How to Propagate Oyama Magnolia? Detailed Guide to Cuttings and Sowing
The Oyama magnolia has a very elegant appearance and can be grown both in the ground and in pots, which makes it very popular. The Oyama magnolia is the provincial flower of Liaoning Province, and it is also an endangered plant and a national third-class key protected plant.
Oyama Magnolia
I. Cuttings
Select current-year softwood shoots for the cuttings, 12 to 15 cm long, with plump buds; cut half off the upper 2 to 3 leaves of each cutting and remove the lower leaves. Insert the cuttings to a depth of 4 to 5 cm (that is, 1/3 of the cutting length), then water so that the cuttings and the substrate are in close contact. Cover the cutting bed with plastic film to maintain a certain humidity inside, water 2 to 3 times a day, and roots will form in 50 to 60 days.
II. Sowing
1. Seed treatment: The seeds are stratified in sand in mid-November, and from mid-March of the following year variable-temperature germination promotion begins; the temperature should be 10 to 25°C. Germination begins in early to mid-April, and after mid-April the germination rate can reach 72%.
2. Sowing: Loosen the soil by tilling, level the seedbed surface, then irrigate; after the water recedes, sow using the water method, with a row spacing of 25 cm and a seed spacing of 3 cm, covering with 1.5 cm of soil. After sowing, cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist and to protect the seedlings from damage.
3. Seedling-stage management: In the early emergence stage, to speed up germination, protect against wind and frost and prevent the soil surface from crusting. In mid-to-late May the seedlings can reach 1 cm in height with one leaf; at this point begin shading to prevent sunscald. To prevent leaf spot disease and seedling chlorosis, spray carbendazim and apply fertilizer in appropriate amounts. In addition, hoeing weeds, loosening the soil and watering must be done promptly. A comparison between shading and full light proved that shaded seedlings have more spread-out, larger leaves and grow more robustly. Growth is slow throughout the summer. In early September, as sunlight weakens and the weather gradually cools, remove the shade. At this point the seedlings are 4 to 5 cm tall and have grown 4 to 5 leaves, and the seedlings are growing vigorously. In late October, the seedlings shed their leaves and stop growing; protect them from the cold in winter and stop fertilizing and watering.
Propagation Methods for Oyama Magnolia
Whether used in mass plantings for landscapes or as an accent in a pot, the Oyama magnolia has an elegant bearing.
How to Propagate Oyama Magnolia from Cuttings
Before taking cuttings, we first need to prepare the soil. Sandy loam can generally be used for growing it, and fertile soil rich in leaf-litter humus is best.
When taking cuttings, we should choose softwood shoots of the current year, 12-15 cm long. Remove all the lower leaves, and half of the upper leaves can be cut off. Insert them into the soil 4 to 5 cm deep.
After the cuttings are done, water thoroughly and cover the surface with a layer of plastic film to keep the soil moist. Then, water moderately 2 to 3 times a day, and after quietly waiting a month and a half, they will take root.
How to Propagate Oyama Magnolia from Seed
The best season for sowing Oyama magnolia is in spring, after the temperature warms up in mid-March. Warm weather ensures a certain germination rate.
Before sowing, loosen the soil and level it. Then irrigate thoroughly, and after the water has been absorbed by the soil, bury the seeds 1-2 cm deep. Plastic film should also be used as a cover.
When waiting for new seedlings to emerge, pay attention to shading to prevent sunburn.
Propagation and Care of Oyama Magnolia
The Oyama magnolia is a deciduous small tree of the genus Magnolia in the family Magnoliaceae, with slender, hairless branches, while the twigs and buds have downy hairs. The leaves are broadly elliptical or obovate-oblong, 6 to 15 cm long, with a white powdery coating on the underside and 6 to 8 pairs of lateral veins. The flowers are white and fragrant, borne singly at the tips of the branches, with a rather long flower stalk; when in full bloom they sway in the wind, filling the air with fragrance, like a heavenly maiden scattering flowers, hence the name Oyama magnolia. The flowering period is from early June to mid-July, and the fruit ripening period is in early to mid-September.
It likes a cool, humid climate and fertile soil. The propagation methods commonly used are cuttings and sowing, and grafting and division can also be used.
I. Cuttings:Select current-year softwood shoots for the cuttings, 12 to 15 cm long, with plump buds; cut half off the upper 2 to 3 leaves of each cutting and remove the lower leaves. Insert the cuttings to a depth of 4 to 5 cm (that is, 1/3 of the cutting length), then water so that the cuttings and the substrate are in close contact. Cover the cutting bed with plastic film to maintain a certain humidity inside, water 2 to 3 times a day, and roots will form in 50 to 60 days.
II. Sowing: 1. Seed treatment:The seeds are stratified in sand in mid-November, and from mid-March of the following year variable-temperature germination promotion begins; the temperature should be 10 to 25°C. Germination begins in early to mid-April, and after mid-April the germination rate can reach 72%.
2. Sowing:Loosen the soil by tilling, level the seedbed surface, then irrigate; after the water recedes, sow using the water method, with a row spacing of 25 cm and a seed spacing of 3 cm, covering with 1.5 cm of soil. After sowing, cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist and to protect the seedlings from damage.
3. Seedling-stage management:In the early emergence stage, to speed up germination, protect against wind and frost and prevent the soil surface from crusting. In mid-to-late May the seedlings can reach 1 cm in height with one leaf; at this point begin shading to prevent sunscald. To prevent leaf spot disease and seedling chlorosis, spray carbendazim and apply fertilizer in appropriate amounts. In addition, hoeing weeds, loosening the soil and watering must be done promptly. A comparison between shading and full light proved that shaded seedlings have more spread-out, larger leaves and grow more robustly. Growth is slow throughout the summer. In early September, as sunlight weakens and the weather gradually cools, remove the shade. At this point the seedlings are 4 to 5 cm tall and have grown 4 to 5 leaves, and the seedlings are growing vigorously. In late October, the seedlings shed their leaves and stop growing; protect them from the cold in winter and stop fertilizing and watering.