Budding is a method of plant propagation in which a new plant is produced from a single bud of the parent plant. Budding is a form of vegetative or clonal plant propagation that produces an exact replica of the parent plant. There are two slightly different methods of budding: chip budding and T budding. The difference between the two is the procedure timing and the amount of wood taken with the bud.
Budding is most frequently used to multiply a variety that cannot be produced from seed. It is a common method for producing fruit trees, roses, and many varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs. Budding can be used on many kinds of plants, including apples, pears, peaches, and a large number of ornamentals.
The following are the key steps involved in the budding process:
- Collect shoots from the current season and the newly formed vegetative buds for the procedure.
- Remove leaf blades and leave the petioles as handles for easier holding and positioning of the buds during the procedure.
- Make a T-shaped cut in the bark of the rootstock.
- Lift the bark and insert the bud into the cut.
- Secure the bud in place with a rubber band or grafting tape.
- Wait for the bud to grow and develop into a new plant.
Budding is most successful when using young wood as understock that is one to two years old and has a diameter from ¼ inch to 1½ inches. The understock is usually a rootstock or another existing variety. Several different varieties could be budded on the same tree by implementing one of the two budding methods.
In summary, budding is a method of plant propagation that produces an exact replica of the parent plant. It is most frequently used to multiply a variety that cannot be produced from seed and is a common method for producing fruit trees, roses, and many varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs.
