How Do Cherry Blossoms Reproduce? A Step-by-Step Guide to Cherry Blossom Propagation Methods
1. Sowing
Sowing is a relatively widely adaptable method. When propagating cherry blossoms this way, be sure not to let the seeds dry out. Once the seeds are collected, they should be sown immediately, or stored in fairly moist sand and sown the following year.
2. Cuttings
This is a common method. If you use it, be sure to select a healthy, thick, vigorous cherry tree. From the outer part of the tree, cut one-year-old thick branches, keep the top of the branch, cut them to 30 to 40 cm long, and make a slanted cut at the top of the branch. Branches cut today should be planted today, so that the cut branches do not lose water and are not damaged by knocking against things.
Be sure to note that if you plant thin, weak branches, they may not survive, and if the branches are too short, they will also grow too slowly. If planting in spring, use fairly hard branches; in summer, the opposite. Fertilize frequently so the roots grow quickly. About 7 days after the roots emerge, apply fertilizer again, then apply fertilizer once every 15 days. After only three or four applications of fertilizer this way, the roots will grow very well. The following year, it can be transplanted elsewhere.
3. Grafting
This is a relatively convenient method. Because many varieties of cherry blossom do not produce fruit, if you want to use this method, you can use a cherry tree as the rootstock, and do it in late March or late August, so that the chances of survival are greater. Three or four years after grafting, it can leave the nursery. For grafting, wrap the cut area well with a plastic bag, which keeps it warm and blocks outside damage.
4. Division
This is a method often used in China. In this way, the branch can grow into a large tree the same year. There are two ways to do this. The first is in autumn or early spring, to bury the small plant you want to grow under a mound of soil 30 to 50 cm high, so that new roots can grow. Generally, one large tree can be divided into five to ten small trees.
The other way is in July or August, to select a branch on the large tree that is close to the ground, lay it horizontally in a trench, and then cover it with soil. Once it has rooted, it is ready.