How to Propagate Four-Season Osmanthus? A Few Common Methods Explained
Four-season osmanthus is also known as month-month laurel; its flowers are slightly white or pale yellow, the fragrance is relatively faint, the leaves are thin, and it blooms in autumn. So how is four-season osmanthus propagated?
How to propagate four-season osmanthus?
1. Softwood cuttings
Select a superior mother plant with good variety, vigorous growth, and no pests or diseases for taking cuttings, and cut semi-lignified current-year softwood shoots from the outer upper part of the canopy as cuttings. When preparing the cuttings, cut them into 2-3cm lengths and keep 1-2 leaves at the top. Cut the upper end of the shoot into a flat cut and carve the base into a slanted surface; the slanted surface should be smooth to facilitate insertion and callus rooting. Soak the shoots in 0.1% thiophanate-methyl or carbendazim for 10min to disinfect. Then dip the base into a 50mg naphthaleneacetic acid solution or 100mg ABT rooting powder No. 1 solution, remove after 1h and insert, or soak in 200mg naphthaleneacetic acid for 10min and then insert.
2. Air layering
The air layering method is mostly carried out before spring sprouting, but it can also be done during summer growth, and doing it during the plum rain season also has very good results. During air layering propagation, the rooting time is generally longer, about 3 to 4 months; after cutting it away from the mother plant, it must be placed in a shady, cool place and cared for for a period before it can be transplanted.
3. Rootstock grafting
(1) Bud grafting and scion grafting are usually carried out in spring and autumn, mostly using cut grafting and cleft grafting.
(2) Approach grafting: suitable for the peak growing season, generally from June to July. After grafting, it can heal in about 30 days, but it is best to separate it from the mother plant after the flower buds are plump.
No matter which method is used to propagate four-season osmanthus, it is best to do it with experience.