How much does a silver willow (Salix gracilistyla) sapling cost per plant? Growing regions and planting methods

Silver willow, also known as silver bud willow or discolored willow, is an ornamental bud plant with relatively high ornamental value. Because of its good-looking appearance and the fact that it can be dyed various colors, it is quite favored by flower enthusiasts. It is currently sold on the market in our country, and the price is not expensive, so how much does a silver willow sapling cost per plant? Which regions is it suitable for planting? How to plant it?

Sapling price:

Generally 18-45 yuan per plant, but the specific price needs to be inquired about locally.

Suitable planting regions:

Silver willow is native to northern China, and is also distributed in Xinjiang (from east to west on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains and from the southern slope to the Aketao mountainous area of Kashgar), Russia and other places. It has currently been introduced and cultivated in Shanghai for 50-60 years.

Planting time:

Silver willow generally uses cutting propagation. Branches can be cut in early spring for cuttings, or tender branches can be used for cuttings during the plum rain season; it roots and survives very easily. Use garden soil as the cutting substrate and keep it moist. Management: rooted cuttings can be planted out. Daily management should pay attention to fertilization and watering, with topdressing 3—4 times during the growing period; after autumn, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once to promote plump flower buds; fertilizer should also be applied after cutting flower branches, and timely irrigation is needed in summer.

How to plant?

1. Raising seedlings

Silver bud willow is mostly propagated by cuttings, generally by cutting propagation in spring, but we choose to take cuttings in late autumn. In this way, first, superior cuttings can be selected; second, after adapting through a winter, the cuttings can root and grow in a sunny seedbed in early spring, and can be transplanted at the end of April, with a well-developed root system and a high survival rate. The specific method is: in mid-to-late November, select robust branches with plump leaf buds and a diameter of more than 0.5 cm, cut them into 10 to 15 cm lengths, keep 4 to 5 leaf buds on each section, put them in a basin, and soak them in clean water for later use. For the seedbed, choose loose, fertile garden soil and carefully prepare the bed. The bed width is about 1 m, and the length is unlimited. Before cutting, water thoroughly in the seedbed with a watering can. The cutting depth is 2/5 to 1/2 of the cutting branch, and the plant and row spacing is about 5 cm. After cutting, spray enough water, cover with plastic film, and seal all around tightly. Remove the film the next spring, clear weeds, and water.

2. Transplanting

Harden the seedlings in mid-April, and transplant at the end of April. The transplanting field should be heavily supplied with base fertilizer. Apply 2500 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 50 kg of compound fertilizer per mu, plow them into the soil, then prepare the land and make beds. The bed width is 1.5 m, and the planting spacing is 50×50 cm. Open the side ditches well and water thoroughly after planting to settle the seedlings.

3. Management

To promote longer branches and tips, in May and June, in addition to providing sufficient water, timely weed and loosen the soil, and topdress once a week, mainly with nitrogen fertilizer, avoiding concentrated fertilizer. July and August are the main period of flower bud differentiation. To enable flower buds to form on each node along the branches and tips, the supply of fertilizer and water is key. During this period, heavy water and heavy fertilizer should be used, and foliar fertilization can also be carried out. September is the flower bud enlargement period, and fertilization should be stopped and water supply appropriately reduced. During this period, the nutrients needed for flower bud enlargement can be supplied by internal transfer within the branches and tips.

4. Harvesting branches

Around New Year's Day, branches and tips with bracts removed can be cut successively for market supply until just before the Spring Festival. After harvesting the branches, they can be graded and sorted. Generally, flower branches reaching more than 1 m in length are first-grade products for export. To make the colors richer, ordinary water-soluble dyes can be used to dye the inflorescences bright red, golden yellow, or emerald green, so as to enhance the ornamental effect and increase the domestic sales price.

5. Other management

1. When the seedlings reach 60 cm in height, timely pinch the tips to set the head and cultivate branched, clustered branches to increase the harvest rate.

2. Silver bud willow generally does not suffer from diseases, but it is susceptible to red spider mite damage, which often occurs in hot, dry summer seasons. It can be sprayed and killed with 40% dimethoate 3000-fold solution, or 40% dicofol 2000-fold solution.

3. After cutting off old stumps and weak residual branches at the end of February, base fertilizer can be applied between rows. The same method can be used for fertilizer and water management the following year. Under normal circumstances, good-quality commercial branches can be produced for two to three years. After that, new seedlings should be raised again for production.