How to grow Boston ivy well? Latest planting methods shared
Boston ivy is also known as creeping ivy, Japanese ivy, false grapevine, red silk grass, iron railing, etc. It is a perennial large deciduous woody vine of the genus Parthenocissus in the grape family, similar in form to wild grapevines, and has been widely used in landscaping, especially playing a pivotal role in vertical greening. Now let us take a look at how to grow Boston ivy!
Growth habits of Boston ivy
Boston ivy has strong adaptability and likes shady, humid environments, but it is not afraid of strong light. It is cold-resistant, drought-resistant, tolerant of poor soil, and widely adaptable to climate. South of the warm temperate zone, it can remain semi-evergreen or evergreen in winter. It tolerates pruning but fears waterlogging. It is not strict about soil requirements and can grow vigorously in both shady, humid environments and sunny spots, but grows best in shady, humid, fertile soil. It has strong resistance to harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide and hydrogen chloride, and can absorb dust from the air.
Propagation methods of Boston ivy
1. Sowing method: After harvesting, rub off the fruit skin and flesh from the seeds, wash them clean, dry them in the sun, and then store them in moist sand at low temperature for one winter. Keeping them warm and moist helps promote germination. In early spring of the following year, in the first and middle ten days of March, they can be sown in the open field, covered with plastic film, and seedlings can emerge in early May. After 1 to 2 years of cultivation, they can be lifted from the nursery.
2. Cutting method: In early spring, cut 20 to 30 cm sections of stems and vines and insert them into an open seedbed, water them, and keep them moist; they will quickly send out vines and survive. In summer and autumn, softwood cuttings with leaves can also be used, with shading and watering for care, and they can also quickly produce new branches with a relatively high survival rate. Hardwood cuttings are carried out in March to April. Cut hardwood branches into 10 to 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 carried out in summer.
3. Layering method: Boston ivy can be propagated by the wavy layering method. It is carried out during the rainy season on shady, humid, cloudless days, with a high survival rate. By autumn, they can be separated and transplanted, and planted in the following year.
⟦NL>How to grow Boston ivy well?
1. Seed treatment: In September, when the berries ripen and turn purplish blue, harvest them immediately. After cleaning and drying in the shade, disinfect the surface with a 0.05% carbendazim solution. After draining, store them by stratification in moist sand. By the first ten days of 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 seed-to-sand ratio of 2:1, place them in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot, cover with straw bags, and frequently spray with fine water to keep moist. After about 20 days, when 20% of the seeds have cracked and shown white, they can be sown.
2. Sowing method: Before sowing Boston ivy seeds, first break up and level the sowing bed, water thoroughly, sow the seeds together with the sand on the bed surface at a sowing rate of 100 grams per square meter, cover with 1 cm of loose forest humus soil, and set up a small arch shed covered 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, in order to increase soil temperature, promote uniform emergence, and prevent damage from scarab beetles. In addition, water frequently to keep the soil moist.
4. Transplanting management: After the true leaves of Boston ivy have unfolded to three, 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 (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 carried out to prevent the vines from tangling with each other and blocking light, and to promote thicker seedlings. 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 lifted from the nursery for planting.
5. Reasonable fertilization: During the growing period, Boston ivy can be top-dressed with liquid fertilizer 2 to 3 times, and weeds should be frequently hoed and the soil loosened to form a border, so that it is not overwhelmed by weeds and is encouraged to grow robustly. It fears waterlogging, so care should be taken to prevent soil water accumulation. It tolerates pruning. During growth, branches and vines at doors and windows can be pruned and tidied as appropriate to keep them neat, beautiful, and convenient.
Summary: That is all we will share about Boston ivy planting methods and precautions, but note that Boston ivy grows relatively fast and climbs relatively high. If it is planted in places such as a home balcony, in order to avoid the Boston ivy climbing into a neighbor's home and causing trouble, it is best to let the neighbor know.