Illustrated Guide to Propagating Cineraria
This article introduces the illustrated guide to propagating Cineraria through cutting and the method of sowing Cineraria seeds in the field of green plants and flowers, with the following specific content:
The main methods of propagating Cineraria are sowing and cutting, with sowing being the primary method and cutting as a supplement. Let's discuss the detailed steps of both propagation methods:
One, Seed Propagation
After the blooming period, Cineraria produces seeds with a high germination rate. If planted in the ground, the seeds naturally fall off and germinate. For potted plants at home, it is necessary to harvest the seeds before they are fully mature to prevent them from falling and being difficult to collect. Gardeners can also purchase seeds for sowing, which are quite inexpensive.
【Sowing Time】
The sowing of Cineraria is generally done at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, around the end of August and September. If sown too early, the high temperature makes it difficult for the seeds to germinate and prone to mold. If sown too late, the low temperature is not conducive to the young plants surviving the cold winter.
【Sowing Medium】
The editor often uses seedling trays for sowing because they are easy to operate and convenient for later transplanting. For the sowing medium, it is recommended to use materials that are loose and water-retaining, such as a 3:1 mix of peat and perlite, or a 3:1:1 mix of leaf mold, garden soil, and perlite. If you don't have perlite, coarse river sand can be used as a substitute.
【Sowing Method】
After preparing the medium, fill it carefully into the seedling trays to about 8/10 full, then spray the medium with a diluted 800-fold solution of carbendazim to sterilize the soil. After the treatment, place the Cineraria seeds carefully into the seedling tray, one per hole, as the seeds are very small. You can use an earpick, which is currently the most convenient tool the editor has used for sowing.
After placing the seeds, sprinkle a layer of fine sand or vermiculite on top, not too thick, as it will hinder seed germination. After this step, spray the surface wet, making sure to use a mist setting on the spray bottle. Remember not to use a direct stream of water, as it will wash away the seeds. After sowing, cover the seedling tray and place it in a shady and well-ventilated area to wait for germination.
Illustrated Guide to Propagating Cineraria through Cuttings
【Post-Sowing Management】
After sowing, gardeners can keep the lid on during the day and remove it at night, or leave it slightly ajar to prevent excessive humidity and mold growth. As long as the sowing medium remains moist and the temperature is stable at around 22 degrees, the seeds should germinate in about 15 days. After germination, remove the lid and place the seedlings in a well-ventilated area with diffused light. Be careful not to let the medium dry out to prevent the seedlings from drying.
【Transplanting】
About 20 days from germination, when the plants have grown a pair of leaves and are about 5 centimeters tall, they can be transplanted. Prepare several pots with a diameter of 7-10 centimeters. Place a piece of gauze at the bottom of the pot to prevent soil loss, then fill the pot with a mix of 3:2:1 leaf mold, garden soil, and perlite.
After firming the soil, dig a small hole in the center and use a seedling lifter to transplant the seedlings, including the medium, into the hole. Fill the surrounding area with more medium, then water thoroughly to settle the plants. After 3 days of acclimatization, move them to a well-lit area.
【Potting】
After transplanting, move the Cineraria to a sunny area to expose it to more sunlight. Keep the environment ventilated and avoid wetting with rain. After a month, when there are 3 pairs of leaves, it can be potted. Choose a pot of 0.5-1 gallons, with the same soil mix as for transplanting, adding a granular slow-release fertilizer as a base fertilizer.
When potting, place drainage material at the bottom of the pot, usually hard granules. The editor often uses ceramsite as a drainage layer, then fill in the soil medium, leaving about 70% full. After a few shakes, the soil will settle slightly. Turn the transplant pot upside down, place the original soil with the plant into the pot, then fill around with soil, leaving about 1 centimeter from the pot rim. Water with a carbendazim solution as a root-establishing water, then place in a shaded and well-ventilated area for a few days. After the plants have settled, move them to a well-lit area for management.
【Post-Potting Management】
About a week after placing in a well-lit area, fertilize with a balanced organic liquid fertilizer diluted to 1200 times. In the autumn, with moderate temperatures, the plants will grow rapidly. Move the plants to a sunny area with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight a day.
After potting, gardeners should also pinch the top buds and remove the lower axillary buds to reduce nutrient wastage and allow nutrients to be concentrated for the growth of strong side branches. When the side branches reach about 10 centimeters, pinch the tips again, repeating the process 2-3 times. If there are any flower buds, pinch them off as well. After a few such operations, you can wait for the flowers to bloom.
The editor also wants to add that after each pinching, fertilize the plants to accelerate the growth of side branches. The fertilizer concentration can be reduced to 1000 times. Do not use cake fertilizer or nitrogen fertilizer alone; use an organic liquid fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. As the flowering period approaches, gradually switch to phosphorus-potassium fertilizer and control watering to make the flowers more abundant. Fertilize every 10 days.
Two, Propagation through Cuttings
The cutting time for Cineraria is generally late spring and early summer. Choose strong axillary buds as cuttings, with a height not less than 6 centimeters. Like other flowers, remove the lower leaves to reduce nutrient consumption, as the cuttings do not have roots yet. Leave only the top two leaves, then plant them in a pot. The cutting medium can be the same as for seed propagation, keeping it loose, well-draining, and moist. Alternatively, you can use coarse river sand, and the cuttings should root in about a month.
However, cutting propagation has a lower survival rate than seed propagation and is mainly used for propagating double-flowered Cineraria that do not produce seeds. The editor still recommends using seed propagation, as it can produce many pots at once with a high germination rate.
Summary: This article has introduced the detailed propagation methods of Cineraria based on the editor's experience. It is hoped that after reading, everyone can master and become proficient in the operations. The editor's efforts will not have been in vain. Lastly, thank you all for reading this article carefully and wish you all good health!
The above sharing of the illustrated guide to propagating Cineraria through cuttings and the method of sowing Cineraria seeds is hoped to be of help to you. Don't forget to visit Green Plant Enthusiast website for more gardening experience and knowledge!