What are the methods for propagating Rose crabapple
This article provides an in-depth explanation of the propagation methods for Rose crabapple and the fastest rooting techniques for Four-season crabapple in the field of green plants and flowers. Let's delve into this together.
Many people may not be familiar with Rose crabapple, but it is actually Ligularia crabapple, a trendy pot plant that has emerged in recent years. Not only is it visually appealing, but it also has a long blooming period, making it very popular among flower enthusiasts. So, how do you cultivate Rose crabapple? What are the good methods for cultivation? And what precautions should be taken when growing Rose crabapple? Please join me in reading further reading with your questions in mind!
Methods for cultivating Rose crabapple (basic knowledge):
Best propagation time: Rose crabapple is best propagated in late autumn and early winter.
Best soil for growth: Rose crabapple is not too picky about soil, but it is best to choose soil that is loose, fertile, well-draining, and has a pH value between 6 to 7.
Humidity requirements for growth: To increase air humidity for Rose crabapple, it is best to use a humidifier, or you can use a sprayer to spray fine mist on the leaves, making them slightly moist, but do not spray the mist on the flowers.
Best growth temperature: The optimal growth temperature for Rose crabapple is between 20 to 25°C. It is not heat-tolerant and will not feel comfortable if the temperature exceeds 30°C or drops below 10°C.
Best lighting for growth: Rose crabapple should be placed in weak light and diffused light to grow, and it should be avoided from strong sunlight.
Precautions for cultivating Rose crabapple:
Applying fertilizer: During the growth period of Rose crabapple, apply dilute cake fertilizer water about three times a month; during the bud formation stage, apply fast-acting phosphorus fertilizer, and do not apply fertilizer during the flowering period. After the flowers fade in May, Rose crabapple will gradually enter a dormant or semi-dormant state, and watering should be gradually reduced, and fertilization stopped. When fertilizing, be careful not to splash fertilizer on the leaves.
Watering tips: Watering Rose crabapple can be done by spraying water on the leaves and ground. Every 7 days, spray water on the leaves and surrounding environment with clean water to maintain appropriate humidity. However, Rose crabapple is most afraid of waterlogging in the pot and getting rained on, so the amount of water should be controlled.
Pruning guidelines: Prune dense, weak, and dry branches of Rose crabapple. The pruning time can be anytime soon, as long as it is done before summer, because summer and autumn are critical periods for the reproductive growth of the plant, and pruning branches is not conducive to the differentiation of flower buds, so the earlier the better.
Changing potting soil: Rose crabapple should be repotted and the soil changed once a year or every other year. Each time, choose a pot slightly larger than the original one and add new fertile soil to benefit root growth.
Propagation tips: Rose crabapple can be propagated by seed sowing, cutting, or tissue culture methods.
1. Seed sowing method. Since the seeds of Ligularia crabapple are very small, a fine seed sowing method must be used. The seeds of Ligularia crabapple are mostly imported and come in two types: coated and uncoated. Coated seeds can be sorted and used in cell trays, while uncoated seeds can only be used in seedling trays. The sowing substrate is a mixture of peat soil and vermiculite powder, both in equal parts, crushed and sterilized, then mixed and moistened to a semi-wet state for use. Since peat soil repels water in a dry state and water cannot be poured in, it cannot be used in a dry state. When sowing, first place the substrate in the seedling tray, then water it thoroughly with a watering can.
2. Cutting method. In late autumn and early winter, when pruning and shaping the plants, the newly cut branches can be used as cuttings. Ligularia crabapple can be propagated from both stems and leaves. When using stem cuttings, the length of the branches should be moderate, and the lower part of the branches should be cut into a horse hoof shape with a knife. When using leaf cuttings, select vigorous leaves that are 60% mature, and cut the lower end of the petiole diagonally with a knife. The cutting substrate is vermiculite powder or clean sand, and the contaminated substrate should be sterilized before use. After inserting the cuttings, water them thoroughly, but do not let water accumulate on the leaves. Cover them with plastic film, place them in a location with scattered light, and provide proper ventilation to avoid high temperatures. In about 3 weeks, the cuttings can take root. When new leaves start to grow, it indicates that roots have formed. Plants obtained by stem cuttings do not have underground tubers. After 3 weeks, the lower part of the petiole can also grow fine roots, but it takes another 1.5 months for adventitious buds to form from the lower part of the petiole and gradually emerge from the soil.
3. Tissue culture method. Tissue culture is a method to quickly obtain a large number of seedlings. In the season of vigorous growth, using well-developed leaves as the outer plant material, a large number of virus-free seedlings can be obtained through the culture of无毒 outer plant material, subculture, and rooting culture in a certain culture medium. This method requires a higher investment and is only used for large-scale production.
Disease and pest control: Diseases and pests are rare in home cultivation of Rose crabapple. It is recommended to spray fungicides regularly to prevent bacterial soft rot and powdery mildew. You can use agricultural streptomycin 200ug/g and thiabendazole 1000 times liquid spray. To prevent air pollution from pesticides at home, you can make some homemade pesticides, which have good control effects. There are two common methods:
(1) Extract ginger juice and dilute it with water in a 1:25 ratio to spray, which can prevent soft rot and the germination of other pathogenic spores.
(2) Boil 50g of dried chili peppers in 50 times the amount of water for half an hour, then strain and spray the resulting liquid on the leaves, which can effectively control aphids, red spiders, and top bud mites, inhibit plant growth, and make new leaves harder or wire-like.
Thoughts on cultivating Rose crabapple:
1. When the temperature exceeds 28°C continuously in summer, measures should be taken to lower the temperature, such as placing it in an air-conditioned room or shading it during the day.
2. The key point for home care of Rose crabapple in winter is to keep warm, with the lowest temperature not below 15°C. Since Ligularia crabapple is still growing and flowering in winter, it should be placed in a south-facing, sunny area indoors, such as a windowsill. However, be careful not to place it too close to the heater to avoid burning the branches and leaves.
This article shares the methods for propagating Rose crabapple and the fastest rooting methods for Four-season crabapple. I hope you will like it!