Latest Prices for Chinese Holly Seeds and a Detailed Guide to Growing Them
Chinese holly is an excellent ornamental tree species, also known as cat's thorn, tiger thorn, eight-horn thorn, etc. It is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Ilex in the family Aquifoliaceae, with peculiar leaf shapes, bright green and glossy, evergreen all year round, covered with red berries after autumn, not withering through winter, gorgeous and lovely, and is often used in European and American countries for Christmas decorations. Now let's take a look at the price of Chinese holly seeds and how to grow them!
How much is a jin of Chinese holly seeds?
The price of Chinese holly seeds is about 15 to 30 yuan per jin, but prices vary depending on seed quality, variety, market, and other factors. Chinese holly grows in thickets and open forests on hillsides and hills, as well as near roadsides, streams, and village houses. It is drought-tolerant, prefers fertile acidic soil, is not tolerant of saline-alkali soil, is relatively cold-hardy, can overwinter outdoors in the Yangtze River basin, and can withstand a brief low temperature of -5°C. It likes sunlight but can also tolerate shade, and is suitable for growing in a shady, humid environment.
Sowing methods for Chinese holly
Chinese holly is mostly propagated by sowing and cuttings. For propagation by sowing, mature seeds can be collected from September to October. The seeds need 3 months of after-ripening before they will germinate and can be stored in stratified sand, then sown in March to April of the following year, with a relatively high germination rate. However, for varieties of Chinese holly with colored markings, seedlings will show atavism and the leaf color will turn green.
How to grow Chinese holly
1. Transplanting: Chinese holly can be transplanted in spring and autumn, and it is best to transplant with soil in March to April in spring or in autumn. Because Chinese holly has few fibrous roots, special care must be taken during the operation to prevent the root ball from breaking apart, and some branches and leaves should be pruned at the same time to reduce transpiration, otherwise it will be difficult to survive.
2. Watering: Chinese holly is drought-tolerant, but during the vigorous growth period it needs frequent watering. Generally, the potting soil should be kept moist without water accumulation. In summer, water should often be sprayed on the leaves to help evaporate and cool down.
3. Fertilizing: Chinese holly likes fertile conditions. Generally, in spring apply dilute cake fertilizer water once every 2 weeks, in autumn apply topdressing once a month, no fertilizer is needed in summer, and apply fertilizer once in winter.
4. Pruning: Chinese holly has strong sprouting ability and is very tolerant of pruning. For finished bonsai works, unnecessary water sprouts, sprouting branches, and excess buds can usually be pruned away to maintain a certain tree shape.
5. Repotting: Chinese holly bonsai is usually repotted once every 2 to 3 years, often in February to March in spring, or after autumn when the tree enters dormancy. When repotting, some old roots can be trimmed away, sufficient base fertilizer should be applied, 1/2 of the old soil should be retained, and it should be replanted in the pot.
6. Pests and diseases: Chinese holly has very few pests and diseases. Sometimes branches suffer from sooty mold caused by psyllids. From April to May before the plum rain season, spray Bordeaux mixture or lime sulfur once every 10 days. When harmed by scale insects, spraying lead arsenate can kill them.