Cambium: A thin layer of tissue found between the wood and bark of a plant, responsible for producing new cells that make the plant grow thicker.
Think of the cambium as the plant’s growth engine. It’s a super important but often overlooked part of the plant. This thin layer is where all the action happens. It’s busy creating new cells that become either wood (adding to the plant’s strength and structure) or bark (the plant’s protective outer layer). Without a healthy cambium layer, a plant can’t grow properly.
When gardening, you might hear about the cambium layer when discussing pruning or grafting. When pruning, it’s essential to make clean cuts to avoid damaging the cambium, making the plant vulnerable to disease. Grafting, a technique used to join two plants, relies on the cambium layers of both plants making contact so they can grow together as one. So, even though you can’t see it, the cambium layer plays a vital role in the health and growth of your garden plants.
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