The Best Time and Method for Propagating Osmanthus by Cuttings Explained in Detail
The osmanthus tree not only has high ornamental value, but its flowers can also be used for brewing tea and making medicine, so many people nowadays grow osmanthus trees. When growing osmanthus trees, propagation work is very important. Osmanthus is generally propagated mainly by cuttings, so when should osmanthus be cuttings-propagated, and how should the cuttings be done? Below, the editor brings you the time and method for propagating osmanthus by cuttings. Let's take a look!
1. Cutting time
When propagating osmanthus by cuttings, the first thing we need to determine is the cutting time for osmanthus. The suitable cutting times for osmanthus are generally divided into two periods: May to July and September to October. This is because during these two periods, the nutrients in the osmanthus branches are relatively abundant, and the greenhouse humidity is very favorable for the rooting and survival of the scions. Before cutting, first prepare the cutting bed, break up the soil in the seedbed and level the bed surface, and ensure the drainage channels are unobstructed. Then build an arched frame about 50cm high on the cutting bed, and at the same time build another shade frame above it with a light transmittance of about 30%.
2. Treatment of cuttings
After determining the cutting time and completing the preparatory work for the cutting bed, we need to select the cuttings. The cuttings for osmanthus should be selected from osmanthus trees that grow vigorously and are free of pests and diseases. From the middle and upper parts of the osmanthus tree, select young branches of the current year that have not yet fully lignified as cuttings. The cuttings should be cut into small sections of about 9 cm. The leaves on the upper part of the cuttings should each be cut off by half, then the top end should be cut into a flat opening, and the cutting part should be cut into a slanted opening. Then tie them together, and put the cutting ends 3 cm into naphthalene acetic acid for about one hour; after soaking, they can be planted.
3. Cutting method
After treating the cuttings, we can begin cutting. When cutting, we should first grade them according to the thickness of the cuttings and plant them in separate beds. The plant and row spacing between cuttings should be maintained at about 5*10cm. In order to avoid injuring the cuttings during insertion and affecting rooting, before cutting we should first use a wooden stick about the same thickness as the cuttings to make small holes in the cutting bed, and then insert the cuttings. The insertion depth should be maintained at about 2/3 of the cutting. After inserting, press the surrounding soil firmly, and then spray an appropriate amount of carbendazim and other medicinal solutions.
4. Management after cutting
After cutting, if no water droplets appear on the greenhouse film and the soil is too dry, then water in time. For the shade frame, we should mainly cover it early and uncover it late, and keep the humidity inside the frame at about 85%. The temperature should be controlled within 20-25 degrees, and then carbendazim should be sprayed once a week. Do a good job of loosening the soil to improve soil permeability, and prevent the cuttings from rotting roots due to anaerobic respiration caused by insufficient oxygen. The sprouts appearing at the base of the cuttings should be removed in time to prevent excessive consumption of nutrients. Then about every ten days, in combination with watering, spray an appropriate amount of urea and so on to ensure normal growth of the root system and new shoots. By the spring of the following year, the shade frame can be removed, and when the seedlings grow to 40cm, they can be planted out.
The above is a brief introduction to the time and method for propagating osmanthus by cuttings. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!