Collecting the Scion

• 1). Cut a scion from a healthy, established jujube tree. Look for green leaves with no signs of disease and a prolific previous production cycle. (A scion is the original plant or parent plant from which you will be growing a clone.) Cut from a previous season's growth with plenty of buds. Use a clean, sterile knife to cut the scion from a branch at least a 1/4 inch thick.
  
  
• 2). Trim your scion. You need to have some of the center buds from the branch, so cut off the top and bottom, leaving about 8 inches. Depending on the length of your scion, you will probably be cutting off 3 to 4 inches on both the ends.
  
  
• 3). Use the spray bottle to keep both ends of the scion moist. If you need to preserve the scion, place it in a sealed plastic bag in the refrigerator.
  
  

Grafting

• 1). Make a 1- to 1 1/2-inch cut on the rootstock and a 1- to 1 1/2-inch cut on the parent plant or scion.These will need to match up so you can tape the pieces together. Look at the pieces logistically and make sure that a good connection between the two pieces is possible.
  
  
• 2). Cut a slice about 1/4 inch long from each marking cut and then match the scion and rootstock cuts. To match the cuts, take the cut on the scion and fit it against the cut on the rootstock. You are opening up cambium (the base cells that make up trees), so they will mesh together as they heal.
  
  
• 3). Tape together the scion and the rootstock at the cuts. Bind both together firmly using the grafting tape. Seal the cut edges securely on both the rootstock and the scion or they will dry out and be prone to disease and rot. Wind the tape around the pieces four or five times. Use as much tape as you need to get the pieces firmly attached.
  
  
• 4). Check scion within three to four weeks for bud swell, which can take up to eight weeks. Do not undo the tape until you see that the graft "took" and there is no rot or disease. After the swell is evident and the graft looks green and healthy, remove the tape. You should be able to feel the bud swell and see the bark expand so you know when it is time to take off the tape. Plant the tree in a well-draining hole in full sun and water well.