What are the planting methods for Boston ivy, also known as "flying centipede"?

Boston ivy is also called Japanese ivy, red silk grass, iron-letter vine, and so on. It often climbs on stone walls and is a preferred plant for vertical greening. So, how do you plant Boston ivy? Let's find out together!

1. Growth habits of Boston ivy

Boston ivy has strong adaptability and likes shady, humid environments, but it is also not afraid of strong light. It is cold-resistant, drought-resistant, and tolerant of poor soil, with wide climate adaptability. South of the warm temperate zone, it can remain semi-evergreen or evergreen in winter. Boston ivy tolerates pruning but fears waterlogging. It is not strict about soil requirements and grows best in shady, humid, fertile soil. It can absorb dust from the air.

2. Propagation methods for Boston ivy

1. Sowing method

After harvesting Boston ivy seeds, rub off the fruit skin and pulp, pick out the seeds, wash them, dry them in the sun, and store them in moist sand at low temperature for one winter, which helps promote germination. In early to mid-March of the following year, they can be sown in the open field. After sowing, cover with plastic film. Seedlings can emerge in early May, and after 1-2 years of cultivation they can be ready for sale.

2. Cutting method

In early spring, cut 20-30 cm stem vines and insert them into an open seedbed, water them, and keep them moist; they will quickly sprout vines and survive. In summer or autumn, softwood cuttings with leaves can also be used, shaded and watered for care, and they will also quickly produce new branches with a relatively high survival rate. Hardwood cuttings are done from March to April: cut hardwood branches into 10-15 cm sections and insert them into the soil, water thoroughly, and keep moist. Softwood cuttings use new branches of the current year and are done in summer.

3. Layering method

Boston ivy can be propagated by wave layering, carried out during the rainy season in shady, humid, cloudless weather, with a high survival rate. By autumn, they can be separated and transplanted, and planted out the following year.

3. Planting methods for Boston ivy

1. Seed treatment

In September, when the berries are ripe and purplish-blue, pick the berries, clean them, dry them in the shade, disinfect the surface with a 0.05% carbendazim solution, drain them, and then store them in moist sand stratification. By early March of the following year, soak the seeds in 45°C warm water for two days, changing the water twice a day, then mix them evenly with moist sand at a 2:1 ratio, place them in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot, cover with straw bags, and keep moist. After 20 days, when 20% of the seeds show white sprouts, they can be sown.

2. Sowing method

Before sowing Boston ivy seeds, first rake the sowing bed fine and level, water thoroughly, and sow the seeds together with sand on the bed surface at a sowing rate of 100 grams per sq m. Cover with 1 cm of loose humus soil from under the forest, then build a small arch shed and cover it with polyethylene plastic film.

3. Seedling management

After the cotyledons of Boston ivy emerge from the soil, the film should be uncovered during the day and covered at night on sunny days, and kept covered all day on cloudy and rainy days, to raise soil temperature, promote uniform emergence, and also prevent damage from scarab beetles. During the seedling stage, water frequently to keep the soil moist.

4. Transplanting management

After Boston ivy has unfolded three true leaves, choose a cloudy day or after 3 p.m. and transplant at a density of 1×1 chi. Immediately after planting, water once with diluted manure water (manure-to-water ratio 1:8). During the plum rain season, water must not be allowed to accumulate for too long. After two months, the vines generally grow to more than 60 cm. At this time, the first pinching can be done to prevent the vines from tangling with each other and blocking light, and to encourage the seedlings to grow sturdy. Pinch once a month, combined with supplementary feeding. With the above measures, by the leaf-fall period, the average thickness of seedling vines can reach more than 0.5 cm, and they can be ready for sale and planting.

5. Reasonable fertilization

During the growing period, Boston ivy can be top-dressed with liquid fertilizer 2-3 times, and weeds should be hoed and the soil loosened regularly to keep it from being overwhelmed by grass and to promote healthy growth. Be careful to prevent water accumulation in the soil. Boston ivy tolerates pruning. During growth, branches and vines around doors and windows can be trimmed and tidied as needed to keep them neat and attractive.

The above are the planting methods for Boston ivy compiled for you by the Tuliu.com editor. We hope they can help you!