Kerria japonica propagation methods: how to prune the branches and leaves of Kerria japonica

Kerria japonica is a woody flowering plant native to China, with a very wide distribution range, and has been one of the favorites of literati and scholars since ancient times. Kerria japonica is a very beautiful flower; in late spring and early summer, golden-yellow flowers cover the branches, making it especially striking. So how does such a beautiful flower reproduce?

Propagation methods of Kerria japonica

1. Division propagation

Division propagation is often used for double-flowered varieties, carried out after leaf fall in autumn and before bud break in spring. For division propagation of Kerria japonica, the mother plant does not need to be dug out; use a knife or shovel to dig directly in the soil and separate new plants from the mother plant for transplanting. It is best if each divided clump has 1-2 branches, as this makes it easier to survive. The mother plant left in the soil can continue to be divided again the following year.

2. Cutting propagation

Cutting propagation is generally done by taking softwood cuttings during the plum rain season, using vigorous current-year branches, leaving half the leaves, with cuttings 12-450px long, inserted into brown soil, matured soil or sandy soil. If inserted in the open ground, shade is needed to prevent drying out. In early spring, hardwood cuttings are used, from one-year-old branches that have not yet sprouted.

3. Seed propagation

Seed propagation of Kerria japonica is suitable for single-flowered varieties, and germination takes about 20 days after sowing. Seed propagation is generally used when mass-propagating the single-flowered original species. After the seeds are harvested, they need to be stored in sandy soil at a low temperature of 5°C for 1-2 months, and sown the following spring. After evenly broadcasting the seeds over the soil, cover with fine soil and then with a layer of grass. After the seedlings emerge, build a shade frame to prevent exposure to strong sunlight.

How to prune the branches and leaves of Kerria japonica

1. Timing: carry out in January-February, cutting off dead branches, overly dense branches, old branches with hard and whitened bases, and other branches from the base. Renew the plant once every 5-10 years; after flowering, leave 10-15 cm above the ground and cut off all the rest.

2. Method: after Kerria japonica finishes flowering, leave the branches about 50 cm high and cut off the upper part of the branches, which can encourage new buds to sprout from the underground part. In the second year in spring, around February to March, choose consecutive sunny days and prune Kerria japonica over several days; this can make the current year's branches bloom more vigorously and increase the number of flowers. If you want Kerria japonica to have more branches, you can keep only 7 cm and cut off the remaining part.

3. Precautions:

During pruning, if you find that a branch is gradually dying from top to bottom, cut off the dead branch immediately; otherwise the withered state will spread all the way to the roots and cause the death of the entire plant.

After Kerria japonica loses its leaves, dead branches may also appear, so observe promptly and deal with them promptly. Because most Kerria japonica flowers bloom at the tips of new branches, when pruning only thinning out is allowed, and short cutting is not advisable; if short cut, the flower buds at the branch tips will be cut off, directly affecting flowering the following spring.

After winter sets in or before budding in early spring, cut off overly dense old branches, weak branches and diseased or pest-infested branches, which can both keep the plant shape symmetrical and beautiful and allow abundant flowering.

How to grow Kerria japonica

1. Soil

Kerria japonica is not strict about soil requirements, and grows best in fertile, loose sandy loam; the soil needs to remain well drained, soft and non-alkaline.

2. Water

Kerria japonica generally does not need much watering, but in summer when temperatures are too high and water evaporates too quickly, watering should be appropriately increased to prevent the potting soil from becoming too dry.

3. Temperature

Kerria japonica likes a warm and humid environment, so in winter it should be brought indoors to overwinter.

4. Fertilizing

Potted Kerria japonica needs to be watered with cake fertilizer solution in the afternoon, but not too much; during the growing season, apply 1-2 additional applications of liquid fertilizer as appropriate according to the plant's growth condition.

Precautions for growing Kerria japonica

1. Prune dead branches promptly

When you find that Kerria japonica has dieback branches (branches gradually dying from top to bottom), you need to cut off the dead branches immediately; otherwise, once it spreads to the roots, it will cause the death of the whole plant. After Kerria japonica loses its leaves, dead branches may still appear, and at this time more pruning is also needed.

2. Prune branches after flowering

After Kerria japonica flowers, leave 50 cm of height, then cut off the upper branches to encourage underground branch buds to sprout. In the second year in spring, choose sunny days and prune over several consecutive days, which can make the current year's branches bloom vigorously. If you want more branches, leave only about 7 cm, then cut off the rest.

3. Repot regularly

In cold regions, such as north of the Yangtze River basin, potted plants need to be repotted about once every 3 years, and combined with root pruning and division to renew old and weak branches.

The flower color of Kerria japonica is a bright, glossy golden yellow, borne at the tips of the branches and set off against the green, just like stars in the sky. In fact, Kerria japonica not only has a beautiful appearance, it also has strong medicinal value, producing a moistening-lung and stopping-cough effect,