The Latest Cutting Propagation Methods for Variegated Star Jasmine
Variegated star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides 'Variegatum') is a woody vine of the Apocynaceae family, widely distributed in China. It is also a very important landscaping plant, and can be used in garden engineering and roadside greening alike. As a result, variegated star jasmine now has a relatively large planting area. So when growing variegated star jasmine, how should you take cuttings? What propagation methods are there? Let's take a look together at the cutting and propagation of variegated star jasmine!
1. How to Take Cuttings
Before taking cuttings of variegated star jasmine, we first need to prepare a cutting bed and mix a cutting substrate. The cutting substrate for variegated star jasmine can be made by mixing materials such as vermiculite powder, peat soil and perlite. Then place it into a cutting plug tray; if raising seedlings in nutrient pots, you will also need to add one part of fine sand. If you find this troublesome, you can also insert the cuttings directly into fine sand. Finally, pay attention to the cutting time for variegated star jasmine; although it can be done all year round, cuttings taken in spring and autumn have the highest survival rate.
2. Cutting Management
Next, we need to choose a robust growing branch, one that has no wounds, pests or diseases. Cut the branch into cuttings of about 10 cm, and each cutting must keep at least one bud eye. Then soak the base of the branch in a rooting agent, insert it directly into the seedling bed and water it thoroughly. After cutting, good management is needed: keep the soil moist, and the soil moisture content must not be lower than 50%. The temperature should also be kept at around 35°C, but not too high; when it is too high, cool it down promptly. Before rooting and sprouting, avoid direct sunlight on the cuttings; usually under normal management, the cuttings will root and sprout in about a week.
3. Other Propagation Methods
Besides cutting propagation, variegated star jasmine can also be propagated by layering. Before layering, you likewise need to select good branches; both perennial branches and young shoots can be layered. However, different branches mean different layering times. Perennial branches should be layered in spring, while young shoots should be layered in summer. When layering, first girdle the branch at a position about 20 cm from the base, then disinfect it and let it dry, and then press it directly into the soil. Carry out good water and fertilizer management, and wait until the branch roots; after the branch becomes thick and strong and grows new shoots, it will gradually take root. At this point, it can be separated directly from the mother plant into an individual plant.
The above is a brief introduction to the cutting and propagation of variegated star jasmine. When propagating, variegated star jasmine is basically still mainly propagated by cuttings, because layering is more troublesome to carry out and has a relatively long rooting cycle, so it is not commonly used. That is all for today's introduction; this article is for reference only, and we hope it can help you!