How to propagate home-grown flowers by layering? A detailed guide to the method

Layering propagation of flowering plants involves burying the branches of the plant in soil, using the nutrients from the parent plant to grow new roots, then cutting the new roots away from the parent plant and planting them separately. Its characteristics are that the branch can take root without being detached from the parent plant, giving a high survival rate, but the operation is troublesome and the propagation quantity is small, so it is mostly suitable for home flower growing. Layering propagation can be divided into ordinary layering, air layering and other methods, and can be carried out according to the type of flowering plant.

Ordinary layering is suitable for clump-forming flowering plants, such as wintersweet, winter jasmine, gardenia, jasmine and so on. Choose a one- or two-year-old branch and girdle the bark at its base, then open a trench 10 to 15 cm deep along the root zone or the edge of the pot, bend the branch downward and press it into the soil, bend a metal wire into a U shape to pin the branch down so it does not spring back, then cover with soil, leaving the tip of the branch exposed outside, and tie it with a wooden stick to prevent it from breaking. This method is mostly carried out in early spring or late autumn. For spring layering, cut it away from the parent plant and plant it in autumn; for autumn layering, cut it away from the parent plant and plant it in the following spring.

Flat-lying layering is suitable for flowering plants with long or trailing branches, such as chrysanthemums, climbing roses and so on. Bend their branches so they lie flat on the soil surface or in a shallow trench, cover with soil on top, and after they take root, cut them away from the parent plant and plant them.

Mound layering is suitable for flowering plants whose base is difficult to bend, such as winter jasmine, goji, hydrangea and so on. Before layering, first notch and wound the bark at the base of the branch, then mound soil 30 to 40 cm high and keep the mound moist. Cut the branch away from the parent plant and plant it.

Air layering is suitable for flowering plants that do not produce tiller buds at the base, such as osmanthus, Aglaia odorata, Michelia alba and so on. Air layering is usually carried out in late spring and early summer, generally using healthy two-year-old branches. First girdle or notch the bark at the base of the branch, cutting down to the xylem. After treatment with rooting hormone, tie plastic film 3 to 5 cm below the wound, and fill it with moist moss, peat soil or fine sandy soil. Seal the top opening well, leaving a small gap to allow water to be added and keep the medium moist. After several sessions of care, in late autumn or the following spring, cut it away from the parent plant and plant it in a flower pot or in the open ground.