How to cultivate lilac? A complete analysis of practical tips
Cultivation tips for lilac
Lilac (Syringa oblata), also known as lilac, belongs to the genus Syringa in the family Oleaceae.
I. Overview:
With luxuriant branches and leaves, it blooms profusely in mid-spring, with a rich fragrance that assails the senses and colors that are gorgeous and distinctive. It is one of the most common ornamental flowering trees and shrubs in China. According to the Northern Song dynasty work Luoyang Flower and Tree Records by Zhou Shihou, its cultivation history in China spans more than 1000 years. The earliest country in Europe to cultivate lilac was Austria, more than 400 years later than China. Since the 19th century, more than 1000 cultivars have been registered worldwide. It is currently one of the most widely used flowering trees and shrubs in gardens in northern China, and is called the "tree of happiness". The U.S. state of New Hampshire designated it as its state flower, Sapporo in Japan selected it as its city flower, Heilongjiang Province in China selected it as its provincial flower, and the cities of Hohhot, Harbin, and Xining selected it as their city flower.
II. Ecological characteristics:
Native to northern China. It prefers a warm, humid environment and full sunlight. It is cold-tolerant, tolerant of partial shade, and tolerant of dry air, but afraid of waterlogging, and has relatively strong suckering ability. The optimum growth temperature is 15-26°C, and in winter it can withstand low temperatures of -20°C. The soil should preferably be fertile, loose, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy loam.
III. Propagation techniques:
1. Sowing: Seeds mature in summer; collect seeds in July, store them through winter, and sow in the following spring. Before sowing, stratify the seeds at a low temperature of 0-7°C for 1-2 months. The optimum germination temperature is 20-25°C, and germination can occur 15-20 days after sowing.
2. Grafting: Stem grafting is carried out before budding in early spring, with rootstocks commonly being Ligustrum quihoui, wax tree, or European lilac; bud grafting is carried out in June-July. The survival rate is high.
3. Cuttage: Carry out 30 days after flowering. Cut vigorous semi-lignified current-year branches, 12-15 cm long, with 2-3 pairs of buds, and treat the base of the cuttings with a 0.2% indolebutyric acid solution for 10 seconds. Roots can form 30-40 days after insertion, with a rooting rate of 80%-90%.
4. Layering: Carry out in February or early summer; thin, tender branches do not need to be wounded, and the air layering method is used. In September-October of the same year, they can be cut from the mother plant and transplanted, and after 2-3 years of cultivation they can bloom.
IV. Cultivation techniques:
Transplant after leaf fall in autumn, choosing a spot with ample sunlight and fertile soil. During the growing period, keep the soil slightly dry and pay attention to drainage. Apply fertilizer 2-3 times each year, add one application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in winter, and promptly prune diseased branches, dead branches, and leggy branches to maintain a graceful plant shape. After flowering, cut off the inflorescences, which can reduce nutrient consumption and help produce more flowers the following year.
V. Pest and disease control:
The main diseases are lilac blight and leaf blight, which can be sprayed with a 600-fold dilution of 70% mancozeb wettable powder. Pests include scale insects and stinging caterpillars, which can be killed by spraying with a 1500-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate.
I. Overview:
With luxuriant branches and leaves, it blooms profusely in mid-spring, with a rich fragrance that assails the senses and colors that are gorgeous and distinctive. It is one of the most common ornamental flowering trees and shrubs in China. According to the Northern Song dynasty work Luoyang Flower and Tree Records by Zhou Shihou, its cultivation history in China spans more than 1000 years. The earliest country in Europe to cultivate lilac was Austria, more than 400 years later than China. Since the 19th century, more than 1000 cultivars have been registered worldwide. It is currently one of the most widely used flowering trees and shrubs in gardens in northern China, and is called the "tree of happiness". The U.S. state of New Hampshire designated it as its state flower, Sapporo in Japan selected it as its city flower, Heilongjiang Province in China selected it as its provincial flower, and the cities of Hohhot, Harbin, and Xining selected it as their city flower.
II. Ecological characteristics:
Native to northern China. It prefers a warm, humid environment and full sunlight. It is cold-tolerant, tolerant of partial shade, and tolerant of dry air, but afraid of waterlogging, and has relatively strong suckering ability. The optimum growth temperature is 15-26°C, and in winter it can withstand low temperatures of -20°C. The soil should preferably be fertile, loose, well-drained, slightly acidic sandy loam.
III. Propagation techniques:
1. Sowing: Seeds mature in summer; collect seeds in July, store them through winter, and sow in the following spring. Before sowing, stratify the seeds at a low temperature of 0-7°C for 1-2 months. The optimum germination temperature is 20-25°C, and germination can occur 15-20 days after sowing.
2. Grafting: Stem grafting is carried out before budding in early spring, with rootstocks commonly being Ligustrum quihoui, wax tree, or European lilac; bud grafting is carried out in June-July. The survival rate is high.
3. Cuttage: Carry out 30 days after flowering. Cut vigorous semi-lignified current-year branches, 12-15 cm long, with 2-3 pairs of buds, and treat the base of the cuttings with a 0.2% indolebutyric acid solution for 10 seconds. Roots can form 30-40 days after insertion, with a rooting rate of 80%-90%.
4. Layering: Carry out in February or early summer; thin, tender branches do not need to be wounded, and the air layering method is used. In September-October of the same year, they can be cut from the mother plant and transplanted, and after 2-3 years of cultivation they can bloom.
IV. Cultivation techniques:
Transplant after leaf fall in autumn, choosing a spot with ample sunlight and fertile soil. During the growing period, keep the soil slightly dry and pay attention to drainage. Apply fertilizer 2-3 times each year, add one application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in winter, and promptly prune diseased branches, dead branches, and leggy branches to maintain a graceful plant shape. After flowering, cut off the inflorescences, which can reduce nutrient consumption and help produce more flowers the following year.
V. Pest and disease control:
The main diseases are lilac blight and leaf blight, which can be sprayed with a 600-fold dilution of 70% mancozeb wettable powder. Pests include scale insects and stinging caterpillars, which can be killed by spraying with a 1500-fold dilution of 80% dichlorvos emulsifiable concentrate.