A Detailed Guide to the Correct Method of Propagating Chinese Evergreen by Division
Chinese evergreen grows luxuriantly with a well-developed root system and consumes large amounts of nutrients every year. Therefore, the pot should be repotted and the soil changed every year, in February to March. Chinese evergreen has strong sprouting ability, and tiller buds readily form at the base; these newly sprouted tiller buds can be used for propagation by division. Division can be carried out at the same time as repotting and changing the soil.
Chinese evergreen grows luxuriantly with a well-developed root system and consumes large amounts of nutrients every year. Therefore, the pot should be repotted and the soil changed every year, in February to March. Chinese evergreen has strong sprouting ability, and tiller buds readily form at the base; these newly sprouted tiller buds can be used for propagation by division. Division can be carried out at the same time as repotting and changing the soil. Take the clump-forming mother plant out of the pot with its soil ball, shake off the adhering soil, and divide it along its natural gaps, with 2-3 plants per clump. After cutting, smear the cut surfaces with plant ash, then plant them separately in Yixing purple clay pots of appropriate size. Chinese evergreen has strong regenerative ability and grows quickly after division, and can be divided again after 3-4 years.
Division and Cutting Propagation Techniques for Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreen, also known as Chinese evergreen aglaonema, striped aglaonema, and Guangdong evergreen. Araceae family, Aglaonema genus. Native to Guangdong in China and the Philippines.(1) Morphological characteristics: A perennial evergreen herb. Plant height 40-70 cm, stems upright and unbranched, internodes distinct. Leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate or long elliptic, dark green, glossy. Petioles long, sheath-like at the base. Spathe pale green. Flowers in late summer and early autumn. (2) Habits: It prefers a warm, humid environment and slightly acidic soil, is shade-tolerant, fears direct strong light, and is not cold-tolerant. Winter temperature should not be lower than 12°C.
(3) Cultivation and management: Chinese evergreen prefers a shady, humid environment and fears direct sunlight, so it can be kept in a shaded spot year-round; even short exposure to the sun can turn the leaf surface white and then yellow and withered. The optimum growth temperature is 20-28°C, and it is not cold-tolerant, so it must be kept above 8°C in winter. If the temperature is too low, it is prone to cold damage. Once the leaves drop, the plant will die.
In the hot summer season, water once in the morning and once in the evening every day; in addition, spray water on the surrounding ground to increase air humidity. In spring and autumn, watering should follow the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet; in winter, watering should be restricted, because if the potting soil is too wet at this time, the leaves tend to turn yellow and root rot is caused. During the growth period, the potting soil must not be too dry; otherwise, lack of water can easily cause the leaves to wilt, yellow, and drop. In spring and autumn, apply a liquid fertilizer rich in nitrogen and potassium once every 15-20 days; in midsummer, fertilization should generally be stopped.
Chinese evergreen likes a loose, fertile, well-drained growing medium and is not tolerant of saline-alkaline conditions. The potting soil can be prepared by mixing leaf mold, garden soil, and a small amount of river sand. Generally, repot once every 1-2 years. Mother plants that have grown for many years often become prostrate and poor in appearance, so they should be re-propagated by cutting for renewal.
Chinese evergreen can also be grown hydroponically. Cut stem segments and insert them into water; after rooting, continue growing them in a water bottle, or take the potted plant out of its pot, wash the soil off the roots, and then soak it in a transparent glass vase, changing the water once every 2-3 days, and replacing it with nutrient solution once every 10 days. You can also use monopotassium phosphate and ammonium sulfate, 1/2 part each, diluted with 1000-1500 times water before use.
(4) Propagation: Division and cutting propagation can be used.
1. Propagation by division: Division can be carried out in spring along with repotting. Take the plant out of the pot, cut apart the branches at the base of the stem, let them dry slightly, and then pot them; do not water too much.
2. Cutting propagation: This can be done in May-June or September. Select thick, tender stems and cut a 12-15 cm section from the top downward, cutting the lower cut at 0.6-1 cm below a node. Coat the cut with plant ash to prevent rot. After drying in the shade, insert it into clean plain sand to a depth of 4-5 cm, place it in a shaded spot, keep the potting soil moist at all times, and maintain 80% air humidity. At a room temperature of 20-25°C, roots can form 3-4 weeks after insertion, and when the roots grow to 2-3 cm, it can be planted in a pot. You can also cut a 15 cm terminal stem section, keep 3-5 leaves at the top, and insert it directly into clean water; change the water after 2 days, and it can likewise root from the nodes.
(5) Pests and diseases: During the growth period, bacterial leaf spot and anthracnose often cause damage, and 600-fold diluted 50% carbendazim solution can be sprayed.
Division and Cutting Propagation Techniques for Chinese Evergreen
Chinese evergreen, also known as Chinese evergreen aglaonema, striped aglaonema, and Guangdong evergreen. Araceae family, Aglaonema genus. Native to Guangdong in China and the Philippines.(1) Morphological characteristics: A perennial evergreen herb. Plant height 40-70 cm, stems upright and unbranched, internodes distinct. Leaves alternate, ovate-lanceolate or long elliptic, dark green, glossy. Petioles long, sheath-like at the base. Spathe pale green. Flowers in late summer and early autumn. http://www.yuhuagu.com
(2) Habits: It prefers a warm, humid environment and slightly acidic soil, is shade-tolerant, fears direct strong light, and is not cold-tolerant. Winter temperature should not be lower than 12°C.
(3) Cultivation and management: Chinese evergreen prefers a shady, humid environment and fears direct sunlight, so it can be kept in a shaded spot year-round; even short exposure to the sun can turn the leaf surface white and then yellow and withered. The optimum growth temperature is 20-28°C, and it is not cold-tolerant, so it must be kept above 8°C in winter. If the temperature is too low, it is prone to cold damage. Once the leaves drop, the plant will die.
In the hot summer season, water once in the morning and once in the evening every day; in addition, spray water on the surrounding ground to increase air humidity. In spring and autumn, watering should follow the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet; in winter, watering should be restricted, because if the potting soil is too wet at this time, the leaves tend to turn yellow and root rot is caused. During the growth period, the potting soil must not be too dry; otherwise, lack of water can easily cause the leaves to wilt, yellow, and drop. In spring and autumn, apply a liquid fertilizer rich in nitrogen and potassium once every 15-20 days; in midsummer, fertilization should generally be stopped.
Chinese evergreen likes a loose, fertile, well-drained growing medium and is not tolerant of saline-alkaline conditions. The potting soil can be prepared by mixing leaf mold, garden soil, and a small amount of river sand. Generally, repot once every 1-2 years. Mother plants that have grown for many years often become prostrate and poor in appearance, so they should be re-propagated by cutting for renewal.
Chinese evergreen can also be grown hydroponically. Cut stem segments and insert them into water; after rooting, continue growing them in a water bottle, or take the potted plant out of its pot, wash the soil off the roots, and then soak it in a transparent glass vase, changing the water once every 2-3 days, and replacing it with nutrient solution once every 10 days. You can also use monopotassium phosphate and ammonium sulfate, 1/2 part each, diluted with 1000-1500 times water before use.
(4) Propagation: Division and cutting propagation can be used.
1. Propagation by division: Division can be carried out in spring along with repotting. Take the plant out of the pot, cut apart the branches at the base of the stem, let them dry slightly, and then pot them; do not water too much.
2. Cutting propagation: This can be done in May-June or September. Select thick, tender stems and cut a 12-15 cm section from the top downward, cutting the lower cut at 0.6-1 cm below a node. Coat the cut with plant ash to prevent rot. After drying in the shade, insert it into clean plain sand to a depth of 4-5 cm, place it in a shaded spot, keep the potting soil moist at all times, and maintain 80% air humidity. At a room temperature of 20-25°C, roots can form 3-4 weeks after insertion, and when the roots grow to 2-3 cm, it can be planted in a pot. You can also cut a 15 cm terminal stem section, keep 3-5 leaves at the top, and insert it directly into clean water; change the water after 2 days, and it can likewise root from the nodes.
(5) Pests and diseases: During the growth period, bacterial leaf spot and anthracnose often cause damage, and 600-fold diluted 50% carbendazim solution can be sprayed. (Bingrui)