A detailed guide to Acer palmatum propagation methods and precautions

Acer palmatum is mainly distributed in the Yangtze River basin and the provinces and regions to its south in China. In China, Acer palmatum is very widely distributed and is one of the excellent foliage trees for landscaping. Its economic prospects are also viewed favorably, and it is now often cultivated as a street tree.

Acer palmatum

The most commonly used propagation method for Acer palmatum is sowing and raising seedlings. Its advantages are a fast propagation rate, suitability for scale, large quantities, freedom from the degeneration drawback of long-term vegetative propagation in other tree species, and good disease resistance of the saplings. Generally, about 6-8 gongfen of seed is used per mu, and both autumn sowing and spring sowing work well, with a high germination rate. The sowing row spacing is 15-20 cm. Seedlings cannot take full-day sunlight, so shade measures must be taken. When the seedlings are 20 gongfen tall, carry out the first thinning, removing weak and diseased seedlings; at 35-40 gongfen, carry out the second thinning, keeping good growing space for each seedling. Before early summer, a compound fertilizer can be broadcast once; be sure to do this when it is raining. If the rainfall cannot wash the fertilizer that has fallen on the leaves down to the ground, we must spray water manually to rinse it off, otherwise it will cause burning.

In the same year, Acer palmatum seedlings can grow 1.2-1.5 m tall with a root diameter of 0.8-1.3 cm. In early spring of the second year, carry out division and planting out, with a plant and row spacing of 50*120 cm. One month after the seedlings recover, begin the first fertilization; the amount must not be too much. Organic fertilizer can be buried and applied, combined with broadcast application of chemical fertilizer. Carry out weeding and watering as needed, and fertilize once every 20 days during the peak growth period. By cultivating Acer palmatum seedlings in this way, in two years they can grow 2-2.3 m tall with a diameter of 2.5-3 cm. Moreover, the trunks are straight and the plants are robust, making them excellent semi-finished street tree seedlings. The suggested retail price is 15-20 yuan per plant, and they can also be kept for cultivation as street trees.

Acer palmatum propagation methods and Acer palmatum pest and disease control

Acer palmatum is a deciduous small tree and an excellent foliage plant, with prominent leaf vein patterns and color as brilliant as flowers, radiant as rosy clouds. So what are the propagation methods of Acer palmatum? How are pests and diseases controlled? Let us learn about them together below.

I. Propagation methods of Acer palmatum

1. Seed propagation: After collecting the seeds in October, they can be sown immediately, or stratified in wet sand until sowing the following spring. After sowing, cover with soil 1-2 cm, water thoroughly, cover with rice straw, and remove the covering after the seedlings emerge. For drilling, the row spacing is 15-20 cm, and the sowing rate per mu is 4-5 kg. Seedlings are afraid of sun, so appropriate shading is needed. In the same year, the seedlings grow 30-50 cm tall. Transplanting should be done during the deciduous dormancy period. Small seedlings can be moved bare-rooted, but large seedlings must be moved with a soil ball.

2. Grafting propagation: Graft when the rootstock is growing most vigorously. Small seedlings must go through 2-3 transplants. Transplanting is done after leaf fall and before bud break, and the original soil must be kept. Grafting can use methods such as cut grafting, approach grafting and bud grafting. The rootstock is generally the 3-4 year old seedling of Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' (Japanese maple). Cut grafting is done in spring from March to April when the rootstock buds swell. It is best to cut the rootstock at 50-80 cm above the ground for high grafting, so that in the same year the new shoots can grow more than 50 cm long. Although approach grafting is more troublesome, it easily ensures survival.

3. Softwood cuttings: Choose shoots from 1-year-old seedlings as cuttings, which can greatly increase the cutting survival rate. In production, shoots obtained from pruning can be used to make cuttings. The best time for cutting is mid-June. The survival rate of such cuttings inserted on June 17 can be as high as 74.2%-96.7%. Treating the cuttings with 200 mg/L of GGR6 can increase the survival rate.

II. Pest and disease control of Acer palmatum

Prevention should be the main approach. Spray hymexazol or dimethomorph or Aimiao emulsifiable concentrate + ningnanmycin + abamectin + lambda-cyhalothrin or chlorpyrifos or acetamiprid + organosilicon at 3000 times dilution. When there is no disease, apply once every 15-20 days; when the disease is severe, apply once every 5-7 days. Be careful to alternate the chemicals. Common insect pests of Acer palmatum include white grubs, mole crickets, scarab beetles, stinging slugs, aphids, longhorn beetles, heart borers, black caterpillars and the Asian longhorned beetle.

Control of white grubs, mole crickets and other underground pests: Underground pests such as white grubs and mole crickets gnaw at the roots and stems of seedlings, causing the seedlings to wither and die. You can use 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate or 48% chlorpyrifos emulsifiable concentrate at 1000 times dilution, mixed with fine soil and broadcast, or used to water the roots.

Control of scarab beetles, stinging slugs, aphids and other pests that feed on branches and leaves: Pests that eat branches and leaves, such as scarab beetles, stinging slugs, aphids and red spider mites, often feed on the leaves of red maples, causing poor growth of the seedlings. You can use abamectin, Bukai, or omethoate at 800-1000 times dilution for spraying.

Control of longhorn beetles, heart borers and other trunk-boring pests: Trunk-boring pests such as longhorn beetles and heart borers harm the branches and trunks of Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii', causing dead branches and even the death of entire branches in large seedlings. You can use fenvalerate, green kung fu and others at 2000-3000 times dilution for spraying, or inject pesticides such as dichlorvos into the branches and trunks from the borer holes, and seal the openings with sticky mud.

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The characteristics of Acer palmatum, its planting methods and precautions, and the differences between Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii'

Acer palmatum, also known as chicken-claw maple, is a deciduous small tree; the crown is umbrella-shaped. The bark is smooth. The bark is dark gray. The twigs are purple or pale purple-green, and the old branches are pale gray-purple. The leaves are nearly round, with a heart-shaped or nearly heart-shaped base, palmately lobed, densely set with sharp serrations. What are the characteristics of Acer palmatum? What are its planting methods? Come and learn with the editor.

Characteristics of Acer palmatum

The Acer palmatum tree is a deciduous small tree, mainly distributed in the Yangtze River basin of our country. The leaves of Acer palmatum are beautiful in shape, emerald green in spring and summer, and bright red after autumn, radiant as rosy clouds, making it an excellent foliage variety. Around May, Acer palmatum produces small purple flowers, and afterward bears fruit. October is the period when the fruit of Acer palmatum ripens.

Differences between Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii'

1. Similarities between Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii'

Both Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' are deciduous small trees of the genus Acer in the family Aceraceae. Their growth habits are quite similar; both are weakly heliophilous plants that like to grow in semi-shaded, moist environments, and are not cold-tolerant or waterlogging-tolerant. Both Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' like acidic or neutral soil with good drainage. In moist, loose, fertile soil with good drainage, both Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' grow rapidly and in good condition.

Both Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' have very high ornamental value and are very suitable for growing indoors as potted plants or bonsai, or for use in ornamental gardens.

2. Differences between Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii'

Acer palmatum is definitely Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii', but not all Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' is Acer palmatum. Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' is also known as small-leaf five-point crow maple, Adou xian, and willow-leaf maple.

In terms of appearance, the differences between Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' are shown in tree height, leaf shape, leaf color and other aspects.

Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' generally has a height of 6-7 m, with slender twigs and palmately 7-9 lobed leaves, while Acer palmatum can generally reach 10 m, is relatively slender, and has palmately 5-7 lobed leaves.

The base of Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' is heart-shaped, the tip of the leaf is tail-shaped, the margins are serrated, and the branches are red. The base of Acer palmatum, however, is wedge-shaped or heart-shaped, the leaves are slender and oval, the leaf tip is pointed, the margins are serrated, the leaf surface has fine hairs, and the branches are generally green or gray. Acer palmatum 'Thunbergii' may have red leaves year-round, while Acer palmatum has emerald green leaves like shade.

Planting methods of Acer palmatum

1. Open-field cultivation as a planting method for Acer palmatum

Acer palmatum has strong vitality. For open-field cultivation, choose a place with high, dry, sunny terrain, loose and fertile soil, and deep soil layers. Avoid planting in low-lying, waterlogged places or places with heavy clay soil, otherwise Acer palmatum will grow poorly. Before planting, deeply turn the soil and apply decomposed organic fertilizer. When planting, it is best to keep a soil ball to protect the roots and increase the survival rate. One point to note here: after planting Acer palmatum, water it thoroughly.

For open-field cultivation of Acer palmatum, generally apply organic fertilizer 3 times each year, prevent excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer, and be careful to apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, otherwise the leaf color will not be vivid.

2. Pot cultivation as a planting method for Acer palmatum

For potted Acer palmatum, you can use a cultivation soil mixed from leaf mold, garden soil and a small amount of river sand, plus a small amount of decomposed cake fertilizer powder as base fertilizer.

When cultivating potted Acer palmatum, generally from the time Acer palmatum buds in spring, apply dilute cake fertilizer water once a month. From September, switch to potassium fertilizer, such as applying 0.5%-1% potassium sulfate solution or plant ash extract, which will make the leaf color of Acer palmatum vivid.

When cultivating Acer palmatum in the open field, pay attention to watering and weeding, especially during dry weather. When planting Acer palmatum, frequently weeding and loosening the soil for it can increase soil aeration, which is beneficial to the development of the Acer palmatum root system.

For potted Acer palmatum, watering should be sufficient during the growing season, but not excessive, just enough to keep the potting soil moist. In spring and autumn, it can be placed on a balcony or in a courtyard for cultivation; in summer, move it to a semi-shaded place, taking care to shade it appropriately to prevent scorching sun exposure that causes the leaf margins to burn and dry. If it needs to be placed indoors for viewing, it is best to put Acer palmatum in a place with sufficient light and pay attention to air circulation. After placing it for a period, move it outdoors to a sunny place for cultivation. In the north, before winter arrives, promptly move Acer palmatum to a cold room for overwintering. Place it in a room at 0-5°C and keep the potting soil dry for safe overwintering. After leaf fall each winter, Acer palmatum should be pruned in combination with shaping.

The above is all the content I have learned today about Acer palmatum. I hope flower lovers will find it helpful after reading this article. To learn more about Acer palmatum, please continue to follow Duorou Huapu, and we will provide you with more related knowledge!