How to Propagate Honeysuckle by Layering? Detailed Method and Steps
Honeysuckle has a unique floral fragrance and medicinal value, and has won the affection of many people; the nectar of honeysuckle is also very sweet. Layering is the most common propagation method for honeysuckle, so what is the layering propagation method? What other propagation methods are there?
1. Layering Propagation Method
Layering is best done in autumn and winter when the plant is dormant, or in early spring when it begins to sprout. For the parent plant, choose a honeysuckle that has grown for 3 to 4 years and has already flowered, then select a one-year-old branch, preferably one that grows vigorously and has a relatively high yield, as this will benefit subsequent growth.
Then bend the branch and bury it in the soil, cutting a wound on the part buried in the soil, with the tip of the branch left exposed above ground. Cover the buried part with 10 to 15 cm of fine fertile soil, then secure the branch in place, and afterward water and fertilize frequently. In the second year you will find that the branch pressed into the soil has separated from the main plant and developed roots, and at this point it can be transplanted.
2. Division Propagation Method
Division means separating the rhizomes from the honeysuckle parent plant. This method requires digging up the parent plant in winter when the honeysuckle is dormant. Then the root system and the above-ground stems are pruned appropriately; to avoid the parent plant dying from excessive pruning, the pruning must be done reasonably and appropriately.
After pruning is finished, dig holes and carry out the division, planting 1 to 2 plants in each hole. By the second year, these divisions will be able to produce flower buds. However, because the parent plant has been pruned, its nutrients cannot keep up, so it may bloom very little or not at all that year. This propagation method is generally rarely used.
3. Seed Propagation Method
Many people may never have seen honeysuckle seeds. After the Frost's Descent solar term each year, the honeysuckle fruit ripens. Collect the honeysuckle fruit in good time, then wash and rub it in water to remove the skin, flesh and impurities, keeping the seeds, and dry them in the sun for storage. By the following spring, they can be sown.
When spring arrives the following year, take out the honeysuckle seeds, soak them in 40°C warm water for 24 hours, then remove them and place them on a layer of wet sand to germinate. When half of the seeds have split open and show white, the seeds can be selected and sown. For friends who do not know how to propagate honeysuckle, this method can be said to be the simplest, and it is suitable for propagation on a large scale.
4. Cutting Propagation Method
For propagating honeysuckle, the cutting method is the most common, and it can be done in spring, summer or autumn. When choosing branches, it is best to choose healthy, sturdy branches that have already grown
for 1 to 2 years, trim them into cuttings about 30 cm long, then remove the leaves at the bottom, leaving only 2 to 4 leaves on top.
Finally, cut the lower end at a 45° angle into a slanted surface, to help the branch absorb water and nutrients well after cutting. Before cutting, the slanted lower end of the honeysuckle branch also needs to be dipped in a 500ppm indolebutyric acid (IBA) solution for just 5 to 10 seconds; after drying, it can be inserted, and roots and shoots will form after one month.
There are many propagation methods for honeysuckle; you can choose a suitable propagation method according to the local climate and actual conditions.