Ask the Plant Doctor! How to bud graft adeniums

Careful scion selection allows gardeners to craft the desired floral displays on their grafted adeniums. Photo: 123rf

Bud grafting is a fascinating technique used to combine the desired traits from two different adenium plants. The key is to select a healthy, mature rootstock plant and a scion (bud with stem piece) from a plant with beautiful, abundant flowers.

The grafting process begins by making a precise cut in the rootstock using a sharp and sterile scalpel or razor blade. Common techniques include a T-shaped cut, V-shaped incision or the removal of a small bark patch to insert the scion bud. Aligning the green cambium layers – the green tissue between the bark and wood of both the scion and rootstock – is key to successful grafting.