Detailed Explanation of Crape Myrtle Cutting Propagation Methods and Steps
Crape myrtle, also known as itchy flower, purple gold flower, and other names, is a very traditional ornamental flower in China. The crape myrtle tree has a beautiful shape, a smooth and straight trunk, and a very long flowering period. Nowadays, more and more flower farmers in China are cultivating crape myrtle on a large scale, and the crape myrtle market is growing larger and larger. Many flower farmers expand their production through cutting propagation when planting, so how exactly should it be done? Below, let me introduce the cutting propagation techniques for crape myrtle!
1. Selecting the Nursery
Before cutting, you must first select a good cutting nursery, choosing thick, soft, wind-sheltered, and well-lit fertile sandy soil. Then control the nursery area according to the number of cuttings, and keep about 50 cm of paths in the nursery for easy planting and management. Then disinfect the soil. One week before cutting, evenly sprinkle ferrous sulfate and similar substances over the entire nursery. Or about three days before, spray the bed surface soil with diluted formalin to a depth of about 4 cm, then cover with plastic film to prevent the chemicals from evaporating. After about 7 days, the film can be removed and you can wait to cut.
2. Treating the Cuttings
Every winter, select strong, pest-free, wound-free, one-year-old lignified thick branches and cut them into about 13 cm pieces. Then choose a shady spot with high terrain and normal drainage, and dig a trench with a depth of about 70 cm. Lay a layer of wet sand at the bottom, tie the cuttings into bundles, and place them in layers in the trench. Then fill the trench with wet soil and pack it down, forming a mound, and insert branches in the middle to promote ventilation. Then dig them out in spring for cutting. Tender branches can also be used for cutting in summer, with a treatment method similar to spring cutting.
3. Cutting at the Right Time
To increase the rooting rate of the cuttings, one week before cutting, place the cuttings in running water; if there is no running water, change the water regularly every day. Alternatively, soak them in a sucrose solution for about 1 day, which can effectively improve the rooting rate. Then prepare the land well to ensure the soil is soft and has sufficient moisture, make cutting holes, insert the cuttings into the holes, compact the soil, and then proceed with cutting. Keep the cutting depth at about 10 cm, water thoroughly after cutting, leave about 1/3 of the aboveground part of the cutting exposed, and control the plant and row spacing at about 10 cm * 14 cm.
4. Post-Cutting Management
After all cuttings are completed, cover the seedbed with plastic film, then compact and seal the edges with soil, and take shading measures. Usually after about 20 days, the cuttings will take root, and after rooting, remove the film in batches. After cutting, keep the soil moist. During the seedling stage, do not flood-irrigate when watering; just let a small amount of water penetrate the soil, usually once about every 4 days. Then after about one month, appropriately apply nitrogen fertilizer, controlling the amount according to seedling growth, following the principle of applying fertilizer in batches. Then do a good job of loosening the soil and weeding, controlling the depth of loosening according to seedling size to avoid damaging the seedling roots and affecting the growth of crape myrtle.
The above is a brief introduction to crape myrtle cutting propagation methods. No matter what propagation method is used, during seedling cultivation, attention must be paid to pest and disease prevention and control. Carry out different corresponding preventive measures according to different pests and diseases, enhance the disease resistance of crape myrtle, reduce the incidence rate, and avoid unnecessary losses. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!