Lilacs Are Unique and Elegant, So You Must Master Their Propagation Methods
The genus Syringa, also known as the lilac genus, consists of deciduous shrubs or small trees; most are grown for ornamental purposes, and the flowers of some species can be used to extract aromatic oil. They are also nectar-source plants. So do you know how lilacs are propagated? Next, the editor will introduce the propagation methods of lilacs to everyone.
Lilac propagation methods:
1. Lilac division propagation
Lilac division propagation is generally carried out in early spring before budding or in autumn after leaf fall. Dig out the suckering shoots at the base of the plant together with their roots and plant them separately, or dig up the entire clump and divide it into sections for planting. For autumn division, the divisions must first be heeled in, then transplanted the following spring. Before planting, the aboveground branches should be properly pruned.
2. Lilac cutting propagation
The cutting propagation method for lilacs is to take vigorous 1- to 2-year-old branches as cuttings and insert them directly into a hotbed so that they take root and sprout to form new plants. Usually, one month after the flowers fade in spring, the terminal branches are cut for cuttings. The cuttings are 10 cm to 15 cm long and have 2 to 3 pairs of bud nodes, with one pair of bud nodes buried in the soil. At 25°C, they root in 30 to 40 days. When the young roots change from white to yellow-brown, begin transplanting the seedlings.
3. Lilac layering propagation
Lilacs can be propagated by layering. It is generally best to do this in February. Press the suckering shoots at the base of the plant into the soil; if the branch is too thick, it can be notched and then pressed down. After layering, keep the soil moist. Roots can form in 2 to 3 months, and in the autumn of that same year the layer can be separated from the mother plant and planted separately.
4. Lilac bud grafting propagation
Lilac bud grafting is a very commonly used propagation technique. For the scion, choose plump leaf buds on vigorous branches of the current year, and for the rootstock, use 1- to 2-year-old lilac seedlings. When grafting, the leaves on the scion must be cut off, leaving only the petioles. Then make a horizontal cut 1 cm above the bud, and from 1 cm to 1.5 cm below the bud make an upward smooth cut, removing the xylem inside the bark layer. Make a horizontal cut on the rootstock 5 cm to 10 cm above the ground, then from the middle of the cut make a vertical downward cut about 3 cm long, forming a "T" shape. Then gently peel open the bark, insert the scion into the "T" opening, and make sure the scion and rootstock fit closely together. Finally, tie it with plastic film strips. Two to three weeks after bud grafting, if the petiole on the scion falls off naturally, it indicates that the bud has survived, and at this point the plastic strip can be removed.
5. Lilac cleft grafting propagation
The lilac cleft grafting method is generally carried out in early spring before growth starts. The scion is 8 cm to 10 cm long, with 2 pairs of bud nodes, and the lower part of the scion is cut into slanted surfaces on both sides. Use 1- to 2-year-old lilac seedlings as the rootstock. Cut off the top 5 cm to 10 cm above the ground, then split a vertical slit downward from the cut surface of the rootstock, and insert the scion. The slanted surfaces of the scion must fit closely with the rootstock, and it should be tied firmly with plastic strips. To prevent excessive water loss at the grafting wound, it can be covered with moist soil. After the buds on the scion begin to grow, remove the covering soil.
6. Lilac approach grafting propagation
The approach grafting propagation method for lilacs is to cut a matching surface of the same size on both the lilac scion and the rootstock, and bind the two tightly together. After callus tissue forms at the wound, cut off the top branch of the rootstock 1 cm above the union, and cut off the scion 1 cm below the union, so that it becomes a new plant.
7. Lilac seed propagation
Lilacs can be propagated by sowing, and a large number of seedlings can be obtained at the same time, but this propagation method is relatively prone to variation. It is generally carried out in spring. Before sowing, soak the seeds in clean water for 1 to 2 days, or soak them in warm water at 40 to 50°C for 1 to 2 h. After removing them, mix them with sand (1 part seeds, 2 parts sand) to promote germination, keeping them moist. After about 1 week (early April), they can be sown in the seedbed. After sowing, cover with soil 1 cm deep and keep it often moist. By late April, the seedlings can emerge. After emergence, thin the seedlings, cultivate, weed, water, and fertilize in time, and they can be transplanted the following spring.
There are quite a few propagation methods for lilacs, and everyone can choose according to their own actual situation. In addition, some lilac varieties are excellent, and tissue culture can also be chosen for propagation. To learn more about plant cultivation knowledge, please continue to follow No. 1 Home Network.