Fruit Crop Propagation Method - Marcotting

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Introduction

Marcotting is a very popular propagating method. Fruit seedlings can be propagated quickly and to be moved to other areas or for sale.

In general, marcotting is a method of propagation in which a branch or twig will be attached with rooting media to it before a new seedlings is produced.

Among the fruit crops that are suitable for this method are lemon, longan and bellfruit.

Advantages

Maintains original fruit crops characteristics
Easy
Does not require high skills
High success percentage

Disadvantages

No taproots, can cause matured trees to fall if not pruning regularly

Equipment and Materials


Grafting knife & Scateur		Transparent plastic & straps


Rooting hormone (if neccessary) e.g.: seradix		Rooting media e.g.: jiffy-7 / cocopeat / compacted loose soil

Methods

		Choose a branch or twig which is semi-old, mature leaves and not flowering/bearing fruit
		Remove small leaves/twigs at the place where the marcotting will be made, usually 60-90cm from the shoot using a scateur
		Make the first cut under the node around the branch/twig using a grafting knife
		Make a second cut about 2-3cm below the first cut around the branch/twig
		Make a vertical cut between the first and second cuts
		Peel the bark of branch/twigs to expose the stem (brightly colored)
		Scrape the cambium layer until it is dry
		Apply rooting hormone under the node (first cut earlier)
		Tie the plastic wrap under the second cut
		Stick the rooting media between the first and second cut to covers the exposed stem
		Lift the plastic wrap over the first cut and tie neatly
		Depending on the type of fruit crop, after 21-30 days, new roots will appear
		Branches/twigs can be cut below the rooting media, unwrapped the plastic wrap and then transferred to another area or into a polybag for sale.