How to Propagate the Peace Lily Tree? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Propagation Methods

The peace tree, originally named Lanyu cinnamon, also known as Hongtouyu cinnamon, Hongtoushan cinnamon, Fanglanshan cinnamon, large-leaf cinnamon, Taiwan cinnamon, etc., is an evergreen small tree of the genus Cinnamomum in the family Lauraceae, widely produced in the southern region of Taiwan, China. Its propagation methods mainly include seed propagation and cutting propagation. Let's take a look at the propagation methods of the peace tree together!

Seed Propagation of the Peace Tree

1. Sowing time: For seed propagation of the peace tree in South China, ripe purple-black fruits can be used for sowing from September to October. After washing off the peel and pulp, float away the shriveled and empty seeds, spread them in a cool place to dry, and they can be sown right after collection.

2. Seed treatment: If the seeds of the peace tree cannot be sown immediately due to bad weather or the nursery land not being ready, the seeds need to be stored in wet sand in a cool place, taking care to prevent the seeds from becoming moldy. After the seeds crack and show white, they can be sown in the ground or in bags. For seeds not subjected to sand storage to promote germination, before sowing they can be soaked in a 0.3% formalin solution for 30 minutes, pour off the excess liquid, seal for 2 hours, then rinse with clean water to remove the liquid adhering to the seed coat, and immediately soak in clean water for 24 hours, which can increase the germination rate. If seed disinfection is not carried out, the seeds can be directly soaked in warm water at about 40°C, which can also increase the germination rate.

3. Sowing method: Usually, furrow drilling is the main method, with a row spacing of 20 cm to 25 cm, a plant spacing of 5 cm to 7 cm, and a soil covering thickness of 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Cover with straw to retain moisture, and they will germinate after 20 to 30 days.

4. Post-sowing management: Keep the seedbed moist. After 1/3 of the seeds have emerged, remove the covering grass in 2 to 3 batches, then immediately set up a shed for shading. When the seedlings grow 3 to 4 true leaves, apply liquid fertilizer once a month, stop applying after autumn, and do a good job of cold protection, overwintering at a greenhouse temperature of no less than about 5°C. Because the plants have fewer fibrous roots, transplanting should be carried out early, or sand bed germination promotion can be implemented with sprout seedling transplanting into bags. In southern regions, bag sowing or bag cultivation for commercial seedling production has a very good effect.

Cutting Propagation of the Peace Tree

1. Cutting time: The cutting time for the peace tree is April to May in the first half of the year and September to October in the second half. The best time is when the temperature is 22°C to 28°C.

2. Cutting substrate: For peace tree cuttings, use nutrient pots or flower pots, and the substrate uses pure vermiculite or vermiculite:peat = 1:1. The substrate should be disinfected before cutting, which can be done by pouring with 0.1% potassium permanganate or 600 to 800 times dilution of dexon, etc., or by sun exposure.

3. Cutting treatment: The cuttings should be selected from branches with strong apical dominance, semi-lignified in the current year, robust and full, free from pathogen infection, and with bright green leaves. It is best to take cuttings in the morning when there is dew or on cloudy days. Cut the cuttings into 10 cm to 15 cm lengths, leaving 2 to 3 leaves to reduce water loss. Cut the lower end of the cutting into a slanted opening, leaving 3 cm to 5 cm.

4. Cutting method: Soak the base 3 cm to 5 cm of the prepared cuttings in rooting solution (2.5 g diluted in 2 kg of water, slow soak for 2 to 3 hours; for quick soak, dilute in 0.2 kg of water and soak for 15 to 30 seconds) or in a strong rooting agent (each 5 g bag diluted in 0.5 kg of water, soak the base for 16 to 20 hours). After soaking, take them out and insert them into the substrate 3 cm to 5 cm. Too shallow makes them prone to lodging, too deep makes them prone to rot, then press firmly with fingers. One seedling should be cut per small pot. After cutting, water thoroughly until water flows out from the bottom of the pot. Cover the entire cutting with a plastic bag to maintain 100% humidity, place in a cool place, and avoid direct sunlight.

5. Post-cutting management

① Watering: About 4 days after cutting, water thoroughly once. In the north, add a few drops of hydrochloric acid or a few drops of edible vinegar each time you water, keeping the pH at about 5.8, and the cuttings will easily survive. When the substrate humidity is high, do not water, but keep the substrate moist, with an environmental relative humidity of about 80%. Too little watering and the cuttings die of drought; too much watering causes the wound tissue to rot.

② Light: After about 15 days, tie on the plastic bag; after about 20 days, remove the plastic bag. After removing the plastic, increase the time of weak sunlight in the morning and evening. After 25 days, rooting begins; after about one month, new roots 1 cm to 2 cm long grow; after 2 months, roots 5 cm to 6 cm long grow.

③ Soil: If the old leaves do not fall off and new roots are produced, it indicates that the cutting has survived. At this stage, it should be moved to a larger pot. The substrate ratio is leaf mold and fine sand at a 2:1 ratio or sandy loam. When repotting, pull up the cutting with the substrate, plant it into a large pot, then fill with the prepared substrate and water thoroughly.

④ Fertilization: After one week, a compound fertilizer at 1‰ concentration can be applied. After the plant sprouts new leaves, apply a dilute cake fertilizer water once a month. After autumn, continuously apply 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution 2 times to increase the plant's cold resistance, promote early lignification of tender shoots, and enable it to overwinter safely. When fertilizing, avoid raw fertilizer, concentrated fertilizer, and heavy fertilizer, especially prohibit the use of high-concentration chemical fertilizer liquid, otherwise it is very easy to cause fertilizer damage and root burning, leading to yellowing and scorched leaves and plant death.

How to Grow the Peace Tree

1. Temperature: The peace tree loves a high-temperature and humid environment, and the best temperature is 22°C to 30°C. When the temperature exceeds 32°C, set up a shed to shade the peace tree and spray water on the leaves to increase humidity and lower temperature, so that it can maintain vigorous growth. The minimum winter temperature cannot be lower than 5°C.

2. Watering: The peace tree likes moist soil; water appropriately every morning and evening. In winter, spray more water and water less. There must be no standing water in the pot.

3. Light: The peace tree needs relatively good light, but it is also fairly shade-tolerant. It is suitable for care in a semi-shaded environment. Its light requirement changes with age. If the light is too strong, it easily causes the leaves to turn yellow and lose their spirit, reducing its ornamental value.

4. Fertilization: Fertilize the peace tree once a month. After autumn, continuously apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer 2 times. In winter, all forms of topdressing should be stopped to prevent fertilizer damage to the roots.

5. Soil: Small plants should be repotted once a year, and large plants should have their soil changed once every 2 years. During the growing season, loosen the soil once a month. The best time for repotting and changing soil is in spring.

6. Pests and diseases: Aphids are prone to appear on the tender leaves and new buds of the peace tree. After scattering plant ash on the plant, rinse it clean with water. Spraying chinaberry leaf juice can effectively kill the insects. Use 10% imidacloprid wettable powder at 2000 times dilution for spraying and killing.