What are the methods for selecting and growing silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) seeds?

The silk tree is a highly ornamental plant. Although the silk tree is a tree, it can also be grown as a potted plant. Spring to autumn is its ornamental period, with emerald green leaves and unusual, beautiful and elegant flowers. It is not demanding about the environment, and can be planted anywhere south of the Yellow River in China. So how should silk tree seeds be selected? What are the seedling growing methods? Let's take a look together below.

1. How should silk tree seeds be selected?

The silk tree is usually propagated by sowing. Seeds are collected between September and October; once the pod color turns from green to brown and the seeds harden, they can be picked. When collecting seeds, choose plump pods free of pests and diseases, dry them in the sun to thresh out the seeds, and store them dry in a dry, ventilated place to prevent mold.

In March to April of the following year (the year after seed collection), the seeds can be sown only after treatment. Because the silk tree seed coat is hard, to make the seeds germinate evenly and emerge quickly, 2 weeks (14 days) before sowing soak them for 2 hours in a 0.5% potassium permanganate cold water solution, then remove them, rinse them clean with water, and place them in hot water at about 80°C for 30 seconds (no longer than 1 minute, otherwise the germination rate will be affected); after 24 hours they can be sown. Using this method to force germination, the germination rate can reach 80%-90%, and after emergence the seedlings grow robustly and are not prone to disease.

2. What are the seedling growing methods for the silk tree?

1. Land preparation and bed making

Choose a nursery site that is sheltered from the wind and faces the sun, with deep soil, sandy loam or loam, and convenient irrigation and drainage. Loosen the soil, break up the clods, and make a seedbed running east to west, 1 m wide with a level surface. Before sowing, first apply decomposed human manure and urine and calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer on the bed, then cover with a layer of fine garden soil. The nursery land should be leveled and finely worked, with sufficient base fertilizer, a ridge spacing of 60 cm, and a ditch depth of 15 cm.

2. Sowing and seedling raising

In March to April, sow by the furrow drilling method, with a sowing width of about 10 cm and a seeding rate of 4 to 5 kg per 667 sq m. After sowing, cover with a layer of fine mud ash about 0.5 cm thick, then cover with rice straw, water it to moisten, and keep the soil moist. As for the seeding rate, for seedlings that need to be transplanted, sow 45-60 kg/hm2; for those not transplanted, sow 30-37.5 kg/hm2.

3. Seedling stage management

After sowing, keep the soil moist. If the soil is too dry and affects emergence, water can be poured into the furrows to soak the soil. Never let the water flow over the ridge surface, as this may cause the soil to crust and affect emergence.

Within 7 d after sowing, spray water 1-2 times on sunny days to keep the seedbed moist. After the seedlings emerge, gradually remove the covering; after the first true leaf has generally emerged, remove all the covering and pull out weeds.

4. Thinning and final singling of seedlings

After the seedlings grow their second true leaf, thin them in time, pulling out diseased, weak and overly dense plants, with a plant spacing of 10 cm. Water promptly after thinning.

The above is an introduction to the silk tree. The silk tree likes light, tolerates drought, does not tolerate waterlogging, grows relatively fast, has strong adaptability, and is not strict about soil requirements. Growing the silk tree from seed is not difficult. If you want to grow the silk tree well, you must select good seeds and raise good seedlings.

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