How to select seeds of the Buddhist pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus)? What are the seedling-raising methods?
Buddhist pine has relatively dense branches and leaves, with a peculiar, graceful and quaint form, so it can be used as a good foliage tree species in gardens, temples and courtyards. Of course, the Buddhist pine is also relatively tolerant of pruning, and many flower lovers like to grow Buddhist pine bonsai at home, but no matter which planting method is used, you only need to do a good job in seed selection and seedling raising, plus scientific care, and you can successfully grow a Buddhist pine.
How to select seeds of the Buddhist pine?
The seeds of the Buddhist pine generally mature from August to October. At this time, the red flesh outside should be peeled off, and the green seeds inside should be harvested. Then choose seeds that are complete in shape, good in color and free from pests and diseases, and store them sealed. Of course, the varieties of the Buddhist pine are also very rich. Before cultivation, you should also choose suitable varieties according to the actual local planting conditions, such as Golden Diamond Buddhist pine, Sparrow's Tongue Buddhist pine, Imperial Concubine Buddhist pine, Yunnan Buddhist pine and so on.
What are the seedling-raising methods?
In actual production, the Buddhist pine is often propagated and cultivated by cuttings. Now the key points of the method are shared with everyone:
1. Selection of seedling-raising land
Before cutting, a relatively suitable seedling-raising land should be selected. Generally, a plot with loose and breathable soil, fertile soil, convenient transportation and good drainage and irrigation conditions is required. For the choice of cutting substrate, perlite, river sand and soil are all acceptable.
2. Seedbed preparation
The width of the cutting seedbed is generally controlled at about 100cm, and baffles should be installed around it, with the height controlled at 10-12cm. In order to facilitate drainage, a layer of fine sand should be spread on the bottom of the cutting seedbed. For the choice of cutting substrate, peat, clean yellow subsoil plus fine sand, etc. are suitable.
3. Cutting propagation
The cutting time can be chosen in early March, early June and early September. The length of the cuttings should preferably be controlled at 4-6cm, and 1-2 robust leaves should be retained. If the leaves are too long or too large, they should be cut short to about 4cm long. Before cutting, the cuttings should be treated with a certain concentration of rooting agent. The cutting depth should not be too deep, generally controlled at about 3cm. For the choice of cutting density, 400 plants/m2 is preferable.
4. Management after cutting
After cutting is completed, water in time. Be sure to water enough and thoroughly, spray the leaf surfaces with 800-fold dilution of carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl, and build a shade shed over the seedbed. Water frequently and spray water on the leaf surfaces to keep the soil moist. Under careful management, the cuttings can take root in about 90d. In addition, small Buddhist pine seedlings are prone to frost damage during the rooting period, so it is best to place them in a greenhouse to overwinter, and the water supply can also be reduced and no fertilizer should be applied. Similarly, in the high temperatures of summer, they should be placed in a shade shed.
In recent years, urban and rural greening construction has developed rapidly, and the demand for Buddhist pine seedlings has also grown larger and larger. Therefore, for nursery stock growers, mastering the key seed selection and seedling-raising techniques is a necessary prerequisite for increasing production and income. Regarding these seedling-raising techniques, does anyone have anything to add? Welcome to leave a comment for discussion.
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