The grafting of wild mountain tea trees is a technical activity that requires meticulous operation. The following are general grafting steps and precautions: 1. Preparation before grafting
1. Choose rootstock: Use healthy, well grown, and pest free wild tea trees as rootstock. The selection of rootstock is crucial for the survival rate of grafting and the subsequent growth of tea trees.
2. Select shoots: Choose new shoots from mother plants with good quality and high yield as shoots. The buds and branches should be healthy, free from pests and diseases, and grow vigorously, with a diameter between 0.5-1 and 0 centimeters.
3. Tool preparation: Prepare grafting tools such as scissors, blades, and peelers, and disinfect them to avoid spreading bacteria.
4. Environmental preparation: The grafting operation should be carried out in a dry and ventilated place, avoiding wind, sun, and rain to ensure the success rate of grafting. 2、 Grafting steps
1. Peeling: Peel off the outer layer of the main trunk of a wild tea tree to expose the white woody part. When peeling, be careful not to damage the wood to avoid affecting the survival rate of grafting.
2. Incision: Cut a 2-3 centimeter long and 1-1.5 centimeter deep incision along the main stem below the cortex of the rootstock using a blade. The incision should be smooth and even for the insertion and healing of the spike.
3. Insertion: Cut the shoots into cuttings that are about 2-3 centimeters long and have the same width as the incision. The cutting surface of the cuttings should be flat and smooth, and match the incision of the rootstock. Then insert the cuttings into the incision of the rootstock, ensuring that the cambium of the cuttings aligns with the cambium of the rootstock.
4. Binding: Use thin thread or tape to bind the cuttings and rootstock together to prevent the cuttings from loosening and falling off. When tying, the tension should be moderate to ensure the stability of the cuttings and avoid affecting their survival.
5. Wrap: Wrap the grafting site with a moist film or plastic bag to maintain humidity and temperature, which is beneficial for the healing and growth of the cuttings. When wrapping, be careful not to be too tight or too loose, so as not to affect the grafting effect. 3、 Post grafting management
1. Moisturizing: After grafting, it is necessary to water or spray water in a timely manner to keep the grafting site moist. But it is also necessary to avoid excessive watering that may cause water accumulation, so as not to affect the survival rate of grafting.
2. Pruning: After successful grafting, the top of the shoots and lateral branches should be pruned in a timely manner to promote new shoot growth and branching. Be careful not to damage the new shoots and leaves during pruning.
3. Weeding and loosening soil: During the early growth stage of grafted tea seedlings, timely weeding and loosening soil should be carried out to ensure nutrient supply and ventilation.
4. Prevention and control of pests and diseases: Regularly inspect tea seedlings to promptly detect and prevent pests and diseases. Timely measures should be taken to prevent and control discovered pests and diseases, in order to avoid damage to grafted tea seedlings.
The grafting of wild mountain tea trees requires careful and meticulous operation, as well as attention to management and maintenance before and after grafting. Only with proper selection of materials, sufficient preparation, standardized operation, and effective post management can good grafting effects be achieved.