom of the scion into it, and align the cambium of the two. If the sizes are different, you need to ensure that one side is aligned.

4. Subsequent maintenance: After completing the grafting, the camellia rootstock and scion need to be tied together to ensure that the two will not separate. At the same time, the incision must be sealed to avoid bacterial infection. In addition, you can put a bag on the upper part of the scion to keep it moist, but do not cover the new shoots to prevent water from dripping on them and causing them to rot.