Grafting has been a technique used for many years to produce selected varieties on stronger plants.
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It’s been used to supply flowering plants and shrubs desired by gardeners which would otherwise be more difficult for them to grow.
In plant terms, grafting means physically combining the desirable properties of two or more plants to form one plant.
A fusion is formed between the upper parts (flowering or fruiting) of a plant and the lower parts, or rootstock, of another plant.
The rootstock is selected because it usually is a stronger grower and may be resistant to diseases that attack the scion, or upper part.
Grafted plants have become much more common in garden centres and nurseries. Apart from flowering shrubs, citrus and other fruiting trees have become popular subjects for grafting.
Multigrafts, as the name suggests, have multiple scions grafted onto a single scion. One of the main advantages of multigrafted fruit trees is that a much larger, and more varied yield can be obtained from a smaller garden space. This is particularly attractive for today’s trend towards more compact yards and garden spaces.
Another advantage is that fruiting varieties that require cross pollination for the formation of fruit to take place can have the necessary varieties included on the one plant.
However, it is important for the home gardener to realise that multigrafted plants often require extra vigilance as one of the grafts is often more vigorous than the other one or two grafts. This will mean that the stronger graft will require more regular and heavier pruning.
Poinsettias
Poinsettias are traditionally regarded as Christmas plants, as they are used decoratively at this time of the year.
However, because poinsettias flower in response to the hours of darkness, the plants that are available at Christmas time have been artificially sheltered to produce the conditions that will lead to flowering.
The use of poinsettias at Christmas is a tradition inherited from the northern hemisphere, where the hours of darkness required for flowering occur naturally in December.
The normal conditions for flowering in our area are present during the winter months, so plants of larger varieties can now be seen in local gardens, where they are protected from frosts.
The most commonly grown form of poinsettia, Euphorbia pulcherrima, is a single red. The flowers of a poinsettia are actually very insignificant yellow/white clusters in the centre of the surrounding red bracts, which give the plants their attractive colourings. The bracts, in fact, are modified leaves and form green leaves further down the stem.
In addition to the single form double forms can be obtained. A variety of colourings is also available. All variations have been developed from the single red form.
Varieties are available with bracts that range from creamy white, to pale shades of apricot, pink and yellow as well as bright velvety red.