A Detailed Guide to Six Common Methods of Flower Propagation

1. Seed propagation

Most herbaceous flowers can bloom and set seed, and can be propagated from seed. Currently, commercially produced flower seeds are mostly first-generation hybrid seeds, especially imported flower seeds.

2. Cutting propagation

Most flowers can be propagated by cuttings, including herbaceous plants, woody plants, cacti and other succulents. However, the survival rate of cutting propagation differs among varieties, and the methods of cutting propagation also vary. Cuttings are mainly stem cuttings, and some varieties can also be propagated by leaf cuttings, such as begonias, African violets, gloxinias, and others.

3. Division propagation

Some flower varieties with strong tillering and division capacity, such as Chinese orchids, cymbidiums, cattleyas, and others, are suitable for this method.

4. Grafting propagation

(1) Some woody flowers, such as Chinese roses, cherry blossoms, ornamental peaches, and others, can shorten the breeding cycle through grafting, achieving the effect of selecting and grafting superior varieties and blooming earlier.

(2) Ficus plants, such as the slower-growing Ficus 'Starlight' and Ficus glumosa, can be prompted by grafting to reach commercial nursery release specifications earlier.

5. Bulb propagation

(1) Bulbous and perennial root flowers, such as lilies, tulips, hyacinths, gladioli, amaryllis, and others, are suitable for this method.

(2) Tuber and tuberous root flowers can be propagated by cutting the tubers and tuberous roots into sections.

6. Tissue culture

(1) Commercially produced flower varieties can all be rapidly propagated on a large scale using this method. At present, more than 100 flower varieties are rapidly propagated through tissue culture.

(2) For flowers with incomplete seed development, such as orchids, using tissue culture technology for aseptic culture can quickly grow them into plantlets.