A Detailed Guide to Selecting and Growing Chinese Arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis) Seeds

Friends who live in rural areas have probably seen many different kinds of trees, and the Chinese arborvitae is a fairly common one. In fact, the Chinese arborvitae has quite a few uses, especially its leaves, which have good medicinal properties and are quite nice when soaked in liquor. So how should Chinese arborvitae seeds be selected? What seedling-growing methods are there? Friends who want to know should read on!

1. How to select Chinese arborvitae seeds

Chinese arborvitae seeds should be chosen from local areas or areas with climate conditions similar to those of the nursery, and high-purity, high-quality seeds should be selected and graded by air or water separation, so as to remove rotten and decayed seeds and get rid of twigs and leaves, fruit fragments, and shriveled seeds. After the cones are brought back, sun-dry them in the yard for 3-5 days; once the cone scales split open, tap the scales lightly and the seeds will fall out. Then use screening, winnowing, or water separation to remove cone scales, impurities, and empty grains. After drying in the shade, store them in bags.

2. Seedling-growing methods for Chinese arborvitae seeds

1. Seed collection

Chinese arborvitae generally bears fruit at 4~5 a (it bears fruit once the crown height is above 1 m), and even century-old large trees all bear abundant fruit. The natural Chinese arborvitae forest on Baishan in Guzhangzi Township, Jianchang County, is a place where high-quality Chinese arborvitae seeds can be collected. Chinese arborvitae cones mostly mature from mid-September to mid-October. When the cone scales turn from green to yellow-brown and split slightly, they can be picked; otherwise the seeds easily fall off. When picking, strike the small branches with a long pole to make the cones fall to the ground, then collect them and sun-dry them for about half a month; by turning and lightly tapping them, the seeds can be released. Then remove impurities and clean the seeds, and they can be bagged and stored dry, but care should be taken to prevent moisture and mold. Every 50 kg of cones yields about 10 kg of high-quality seeds. Using the improved Chinese arborvitae seeds produced by the Guzhangzi Forest Farm in Jianchang County (improved seed number Liao R-SS-PO-017-2014), 2.5 million improved-variety Chinese arborvitae container seedlings were cultivated.

2. Land preparation and fertilization

From March 20 to April 10, 2016, first spread organic fertilizer and compound fertilizer evenly on the ground surface, then use mechanical rotary tillage; this ensures even fertility. Make the seedbed into a low bed about 15 cm high, with a bed width of 100 cm and a path of 40 cm; this makes work easier, and the length is the same as the length of the ridge. One week before filling the bags, water the bed soil thoroughly so that the soil retains a certain amount of moisture, which helps the seeds germinate.

3. Seed germination treatment

In early March 2016, first soak the improved Chinese arborvitae seeds in a 0.5 % potassium permanganate aqueous solution for 2~3 h, then take them out, and then soak them in 40 ℃ warm water for 24 h; scoop out and discard the plump-less improved Chinese arborvitae seeds floating on the water surface. Mix the soaked plump Chinese arborvitae seeds evenly with an equal amount of fine sand, and store them in a seed trench 80~100 cm dug in a shady, ventilated place, with a 5 cm layer of fine sand spread flat on the bottom and another 20~30 cm of fine sand covering the top.

4. Sowing

In early April 2016, take out the Chinese arborvitae seeds treated before the New Year, spread them flat on a straw curtain at a thickness of 4~6 cm, cover them with plastic film, place them indoors, and keep the temperature at about 20 ℃. Wash them once a day with 20 ℃ warm water and turn them twice; after about 1 week, when most of the seeds show white sprouts, begin sowing. When sowing, first fill the container cups with soil; when 1 cm from the container mouth, put 3~5 seeds into the container, then fill it with soil and arrange them neatly. Bank the soil well around the seedbed, leaving no containers exposed on the bed surface around the sides; the soil above the containers should be 1 cm, which can prevent water evaporation. After sowing, water promptly; after watering, cover the plot with a small plastic-film arched shed 20~30 cm high, which can raise the ground moisture and promote seed germination. To improve afforestation quality, before covering the shed, apply acetochlor herbicide on the plot surface according to the instructions.

5. Seedling-stage management

When the seedlings are 3~5 cm tall, thin them; keep Grade I seedlings in the nutrient cups, promptly remove weak seedlings, pest- and disease-affected seedlings, and double-plant seedlings, and use surplus Grade I seedlings to fill in the nutrient cups that have not sprouted, so as to ensure the number of seedlings.

In fact, the Chinese arborvitae has quite a few uses. It not only has good ornamental value, but also certain medicinal properties, and can also be used to make furniture. If you are planning to buy seeds to plant, you can refer to some of the selection methods above. In addition, the editor has also shared some related seedling-growing methods, hoping to help everyone.

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