What are the propagation methods for banana shrub?
Banana shrub (Michelia figo) is an evergreen shrub in the magnolia family, widely distributed in the southern part of South China. Banana shrub has very high ornamental value, and as a potted plant it is favored by many people; it also has certain beauty and health benefits and medicinal value. So when we grow banana shrub, how should we propagate it? Today the editor brings you the propagation methods for banana shrub. Let's take a look below!
1. Cuttage propagation
A commonly used propagation method for banana shrub is cuttage propagation. Banana shrub is generally suitable for cuttage in spring and summer. If cutting in spring, it should be done in late March. First, select shoots grown within two years, keep the length at about 12 cm, and remove the lower leaves of the shoots. Then apply rooting hormone appropriately and insert them directly into the seedbed. After cutting, pay attention to shading and keep the soil moist. When cutting in summer, the branches should mainly be semi-lignified branches of the current year, about 8 cm long, and the cutting method is similar to spring cutting. The cutting substrate should be carefully disinfected.
2. Layering propagation
Layering propagation can be carried out throughout the entire growth period of banana shrub, but it is best done after Qingming Festival. First, we need to select well-developed and robust branches grown within two years, about 20 cm long. Then choose the soil-wrapping position as the rooting site and girdle it by about 0.5 cm. Girdle it to the xylem, then wrap the girdled part with moist moss and other materials. Then cover it tightly with plastic film, tie the upper and lower ends tightly to prevent air and water leakage. After about two months, roots will form. Once the new roots have developed well, separate it from the mother plant and it becomes a new plant. After planting, water every day, and fertilize when its new shoots grow to about 7 cm.
3. Grafting propagation
For grafting propagation, it should be carried out in spring and autumn. In spring, it should be in March to April, and in autumn, it should be in September to October. The rootstock should mainly be magnolia, and the grafting method generally uses cut grafting. First, select one-year-old robust branches from the middle and upper part of the mother plant, generally about two nodes long, and remove the leaves. Then perform cut grafting according to the cut grafting method. After cut grafting, properly cover with rice straw, exposing only the top tip of the scion, to avoid excessive moisture. After about four weeks, the scion begins to heal and sprout. At this time, remove the rice straw, then wipe off the sprouts on the rootstock.
The above is a brief introduction to the propagation methods of banana shrub. Among them, grafting propagation is a relatively rarely used propagation method in the industry; most are mainly cuttage and layering propagation. Everyone should also choose a good propagation method according to actual conditions. That's all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only. Thank you for reading and supporting.