What are the common propagation methods for the Japanese bush cherry?

The Japanese bush cherry likes a sunny, warm and humid environment. Its flowering period is from March to April, when it blooms before the leaves emerge or flowers and leaves appear together, and it is very beautiful when in bloom. The Japanese bush cherry has fairly strong adaptability and can also tolerate slightly acidic soil. Artificial propagation of the Japanese bush cherry can be done by division, sowing, cuttings, layering, grafting and other methods, with division being the main method in production.

Japanese bush cherry

I. Division propagation

The Japanese bush cherry has strong suckering ability and produces many root suckers. It is best to separate the sucker shoots at the base of the mother plant with a sharp knife before growth begins in spring. Each plant can be divided into 3 to 5 plants, which are then transplanted. Generally, they bloom two years after surviving.

II. Cutting propagation

Cuttings can be taken from February to March. Select the lower section of a vigorous one-year-old sucker, cut it into 10 cm to 15 cm lengths with two or three buds as cuttings, and insert them two-thirds deep into the soil. After cutting, water thoroughly and maintain relatively high air humidity; roots will form in about 1 month. Because the roots of the Japanese bush cherry readily produce adventitious buds, root cuttings also give fairly good results.

III. Seed propagation

Sowing can be done in spring or autumn. In spring it can be done from late February to mid-to-late March, and in autumn from September to mid-October, but autumn sowing is preferable. Seeds can be collected in early June, piled to ripen, then washed and dried in the shade before sowing in autumn, or the seeds can be stratified in moist sand at low temperature and sown in the open field the following spring. The sowing rate is about 10 grams per sq m, and the sowing depth is 4 cm to 5 cm. After sowing, cover with a layer of fine soil and cover the surface with straw or other material to maintain soil moisture so that the seedlings emerge uniformly.

IV. Grafting propagation

Grafting mainly uses "T"-shaped budding. Select a vigorous one- or two-year-old superior Japanese bush cherry variety as the scion, and the rootstock can be vigorous apricot, plum, wild peach, Nanking cherry, etc. When taking the bud, first make a cut with a sharp knife 1 cm above the bud, cutting through the xylem to 1 cm below the bud. Wrap the removed bud in a damp towel. Cut a "T" shape in the rootstock, insert the bud into the rootstock, align the upper end with the cambium, and then tie it firmly with plastic tape. The Japanese bush cherry has strong grafting compatibility and takes relatively easily. After it survives, untie the tape and cut back the rootstock. The Japanese bush cherry is also often used as a rootstock for peach, apricot and plum.

Propagation methods for the Japanese bush cherry

Division propagation of the Japanese bush cherry

Because the Japanese bush cherry has strong suckering ability and many root suckers, division is a common propagation method for it. The specific method is to cut off the sucker shoots at the base of the mother plant in spring and then transplant them. Each mother plant can be divided into three to five plants. Generally, divided plants bloom two years after surviving.

Cutting propagation of the Japanese bush cherry

Seed propagation of the Japanese bush cherry

Seed propagation is the most common propagation method. The specific method is to sow in spring or autumn, but autumn sowing is preferable. For autumn sowing, collect seeds in early summer, then wash them clean and let them dry naturally in a cool place until the autumn sowing period. For spring sowing, also collect seeds in early summer, then stratify the seeds in moist sand at low temperature and sow the following spring. When sowing, pay attention to the spacing between plants and the planting depth.

Grafting propagation of the Japanese bush cherry

Cultivation and care methods for the Japanese bush cherry

Flower Bonsai Network plant care section: Cultivation and care methods for the Japanese bush cherry will introduce you to how to grow the Japanese bush cherry, what makes it thrive, and pest and disease control for the Japanese bush cherry.

Japanese bush cherry (Xiaotaohong) aliases: Juemei, Yangli. Latin name: Cerasus japonica (Thunb.) Lois., a shrub in the Rosaceae family, genus Cerasus, 1-1.6 m tall.

[Ornamental value of the Japanese bush cherry]
From March to April, pink flowers cover the branches, and in June red fruits hang on the branches. It is a potted flowering and fruiting plant beautiful in both flowers and fruit.
[Habits of the Japanese bush cherry]
It likes sun, tolerates drought and moisture, has strong growth adaptability, and produces many root tillers in a clustered form.
[Cultivation and management of the Japanese bush cherry]
(1) Division is commonly used for propagation; cuttings and sowing can also be used.
(2) Use a pot with a diameter of 15 to 20 cm. Use garden soil as the potting soil and plant with a base fertilizer layer.
(3) Potted flowers should be placed in a sunny spot to promote flower bud differentiation. When in bloom, they can be placed indoors or in a shaded spot to extend the flowering period.
(4) Water whenever the potting soil becomes dry, and apply a dilute nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizer solution once a month from March to September.
(5) After leaf fall in autumn, divide the plants when repotting.