Grafting tea flowers onto old tea tree stumps is a common horticultural technique aimed at improving the ornamental value and survival rate of tea flowers through grafting. The following are detailed steps and precautions for grafting tea flowers onto old tea tree stumps: 1. Grafting time
It is best to graft camellias in spring, summer, and autumn because during this period, the temperature is suitable and the climate conditions are good, which is conducive to the survival after grafting. Especially between March and June, it is the best time to graft tea flowers. In winter, due to the lower temperature, the survival rate will be relatively low, so grafting is not suitable. 2、 Choose rootstock and scion
1. Rootstock selection: Choose tea tree old stakes with vigorous growth, no pests and diseases, and moderate diameter as rootstocks. The thickness of the rootstock should be greater than that of the scion to ensure stability after grafting.
2. Selection of scions: Choose one year old robust camellia branches as scions. The scion should retain one leaf and one bud, and the leaves can be cut in half to reduce evaporation. Meanwhile, the diameter of the scion should be greater than 0.3 centimeters to ensure sufficient vitality. 3、 Grafting method
There are various methods for grafting tea flowers onto old tea tree stumps, among which drilling grafting and cutting grafting are the two most commonly used methods.
1. Drilling grafting method - drill holes on the rootstock with an electric drill or other drilling tools to a depth of about 2 centimeters, being careful not to drill through the rootstock- After drilling the hole, clean the sawdust inside the hole- Cut the scion into a length of about 3 centimeters, retain one leaf and one bud, and peel it in a circular pattern with a length equivalent to the depth of the hole- Insert the scion into the hole, leaving about 0.5-1 cm of bark below the bud point to facilitate survival- Apply healing agent at the interface to reduce infection and accelerate wound healing- One day later, after the healing agent has dried, cover the grafting site with a plastic bag to keep it warm and moisturized.
2. Cutting method - Cut the rootstock at the smooth surface of the tree bark near the ground and cut 3-5 centimeters down on one side of the section- Cut the scion into a horseear shape, retain 1-2 full buds, and insert them into the cutting seam of the rootstock, aligning both sides to form layers- Use plastic strips or electrical glue to tightly tie the interface and bury it in soil to keep it moist. 4、 Post grafting management
1. Check survival: After a period of time after grafting (such as when the buds sprout 2 centimeters), check whether the scion is alive. If the scion is fresh and the bud eyes are full, it indicates successful grafting.
2. Sunshade and Sun Protection: In the early stage after grafting, measures should be taken to prevent direct sunlight from causing the scion to dry up.
3. Root watering: During the growth period after grafting, the soil should be kept moist, especially in seasons with high temperatures and low humidity.
4. Removing sprouts: After successful grafting, excess branches and bud points that have sprouted on the rootstock should be promptly removed to ensure concentrated nutrient supply to the scion.
5. Disease and pest control: Regularly inspect the growth of grafted plants, promptly detect and prevent diseases and pests.
By implementing the above steps and precautions, the survival rate and ornamental value of tea plants grafted with tea flowers can be effectively improved.