How should Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' be propagated to encourage latent buds to sprout?
Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' belongs to the Araceae family, genus Philodendron. It is a fairly common evergreen perennial foliage plant, with a short stem, clumping habit, and large, unusual leaves that are deep green and glossy. It is fairly shade-tolerant and can withstand low temperatures of around 5°C, making it suitable for indoor display. Depending on the size of the plant, it can be displayed in an entrance hall or living room, or placed in a study, assembly hall, and other such places, and it is much loved by people.
The propagation method usually used for Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' is division, that is, using a small knife to cut away the small plantlets growing from the stem base of the plant, and then potting them up for cultivation. Here I introduce two propagation methods I have used that break apical dominance, prompt latent buds to sprout, and quickly produce mature plants.
1. Stem-cutting method to encourage sprouting
During the period of vigorous growth of Philodendron 'Golden Diamond', from late April to late June, or from late August to early October, for plants with a stem diameter of 7 cm to 10 cm and a height of about 15 cm to 30 cm, use a sharp knife to cut horizontally across the top of the stem. The removed stem section should be about 4 cm to 5 cm long, retaining 1 to 2 aerial roots and one relatively large leaf, with all other leaves removed. Apply rice-husk ash to all cut surfaces. After the cut stem section has dried slightly, pot it up and plant it. In about one week new leaves can emerge, and a new plant with ornamental value is formed. After the plant has been cut, apical dominance is broken, and after 1 to 2 weeks, 2 to 3 latent adventitious buds will sprout at the edges of the stem and at its base. When the small plantlets have grown to have 3 to 4 leaves, cut them off together with their roots using a sharp knife and plant them, and the mother plant can still be kept for continued use. Generally, during the growing season, one mother Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' plant can be propagated by this method into 8 to 10 new plants, and the time to reach mature form is short.
2. Terminal-bud-cutting method to encourage sprouting
In summer and autumn, in August and October, use a sharp knife to cut off the terminal bud of the mother plant and gouge out its growing point. After apical dominance is broken, after about 2 weeks, 2 to 3 lateral buds will sprout on the stem. At this time do not rush to cut them off. Wait until April of the following year, when the plants formed from the sprouted lateral buds have stems already 6 cm to 7 cm tall, 4 cm to 5 cm in diameter, with 4 to 5 leaves and 4 to 5 roots, and are already small Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' plants suitable for ornamental use. Then cut them off and pot them up, and the mother plant continues to be kept for use. After about 1 to 2 weeks, 2 to 3 buds can sprout from the base of the stem. When the small plants formed from the buds grow to 3 to 4 leaves, cut them off with their roots and pot them up, and the mother plant can still be kept for use and will still sprout latent buds from the base. If the small plants are not cut off, the latent buds generally are not easy to sprout, but if the plants are too small and are cut away from the mother without roots, rooting and growth after potting are relatively slow.
Removing the top to encourage sprouting for propagating Philodendron 'Golden Diamond'
Philodendron bipinnatifidum is a foliage plant much loved by people. However, its seeds are not easy to obtain, and propagating seedling plants is relatively difficult. If the division method is used, under ordinary circumstances lateral buds are also not easy to sprout. Using the method of removing the top to encourage sprouting to propagate Philodendron bipinnatifidum is not only simple and easy to carry out, but also gives the best results.
When temperatures are relatively high in summer and autumn, use a sharp knife to cut off the terminal bud of the mother Philodendron bipinnatifidum plant. When removing the terminal bud, be sure to thoroughly gouge out the apical growing point. After about 1 to 2 weeks, this can prompt the bud eyes at the base of the stem to rapidly produce lateral buds. One Philodendron bipinnatifidum seedling with a stem height of about 20 cm can simultaneously be forced to produce more than 10 or even more lateral buds on the stem.
When the lateral buds sprouting from the bud eyes on the Philodendron bipinnatifidum stem have grown out 8 to 10 cm, choose fine weather and use a sharp knife to cut off each sprout together with a piece of stem, and many small plants without roots can be obtained. When cutting the stem for division, if the daughter plant has 1 to 2 roots attached, it can be planted directly in a pot.
To prevent the cut daughter plants from rotting when potted directly, first apply sulfur powder or clean plant ash to the cut surfaces of the young plants. After they have dried slightly, bury them in clean river sand, leaving only the sprouts above the sand, so as to help the wounds heal and to differentiate new roots as quickly as possible. In the early stage of root forcing, do not water too much; simply keep the river sand moist. After they have produced sound roots, transplant them into pots with soil.
How should Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' be divided when it does not produce suckers?
Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' is a foliage plant much loved by people. However, its seeds are not easy to obtain, and propagating seedling plants is relatively difficult. If the division method is used, under ordinary circumstances lateral buds are also not easy to sprout. Using the method of removing the top to encourage sprouting to propagate Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' is not only simple and easy to carry out, but also gives the best results.
When temperatures are relatively high in summer and autumn, use a sharp knife to cut off the terminal bud of the mother Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' plant. When removing the terminal bud, be sure to thoroughly gouge out the apical growing point. After about 1 to 2 weeks, this can prompt the bud eyes at the base of the stem to rapidly sprout lateral buds. One Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' plant with a stem height of about 20 cm can simultaneously be forced to produce more than 10 or even more lateral buds on the stem.
When the lateral buds sprouting from the bud eyes on the Philodendron 'Golden Diamond' stem have grown out 8 to 10 cm, choose fine weather and use a sharp knife to cut off each sprout together with a piece of stem, and many small plants without roots can be obtained. When cutting the stem for division, if the daughter plant has 1 to 2 roots attached, it can be planted directly in a pot.
To prevent the cut daughter plants from rotting when potted directly, first apply sulfur powder or clean plant ash to the cut surfaces of the young plants. After they have dried slightly, bury them in clean river sand, leaving only the sprouts above the sand, so as to help the wounds heal and to differentiate new roots as quickly as possible. In the early stage of root forcing, do not water too much; simply keep the river sand moist. After sound roots have been forced out, transplant them into pots.