Growing magnolias from seed or cuttings is a laborious affair that requires not only good luck but also a lot of patience. Such propagated magnolias take a very long time, sometimes 10 years or more, until they reach flowering maturity. You can grow magnolias faster by grafting. We show you how it works.

Growing magnolia by grafting

For grafting towards the end of summer, around mid-August, choose this year's already woody shoot. An approximately two-year-old seedling of the robust and undemanding Kobus magnolia is suitable as a base. Pay attention to hygienic cleanliness during cutting, never touch the interfaces and use a knife that is as sharp as possible. It is best to work with disposable latex gloves so that no pathogens can enter the open wounds and destroy the finish. Not only do you have to work cleanly, you also have to be very precise: the two interfaces should match each other as precisely as possible in order to be able to establish a connection more easily. It is important to work quickly - the interfaces must not dry out.

execution of the refinement

In a first step, prepare the base:

  • Shorten the pad to a height of about 10 to 15 centimeters and remove all leaves.
  • The connecting cut is carried out approx. 5 centimeters above the earth's surface.
  • No eye needs to be here.
  • The cut is to be made as follows:
  • First cut diagonally under the leaf stalk about two centimeters long and a quarter to half a centimeter deep.
  • Make the same cut above the petiole but in reverse from top to bottom.

Now cut the scion:

  • Cut out a noble eye from the selected shoot.
  • Cut as instructed in the instructions above.
  • Put the two interfaces together as accurately as possible and carefully connect them.

Rootstock and scion combine within two to three weeks, creating a thick bulge at the grafting point.

Planting and caring for grafted magnolias

The freshly grafted magnolia is still very sensitive and should therefore not be planted out in the first year and overwintered frost-free. Water regularly but moderately. When planting (best time is April or May), make sure to plant the graft site above the ground.

tips and tricks

Propagation from cuttings is very difficult for magnolias, since the exotic trees only want to take root with difficulty. True-to-root propagation is therefore only possible using mosses or sinkers.

Category:

Trees