How to Propagate Asparagus Fern? Introduction to Seed Sowing and Division Methods
Friends who like asparagus fern will want to propagate it themselves after growing a healthy and beautiful plant. Asparagus fern propagation generally uses two methods: sowing and division, but because the appearance of asparagus fern propagated by division is not as beautiful as that grown from seed, propagation by sowing is more commonly used.
Asparagus fern
Getting asparagus fern to set seed is not an easy task either; careful care is required to make it flower and set seed. Asparagus fern seeds mostly mature from February to April and should be harvested and sown promptly. If the seeds are stored for a long time, their germination ability will decline.
Before sowing, rub off the outer skin of the berries and take out the seeds, then sow them in a shallow pot in a greenhouse. The potting soil can be mixed with 4 parts fine cinder, 3 parts loam, 2 parts manure soil, and 1 part river mud. After the seeds are sown, the covering soil should not be too thick. Water thoroughly, keep the room temperature at 15-20°C, and spray water 1-2 times a day to keep the potting soil moist. They will sprout in about one month. When the seedlings are about 5 cm tall, transplant them into pots.
Division propagation is carried out in spring. Take the asparagus fern plant with soil out of the original pot, cut the roots apart with a knife so that each plant has 3-5 clustered branches, keep as much of the original soil on the roots as possible, then transplant them separately into prepared flower pots, water thoroughly, and place them in a shaded place. Avoid sunlight for 7-10 days to help them survive.
Sowing and Division Propagation Methods for Asparagus Fern
Asparagus fern is a very famous foliage plant in China. Because asparagus fern is very elegant and graceful as a potted ornamental, it is now also often used as an important ingredient in cut flowers. Generally, asparagus fern can be propagated by division and sowing, so how exactly should it be done?
Asparagus fern
1. Sowing propagation. The berries of asparagus fern mature successively in winter. When the berries turn purplish black, they can be harvested. After harvesting the berries, rub off the outer skin and take out the seeds. After rinsing them clean, they can be sown. If the room temperature is below 15°C, wait until warm spring before sowing; during this period, store them in sand. Sowing is mainly done indoors in pots, generally spot-sown in a shallow pot, with a seed spacing of 2 cm. Do not cover with too much soil. After soaking with water, cover with glass or plastic film to reduce water evaporation and keep the potting soil moist, and place in a sunny spot. After sowing, keep the temperature at about 20°C, and they can germinate in 25-30 days. At 15°C-18°C, it takes 30-40 days to germinate. When the seedlings grow to 3 cm-4 cm tall, they can be divided and transplanted.
2. Division propagation. Carry it out in spring when repotting. Pull the roots apart without damaging too many roots. According to the size of the plant, choose pot planting or ground planting. After dividing and planting, water thoroughly and place in a semi-shaded place or provide shade. Afterward, watering should be properly controlled, otherwise it is easy to cause yellow leaves.
What propagation methods are there for asparagus fern? What are the requirements and precautions for sowing propagation and division propagation of asparagus fern respectively?
When asparagus fern is mentioned, I believe everyone is familiar with it. Asparagus fern has good symbolic meaning and has been deeply loved by many literati and writers since ancient times. In addition, asparagus fern has extremely high ornamental value and can also be used to make household bonsai. Many flower lovers also have experience growing asparagus fern. So, do you know what kinds of propagation methods asparagus fern is divided into? What are the requirements and precautions for sowing propagation and division propagation of asparagus fern respectively? Today, the editor will introduce them to everyone in detail.
Asparagus fern propagation is mainly based on sowing and division.
Sowing is carried out in March-April. Before sowing, soak the seeds for 24 hours and spot-sow them in a 10 cm deep pot. Cover with glass or plastic film to prevent water evaporation, keep at 20-25°C and keep the potting soil moist. They can germinate in 20-30 days. When the seedlings are 5 cm tall, they can be put into small pots. For those planted in large pots, division propagation should be carried out in spring. Division is best done with large plants that have grown for 2-3 years. According to the size of the plant, divide one pot into two or three pots. The division operation is very simple. Use your hands to pull the roots of asparagus fern apart. As long as too many roots are not damaged, plant the divided plants into flower pots and water thoroughly once and they can survive. When dividing, apply 3-4 pieces of horseshoe slices or sesame paste residue and other organic fertilizers in the pot as base fertilizer.
1. Sowing
Sowing is the main method of propagating asparagus fern. When the seed coat of asparagus fern seeds turns black and soft, it is mature. At this time, gradually pick them according to the degree of maturity, rub off the flesh, rinse clean with clear water, dry until half-dry, and store for later use. Sow in early April, and in the autumn of the same year they can become commercial seedlings or be displayed indoors. The sowing substrate is generally fine sand, and the container is a clay pot or wooden box. Place the seeds on the potting soil at a spacing of 2-3 cm, with 2-3 seeds per hole. After sowing, cover with fine sand 5 mm thick, and cover with glass or plastic film. Keep the temperature at 20-25°C, and spray water frequently to keep the potting soil moist. About 30 days after sowing, they begin to germinate and emerge. When the seedlings are 4-5 cm tall, transplant them for cultivation, and when they are 8-10 cm tall, they can be planted in pots.
2. Division
Household pot planting can also use division propagation. Asparagus fern has a strong clustering nature. Plants grown for 4-5 years can continuously sprout root tiller seedlings from the root crown, making the clump continuously expand. In spring, combined with repotting, divide the potted plant into several clumps and plant them separately in pots to obtain new plants.
Asparagus fern is a perennial herbaceous climbing plant in the Liliaceae family. Its roots are slightly fleshy, its stems are long, smooth and soft, and climbing. Its leaf-like branches are slender, clustered in groups of 6-12, spreading horizontally, bright green. Its leaves are small, about 3-5 mm long, scale-like, white, with triangular thorns below. Its flowers are small and white, 1-4 growing on short stalks. Its berries are spherical and purplish black. It is native to southern Africa. Asparagus fern likes a warm, humid, and well-ventilated environment. It is not cold-tolerant in winter and should avoid sun exposure in summer. A loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy soil is suitable. The potting soil can be made from loose and fertile leaf mold, or from loam + leaf mold + barnyard manure soil in 1 part each. It can also be planted in bamboo tubes, whose water permeability and water retention are both good, and there is no need to drill holes in the bottom of the pot.
Every spring, asparagus fern should be repotted once. When repotting, remove the old soil, keep the original central soil, add fertile soil around the central soil, and apply 3-4 pieces of horseshoe slices at the bottom of the pot as base fertilizer. More coarse sand or tile pieces should be placed at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage, otherwise it will cause yellowing of branches and leaves and root rot. Dead branches and yellow leaves should also be pruned, and proper shaping should be done. The room temperature should be kept at 12-18°C, and the overwintering temperature is preferably between 5-10°C.
Asparagus fern likes shade and must not be placed in direct sunlight. In summer and autumn, it should be placed in a ventilated semi-shaded place, and in spring and winter it can be placed in a sunny indoor spot. Asparagus fern likes moisture but fears waterlogging, so watering must be done with great attention to controlling the amount of water. Generally, it is suitable to keep the potting soil at 20% humidity, that is, to the extent that water poured into the pot quickly seeps into the soil and does not accumulate on the soil surface. Water accumulation in the pot will cause root rot, while soil that is too dry will cause its branches and leaves to turn yellow or fall off. In winter, the amount of watering should be reduced. Frequently spray and wash the branches and leaves with water close to room temperature to increase air humidity, but do not spray the branches with cold water in winter. Normally, apply 1-2 times a month of thin decomposed horseshoe slice water to asparagus fern, or apply 1 time of decomposed thin liquid fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen and potassium, or sprinkle some granular fertilizer. If there is a lack of fertilizer, or if fertilizer is applied too much or too concentrated, it will cause asparagus fern to turn yellow or die. After entering winter, fertilization should be stopped, and after the plant takes shape, fertilization should be controlled.
The above is all the content I have learned about asparagus fern today. I hope flower lovers will find it helpful after reading this article. If you want to learn more about asparagus fern, please continue to follow Duorou Huapu, and we will provide you with more related knowledge!