How to propagate Weigela bonsai? Seed sowing, cutting and layering methods

Weigela is a flower commonly seen worldwide, with high ornamental value, and many people in China grow it too. As more people grow it, questions about its propagation have drawn interest. So how do you propagate Weigela? What are the propagation methods for Weigela bonsai? Let's take a look below.

I. How to propagate Weigela

II. Propagation methods for Weigela bonsai

Seed propagation

1. Seed collection

The fruit of Weigela generally ripens between September and October each year, and that is when we can harvest it. After harvesting, we should dry the seeds in the sun, then rub them apart to remove impurities, and select the pure seeds. Its seeds are quite light; generally 1,000 seeds weigh only 0.3 g.

2. Seed pre-treatment

Before sowing Weigela seeds, we first need to pre-treat the seeds. We can soak the seeds in warm water for 1-2 days, wait until the seeds begin to absorb water and swell, then take them out to dry, and then sow them.

3. Sowing method

Among the propagation methods for Weigela bonsai, seed sowing is a relatively common one. First, we can evenly scatter the seeds on the soil surface, then cover the seeds with 1-2 cm of soil, and then water. Be careful to water thoroughly in one go; after about 20 days the seeds will germinate.

Cutting propagation

1. Choosing cuttings

Before carrying out cutting propagation, we first need to choose the cuttings (Weigela branches). It is generally best to choose relatively robust branches, as this gives a higher survival rate. If you choose branches that already look frail, the cutting can basically be declared a failure.

2. Cutting method

Among the propagation methods for Weigela bonsai, cutting propagation is a relatively simple one. First, we can use a chopstick to poke a hole in the soil, then insert the cutting, because Weigela branches are easily damaged and inserting them directly can easily injure the base. After inserting the cutting, we can water it. About 60 days after watering, it will root.

Layering propagation

Layering propagation is generally carried out during the growing season of Weigela. We can press the branch into the soil; generally choose a lower branch to layer, as the node is likely to root and survive easily. After pressing the branch in, we can fix it with protective film, then after normal care for about 30-40 days it will root. After rooting, we just separate it from the mother plant.

Summary: After reading the above, I believe everyone has some understanding of how to propagate Weigela. After successful propagation using the above methods, you can proceed with follow-up care. If you don't know how to grow it, you can refer to the article on Weigela cultivation methods, which has detailed instructions. Enough talk; that's all for the propagation methods of Weigela bonsai. I hope it helps.

At the turn of autumn and winter, which flowers are suitable for propagation and cultivation

November is the turn of autumn and winter. November 7 is the Start of Winter, the beginning of winter in China; the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River are about to freeze. November 22 is Minor Snow; the Yellow River basin and areas to the north begin to see snow, and the Yangtze River basin also begins to enter winter.

In November, flower and tree care should focus on two aspects: first, pruning and cleaning ground-planted flowers and trees, whitewashing trunks and removing pests, turning the soil and applying base fertilizer; second, for bonsai and flower plants in greenhouses and plastic tunnels, effectively doing cold-proof and freeze-proof work.

Flowers and plants suitable for propagation in November

1. Seed propagation.

Flowers and plants that can be sown in a greenhouse include: nasturtium, gloxinia, tuberous begonia, cyclamen, African daisy, clivia, asparagus fern, hosta, etc.

Flowers and trees that can be sown as soon as collected include: Hydrangea strigosa, Ligustrum quihoui, glossy privet, camphor tree, pencil cedar, Buddhist pine, Buddhist pine, soapberry, Ardisia crenata (coral ardisia), palm, French holly, photinia, Photinia davidsoniae, etc.

At the turn of autumn and winter, which flowers and plants are suitable for propagation in November

2. Cutting propagation.

Open-field cuttings are possible, but plastic film mulch must be added. The main types of flowers and trees for insulation and cold protection are: purple-leaf plum, plum blossom (green calyx, palace pink and other cultivars), rose (profuse-flowering rose, Elizabeth and other easy-to-root cultivars), Chaenomeles speciosa, etc.

Flowers and trees that can be propagated by root cuttings include: purple-leaf plum, Malus halliana, Chaenomeles speciosa, Chinese holly, wintergreen, Chinese trumpet creeper, Chinese elm, Serissa japonica, etc. Some of these root cuttings can be used to make small and miniature bonsai.

Flowers and trees that can be densely planted and propagated by cuttings in a greenhouse or plastic tunnel include: boxwood, boxleaf boxwood, large-leaf boxwood, silver-edge boxwood, Pilea cadierei, golden-edge privet, gardenia, Hypericum monogynum, Hypericum beanii, Mahonia, golden-edge Serissa japonica, etc.

If managed properly, flowers and plants cut in November can grow a complete root system by the following spring, and can be used for ground planting to cultivate ball-shaped greening forms. In winter, in a greenhouse you can also propagate by cuttings: Begonia maculata, Begonia limprichtii, Begonia nelumbiifolia, geranium, Chinese hibiscus, fuchsia, jade plant, purslane tree, Excoecaria cochinchinensis, Pachystachys lutea, Justicia brandegeeana, etc., which can be used for potting in spring.

In the Yangtze River basin, you can also cut scions of cotton rose, Chinese trumpet creeper, grape, etc. for storage, to be cut in the following spring, which can noticeably speed up rooting and increase the cutting survival rate.

At the turn of autumn and winter, which flowers and plants are suitable for propagation in November

3. Grafting propagation.

Using green maple seedlings as rootstock, graft red maple and feather maple indoors in bags; using apricot seedlings and peach seedlings as rootstock, cleft-graft plum blossom (the graft union buried in soil to overwinter); using thick branches of rose (Elizabeth cultivar) as rootstock-scion, and branches of superior rose cultivars as scions, carry out cleft grafting or cut grafting and then cut, so that callus formation at the union and rooting at the lower cut happen simultaneously, which can speed up the process of cultivating grafted seedlings of superior rose cultivars.

4. Layering propagation.

Flowers and trees that can be propagated by ground layering in November mainly include: Chaenomeles speciosa, gardenia, small-leaf gardenia, pomegranate, camellia, plum blossom, wintersweet, Buddhist pine, Weigela, osmanthus, hydrangea, purple magnolia, Chinese incense cedar, Michelia figo, Hydrangea strigosa, snowball, Viburnum macrocephalum, Spiraea thunbergii, etc.

At the turn of autumn and winter, which flowers and plants are suitable for propagation in November

5. Division propagation.

Woody ornamental plants that can be divided in November include: Chaenomeles speciosa, Hydrangea strigosa, Spiraea thunbergii, red-flowered spiraea, Trijoh, Hypericum monogynum, Hypericum beanii, Mahonia, Buddleja, tree peony, broom, winter jasmine, Forsythia, jasmine, Chloranthus, Phoenix bamboo, Bambusa multiplex, etc. South of the Yangtze River basin, you can dig up the underground rhizomes or tubers of dahlia, canna, and large-flowered canna, store them in sand until March of the following spring, then cut and divide them for planting.

Herbaceous flowers and plants that can be divided include: Bletilla striata, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi, hosta, purple calyx, blackberry lily, iris, ornamental pineapple, large-leaf mondograss, Reineckea carnea, autumn zephyr lily, lucky bamboo, Aspidistra, Kalanchoe, etc.