Cutting Jasmine: For Double the Survival Rate, You Still Need Skill

Jasmine blooms profusely in summer, and its fragrance is strong, so gardening enthusiasts all like to grow a few pots. But do you know, fellow gardeners? When propagating jasmine by cuttings in summer, whether it is softwood cuttings or hardwood cuttings, if you want to get double the survival rate, what it depends on is "skill."

Below, let us take a look together at the two methods of propagating jasmine by cuttings and the techniques involved:

1. Hardwood Cuttings

(1) Cutting Time

Generally at the end of March. At this time the temperature begins to rise, the sap of the jasmine begins to flow, and the plant begins to sprout and grow. Propagating jasmine by cuttings at this time means the cuttings callus over quickly, grow quickly, and have a relatively high survival rate.

(2) Selection of Cuttings

When taking cuttings, gardeners should choose sturdy, pest- and disease-free two- to three-year-old branches. This kind of branch has a grayish-white surface. The selection of cuttings is generally combined with pruning of the mother plant, choosing from the branches that have been pruned off. In addition, to propagate jasmine by cuttings and get sturdy branches, you must fertilize the jasmine mother plant in a timely manner during care. Using organic flower nutrient solution, dilute with water 500 times and water once every 7 days, and it will grow vigorously.

(3) Length of Cuttings

Cut the selected jasmine branches into segments of 10-15 cm, with the upper end cut flat and the lower end cut at a slant. Insert them into loose, fertile, well-draining potting soil. After cutting, within one and a half months, use the "small amounts, many times" watering method, that is, water frequently but in small amounts, to keep the potting soil "dry-dry wet-wet," that is, in a moist state that is neither dry nor wet. This is beneficial for the callusing and rooting of the cut end of the cutting, and this is the key to the cutting's survival.

2. Softwood Cuttings

(1) Cutting Time

For softwood cuttings of jasmine, May to August is suitable. At this time the branches have already formed a semi-lignified state, grow vigorously, and after cutting the survival rate is extremely high.

(2) Soil for Cuttings

For the growing medium used for cuttings, you can use cultivated soil that has been crushed and sieved, but it must be mixed with 40% rice husk ash or fine gravel; you can also use the growing medium for planting jasmine, the fine soil after sieving. Overall, the requirement for the growing medium is to achieve fineness, looseness, fertility, and good drainage.

(3) Pots for Cuttings

You can choose a small pot with a diameter of about 22 cm. On the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot, cross-cover two broken pot pieces, so as to block soil but not water; spread a layer of 3 cm thick granular soil, fill the space above the soil granules with growing medium, and gently shake the pot so that the potting soil settles.

(4) Selection of Cuttings

Choose tender green branches grown in the current year, selecting those that are vigorous and have at least 3 pairs of leaves. The method of taking cuttings is to cut off two forked small branches together with a section of old branch, then cut open from the middle to make two cuttings; then remove the pair of leaves at the base of the cuttings. This method is called "heel cutting," that is, carrying a small section of old branch, after cutting it is easy to callus and survive. But note that the cuttings must be inserted immediately after cutting, and must not be stored for too long, otherwise it will cause the cuttings to lose a large amount of water and fail to survive after cutting.

(5) Cutting Method

When cutting, at a spacing of 5-6 cm, insert the selected cuttings evenly into the pre-prepared potting soil. For example, a small pot with a diameter of 22 cm can generally hold 30 cuttings; if too few are inserted, relatively speaking it is harder to survive. The depth to which the cuttings are inserted into the soil should be 1/3 of the length of the cutting, and must not be too deep. After cutting, immediately water the potting soil once thoroughly, and move the cutting pot to a sheltered, shaded place.

(6) Management After Cutting

Within 20-30 days after cutting the jasmine, spray water on the leaf surface 2-3 times a day. After about 1 month, once the cuttings have sprouted and rooted, gradually move them into the sunlight to sun them, gradually increase the light, and apply diluted fertilizer water in appropriate amounts.