How to graft an orange tree

When performing a graft, choosing the right time is a vital point to maximize the chances of success. The best time to graft orange trees is when the tree is very active, in the middle of the growing season. At this time it will be when it is more likely that the sap circulates correctly between graft and rootstock and that it comes out well.

This usually occurs in spring , between April and the end of July, although in some climates we can extend the grafting season until September. If you are not sure if your climate coincides with the indicated months, keep in mind that the orange tree will be in an adequate growth phase with a temperature between 20ºC and 29ºC once the cold months have passed.

There are a large number of grafting techniques that can be used with citrus fruits, such as inlay graft, spike graft, wedge graft, crown graft, inverted-ele graft, or gusset graft.

All of them have their pros and cons, but this time we are going to focus on the gusset graft . Its main points in favor are its ease of implementation, which makes it more suitable for non-experts in the field, and that the inverted T-shaped cut has the advantage of facilitating the non-accumulation of water in the graft, in case of rain. or it will get wet when watering. Let’s see how to make an orange tree graft step by step :

1. Disinfect your grafting tools. It is vital that you sterilize them with alcohol or a specific product, since we are going to make open wounds to the plants and we must minimize the chances of infection.
2. Clean the pattern or rootstock of leaves, branches or thorns if it has them. It is desirable that the stem is as clean as possible.
3. Make an inverted T-shaped cut on the rootstock. As we have mentioned before, cutting with this shape prevents water from possible rainfall or irrigation from accumulating in the wound, something that would not be appropriate and could cause the appearance of fungi or diseases. The ideal is to make the graft at a height of approximately 20 or 25 cm from the base. Why so low? The lower the graft, the more difficult it is for other branches or shoots to steal sap and nutrients from the cutting, which especially at the beginning, is what we are most interested in.
4. Cut the bud from the graft, keeping about a centimeter of stem above and below the bud. Nothing happens if the cut has some wood on the inside, in fact it is common. Do not remove it. At this point, it is highly recommended to avoid touching the yolk with your hands, as we could dirty or infect it. Grab it by the petiole or, if it has detached, use your tools.
5. Insert the graft in the cut of the pattern, ensuring that it is well supported and fitted, with all the possible contact surface between both. Cut off what is sticking out of the graft, and wrap it with graft tape or other inert material.
6. Cut the rootstock above the graft. Leave the tree in a semi-shady location for the first few weeks while you check to see if the graft is starting to grow and has been successful. In these early days, water often. After about six weeks, you can remove the wrap from the graft.

If what interests us is how to graft an old orange tree, it will be better to do the grafting following the reed technique and do it in mid-winter.

After learning how to graft the orange tree, we encourage you to consult these other guides on Caring for the dwarf orange tree and How to grow an orange tree in a pot .

Lemon trees, as citrus fruits that they are, are good rootstocks for the orange tree, in addition to resisting better some colder climates. For this reason, and because of how practical it is to have lemons and oranges on the same tree, grafting an orange tree onto a lemon tree is a very good option.

We can continue using the previously described gusset method, although if we want the tree to grow vertically from the graft, we can perform a cleft graft .

1. Cut the main stem of the pattern to the desired height, making a longitudinal cut of about 5 cm long.
2. Prepare the stake or spike that will act as a graft, giving it a wedge shape that adapts to the cut made in the pattern.
3. After introducing it, wrap rope or tape around the graft and cut off the end of the stake to create more side shoots.

For more information, we recommend these other AgroCorrn articles on When and how to graft a lemon tree and How to graft fruit trees .

If you want to read more articles similar to How to graft an orange tree , we recommend that you enter our category of Growing and caring for plants .