Detailed Explanation of Cutting Propagation and Seedling Methods for Bonsai

  Cutting propagation has the advantages of being simple and quick to perform, efficient and inexpensive. Normal cutting seedlings have well-extended root systems, a high survival rate, and fast growth, and are deeply welcomed by farmer friends.

  1. Mechanical treatment

  1. Peeling For fruit trees with relatively well-developed cork tissue on the branches, and varieties that are difficult to root, peel off the epidermal cork layer before cutting to strengthen the water absorption capacity of the cuttings, which can promote rooting.

  2. Longitudinal scoring Use a knife to cut a wound 2-3 cm long, reaching the phloem, and neat adventitious roots can form in the longitudinal score grooves.

  3. Ring peeling At the base of the branch on the mother plant that is to be used as a cutting, generally 15 days before cutting the shoot, remove a ring of bark, 3-5 mm wide, which helps promote adventitious roots. Twisting and constricting the branch with materials such as wire can also achieve the same effect.

  2. Heating treatment

  Cutting in early spring often causes rooting difficulties due to insufficient soil temperature. Artificially raise the temperature of the rooting part at the lower end of the cutting, while spraying water and ventilating to lower the environmental temperature around the buds at the upper end. At the lower end, use plastic film, or use straw or organic fertilizer composting to generate heat and increase the temperature. Before cutting, spread a layer of sand or sawdust on the bed surface, about 3-5 cm thick, bury the cuttings upright in bundles or insert them in rows, fill the gaps with wet sawdust, leave the terminal buds exposed more than 3 cm, and keep the base of the cuttings at 20-28°C.

  3. Hormone treatment

  For some cuttings that tend to exude sap, put them into water immediately after collection, then treat them with hormones. Commonly used hormones include 2,4-D, naphthaleneacetic acid, indolebutyric acid | indoleacetic acid, ABT rooting powder, etc.

  1. Soaking method The treatment methods include the dilute solution soaking method. Hardwood branches generally use 5-10 ppm, soaking the base of the cuttings for 12-24 hours; softwood branches generally use 5-25 ppm, soaking for 12-24 hours. In addition, preparing auxin at 5000-10000 ppm and soaking for 1-2 hours also gives a very good rooting effect.

  2. Powder dipping method Use talcum powder as a diluting filler to prepare 500-2000 ppm, mix for 2-3 hours and it is ready to use. First wet the base of the cuttings with water, then dip them in the powder for cutting.

  4. Treatment with other substances

  Soak the base of the cuttings in 1 ppm vitamin B1 or vitamin C, etc., for 12 hours, then carry out hormone treatment. Even for persimmon and chestnut, which are difficult to root, there is a rooting rate of more than 50%. A 2%-10% sucrose aqueous solution, whether used alone or mixed with auxin, is generally soaked for 10-24 hours and has a relatively good rooting effect. Treatment with 0.1%-0.5% potassium permanganate has an obvious rooting effect on privet, willow, chrysanthemum, poinsettia, etc.