How to Propagate Weigela florida? Common Methods and Key Points Explained

Weigela florida has dense flowering branches and bright flower colors; it is not difficult to cultivate artificially and has strong adaptability. Because Weigela florida has strong sprouting ability, it can overwinter outdoors in the Beijing area. Artificial propagation of Weigela florida can be done by cuttings, division, and sowing. The editor will introduce the common propagation methods and key points for Weigela florida.

Weigela florida

I. Cutting Propagation

Weigela florida is propagated by conventional softwood cuttings, with the time in April to May, selecting semi-lignified branches grown in the current year. Earthenware flower pots can be used for the seedbed, and the substrate can be plain sandy soil treated by high-temperature sterilization, sifted to remove impurities, and put into pots for later use.

For the cuttings, cut the top of robust new branches grown in the current year, each segment about 8-10 cm long, cut with leaves and a heel, retain the tender tip and young leaves at the top, and remove all lower leaves. If you want to prevent the cuttings from retaining too many leaves and losing water due to transpiration, you can cut off half of the tip of each of the 3-4 leaves left. To make the cutting wounds heal quickly and take root early, you can use a 0.05%-0.1% concentration aqueous solution of naphthaleneacetic acid to soak the base of the cuttings for 5 seconds, inserting as you soak, with the insertion depth into the substrate 4-5 cm. The plant and row spacing is 8 cm x 8 cm. After inserting, gently shake the flower pot once to make it fit closely. When watering, use the pot-soaking method to water thoroughly until the surface of the pot soil appears moist, then take it out and place it in a moist, shaded place. If necessary, put a white plastic bag over the rim of the pot to create a microclimate for rooting; after rooting and sprouting, carry out normal management.

II. Division Propagation

When Weigela florida has been cultivated for a long time and clumping appears at the base of the plant, asexual propagation can be carried out by division, preferably after leaf fall in autumn. When dividing, take the Weigela florida out of the flower pot with a soil ball, remove the attached soil, and at the gap where branches grow on the rhizome, cut with a sharp knife, then cut into multiple pieces with 1-2 branches per plant; each piece must have fibrous roots. After cutting, smear the cut with plant ash, cultivate with culture soil, water thoroughly, and place in a shaded, ventilated place. After 20 days, when the wounds have healed, the flower pot can be moved to a sunny place so that the plant roots can grow slowly under the effect of the pot soil temperature, while the upper axillary buds do not sprout. In this way, it is especially beneficial to the growth of the divided seedlings the following year, and they can bloom the following year.

III. Seed Propagation

The breeding and propagation of Weigela florida should be carried out when it blooms. Using artificial pollination, let Weigela florida bear fruit; the fruit matures in September to October, and after harvesting it is stored. Wait until March to April of the following year, sow with a flower pot seedbed. The substrate can be equal parts of mountain soil, leaf mold, and sandy garden soil; after mixing, expose to the sun, break up fine, sift, and put into pots for later use.

Weigela florida seeds have wings. When sowing, you can soak the seeds in 40°C warm boiled water for 24 hours. After the seeds swell and absorb enough water, sow them in the seedbed, cover with 1 cm of soil, water thoroughly by the pot-soaking method, cover with glass, and place in a warm place. After about 20 days, the seeds begin to germinate. At this time, remove the glass and place in a sunny place for cultivation, strengthening fertilizer and water management. When the seedlings grow 4 new leaves, they can be divided into pots and transplanted.

What Flowers Bloom in October? What Flowers and Plants Are Suitable for Planting in October

We all know that different flowers have different growth cycles and different ornamental periods, so different months have different flowers in bloom. So what flowers bloom in October?

What Flowers Bloom in October

Osmanthus

Blooms from September to early October. Osmanthus is one of China's ten traditional famous flowers, an excellent garden tree species that combines greening, beautification, and fragrance, with both ornamental and practical value. Osmanthus is pure enough to cleanse the dust and rich enough to spread far, and can be called unrivaled. Especially in mid-autumn, when clustered osmanthus blooms in full glory, on a quiet night with a full moon, drinking wine and admiring osmanthus, with aged fragrance striking the nose, makes one feel refreshed. In ancient Chinese poetry praising flowers, the number of works praising osmanthus is also quite considerable. Since ancient times it has been deeply loved by Chinese people and regarded as a traditional famous flower. Osmanthus flowers grow in the leaf axils, with a gamopetalous corolla split into four lobes and a small shape. Its horticultural varieties are numerous, and the most representative include Jinguì, Yínguì, Dānguì, Yuègui, and others.

Chrysanthemum

Blooms from September to November. Chrysanthemum is the third of China's ten famous flowers, one of the Four Gentlemen among flowers (plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum), and also one of the world's four major cut flowers (chrysanthemum, rose, carnation, gladiolus), with the highest output. The chrysanthemum is fully deserving of being the master of autumn. Whether it is the many artificially cultivated varieties such as specimen chrysanthemum, desk chrysanthemum, cliff chrysanthemum, dahlia chrysanthemum, small dahlia chrysanthemum, Japanese small chrysanthemum, and others, or wild chrysanthemums such as sweet wild chrysanthemum, Galinsoga parviflora, Saussurea, China aster, small red chrysanthemum, Aster, and others, they all bloom competitively in autumn, making people dazzled and full of praise.

Red Spider Lily

Blooms from September to October. The Japanese alias of Red Spider Lily is "Manjusaka," which comes from<<法华经>>a transliteration of the Sanskrit "Mahamanjusaka." The original meaning is a flower from heaven, a large red flower, and it is one of the four auspicious flowers sent down from heaven (Manjusaka, Mahamanjusaka, Mandarava, Mahamandarava). It is said in the scriptures that one who sees this flower has evil removed.

By Red Spider Lily we usually mean Lycoris radiata. The common white-flowered Lycoris and yellow-flowered Lycoris cannot be considered true "Red Spider Lily"; they are close relatives of Red Spider Lily, and another famous ornamental flower is named "Hurdi Laughed," also known as Lycoris aurea. Hurdi Laughed and Red Spider Lily are very similar, but their flowering periods differ and their meanings differ. The flower language of Hurdi Laughed is: happiness, joy, and surprise.

Morning Glory

Blooms from June to October. Under the warm autumn sun, morning glories bloom unscrupulously amid the rustling sound of wind blowing fallen leaves. There are many kinds of morning glory with complex flower colors. Besides being ornamental, the seeds are also a commonly used Chinese medicinal material, called Erchou. The most common in Beijing are Pharbitis purpurea and Pharbitis hederacea, which are among the most common climbing ornamental flowers in parks and courtyards in autumn.

Epiphyllum

Blooms from June to October. Epiphyllum is native to South Africa, Mexico, and other places, and belongs to the epiphytic cactus family. Epiphyllum can increase the negative ion content indoors. Although its flowering period is very short, when it blooms it is beautiful and noble, with a rich fragrance spreading all around.

Epiphyllum enjoys the reputation of "Beauty Under the Moon." After the flower gradually unfolds, it slowly withers after 1-2 hours, with the whole process lasting only about 4 hours. Hence there is the saying "a fleeting epiphyllum." It is widely cultivated in various regions of the world; it is commonly cultivated in all provinces and regions of China.

Verbena

Blooms from May to November. Verbena is a perennial herb in the Verbenaceae family, Verbena genus, with a suitable growth temperature of 5-25°C. It is native to South America. The flowering part is corymb-shaped, and the flower colors include white, red, blue, snow blue, pink, and others. It is very robust and can be used as flowerbed and flower border material, or as pot flowers planted in large areas suitable for potted ornamental use or for arranging flower terraces, garden gaps, and tree beds.

Cotton Rose

Blooms from August to November. The cotton rose flower is a shrub or small tree native to China's Yellow River basin and various places in East China and South China. Its flowers may be white, pink, or red, as bright as a lotus emerging from water, as gorgeous as a lotus opening its petals. Because it grows on land and is a woody plant, it is also called "Cotton Rose." The flowers of the cotton rose change three times in a day, so it is also called "Three-Change Flower." Its flowers begin to bloom in late autumn; though invaded by frost and dew, they remain full of grace and beauty, dominating the charm of deep autumn, and thus it is also called "Frost-Resisting Flower."

Hibiscus

Blooms from July to October. In the south it is mostly used as flower hedges and green hedges; in the north it is used as courtyard ornament and indoor potting. Aliases include White Hibiscus Flower, Palm Tree Flower, Big Bowl Flower, Hedge Flower, Qingming Hedge, White Rice Flower, Chicken Meat Flower, Lard Flower, and Morning-Open Evening-Fall Flower. Hibiscus flowers are brilliantly colored and are an excellent plant for free-growing flower hedges. They are suitable for planting on both sides of roads, in parks, courtyards, and other places, and can be planted alone, in rows, or in patches. Hibiscus flowers can be used as medicine and can also be eaten. Hibiscus is the national flower of South Korea, also known as Mugunghwa, and in North America it has the laudatory name "Desert Rose." Some hibiscus flowers appear light purple, and some deep purple; they grow relatively quickly and have luxuriant branches and leaves. The national flower of Malaysia is also hibiscus (also called Bunga Raya).

Globe Amaranth

Blooms from August to November. Globe Amaranth aliases: Wannianhong, Qianribai, Spherical Cockscomb, Globe Amaranth; it belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, Gomphrena genus. Globe Amaranth likes sunlight, tolerates dry heat, and is very robust by nature. It is native to tropical America and is a common flower in tropical and subtropical regions. It is for ornamental use; the capitulum remains unchanged for a long time. Besides being used for flowerbeds and bonsai, it can also be used for decorations such as wreaths and flower baskets. It is distributed in most areas of China and not only has great medicinal value, but is also a raw material for flower tea suitable for clearing heat, reducing internal heat, and health preservation. In ancient times, people regarded Globe Amaranth as a symbol of sincere friendship, and many touching stories spread widely because of it.

What Flowers Are Suitable for Planting in October

Flowers Suitable for Courtyard Display

In October, temperatures drop in most areas of the country, with monthly average temperatures between 10°C and 19°C.

There are many kinds of potted ornamental plants suitable for courtyard display in October. Among woody ornamental plants are: Araucaria heterophylla, five-needle pine, Japanese umbrella pine, lacebark pine, Japanese fir, spruce species, Buddhist pine, bamboo-leaf podocarp, sago palm, Canary Island date palm, Dutch iron, Chinese gray magnolia, Cinnamomum kotoense, osmanthus, cotton rose, rubber tree, Schefflera octophylla, Ficus variegata, Chinese hibiscus, golden larch, croton, Brazilian wood, money tree, bamboo palm, bottle palm, Mahonia bealei, Fatsia japonica, Aucuba japonica 'Variegata', thick-leaf fig, fishtail palm, areca palm, king coconut, Cordyline fruticosa, beautiful phoenix palm, fiddle-leaf fig, desert rose, South American cycad, Garcinia subelliptica, large Buddha-belly bamboo, red maple, silver birch, Aglaia odorata, Michelia alba, Pandanus tectorius, orange jasmine, heavenly bamboo, and others.

Herbaceous flowers include: scarlet sage, large-flowered canna, dahlia, China aster, chrysanthemum, small chrysanthemum, bamboo-node begonia, dragon's mouth flower, French marigold, marigold, five-color pepper, cockscomb, pot marigold, periwinkle, globe amaranth, dwarf petunia, Guinea impatiens, and others. Note: in North China, Northeast China, and other places, when the temperature drops below 10°C, attention should be paid to cold protection for southern flowers planted in the north.

Propagation of Courtyard Flowers

1. Sowing Woody flower species that can be sown include: tree peony, red-flowered camellia, Michelia species, Magnolia species, Manglietia species, horse chestnut species, Calycanthus chinensis, rich seed, soapberry, kuding tea, Buddhist pine, bamboo-leaf podocarp, French holly, Elaeocarpus sylvestris, beautiful phoenix palm, yew, Chinese fan palm, privet, small-leaf privet, camphor, Weigela florida, palm, pond cypress, and others. Among them, when sowing horse chestnut, the hilum should face downward; before sowing Calycanthus chinensis, the seeds should first be soaked for 24 to 36 hours. Except for Calycanthus chinensis and Weigela florida seeds, which can be stored dry until sowing the next spring, the seeds of the other species can all be cleaned, stored with wet sand to promote germination until the next spring when the seed coats crack and show white, and then sown. Note that before storage for germination promotion, the seeds should be rinsed clean. The water content of the sand should be such that it forms a ball when held in the hand and disperses when released. The ratio of seeds to sand is about 1:3. During storage and germination promotion, the seeds should be checked frequently to prevent the seeds from drying out or becoming moldy.

Herbaceous flowers that can be sown include: hollyhock, mallow, corn poppy, pot marigold, snapdragon, Dianthus species, pansy, Boston ivy, blackberry lily, dwarf catchfly, tall catchfly, California poppy, daisy, black-eyed Susan, iris, verbena, and others. Greenhouse flowers such as nasturtium, gloxinia, dwarf petunia, cineraria, four-season primrose, African daisy, and calceolaria can also be sown in plastic greenhouses.

2. Cuttings Woody flower species that can be propagated by cuttings include: red-backed eucalyptus, Schefflera octophylla, night-blooming jasmine, five-color plum, firethorn, Mahonia, bergamot, clerodendrum, Cordyline fruticosa, Michelia, aucuba, Chinese hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, pearl orchid, red-leaf barberry, golden-leaf privet, four-season osmanthus, gardenia, Weigela florida, snow-wreath, red-flowered spirea, spiraea, St. John's wort, red-leaf plum, rose, snowball viburnum, crape myrtle, hibiscus, oleander, fig, Chaenomeles speciosa, and others. The cutting substrate can be ordinary sandy loam or yellow subsoil, or a mixture of half sand and half rice husk ash, using fully closed moisture-retaining cuttings. In addition, for cuttings of some southern flowers and trees, when Frost's Descent arrives, attention should be paid to cold protection work.

Herbaceous flowers that can be propagated by cuttings include: scarlet sage, globe amaranth, marigold, four-season begonia, bamboo-node begonia, Tradescantia zebrina, golden pothos, clearweed, coral flower, golden shrimp plant, shrimp plant, golden-vein justicia, cold chrysanthemum, and others.

Succulent flowers that can be propagated by cuttings include: jade plant, lotus palm, night-blooming cereus, epiphyllum, Portulacaria afra, and others.

Tips for Planting Flowers in October

1. Light Should Be Sufficient

Some light-loving woody flowers that bloom in summer, such as jasmine, Chinese hibiscus, orange jasmine, and others, should still be placed in a place with sufficient sunlight so the plants can fully receive light, allowing the leaves to carry out photosynthesis better, supply nutrients in time, promote the maturation of current-year branches, enable them to overwinter safely, and ensure they remain full of flowers and leaves the following year. Potted flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as rhododendron, clivia, cyclamen, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, and others, should also be placed in a sunny place to receive full sunlight; otherwise the flowering period will be delayed, or they may even fail to bloom. Generally, foliage plants are more shade-tolerant and can be given some light appropriately, but avoid direct strong light at noon.

2. Water and Fertilizer Should Be Appropriate

In early autumn, especially in early to mid-September, the temperature is still relatively high, and plant transpiration is large. Most flowers should be watered thoroughly once every 1-2 days. From mid-to-late September, the amount of watering should be controlled and fertilization stopped, so as to avoid root rot from too much water and excessive vegetative growth of branches and leaves from too much fertilizer, which would affect overwintering. Some flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as cyclamen, clivia, Christmas cactus, rhododendron, and others, have already passed dormancy and begun to enter the peak growth season, so from autumn until Spring Festival flowering, fertilizer and water should be continuous, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be appropriately increased to help flower bud formation and budding and flowering.

3. Pruning Should Be Reasonable

Except for flowers that bloom in early spring, most flowers such as jasmine, crape myrtle, pomegranate, and others can be pruned and shaped in autumn, with branch cutting carried out in late autumn and early winter. This can reduce nutrient consumption in winter, promote robust potted flowers, and lead to more flowers the following year. When pruning, remove diseased branches, dead branches, overly dense branches, and leggy branches, laying a good foundation for potted flowers to overwinter.

4. Pest and Disease Control Should Be Thorough

Autumn is still a season with high incidence of pests and diseases, and plants are easily harmed by pests such as scale insects, red spiders, aphids, whiteflies, and others. Diseases include leaf spot disease, branch and trunk rot, and others. Before potted flowers are brought indoors, these pests and diseases must be thoroughly treated, and they must never be allowed indoors to cause harm. For those with no pests or diseases found, spray medicine for prevention.

5. Propagation Should Be Timely

After the Start of Autumn, temperatures drop. Some biennial herbaceous flowers, such as pansy, Dianthus, cineraria, hollyhock, and others, are at a good time for sowing. Sowing can be done from September to October; after sowing, pay attention to spraying water and keep the soil moist. Some woody flowers are suitable for autumn cuttings, such as hanging bell begonia, rose, geranium, jasmine, bougainvillea, golden-edged daphne, and others; the survival rate of autumn cuttings is relatively high. For perennial flowers that grow densely and need division, such as tree peony and herbaceous peony, division propagation should be carried out in time. For bulb flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as hyacinth, tulip, amaryllis, and others, potting should be done promptly.

6. Bringing Indoors Should Be Timely

The time for bringing potted flowers indoors differs according to the flower. Warm-loving flowers and trees such as Chinese hibiscus, poinsettia, begonia, cyclamen, jasmine, coleus, monstera, and others should be moved indoors when the temperature is 10°C; spider plant, asparagus fern, Aspidistra, Schefflera octophylla, rubber tree, and others should also be moved indoors when the temperature drops to 5°C. The vast majority of flowers should preferably be brought indoors before Frost's Descent. Potted flowers indoors should be kept ventilated; when the temperature is relatively high at noon, doors and windows can be opened for ventilation and heat dissipation.