You've Gotta Read This

Grafting is a method of asexual plant propagation widely used in agriculture and horticulture where the tissues of one plant are encouraged to fuse with those of another. It is most commonly used for the propagation of trees and shrubs grown commercially. -Wikipedia

OKAY. So I should really just refer you to a primary source. Instead I cite Wikipedia and rave about the exciting parts that I remember, so that you can get a taste of this PHENOMENON of propagation.

This is how it was explained to me today as I was cutting zinnias with a friend: Grafting is when you have a 3 or 4 year old root structure in the ground, and a 1 or 2 year old scion (stems/leaves/flowers) and cut them to fit perfectly together, and bind them together, and THEY BECOME ONE! Each plant is wounded and vulnerable, but if done right, the wound heals and a symbiotic relationship is formed. (See the V shaped wound in the picture.) The fact that it's possible just knocks my socks off. It occurs in nature, too. Why would one do this? For example: grapes. You want a Chardonnay grape that needs well-draining soil, but you live in Piedmont Virginia which is mostly slow-draining clay. So you grow a different grape that grows well in Virginia, a Cabernet Franc or something (I don't know if that's right, but pretend). You can use this rootstock as a base for the desired grape, the Chardonnay. WOW. They become one plant. The concept is so beautiful to me, and it blows my mind.


So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out. There's so much left to know and I'm on the road to find out. (Well in the end I'll know, but on the way I wonder.) Cat Stevens