Quick Answer
Clue: “Attach, as one plant to another”
Answer: GRAFT
Length: 5 letters
Clue number and direction: 1-Across in the NYT Mini crossword for January 23, 2026.
In the grid, it appears as G R A F T, filling all five squares of 1-Across and setting up crossings with multiple Down entries.
Why GRAFT Is the Right NYT Answer
- In gardening and horticulture, to graft is literally to attach part of one plant to another so they grow together, which matches the clue wording almost exactly. The clue uses a straightforward definition style, so there is no trick or wordplay here just a direct description of the verb.
- The 5-letter pattern GRAFT also fits the Mini’s crossing structure, where 1-Across intersects with downs like GRAND, REMOW, APPLE, FLUTE, and TYPEB.
- If you had any of those letters from crossings (G, R, A, F, or T), GRAFT becomes the only clean horticultural verb that satisfies both meaning and length.
What GRAFT Means in Plain English
- In simple terms, to graft a plant means to attach a cutting or branch from one plant onto another plant so they eventually grow as a single organism.
- Gardeners often graft a desirable fruiting variety onto a hardier rootstock to combine strengths like flavor and disease resistance.
- Outside gardening, graft can also mean “corrupt gain” or “bribery,” but that sense is not what the NYT clue is targeting here. When a crossword clue mentions plants, trees, or gardening, it almost always points to the horticultural meaning.
Solving Tips for Similar NYT Clues
- When you see plant-related clues like “Attach, as one plant to another,” “Join two plants,” or “Horticultural splice,” think of GRAFT as a go-to 5-letter answer.
- Pattern-wise, you might see it as G_R_FT, RAFT, or GRAF as crossings fill in, which makes it easier to recognize once a couple of letters are in place.
- Crossings from 1-Across also help lock it in: for this puzzle, letters from GRAND (1-Down), REMOW (2-Down), APPLE (3-Down), FLUTE (4-Down), and TYPEB (5-Down) confirm GRAFT with no ambiguity.
Similar answers may appear under alternate clues like “Horticultural technique,” “Attach a scion,” or “Join plant parts,” all still pointing to GRAFT in many NYT and other crossword grids.
