Detailed Guide to Cutting Propagation of Chaenomeles speciosa, Easily Master the Propagation Technique

  Chaenomeles speciosa, a unique specimen ornamental tree, is named for its extremely short pedicels, with flowers clinging closely to the branches. Its scientific name is Chaenomeles speciosa, also known as tiegenerg mugua and tiejiao pear, a deciduous shrub of the Rosaceae family, genus Chaenomeles.

  The flowers of Chaenomeles speciosa bloom in clusters of three to five, with extremely short pedicels clinging tightly to the branches, hence the name. Chaenomeles speciosa can also be grown in pots and is an ideal ornamental plant. When I was young, leafing through books, I saw that Chaenomeles speciosa can be propagated by cuttings and thought it was worth a try.

  Household potted Chaenomeles speciosa is generally propagated by cuttings, division, and other methods, but cuttings are the most commonly used, as a large number of seedlings can be obtained at once. The most commonly used method is hardwood cuttings.

  Hardwood cuttings are best done in early spring. Select healthy one-year-old branches with a thickness of 0.5 to 1 cm, cut them into cuttings about 12 cm long, prepare the nursery bed and disinfect it, then insert the cuttings at a spacing of 20×30 cm. After inserting, immediately water thoroughly once, and cover with film to keep warm. After that, keep the soil under the film moist for a long time, and frequently open the film for ventilation. Roots will form in about 40 days, and transplanting can be done after autumn.

  Cutting propagation of Chaenomeles speciosa can be carried out from June to July. Select relatively thick new branches, cut them into cuttings 12 cm to 15 cm long, and insert them into substrates such as river sand or vermiculite. For mass propagation, choose a well-drained sandy loam site to make beds and insert directly into the soil. After cutting, shade and water immediately, keep the soil surface moist, and new roots will grow in about 40 days. After rooting, reduce misting and gradually extend the light duration, finally remove the shade net and strengthen hardening.

  Division is carried out in early spring. After the soil thaws and the weather warms up, dig out the entire clump, shake off the soil from the roots, then use a sharp knife to split the clump from the middle, finally dividing it into small clumps each with 2 to 4 branches and roots at the base.

  In places with cold winters, open-field cuttings need to be covered with straw or given other cold protection measures to survive the winter. Transplant in the following spring. Cuttings inserted in pure sand or vermiculite should be transplanted promptly after rooting, otherwise the new roots will grow too long, and the cuttings will lack nutrients for a long time, which is detrimental to both transplanting and growth.