Efficient Cultivation Techniques for Photinia × fraseri and Control of Major Pests and Diseases
How do you prune Photinia × fraseri? What preparations should be made before transplanting Photinia × fraseri? Let's learn together with the editor of Huinong Net about the transplanting preparations, propagation, and pest and disease control cultivation of Photinia × fraseri.
1 Characteristics and Functions of Photinia × fraseri
Photinia × fraseri prefers light and sandy soil, is slightly shade-tolerant, has strong cold and drought tolerance, strong saline-alkali tolerance, fast growth, good sprouting ability, strong ecological adaptability, good resistance to harmful gases, excellent pruning tolerance, and is easy to transplant and shape. It can be combined with other landscaping plants according to specific greening needs.
With the continuous development of the social economy, people's requirements for their living environment are getting higher and higher, which has promoted the rapid development of greening construction and put forward new requirements for plant combinations in landscaping. In the landscaping of many areas of our country, evergreen red-leaf tree species are very scarce, with Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea and Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum being relatively common, but the leaves of these 2 plants are not highly leathery, their cold resistance is poorer compared with Photinia × fraseri, and the soil suitable for planting Loropetalum chinense var. rubrum is mostly acidic. Although Berberis thunbergii var. atropurpurea has strong soil adaptability, this tree species is mainly deciduous or semi-evergreen.
In addition, the leaves of these 2 plants are dark purplish-red with poor ornamental value, unable to compare with the bright red leaves of Photinia × fraseri. Introducing Photinia × fraseri can not only enrich garden plant varieties, increase urban greening volume, and continuously enhance urban taste, but also play a role in beautifying the environment and purifying the air; at the same time, it can also serve to block wind, prevent dust, and reduce noise, and can effectively reduce solar radiation heat in summer and regulate air humidity, which is conducive to improving the quality of life of urban residents and improving the urban ecological environment.
2 Cultivation Techniques
2.1 Transplanting
2.1.1 Selection and Preparation of Cultivation Site
When introducing and cultivating Photinia × fraseri, the transplanting site must be selected and prepared. Try to choose a place with relatively deep soil layers and soft, fertile soil texture, ensure soil drainage performance, and be as close to a water source as possible. If the soil is compacted, sticky, and heavy with poor aeration, the soil must be improved. Before transplanting, fertilization work needs to be done well, using decomposed barnyard manure and superphosphate as base fertilizer, and fertilization should be uniform. When plowing the soil, the depth should reach more than 25 cm, and 20% to 30% aged rice husk ash should be added to the planting soil to enhance the soil's aeration and water permeability.
2.1.2 Selection and Processing of Cuttings
Under normal circumstances, Photinia × fraseri can be propagated by cuttings. It is necessary to select branches that are free of pests and diseases and grow vigorously, and cut about 8 cm from the plant as cuttings. During processing, scissors need to be sterilized with alcohol, then the branches should be cut into sections, with each section keeping 1 leaf to improve the survival rate. During the cutting process, sufficient moisture in the branches must be ensured.
2.1.3 Technical Key Points
During the process of transplanting seedlings, the integrity of the root soil ball must be ensured, and the nutrient pot should be carefully removed. Dig holes at fixed points, control the transplanting depth well, preferably keeping it consistent with the planting depth before transplanting. Pile fine soil around the roots so that the roots can spread out, then compact the soil so that the transplanted seedlings are arranged neatly, and water promptly to settle the roots. Then spread rice straw on the seedbed to prevent weeds and also play a role in moisture retention.
2.2 Cultivation Management
2.2.1 Water and Light Management
During the seedling recovery period, water promptly. If there are consecutive sunny days, water once 4 d after transplanting is completed, and then once every 10 d thereafter. If it is the rainy season with frequent precipitation, drainage work needs to be done well, and protection measures should also be taken by covering the seedbed with rice straw to avoid burning the seedling roots. In the early stage of seedling transplanting, to improve the survival rate of seedlings, shading treatment is needed. When the mother seedlings can be used for cutting collection, shade nets should be used for covering to effectively control the loss of moisture from the cuttings.
2.2.2 Nutrient Management
After transplanting saplings in March to April, urea needs to be applied 15 d later; compound fertilizer should be broadcast in May to June; urea needs to be applied again in July to August; and decomposed organic fertilizer should be applied in November to December, mainly by digging furrows and burying. When applying compound fertilizer and urea, do it simultaneously with loosening soil and weeding, broadcasting between rows to avoid damaging the leaves, branches, and rhizomes of the seedlings. Remove weeds when they newly emerge, and ensure the quality of removal. Loosen soil and weed after rain and clear days to avoid soil compaction problems that affect the normal growth of Photinia × fraseri.
2.2.3 Pruning Management
Pruning work is usually carried out before germination or after new shoots grow. The degree of pruning is determined according to the actual growth of the tree tips, generally adhering to the principle of removing the weak and keeping the strong. For medium growth, it can be handled according to the overall growth to ensure the beauty of the tree shape. During pruning, it is strictly forbidden to leave dead stubs. Pruning should be combined with fertilizer and water supplementation. If the seedlings shoot quickly, multiple prunings are needed, which is conducive to promoting branching and avoiding the phenomenon of tall, thin, or disjointed tree shapes.
2.2.4 Winter Management
When managing Photinia × fraseri in winter, pay attention to the following points: (1) Prevent the problem of frozen soil damaging roots. Frozen soil layers can cause physiological drought in plants and lead to plant death. Therefore, in areas with frozen soil layers, especially for Photinia × fraseri planted in the current year, soil freezing prevention measures should be taken to protect the plant roots. Generally, the ground surface should be covered half a month before the frozen soil layer forms, so that the soil temperature can be effectively controlled; (2) Clean up branches with pests and diseases to reduce the probability of pest and disease occurrence in the coming year; (3) Apply winter fertilizer to ensure the growth of new shoots in the coming year, thereby enhancing the ornamental effect. Carry this out simultaneously with soil loosening from December of the current year to January of the following year, and it is advisable to use compound fertilizer with relatively high nitrogen content; (4) To make the germination of spring new shoots somewhat compact and consistent and ensure the ornamental effect, complete light pruning in January according to product use. Photinia × fraseri is widely used in urban greening in our country. The winter maintenance time and measures should be determined according to the actual winter conditions of each place. Only in this way can the effectiveness of maintenance work be effectively guaranteed.
2.3 Pest and Disease Control
2.3.1 Leaf Spot Disease
Leaf spot disease mainly harms the new stems and new leaves of Photinia × fraseri. In the initial stage, brown spots appear on the leaf surface, and as the disease worsens, they gradually become diagonal lesions. The lesions on the front of the leaf are reddish-brown, while those on the back are yellow-brown. When the disease is relatively serious, the lesions become block-shaped, causing the plant to die. In winter and spring, centrally clean up dead branches and fallen leaves to remove overwintering sources of disease. In March and early June, spray Bordeaux mixture once every 10 to 15 d. When the disease occurs, 50% carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl can be used at 300 to 400 times dilution for control.
2.3.2 Red Spider Mite
Red spider mites mainly feed on tender leaves. After the leaves are damaged, abnormal proliferation occurs in the epidermal cells. Controlling diseased propagation or invasion of disease sources is the basic way to prevent and control red spider mites. Before new buds germinate in spring, 20% dicofol at 800 times dilution can be sprayed for prevention. When the pest is serious, 0.02% to 0.05% chlorobenzilate powder solution mixed with 0.5 Baume degree lime sulfur mixture can be used, or 40% dimethoate emulsion at 800 times dilution can be used; all have good control effects.
2.3.3 Aphids
Aphids can cause leaf deformity, curling, and wrinkling, and also secrete honeydew that causes viral diseases or sooty mold on leaves. Moreover, aphids reproduce in large numbers and easily cause disasters in dry seasons. When controlling aphids, not only should the light transmission and ventilation conditions of the planting site be improved, but corresponding chemical control methods should also be adopted. When temperatures rise in spring, use 40% dimethoate emulsion at 1200 to 1500 times dilution to kill hatching eggs. March to October is the peak period for aphids, so appropriately use pirimicarb or imidacloprid for spraying once every 7 d to prevent adults from causing disasters.
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Cultivation Methods of Photinia × fraseri | Pest and Disease Control Methods of Photinia × fraseri
Cultivation Methods of Photinia × fraseri | Pest and Disease Control Methods of Photinia × fraseri--When purchasing seedlings, choose suppliers with a good reputation and quality after-sales service to ensure the purity of the variety and reduce production risks.
Selection and Preparation of Photinia × fraseri Nursery Land
The soil of the planting site is preferably loose in texture, fertile, and slightly acidic to neutral, with convenient irrigation and good drainage. Before planting, apply 3000 kg of decomposed barnyard manure and 50 kg of superphosphate per mu, with a soil plowing depth of more than 25 cm, and at the same time apply insecticides to control underground pests. After plowing, level the soil, open drainage ditches, and make seedbeds with a bed surface width of about 1 m.
Transplanting of Photinia × fraseri Seedlings
The transplanting time is generally March to April in spring and October to November in autumn, and the specific time should be determined according to local climate conditions. The planting spacing should be determined according to the nursery retention time and cultivation goal. If planning to sell as one-year-old small shrubs, a plant spacing and row spacing of 35×35 cm or 40×40 cm is suitable, about 3000 plants per mu.
When transplanting seedlings, carefully remove the packaging or take off the nutrient pot to ensure the root soil ball is intact, and dig holes at fixed points; pile fine soil around the roots, spread the root system, and gently compact. After planting, water thoroughly with settling water promptly.
Post-planting Management of Photinia × fraseri
During the seedling recovery period after planting, special attention should be paid to water management. If there are consecutive sunny days, water once 3 to 4 days after transplanting, and then about once every 10 days; if there are consecutive rainy days, drain promptly. After about 15 days, once the seedlings pass the recovery period, fertilization can begin. In spring, apply urea once every half month at about 5 kg/mu. In summer and autumn, apply compound fertilizer once every half month at 5 kg/mu; in winter, apply decomposed organic fertilizer once at 1500 kg/mu, preferably by digging furrows and burying. Fertilization should follow the principle of light fertilizer applied frequently, and the amount should not be too large at one time to avoid root damage and seedling burning. Usually remove weeds and loosen soil promptly to prevent soil compaction.
Pest and Disease Control
Photinia × fraseri has relatively strong resistance, and no devastating pests or diseases have been found. However, if management is improper or the nursery environment is poor, gray mold, leaf spot disease, or damage from scale insects, cutworms, and others may occur. Gray mold can be prevented by spraying 50% carbendazim at 1000 times dilution, and during the disease period can be controlled by spraying 50% zineb at 800 times dilution. Leaf spot disease can be controlled with 50% carbendazim at 300—400 times dilution or thiophanate-methyl at 300—400 times dilution. Scale insects can be controlled by spraying dimethoate emulsion at 200 times dilution or 800—1000 times dilution. Control of cutworms should preferably be carried out before planting; the land should be deeply plowed appropriately, and phosphorus-containing insecticides such as soil insect killer should be spread. If cutworm damage occurs after planting, timely remedial treatment is needed, otherwise it will spread with great harm, especially to Photinia × fraseri at the seedling stage, possibly causing large-scale death.
Cultivation Techniques and Pest and Disease Control Knowledge for Container Seedlings of Photinia × fraseri
With the development of container nurseries, the advantages of container seedlings are becoming increasingly apparent. To facilitate promotion and sales of new and superior colored-leaf tree species, cultivation in container seedling form is increasingly being adopted. As a new and superior colored-leaf tree species, Photinia × fraseri is being accepted by more nursery producers, and the container seedling cultivation form is also gradually being adopted.
1. Seedling Selection:
Photinia × fraseri is mainly propagated by cuttings. Seedlings available for selection include field-planted cuttings, container cuttings, and tissue-cultured seedlings. If the producer is just starting container seedling production of Photinia × fraseri, it is recommended to introduce container cuttings, that is, plug seedlings or tissue-cultured seedlings, to ensure the survival rate of the seedlings. Of course, field-planted cuttings can also be used, or container cultivation can be carried out after the field-planted cuttings grow to the point before sale.
2. Container Selection:
For producers of Photinia × fraseri container seedlings, container selection is very important. Different containers should be selected according to different specifications of seedlings and different cultivation purposes. At present, there are many varieties and specifications of containers on the market. If long-term planting is considered, woody planting containers such as gallon pots can be selected. Their service life can reach about 3 years, they are anti-aging, and can be reused, making them the first choice for cultivation; if short-term sales are considered, woody planting bags can be selected. Their service life is about 1 year, and the cost is relatively low.
3. Medium:
An ideal container cultivation medium should have 50% solids, 25% air, and 25% moisture. There are many materials used as medium, such as fine sand, peat, perlite, pumice, pine bark, walnut shell, coconut coir, sawdust, straw, rice husk, carbonized rice husk, and bagasse. Specifically, the mixed medium should meet the following requirements:
(1) Good aeration and drainage, while also having relatively strong water-holding capacity;
(2) pH value between 5.5 and 6.5, low ec value, sufficient cation exchange capacity, and the ability to continuously supply the elements needed for plant growth;
(3) Consistent material selection standards, free of toxic substances and free of pathogens, pests, and weed seeds, etc.
When proportioning the cultivation medium, also consider using as few medium material combinations as possible. It may be necessary to adjust the pH value and add long-acting controlled-release fertilizer. In production, considering factors such as cost and medium sources, peat and perlite are mostly used as the main medium materials.
4. Potting Small Seedlings:
The cultivation medium for small container seedlings of Photinia × fraseri uses peat:perlite = 4:1. When using it, add hydrated lime to adjust the pH value and supplement calcium nutrition in the medium (because peat is acidic and lacks calcium). When potting, several points must be noted: the root system should spread out, the seedling should be upright, and it should not be planted too deep. Generally, burying the rooting part 2 to 3 cm into the medium is sufficient.
5. Fertilizer Use at the Small Seedling Stage:
The most convenient thing in container seedling production is the use of long-acting slow-release fertilizer, which has a long fertilizer effect period. When using it, simply add an appropriate amount when mixing the medium. After the small container seedlings are planted, slow-release fertilizer can be applied, and water-soluble fertilizer can also be used for irrigation.
In container seedling production, peat and perlite are often used as the medium, lacking ca, mg, and trace elements. Therefore, in addition to using controlled-release fertilizer as the base, water-soluble fertilizer also needs to be supplemented to quickly and effectively supplement the various trace elements necessary for seedling growth, so that the seedlings grow robustly.
6. Repotting:
When the root system of Photinia × fraseri container seedlings fills the container, and when the pot is removed the fibrous roots are seen to have wrapped the peat and water is difficult to water through, repotting is needed. Key points for repotting: add 1/3 medium to an empty pot (apply base fertilizer and mix evenly), place the seedling in the center of the pot, straighten it, fill with medium, press slightly around the sides, and give it a shake.
The container for repotting must be larger than the original one. Pine bark or walnut shell medium and sandy loam soil free of weed seeds can be added to the medium to reduce costs.
Recycled medium must be disinfected before repeated use (use dichtl 600 to 800 times dilution or other disinfection methods).
When applying base fertilizer during repotting, the most convenient and economical method is to use long-acting slow-release fertilizer, simply adding an appropriate amount when mixing the medium. The fertilization amount depends on the container size.
Taking advantage of repotting, the poor growth direction of small seedlings can be corrected so that they grow toward the shape we want.
After repotting, container seedlings should be placed neatly, with the same number placed in each plot, and walkways should be left to facilitate watering, fertilizing, and other operations.
7. Management:
The internal space of the container is limited, and the water and fertilizer holding capacity is very limited. To make container seedlings grow robustly, it is necessary to frequently supplement water and fertilizer to the medium in the container. Watering is a frequent and meticulous management procedure. Usually large containers are watered once every 1 to 2 weeks, and small containers are also watered once every 3 to 6 days. Of course, watering frequency is also closely related to the size of the seedlings growing in the container. Uneven watering can cause seedlings to lose water and wilt. Only thorough watering can make potted seedlings grow robustly. Under normal circumstances, when the peat in the upper 1/3 of the medium in the container turns white, it needs watering again; do not wait until the seedlings wilt before watering. In particular, it should be remembered that after seedlings wilt, at first only a small amount of water should be applied to moisten the medium, and only after the wilted leaves of the seedlings return to normal can thorough watering be done. Never pour thoroughly all at once, otherwise the root system is prone to rotting from being submerged in water, leading to seedling death. If watering is difficult to penetrate thoroughly, it is because the medium is too dry or the root system has tightly coiled the medium. In management, the watering cycle can be shortened, or sprinkler irrigation equipment can be used for regular watering.
Topdressing is a very important operation for the production of Photinia × fraseri container seedlings. The limited root growth space and frequent watering make the fertilizer-loving Photinia × fraseri appear nutritionally deficient. However, frequent use of quick-acting fertilizers not only easily causes seedling burning, but also increases the production management cost and management difficulty of container seedlings. Therefore, we strongly recommend that container seedling producers use apex long-acting controlled-release fertilizer, which only needs to be applied 1 to 2 times a year, greatly saving labor. When topdressing, hole application can be used, that is, inserting holes and applying fertilizer into the holes. The number of holes per pot depends on the container size.
8. Pest and Disease Control:
The main diseases of Photinia × fraseri container seedlings include anthracnose, leaf spot disease, and others. Control: during the disease period, use spray control. Selected agents include 50% carbendazim at 500 times dilution, 75% chlorothalonil at 500 to 800 times dilution, and 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder at 800 to 1000 times dilution. Spray once every 7 to 10 days for 3 to 4 consecutive times. Root diseases can be controlled by drenching roots with dichtl at 800 to 1000 times dilution. Usually after pruning, spray promptly to prevent wound infection.
The main pests include aphids, moth larvae, and others. Use periodic spraying for control. Selected agents include imidacloprid at 800 times dilution, 90% trichlorfon at 1000 times dilution, or 50% fenitrothion at 1000 times dilution, or pyrethroid insecticides. Patrol the nursery frequently and spray promptly when newly hatched larvae are found.