How to propagate rhododendron? Introduction to common propagation methods
Rhododendron is a flower with very high ornamental value, and it was originally a wild flower in our country. However, due to its value and certain medicinal effects, artificial cultivation has gradually begun. After entering spring, it is also exactly the good season for rhododendron seedling propagation, so how should we propagate rhododendron when planting it? Below, the editor brings you the propagation methods of rhododendron, let's take a look!
1. Cutting propagation
Cutting propagation is the most commonly used propagation method for rhododendron. We should reasonably choose the cutting time according to the planted variety. Then we should choose branches of the current year that are not fully lignified or have just lignified not long ago. After cutting them off, remove the leaves at the base of the cutting, keep about 4 leaves at the top, and put them in water ready for cutting. Then use soil rich in humus as the cutting substrate, keep the cutting surface smooth, and insert it about half way. After cutting, water thoroughly, cover with film to improve the soil's moisture retention capacity, and promote the rooting of the cuttings.
2. Layering propagation
Layering propagation of rhododendron is mainly air layering, generally carried out around Qingming Festival. First, choose stout branches about two years old and free of pests and diseases. Then girdle the branch at a position about 11 cm above it, peel off the phloem, prevent nutrients from continuing to be transported downward, concentrate the nutrients at the girdled area, and promote the germination of root buds. Then wrap wet soil with a plastic bag or film, wind it around the girdled area, and tie both ends of the bag tightly. Then place it in a place without direct sunlight for management, keep the soil in the bag moist, and promote wound healing and rooting. In about 3 months, after the root hairs grow to about 3 cm, it can be separated from the mother plant to form an independent plant.
3. Grafting propagation
Grafting propagation is generally carried out around May each year. Choose a rhododendron plant within two years old as the rootstock, and the thickness of the rootstock should not differ too much from the scion. Then cut off a tender shoot of about 4 cm from the mother plant, keep about 4 leaves at the top, and then cut the base of the tender shoot into a wedge shape. Then when the new shoot of the rootstock grows to about 3 cm, cut it short, remove the leaves, make a vertical cut of about 1 cm, and then insert the scion, ensuring the cortex aligns. Wrap and tie the joint tightly with grafting film, then put on a plastic bag to retain moisture, and place it in a shaded place. After about a week, if water droplets are found in the bag, it will most likely survive. After 60 days, remove the plastic bag, and then untie the string in the spring of the second year.
4. Seed propagation
When the seed color of rhododendron gradually turns brown, the top of the fruit cracks, and the seeds fall out, harvest them in time. And those that have not cracked should not be kept either; place them in a cool and ventilated place for storage to promote cracking. After picking out the seeds, remove the impurities on the seeds. Then sow around March each year, do a good job of disinfecting the soil, and when sowing, properly mix in fine soil to improve the seed germination rate. When sowing, pay attention to the sowing density, cover with a layer of fine soil after sowing, and do good management work to improve the seed germination rate.
The above is a brief introduction to how to propagate rhododendron. There are many propagation methods for rhododendron. But different planting directions have different propagation methods; for example, for potted plants, seed sowing is mainly used, and for large-scale planting, cutting is mainly used. That's all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for your reading and support.