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Key Technical Points for Hardwood Cutting Propagation of Taxus cuspidata (Japanese Yew)

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Taxus cuttings should be taken in May to June, at the turn of spring and summer. Cuttings are selected from mother plants aged 4 years or older and cut into 15 cm slips. Two-year-old young branches used as cuttings give a high survival rate. To promote early rooting, the base of the cuttings can be soaked in a 0.01% naphthaleneacetic acid or 0.01% indoleacetic acid solution for 3 hours, then removed and inserted into the nursery bed. The bed medium consists of vermiculite plus weathered sand (1:1), or river sand and humus soil. Before inserting the cuttings, remove the small branches and needles from the lower part of the cuttings, insert them 3-5 cm deep, with a plant-to-row spacing of 8-10 cm. Water thoroughly after insertion

Taxus cuttings should be taken in May to June, at the turn of spring and summer. Cuttings are selected from mother plants aged 4 years or older and cut into 15 cm slips. Two-year-old young branches used as cuttings give a high survival rate. To promote early rooting, the base of the cuttings can be soaked in a 0.01% naphthaleneacetic acid or 0.01% indoleacetic acid solution for 3 hours, then removed and inserted into the nursery bed.

The bed medium consists of vermiculite plus weathered sand (1:1), or river sand and humus soil. Before inserting the cuttings, remove the small branches and needles from the lower part of the cuttings, insert them 3-5 cm deep, with a plant-to-row spacing of 8-10 cm. Water thoroughly after insertion, cover the bed with an arched plastic film tent to retain moisture, and spray water twice daily; after 2 weeks, spray water once daily, with 1-1.5 kg of water per sq m each time.

After cutting, build good drainage ditches around the nursery bed. After about 16 days, as the temperature gradually rises and sunlight becomes intense, set up a shade frame over the plastic film tent, with a light transmittance of 40%-50%. When the temperature inside the tent rises to 30°C, uncover the film at both ends of the tent for ventilation to lower the temperature. Weeds found in the nursery bed should be pulled out promptly, and the cuttings must not be disturbed. Loosen the soil once in early October.

Taxus cuttings are in the callus formation stage before early July; in late July the plants differentiate noticeably, those that have rooted show normal leaf color and begin to sprout new shoots, while those that have not rooted turn yellow and gradually die. From early August to late September the underground root system develops rapidly, and by early October most seedlings have formed terminal buds. After 2-3 years they can be planted out on shady hillsides or flat ground. Shading is required in the first year after planting, and Taxus aged 5 years or older can be used medicinally.

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