When is the best time to take cuttings of osmanthus?
1. Choosing the cutting time and managing temperature. For osmanthus cuttings, May and June are best. The suitable rooting temperature for osmanthus is 25°C to 28°C. If the temperature is too low, cover with plastic film, increase light, and raise the seedbed temperature. If the temperature is too high, pay attention to shading, and lift a corner of the plastic film to ventilate and cool it down or use misting to lower the temperature....
1. Choosing the cutting time and managing temperature. For osmanthus cuttings, May and June are best. The suitable rooting temperature for osmanthus is 25°C to 28°C. If the temperature is too low, cover with plastic film, increase light, and raise the seedbed temperature. If the temperature is too high, pay attention to shading, and lift a corner of the plastic film to ventilate and cool it down or use misting to lower the temperature.
2. Cutting medium and seedbed. The cutting medium should be loose, breathable, well-drained acidic soil or sandy soil rich in humus; vermiculite is best. Leave paths around the seedbed and dig drainage ditches well. The soil must be sterilized before inserting the cuttings. Set up a plastic arched tunnel 45 cm high on the seedbed to retain moisture and prevent rain and water accumulation. Above the tunnel, build another shade frame about 1.6 m high.
3. Selection and treatment of cuttings. Cuttings should be taken in the morning or evening or on cloudy days. Choose semi-lignified branches for cuttings, cut them into 10 cm to 12 cm lengths, cut the lower end close below a node into a horseshoe shape, and leave 2 to 3 leaves at the upper end.
4. Cutting technique. Dip the lower end of the cuttings in ABT rooting powder or soak in 200 ppm to 500 ppm indolebutyric acid for 5 minutes to 10 minutes, insert two-thirds into the soil, with a plant and row spacing of 6 cm × 6 cm. After inserting, water thoroughly, then cover with plastic film.
5. Management after cutting. ① Soil moisture should be about 50%, while air humidity is best kept above 85%. ② In the early stage of cutting, keep the shade density of the shade frame at about 80%; this both prevents direct strong sunlight and ensures sufficient scattered light, so as to facilitate photosynthesis in leafy cuttings and promote rooting. ③ After 10 days, spray the leaves once with 0.2% monopotassium phosphate or 0.5% superphosphate and 0.1% urea solution. ④ After 30 days, they have basically rooted; the film can be removed and light increased. For the rooted young seedlings, pay attention to leaf misting and shading on sunny summer days. ⑤ To make the young seedlings grow strong, spray the leaves with 0.05% "Yemianbao"; do not fertilize through the root system. By September to October or the following spring, they can be transplanted into pots.
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