Detailed Explanation of Sourcing and Cultivation Methods for Daphne Bonsai

  Daphne is native to China and is a traditional famous flower of China. Daphne blooms in early spring with a rich fragrance, and its variety Daphne odora 'Aureomarginata' is the finest among daphnes, hence the saying that "among peonies the national beauty and heavenly fragrance, among daphne flowers the golden-edged one is best." It blooms between March and May, with terminal head-like inflorescences, and the corolla is yellow-white to light purple, like that of lilac, with a strong fragrance. The daphne's branches and trunk are gracefully spreading, with soft twigs and thick leaves, elegant and beautiful in posture, making it suitable for use as bonsai material.

  Daphne is mostly propagated by cuttings and layering, and can also be propagated by water cuttings, division, and sowing. Cuttings can be taken in all four seasons, but early March to late June is the best time for taking cuttings. For spring cuttings, one-year-old robust branches must be selected as cuttings, about 5-10 cm in length; one day before cutting the branches, a sharp knife can be used to make a ring cut about 0.1 cm at the branching point to promote healing and rooting. For those ring-cut at the branching point, cut them off at the right time and trim the cut surface smooth; the upper part of the cutting should retain 2-4 leaves; for those not ring-cut at the branching point, if there are several divisions they can be separated and cuttings taken separately. The insertion depth is about 1B3 or 1B2, and it should not be too deep.

  For household cuttings, a cutting pot can be used; for large-scale cuttings, a seedbed must be used. The seedbed soil should be loose, fertile, well-drained, and slightly acidic. After insertion, a protective shed must be set up to guard against sunlight and rain (bamboo strips can be arched into a 50-60 cm high frame and covered with plastic film). When the temperature is too high, a corner of the film shed must be opened for ventilation, and attention must be paid to controlling moisture; it should not be too wet. Generally, spring cuttings can take root in about 30 days, and can be divided and transplanted in about 2 months.

  If cuttings are taken in summer or autumn, the cuttings must be selected from current-year semi-lignified new branches, and robust branches should be chosen, about 8 cm in length, with a heel on the branch. After insertion, the seedbed soil must be kept moist, and attention must be paid to heat preservation when the temperature drops. Generally, they can also take root in about 40 days, and then be transplanted and cultivated after the weather warms in the following spring. Propagating daphne by water cuttings is simple and easy, and the survival rate is also relatively high.

  For layering propagation, the high-branch layering method can usually be used. High-branch layering is best carried out between May and June. First select a suitable branch, determine the high-layering position, and use the "notching method" to make one or two transverse cuts or a ring of bark removal at the pressed position, with the cut reaching deep into the xylem. Then wrap the cut position with a plastic bag or a half-split bamboo tube, tie the lower end tightly, apply growth hormone to the wound, then fill in the prepared cultivation soil, and tie the upper end of the bag tightly. Keep the soil in the bag moist, and fix the high-layered branch well to avoid breaking it. Generally, roots can form in about 40-50 days, and after about 2 months it can be cut from the mother branch and potted for cultivation.