Detailed Guide to Propagating Money Tree by Green Branch Cuttings
The money tree, also known as Malabar chestnut, is a very common indoor foliage and stem ornamental plant nowadays. It can generally be cultivated by cuttings. I will introduce to you the method of propagating the money tree by green branch cuttings; friends who are interested can learn about it together.
Money tree
Collection of cuttings: Select current-year semi-lignified branches that are robust, free of pests and diseases, and of excellent traits. Cut them on a cloudy day or on a windless morning. Leave a cut length of 6 to 7 cm, with the lower cut made in a horseshoe shape, positioned below a leaf or axillary bud. The cut should be smooth to facilitate the formation of callus tissue. Generally, each cutting should carry 2 palmate leaves. Be careful not to damage the leaves, so as to favor photosynthesis.
Timely cutting: Carry out cutting from late June to early August, and cut and insert promptly in the morning and evening. Before cutting, soak half of the cutting in 25PPM No. (1) ABT rooting solution for 20 to 24 hours, then take it out and rinse it clean with water. Use a small wooden stick to make holes in the seedbed surface, then insert along the holes, and seal the holes and press firm. When the cuttings are shorter, they can be inserted straight; when the cuttings are longer, they can be inserted obliquely. The insertion depth should be just enough to keep them from falling over, generally 3 to 5 cm. After insertion, water thoroughly in time, straighten any crooked cuttings, cover with plastic film, and press the surrounding edges firm with soil.
Seedling-stage management: After cutting, ensure environmental conditions suitable for rooting. Generally, the soil temperature should be 3°C to 5°C higher than the air temperature, the relative air humidity of the cutting bed should be kept at 80% to 90%, and the light requirement is 30%. Ventilate 1 to 2 times a day. From June to August, the temperature is high and water evaporates quickly, so spray water once in the morning and once in the evening with a fine spray bottle, and keep the temperature between 23°C and 25°C. After the seedlings survive, apply topdressing in time, mainly with quick-acting fertilizers; in the early stage, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers; in the middle stage, appropriately combine nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; in the later stage, to promote lignification of the seedlings, spray 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate before the end of August and stop using nitrogen fertilizer. Generally, callus tissue forms in about 15 days, and rooting begins in about 30 days.
Propagation Method of Money Tree by Green Branch Cuttings
The money tree is also called Gua Li, Malabar chestnut, and goose-foot money. It is an evergreen small tree of the Bombacaceae family. It is native to Costa Rica in Latin America, Australia, and some small islands in the Pacific, and is also distributed in the tropical regions of southern China. The flower breeding base affiliated with the author's unit conducted a green branch cutting experiment using the sand culture method and achieved success. This method has the characteristics of fast propagation speed, high survival rate, and saving time and labor. Its technical key points are now introduced.
Seedbed preparation: Select a sandy loam plot with deep, fertile soil, sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, and with good drainage and irrigation as the nursery site. Make a bed surface 1 m wide and 10 m long, preferably running north-south. Deeply plow the bed surface, remove the topsoil, tamp it firm, lay a 3 cm thick layer of gravel on the lower layer, and on top spread 10 to 15 cm thick of a substrate sandy soil mixed with fresh river sand and furnace slag at a ratio of 2:1. The moisture level should be such that it forms a ball when held in the hand and breaks apart when released. Spray the bed surface with 40% formalin at 400 times dilution, soak thoroughly to a depth of 3 to 5 cm, and cover with plastic film for 3 days to disinfect the soil and eliminate pests and diseases in the soil.
Collection of cuttings: Select current-year semi-lignified branches that are robust, free of pests and diseases, and of excellent traits. Cut them on a cloudy day or on a windless morning. Leave a cut length of 6 to 7 cm, with the lower cut made in a horseshoe shape, positioned below a leaf or axillary bud. The cut should be smooth to facilitate the formation of callus tissue. Generally, each cutting should carry 2 palmate leaves. Be careful not to damage the leaves, so as to favor photosynthesis.
Timely cutting: Carry out cutting from late June to early August, and cut and insert promptly in the morning and evening. Before cutting, soak half of the cutting in 25PPM No. (1) ABT rooting solution for 20 to 24 hours, then take it out and rinse it clean with water. Use a small wooden stick to make holes in the seedbed surface, then insert along the holes, and seal the holes and press firm. When the cuttings are shorter, they can be inserted straight; when the cuttings are longer, they can be inserted obliquely. The insertion depth should be just enough to keep them from falling over, generally 3 to 5 cm. After insertion, water thoroughly in time, straighten any crooked cuttings, cover with plastic film, and press the surrounding edges firm with soil.
Seedling-stage management: After cutting, ensure environmental conditions suitable for rooting. Generally, the soil temperature should be 3°C to 5°C higher than the air temperature, the relative air humidity of the cutting bed should be kept at 80% to 90%, and the light requirement is 30%. Ventilate 1 to 2 times a day. From June to August, the temperature is high and water evaporates quickly, so spray water once in the morning and once in the evening with a fine spray bottle, and keep the temperature between 23°C and 25°C. After the seedlings survive, apply topdressing in time, mainly with quick-acting fertilizers; in the early stage, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers; in the middle stage, appropriately combine nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; in the later stage, to promote lignification of the seedlings, spray 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate before the end of August and stop using nitrogen fertilizer. Generally, callus tissue forms in about 15 days, and rooting begins in about 30 days.
The money tree likes high temperatures, humidity, and sunlight. Every 3 to 5 days, spray water onto the leaves with a spray bottle, which not only favors photosynthesis but also makes the branches and leaves more attractive. Generally, current-year seedlings are 40 to 50 cm tall.
Transplanting seedlings: Before potting money tree seedlings, first prepare nutrient soil. Use 3 parts leaf mold, 2 parts sand, 4 parts garden soil, and 1 part fully fermented organic fertilizer, mix evenly, and then plant. When transplanting, be careful not to damage the tender roots. The depth should be based on the original base of the roots. After planting, water thoroughly, place in a shady spot to recover, avoid direct exposure to strong sunlight, and thereafter water daily according to the condition of the potting soil.
Propagating the Money Tree by Green Branch Cuttings
The money tree, also known as Malabar chestnut, is a small tree of the genus Gua Li in the Bombacaceae family. After cultivation, it can be used as a potted foliage and stem ornamental plant. The flower breeding base affiliated with the author's unit conducted a green branch cutting experiment using the sand culture method and achieved success. This method has the characteristics of fast propagation speed, high survival rate, and saving time and labor. Its technical key points are now introduced.Seedbed preparation: Select a sandy loam plot with deep, fertile soil, sheltered from the wind and facing the sun, and with good drainage and irrigation as the nursery site. Make a bed surface 1 m wide and 10 m long, preferably running north-south. Deeply plow the bed surface, remove the topsoil, tamp it firm, lay a 3 cm thick layer of gravel on the lower layer, and on top spread 10 to 15 cm thick of a substrate sandy soil mixed with fresh river sand and furnace slag at a ratio of 2:1. The moisture level should be such that it forms a ball when held in the hand and breaks apart when released. Spray the bed surface with 40% formalin at 400 times dilution, soak thoroughly to a depth of 3 to 5 cm, and cover with plastic film for 3 days to disinfect the soil and eliminate pests and diseases in the soil.
Collection of cuttings: Select current-year semi-lignified branches that are robust, free of pests and diseases, and of excellent traits. Cut them on a cloudy day or on a windless morning. Leave a cut length of 6 to 7 cm, with the lower cut made in a horseshoe shape, positioned below a leaf or axillary bud. The cut should be smooth to facilitate the formation of callus tissue. Generally, each cutting should carry 2 palmate leaves. Be careful not to damage the leaves, so as to favor photosynthesis.
Timely cutting: Carry out cutting from late June to early August, and cut and insert promptly in the morning and evening. Before cutting, soak half of the cutting in 25ppm No. (1) abt rooting solution for 20 to 24 hours, then take it out and rinse it clean with water. Use a small wooden stick to make holes in the seedbed surface, then insert along the holes, and seal the holes and press firm. When the cuttings are shorter, they can be inserted straight; when the cuttings are longer, they can be inserted obliquely. The insertion depth should be just enough to keep them from falling over, generally 3 to 5 cm. After insertion, water thoroughly in time, straighten any crooked cuttings, cover with plastic film, and press the surrounding edges firm with soil.
Seedling-stage management: After cutting, ensure environmental conditions suitable for rooting. Generally, the soil temperature should be 3°C to 5°C higher than the air temperature, the relative air humidity of the cutting bed should be kept at 80% to 90%, and the light requirement is 30%. Ventilate 1 to 2 times a day. From June to August, the temperature is high and water evaporates quickly, so spray water once in the morning and once in the evening with a fine spray bottle, and keep the temperature between 23°C and 25°C. After the seedlings survive, apply topdressing in time, mainly with quick-acting fertilizers; in the early stage, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers; in the middle stage, appropriately combine nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; in the later stage, to promote lignification of the seedlings, spray 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate before the end of August and stop using nitrogen fertilizer. Generally, callus tissue forms in about 15 days, and rooting begins in about 30 days.
The money tree likes high temperatures, humidity, and sunlight. Every 3 to 5 days, spray water onto the leaves with a spray bottle, which not only favors photosynthesis but also makes the branches and leaves more attractive. Generally, current-year seedlings are 40 to 50 cm tall.
Transplanting seedlings: Before potting money tree seedlings, first prepare nutrient soil. Use 3 parts leaf mold, 2 parts sand, 4 parts garden soil, and 1 part fully fermented organic fertilizer, mix evenly, and then plant. When transplanting, be careful not to damage the tender roots. The depth should be based on the original base of the roots. After planting, water thoroughly, place in a shady spot to recover, avoid direct exposure to strong sunlight, and thereafter water daily according to the condition of the potting soil.