The garden is a place of frequent miracles, but one of the most interesting tricks nature offers us is in the form of regeneration. Most gardeners are familiar with the classic cutting, where they cut a twig and hope it will grow roots. But there is another option that is much more reliable and elegant.
Classic cuttings are a lottery bet, because the separated part of the plant has to fight for survival without the supply of nutrients from the mother plant. It is called grafting, and in its more advanced form, the so-called aerial grafting, we can let a new tree or bush take root directly on the original, living plant. Don’t you believe?
Also watch the Youtube video from Grafting Examples:
A more considerate method
The principle of this ancient technique is essentially simple. Instead of subjecting the future seedling to the shock of separation from the “mother”, we make it form roots in a place where it still receives water and minerals from the original plant. It’s basically like that “umbilical cord”which guarantees a safe start to life for the new individual. It is a method ideal for trees, such as magnolias, rhododendrons, rare types of maples or even some fruit trees and indoor ficuses.
For tall trees
For classic pruning, which is used for shrubs with flexible branches, it is enough to simply bend the shoot to the ground, in one place slightly hurt and closeearth. Nature will take care of all the rest of the work. However, if we want to propagate a tall tree or a plant with a solid trunk, the just-mentioned air grafting comes into play. With him basically we will bring the soil up to the branchhigh into the crown. How to do it?
Use an antiseptic natural material
We choose a healthy, preferably last year’s shoot and carefully in the place where we want to have future roots we remove the ring of barkabout two centimeters wide. This interrupts the flow of sugars downwards to the roots, which begin to accumulate in the wound and support the formation of root tissue.
Now it’s important to create the perfect incubator right on the branch. We wrap the exposed area with moist peat moss, which has an incredible ability to hold water and at the same time acts antiseptically (that is, it prevents damage to the tissue from being attacked by bacteria and other pathogens).
You also need dark foil
The whole “package” then firmly we wrap it with black foil and tie it as best and as carefully as possible at both ends. However, we must be careful not to overdo it and not damage the tissues of the surrounding branch. The black color is important because the roots need darkness to develop and the film in turn ensures that the moss stays moist for months. Under this invisible cover, the silent process of creation will take place without our further intervention.
Cut – and done…
Our greatest allies in such an endeavor are time and patience. While with herbs you can see the first roots after just a few weeks, with woody plants it can take a whole season or even a year. But the reward will be sweet. As soon as a rich root system appears under the foil, just cut the branch under the new roots. At that moment, we will hold in our hands a finished strong sapling that has the same characteristics as its parent. And since it already has well-developed roots, its chances of successful attachment in the ground are almost one hundred percent.
Sustainably and surely
This method reminds us that patience and cooperation with the natural processes of plants brings the best results. It is sustainable wayhow to propagate your favorite plants from your garden for free and safely or to get unique gifts for friends. Air pruning is not just a horticultural practice, it is an expression of respect for the powers of naturewhich can create new life even where we would not expect it at first glance – right in the middle of the crown of an old tree, high above the ground.
