Vegetable grafting : the healing chamber

Abstract

It takes an average of 5–8 days after grafting for the rootstock and scion (top of grafted plant) to establish vascular connection and 14 days for the graft union to fully heal. During the first week after grafting, the scion is unable to receive water from the rootstock. It is therefore important to maintain proper environmental conditions to prevent water loss from the scion and promote rapid formation of the graft union. A healing chamber is a covered structure that maximizes humidity and reduces light to allow grafted plants to heal. The primary purpose of the healing chamber is to minimize transpiration (water loss) from the scion. There is currently limited information available on healing chamber design and use. This fact sheet provides step-by-step instructions for constructing and managing a small healing chamber that can accommodate several hundred plants.