How to propagate Chinese holly? A detailed explanation of propagation methods
Chinese holly (Ilex cornuta) is also known as cat's thorn and bird's perch. It belongs to the genus Ilex, and the holly tree can be used as one; its branches and leaves are dense, and it also needs special care. It is an excellent foliage and fruit ornamental tree species, often used in the West for Christmas decorations. At the same time, it is also a tonic and strengthening traditional Chinese medicinal herb. So how should it be propagated? Let's take a look together.
1. Seed propagation
Chinese holly can use traditional seed propagation. In order to create a good environment for its seed germination and seedling growth, after selecting the plot, it is necessary to plough carefully and make the soil clods fine and crumbly. When sowing, attention should also be paid to density, especially for large seeds, which should be appropriately sparsely planted. In production, there are broadcast sowing, drilling, and dibbling, but Chinese holly has large seeds, so the dibbling method is commonly used. Dig furrows in the nursery according to seed size, and sow the seeds in the nursery at a certain row spacing. Generally, the row spacing must not be less than 30 cm, and the plant spacing should be controlled at about 10-15 cm. The sowing depth is generally 3-5 cm, and can reach 8 cm during drought. When the soil is dry and the soil texture is loose, after sowing and covering with soil, press lightly.
2. Cutting propagation
Select 6-8-year-old strong, pest- and disease-free excellent thornless varieties as mother plants, and choose branches that are thick and strong, with full buds and no pests or diseases as cuttings. This is generally carried out during the summer plum rain season. Cut the cuttings in the morning, cut them into small sections of 6-8 cm, each section must have 2-3 buds and also one leaf, and put them into clean water to prevent water loss; the survival rate of cuttings is not high. Before cutting, soak the lower end of the cuttings in a rooting powder solution for 2 hours, then insert them for cutting. The depth into the soil is two-thirds of the cutting. Generally, control the plant and row spacing at 8×3 cm. After cutting, water thoroughly and maintain suitable temperature and humidity. Roots can form in about one month.
3. Grafting propagation
Grafting is a commonly used introduction in agricultural production. It refers to moving and attaching the vegetative organs of a plant to another plant. The grafted branch is the scion, the bud is the bud, and the plant being grafted onto is the rootstock. When cultivating grafted Chinese holly seedlings, it has the advantages of fast growth, strong tree vigor, and early fruiting, and can also inherit the rootstock's characteristics of drought resistance, cold resistance, waterlogging resistance, and salt-alkali resistance. Therefore, it is best to choose this variety as the rootstock, and for the grafted bud, choose varieties with early fruiting and high yield.
The above is an introduction to the propagation methods of Chinese holly. I hope it can help you. To learn more related knowledge, please follow us.