Detailed Guide to Pruning and Cutting Propagation Methods for Winter Jasmine
Winter jasmine is one of the most iconic plants of spring; the moment you see it, you know spring has arrived. It has incredibly strong vitality and therefore grows very quickly, which makes pruning the key to keeping its shape beautiful. Moreover, if it is not pruned regularly, it will also affect its growth. Let's learn its pruning techniques below.
Pruning Methods for Winter Jasmine
Generally, it is best to prune twice. After it finishes blooming in spring, carry out one pruning: cut off all the current year's branches, leaving 1-2 buds. After it has grown for a period, prune once more, removing weak branches according to how evenly the branches of the crown are distributed. If the branches grow too quickly, carry out another short cut in late March or early April; after side buds grow out, remove one side bud according to the direction of branch growth. It is very important to seize this period when spring buds sprout and carry out concentrated pruning and tidying.
When pruning, first remove the adventitious buds that do not need to be kept. When a branch grows to 2 pairs of leaves, about 4-5 cm in length, remove the terminal bud with tweezers. After about 10 days, the second round of buds sprouts; at this time, again keep 2 pairs of leaves and remove the terminal bud. After removing the terminal buds three times in this way, spring pruning is complete. If you continue to remove buds after this, only single buds will sprout and they will no longer branch evenly. After most of the nutrients stored in autumn and winter have been used up, the potted tree enters the normal spring and summer branch-training management stage.
Cutting Propagation Methods for Winter Jasmine
First, it is best to do this during the vigorous growth period from July to August, when it can root quickly and the survival rate is high. When propagating on a large scale, cuttings can be taken in open ground; when propagating on a small scale, they can be taken in pots. For open-ground cuttings, choose a plot that is sheltered from the wind and faces the sun, has relatively high terrain that favors drainage, and has loose, fertile soil. For pot cuttings, the potting soil can be loose, fertile sandy loam with a small amount of river sand added. For the cuttings, choose robust new branches grown in the current year, cut off the tender tips, and cut them into branch sections 10-15 cm long. Remove all the leaves on the lower 2/3 of the cutting, then insert it into the soil. The plant and row spacing is 8-10 cm, and the insertion depth reaches 1/3-1/2 of the cutting length.
After inserting, water thoroughly (you can also water while inserting the cuttings). Then, for 15 days, pay attention to shading and keeping the soil moist. After 15 days, gradually increase light. However, prevent the scorching sun and high temperatures around noon, and water when the soil is dry. After another 15 days or so, the cuttings may root. After another 10 days or so, once new buds have grown, you can apply fully decomposed diluted liquid fertilizer along with watering, and pay attention to weeding and loosening the soil, and divide and plant as needed. If you plan to divide and plant in the spring of the following year, control watering directly after autumn and stop topdressing, so as to promote robust growth of new branches and timely lignification, which helps them overwinter safely.
What to Do If Winter Jasmine Leaves Turn Yellow
1. Remove weeds in time to reduce sources of infection and ensure the environment around the winter jasmine is clean. Next, control aphids to reduce the medium of transmission.
2. Water correctly. Before watering, check whether the soil is dry or wet, and stick to watering when dry and stopping when wet. If you are unsure of the amount, water and then immediately put it in the sun, or use the immersion method to water, which can effectively control the amount of water. (The immersion method is to place the flowerpot in water, let the water cover 2/3 of it, and allow the water to enter the soil naturally.)
3. When choosing soil, choose soil that is loose and has good drainage. When potting, spread a layer of coarse sand grains at the bottom of the flowerpot as a drainage layer. During care, if you find that the soil has poor air permeability, repot and change the soil in time.
4. During the growth period, winter jasmine needs 2-3 topdressings, mainly with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer. When potting winter jasmine, apply sufficient base fertilizer; apply nitrogen fertilizer once before flowering, and topdress once after flowering along with timely pruning of branches and leaves. During care, fertilize reasonably according to the plant's growth condition. Each time, irrigate with diluted liquid fertilizer to avoid excessive fertilization causing fertilizer damage.
How Winter Jasmine Overwinters
1. In winter, you can place a water pan under the pot, with a small amount of water in the pan, to increase the humidity around the potted flower and reduce water evaporation from the leaves, preventing the flower from losing water and dropping leaves.
2. In winter, it also needs watering. When watering, control the water temperature well; it is best if it is similar to the temperature at the time, to prevent the winter jasmine from being damaged by too low a temperature. Because winter temperatures are low and water evaporates slowly, watering does not need to be too frequent; you can water appropriately after observing the potting soil.
Whenever you go out to enjoy spring and see large patches of winter jasmine, your mood is also very joyful. It tells people that spring has come, and winter jasmine has high ornamental value. It is generally propagated by cuttings; this method has a very high survival rate and can propagate in large quantities, so gardens for ornamental viewing generally use this method.