How to Propagate Snapdragons by Cuttings? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Method
Because snapdragons have brilliantly colored flowers, they are very well suited for ornamental display, and they are also a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, with the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, and cooling the blood and reducing swelling. In production they are mainly propagated by sowing; to increase the propagation rate of superior snapdragon varieties, cuttings propagation can be used. Below, let us take a look together at the snapdragon cuttings propagation method!
Selection of Cuttings
When the snapdragon seedlings are about nine cm tall and have eight to ten true leaves, pinch out the growing tips. When pinching, leave four to six true leaves at the lower part, and remove the tender tip bearing four true leaves at the upper part; this can then be used as a cutting for propagation.
Preparation of the Growing Medium
Use two parts sandy loam plus one part plant ash as the cuttings medium, mix thoroughly, and then sift through a fine sieve. Wash the seedling box or shallow seedling tray clean with water, then add the coarse soil from the sieving to a height of about two thirds, and on top of it spread about two cm of fine soil, and spray water appropriately to moisten the medium.
Cuttings Method
When taking snapdragon cuttings, use a thin bamboo stick about three mm in diameter to make holes in the medium in advance, inserting the cuttings as you make each hole, and gently press the soil around the base of the cutting firm with two fingers. The cuttings spacing is about 2.5 by 3 cm, with the standard being that the leaves of the cuttings touch each other but do not overlap. Then water thoroughly with a fine-hole watering can, and move the tray to a shady place for care.
After-Cuttings Care
After the snapdragon cuttings are taken, use a fine-hole watering can to spray water on the potting soil and the cuttings twice a day, morning and evening. The amount of water must not be too much; the potting soil being moist is the standard. If the air humidity is too low, the number of waterings can be appropriately increased. On cloudy days, as long as the potting soil does not turn white, there is no need to water; rooting is very easy. At a temperature of 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, roots generally emerge in about ten days. After rooting, once the seedlings resume growth (about 15 to 20 days), they can be transplanted. Because snapdragons often send out side buds during the growing period, cuttings can often be taken as long as the temperature is suitable. Tender shoots three cm long with four leaves can all root successfully as cuttings. The tender tips from the first pinching, after rooting successfully as cuttings, if grown as single-stem plants, will have a flowering period basically close to that of the mother plant.