Osmanthus Cutting Propagation Methods and Pruning Time and Techniques

Osmanthus can often be seen in our daily lives, because of its beautiful appearance, small and delicate flowers, and very fresh and pleasant fragrance, it has extremely high ornamental value and is often planted in courtyards, parks, and along roadsides. Many people like to grow osmanthus trees, so do you know how osmanthus should be pruned and propagated by cuttings? Let's find out together with the editor below!

Osmanthus Cutting Propagation Methods

1. Cutting time

The cutting time is suitable from mid-May to mid-July, and from mid-September to mid-October each year. At this time, the new shoots have stopped growing, the branches have more nutrients, the meristematic tissue capacity is relatively strong, and the temperature is more suitable, making it easy for roots to form.

2. Substrate preparation

The most suitable is slightly acidic sandy loam soil with deep soil layers, loose and fertile texture, and good drainage.

3. Cutting selection

Use vigorous, pest-free and disease-free superior plants as mother trees. Cut the semi-lignified young branches of the current year from the upper outer part as cuttings. All cuttings should be graded and tied into small bundles, with the base wrapped in wet toilet paper and brought back indoors for cutting.

4. Cutting treatment

Cut each cutting into 8-10 cm lengths, keep 2 leaves on the upper part, cut half of the leaves off, cut the upper end into a flat opening, cut the base into a slanted opening, then immerse the basal 3 cm in a 5 in 100,000 naphthalene acetic acid solution or a 1 in 10,000 No. 1 ABT rooting powder solution, and remove after 1 hour.

5. Cutting operation

Cuttings should be inserted in separate beds (sections) according to diameter class. With a plant and row spacing of 5×10 cm, first use a wooden stick of the same thickness as the cutting to make holes in the cutting bed, then insert 2/3 of the cutting into the holes, and press the soil tightly around the cuttings. Finally, water the cutting bed thoroughly with a 10,000-fold carbendazim solution to disinfect the soil and provide moisture retention.

When to Prune Osmanthus (How to Prune)

1. Bud removal

When osmanthus sprouts, buds on the trunk and base can also sprout, so useless buds on the lower part of the trunk should be removed in time, so that water and nutrients are concentrated, promoting the development of upper branches and forming an ideal tree shape.

2. Branch thinning

To cultivate a single-trunk osmanthus, from the seedling stage onward you must consciously cultivate a straight trunk and maintain a certain clear trunk height, cutting off useless branches. Generally, after the tree is mature, the clear trunk height of osmanthus is about 1.5 m.

3. Heading back

Cut off the excessively vigorous top branches to keep the osmanthus height at about 3.5 m, with a crown width of 2.5-3 m. When transplanting osmanthus, in order to maintain a complete tree shape, heavy pruning is not advisable; simply cut off dead branches and pest- and disease-damaged branches, thin out overlapping branches, crossing branches, and weak slender branches, and control excessively vigorous branches.

Osmanthus Watering Methods

Watering osmanthus also requires feasible methods so that osmanthus can grow faster and more healthily.

First, the timing of watering osmanthus: in spring and summer high-temperature weather, water frequently, and watering must be done before 10 a.m. every day; in the dry and cold winter season, reduce the amount of watering.

Second, the water quality for watering: when watering osmanthus, ordinary tap water is enough, but the water should be placed in the sun for two or three hours.

The water temperature for watering osmanthus: in order to keep the water temperature consistent with the soil temperature and prevent the water temperature from being lower than the soil temperature, which would damage the roots, it is best to water before 10 a.m. In short, the water temperature should differ as little as possible from the day's air temperature.

Finally, the watering operation: because the seasons differ, the water requirement also differs, so when watering, the amount of water should be measured according to the season. Summer is the hottest, so in summer watering should be done before 10 a.m., or after 4 p.m., and can be done twice a day; when watering, pour slowly, or water by spraying. If high-temperature weather occurs, spray water on the osmanthus leaves to keep the plant moist.

After watering is finished, it is best to loosen the soil to help the roots absorb enough water and promote growth.

Common Disease Prevention and Control Methods

1. For the prevention and control of the following diseases, the first step is to reduce the sources of infection. For example, in autumn thoroughly clear away fallen diseased leaves, and for potted osmanthus, remove diseased leaves in time.

2. Strengthen the management of osmanthus trees. Choose fertile soil or substrate with good drainage to plant osmanthus; increase the application of organic fertilizer and potassium fertilizer; the planting density should be appropriate so as to allow ventilation and light penetration, reduce leaf surface humidity, and reduce the occurrence of diseases.

3. In the early stage of disease occurrence, spray a 1:2:200 Bordeaux mixture, and afterward spray a 50% carbendazim wettable powder 1000-fold solution or a 50% benomyl wettable powder 1000 to 1500-fold solution.

4. In severely affected areas, when the seedlings leave the nursery, they should be soaked and disinfected with a 1000-fold potassium permanganate solution.

As described above, if you can grow an osmanthus tree in your own courtyard or on your balcony, then every year in the flowering season of August and September, clusters of small yellow flowers accompanied by a very pleasant fresh fragrance will make people feel relaxed and happy. Friends who are interested should act quickly!