Detailed Explanation of the Rapid Asexual Propagation Technique of Osmanthus by Layering
I. Selection of the mother plant and branches. The mother plant should be chosen from plants 10-15 years old, growing vigorously, with many branches and low node positions; the branches used for layering should grow vigorously, be disease-free, with undamaged bark and plump buds, and a branch length of about 1 m is ideal. About 10 days before layering, first clear the weeds within a 1-1.2 m radius around the mother plant...
I. Selection of the mother plant and branches. The mother plant should be chosen from plants 10-15 years old, growing vigorously, with many branches and low node positions; the branches used for layering should grow vigorously, be disease-free, with undamaged bark and plump buds, and a branch length of about 1 m is ideal. About 10 days before layering, first clear the weeds within a 1-1.2 m radius around the mother plant, and loosen the soil to a depth of 10-15 cm, taking care not to damage the roots, then broadcast 25 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, and mix the fertilizer thoroughly with the soil.
Two, layering. At the end of March and the beginning of April, around the mother plant, depending on how many branches can be layered (generally each mother plant can have 4-5 branches layered), dig a small trench 20 centimeters deep and 20 centimeters wide along the direction in which the branches naturally extend, then press the branches into the trench in their natural direction, fill the trench completely with fertile soil and tread it firm, water thoroughly, and then bank the soil around the layered part into a steamed-bun shape.
Three, management after layering. Management after layering mainly means doing well in the "three key areas": first, the care stage. Observe frequently to prevent damage by people, livestock, or violent storms; second, the watering and soil-banking stage. After layering, replenish water and bank soil promptly according to soil moisture; in midsummer during severe drought, pay even more attention to replenishing water to promote the sprouting and growth of new roots, and at the same time be careful to clear weeds to ensure the layered branches have ventilation and light; third, the separation-from-the-mother-plant stage. After one year of cultivation following layering, the branches have already formed a new root system; at this time a sharp tool can be used to separate the branches from the mother plant. To reduce the amount of bleeding, the cut should immediately be buried in soil and watered thoroughly. It is worth noting that after separation the young plant has not yet formed a completely independent root system, so it must not be dug up and transplanted immediately; only around Qingming in the third year may the seedlings be lifted, to ensure the survival rate after transplanting.