BUDDING

Articles In This Section:

· PROPAGATION

· LAYERING

· GRAFTING

· BUDDING

· BUD SELECTION - Part 1

· BUD SELECTION - Part 2

· BUD SELECTION - Part 3

· BUD SELECTION - Part 4

In budding, a growth-bud or eye of one plant is inserted under the bark of another plant. The bud must unite with the actively growing tissues of the stock plant, as it is called. There must be an affinity between the type of plant from which the eye is taken and the plant into which it is incorporated. The two plants must be closely related but need not be of exactly the same kind. Most roses are easily budded on to other roses.

Often one finds an enthusiastic amateur gardener with a large rose plant, either dwarf or climber, with one or more other varieties budded on to it. Each budding becomes the focus of a plant of that variety. It amounts to several plants living on one root system. Flowering watershoots frequently come from the base of climbers. These provide a favourite site for this form of budding. Often the bud inserted is from a variety contrasting in colour with that of the established plant.

Budding is the propagation method of choice for nurserymen because it is economical and most universally successful. Collection of large supplies of cuttings of desired varieties of roses would be difficult, expensive, and time-absorbing. Each cutting has several eyes. Much wood, unsuitable for cuttings, bears many eyes. Some varieties will not strike at all, or strike in low percentage, or grow poorly from cuttings. These objections do not apply to budding. Usually, mature plants can be obtained from budding a year sooner than from cuttings, since most of them break into strong growth soon after budding.

The chief disadvantages of budding are the growth of suckers from a few plants in subsequent years and the requirement of more knowledge and accurate technique.

Roses and other plants suitable for budding have a layer of actively growing cells just under their bark. This is known as the cambium. It is about as thick as tissue-paper. When in a fit condition for budding it is smooth, almost shiny, and easily separated from the bark; then the cells are growing, and union with the bud is highly probable. In this union, the cells of the stock and the scion, as an inserted bud is called, remain distinct. Growth from each remains the same as before the budding, and in no way forms a hybrid. A line of demarcation always persists between stock and scion.