What propagation methods are there for peonies? A detailed introduction
Peonies can be propagated by sowing, division, or grafting. Division and grafting are the methods most commonly used, though sowing and cuttings can also be used. The suitable time for transplanting is from late September to early October, and it should not be done too early or too late. The sowing method is mostly used for breeding new varieties.
Division propagation
Division propagation of peonies was already widely used in the Ming Dynasty. The specific method is as follows: dig up an entire large, vigorously growing peony, and separate it from where the root strands meet. The number of divisions per plant depends on the size of the original plant; a large one can be divided into more, a small one into fewer. Generally, every 3-4 shoots form one division, and each should have a relatively complete root system. Then mix a small amount of sulfur powder with mud. Coat and rub the wounds on the roots evenly, and they can be planted separately. Division propagation should be carried out during the period from the Autumn Equinox to Frost's Descent each year, and it is best done at the right time. At this time, the air and soil temperatures are relatively high, and the peony is in a semi-dormant state, but there is still a fairly long period of vegetative growth, so division and planting has a not-too-serious effect on root growth, and after division and planting some new roots and a small number of shoot buds can still grow. If division and planting are done too late, root growth that year will be very weak, or no new roots will form; the following spring the plant will develop even more weakly, and weak roots cannot tolerate drought, making it prone to death. If division is done too early, when air and soil temperatures are still high, it can grow rapidly and is likely to cause autumn growth. The mother plant used for peony division is generally a strong, healthy clump. On the mother plant used for division propagation, root suckers should be retained as much as possible, and all roots on the new seedlings should be kept, so that after 5 years of growth more new shoots can be produced. Such divisions are easy to establish after planting and grow relatively vigorously. The more roots retained, the more vigorous the growth.
Grafting propagation
Peony grafting propagation is divided into two types according to the rootstock used: one uses wild peony; the other uses herbaceous peony roots. The commonly used peony grafting methods are mainly three: the wedge graft, the side graft, and the bud graft. The wedge graft uses herbaceous peony roots as rootstock; because herbaceous peony roots are soft and have no hard core, grafting is easy, and the roots are thick and short with sufficient nutrients, so growth after the graft takes is vigorous in the early stage. If peony roots are used for grafting, the xylem is harder and grafting is more difficult, but the lifespan is longer. The best time for grafting is generally from late September to early October each year. The rootstock is a thick, pest- and disease-free herbaceous peony root 2-3 cm in diameter and 10-15 cm long. The side graft is a method of top grafting to change the head and improve varieties; it uses the many branches on inferior peonies or 8-10-year-old medicinal peony plants to graft improved varieties of different colors. The grafting time is from early July to mid-August. First select a peony plant with excellent variety, a stout plant, and no pests or diseases, and cut a soil shoot branch sent up from the ground, or a short branch of the current year's growth 5-7 cm long; a short branch with 2-3 strong buds is best, to serve as the scion. Leave one leaf stalk on the scion. After selecting the scion, make a slanted cut on the back of the lower bud of the scion to form a horse-ear shape, then make another slanted cut on the other side of the horse-ear shape into a wedge shape, so that after grafting both sides can connect with the cambium tissue between the xylem and phloem, which makes it easier to survive. Before and after side grafting of peonies, except that no irrigation is given during the rainy season, suitable moisture for normal plant growth should be maintained. The bud graft is an effective method for peony propagation and for growing multiple varieties and multiple flower colors on one plant; the bud grafting time is from May to July. Grafting is best done on sunny days. Its methods include the bark patch method and the bud replacement method. The bark patch method is to cut a rectangular or shield-shaped notch, together with the xylem, on the current year's branch of the rootstock, then cut off the axillary bud of the scion together with the xylem as a bud piece of the same size and shape as the notch on the rootstock. Then quickly press the bud piece onto the notch of the rootstock and tie it tightly with plastic string. The bud replacement method is to remove the axillary bud together with the cambium at the grafting site on the rootstock, keeping the intact bud embryo on the xylem, then peel off the axillary bud of the scion in the same way, quickly slip it onto the bud embryo of the rootstock, taking care that the two fit together, and finally tie it tightly with plastic string. After grafting, the plant should be watered, the soil loosened, and fertilizer applied in good time to promote healing.
Cutting propagation
Cutting propagation is a method of using peony branches, which readily produce adventitious roots, to propagate new plants; it is one of the asexual propagation methods. The method is to first cut off the branch to be used as a cutting, detach it from the mother plant, and then insert it into soil or another medium to make it root and become a new plant. For peony cutting propagation, the branches should be current-year soil shoot branches sent up from the peony roots, or, when peonies are being shaped and pruned, branches with solid stems, plump terminal buds, and no pests or diseases, 10-18 cm long, used as cuttings. The peony's roots are fleshy roots; they like dryness, avoid moisture, and tolerate drought. Therefore, the nursery bed should be chosen in a ventilated, sunny place and built up into a raised bed for raising seedlings. When taking cuttings, water each bed right after finishing it, giving one thorough watering.
Sowing propagation
Sowing propagation is the use of seeds to reproduce offspring or to breed new varieties; it is a sexual propagation method. Before sowing, the soil must be fairly carefully prepared and disinfected; the land should be deeply plowed and finely worked, and enough base fertilizer applied. Then build small beds 70-80 cm wide; either hole sowing or drill sowing may be used. Sowing must not be too deep, with 3-4 cm as the limit; after sowing, cover with soil level with the bed surface. Then gently firm the soil and water thoroughly immediately.
Layering propagation
The peony layering method is a propagation method based on the principle that branches can produce adventitious roots; the branch is bent down or buried with soil on the plant, without being detached from the mother plant, and the soil is kept moist, so that roots form where the branch is buried, after which it is cut off and planted to become a new plant. It is likewise an asexual propagation method for peonies. This method mainly includes: the pot-nesting soil-mounding layering method and the double-flat method.
Tissue culture
Plant tissue culture propagation is based on the totipotency of plant tissue cells and uses peony embryos, flower buds, stem tips, young leaves, and leaf stalks for in vitro culture. Generally, these materials are placed in 75% alcohol and soaked for 5-10 minutes, then immediately put into sterile water for washing, then soaked in a 5% Antiformin solution for 7-10 minutes for surface sterilization, then rinsed 3-4 times with sterile water, and finally placed on culture medium for aseptic culture. The basic medium is MS, and the other additional components mainly include: different concentrations or different combinations of indoleacetic acid, naphthaleneacetic acid, indolebutyric acid, gibberellin, hydrolyzed protein, and so on.
That is all the editor has to introduce about peony propagation, and I hope it is helpful to you!
Sowing propagation
Sowing propagation is the use of seeds to reproduce offspring or to breed new varieties; it is a sexual propagation method. Before sowing, the soil must be fairly carefully prepared and disinfected; the land should be deeply plowed and finely worked, and enough base fertilizer applied. Then build small beds 70-80 cm wide; either hole sowing or drill sowing may be used. Sowing must not be too deep, with 3-4 cm as the limit; after sowing, cover with soil level with the bed surface. Then gently firm the soil and water thoroughly immediately.
Layering propagation
The peony layering method is a propagation method based on the principle that branches can produce adventitious roots; the branch is bent down or buried with soil on the plant, without being detached from the mother plant, and the soil is kept moist, so that roots form where the branch is buried, after which it is cut off and planted to become a new plant. It is likewise an asexual propagation method for peonies. This method mainly includes: the pot-nesting soil-mounding layering method and the double-flat method.
Tissue culture
Plant tissue culture propagation is based on the totipotency of plant tissue cells and uses peony embryos, flower buds, stem tips, young leaves, and leaf stalks for in vitro culture. Generally, these materials are placed in 75% alcohol and soaked for 5-10 minutes, then immediately put into sterile water for washing, then soaked in a 5% Antiformin solution for 7-10 minutes for surface sterilization, then rinsed 3-4 times with sterile water, and finally placed on culture medium for aseptic culture. The basic medium is MS, and the other additional components mainly include: different concentrations or different combinations of indoleacetic acid, naphthaleneacetic acid, indolebutyric acid, gibberellin, hydrolyzed protein, and so on.
That is all the editor has to introduce about peony propagation, and I hope it is helpful to you!