The cutting propagation of camellia
About the related content of camellia propagation in flowers, let's follow the editor to learn about the cutting propagation of camellia!
Camellia is one of the top ten traditional famous flowers in China, preferring a warm environment, with a suitable growth temperature of 18-25 degrees. It thrives in semi-shaded, humid conditions and grows well in deep, fertile, loose, and well-drained soil, avoiding direct sunlight and dryness. In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, mid-June is the best time for cutting propagation of camellias. When propagating camellias by cuttings,
the following steps can generally be followed.
1. Preparation of cutting medium: The cutting medium should have properties such as heat preservation, moisture retention, and loose breathability. Sandy soil or soil rich in humus can be used as the cutting medium. In cases where conditions do not permit or when mass propagation is required, pure, high-quality loess can also be used. About one week before cutting, the cutting medium should be exposed to sunlight or disinfected with a potassium permanganate solution. One to two days before cutting, the cutting medium should be watered to make it moist.
2. Cutting collection and treatment: Young branches are easier to root than old branches, and semi-woody branches are easier to root than fully woody ones. Therefore, select semi-woody branches from the current year that are fully developed from healthy, disease-free camellia mother plants with stable traits and short aging periods. Cut these branches into cuttings 8-10 cm long, retaining the top two leaves and removing the rest from the base of the petioles. The top of the cutting should be cut flat 0.5-1 cm from the bud, and the bottom should be cut diagonally near the internode.
3. Cutting: Follow the principle of cutting and inserting immediately. Insert 1/3 of the prepared cutting into the moist medium (usually about 3 cm, a bit deeper in dry areas). To avoid damaging the epidermis at the base of the cutting, a slightly thicker stick can be used to make a hole before inserting the cutting, then gently press the soil with fingers to make it adhere closely to the cutting. The density of the cuttings should be such that the leaves slightly overlap.
4. Post-cutting management: The four factors affecting root formation of cuttings are humidity, temperature, air, and light. After cutting, water the seedbed thoroughly and set up an arch shed, covering it with plastic film to maintain the air humidity at about 95% and the temperature between 18-27 degrees. Initially, the seedbed should be shaded, and the shading should be quite dense. In high temperatures, cooling can be achieved by spraying water on the leaves or in the air.
About 15-20 days later, callus begins to form, and at this time, watering can be gradually reduced to maintain humidity at around 85%. After about 20 days of callus formation, roots begin to grow, and watering can be further reduced, keeping the soil moist. Avoid direct sunlight and gradually increase the duration of exposure to light to allow the cuttings to photosynthesize. Additionally, the plastic film can be slightly opened at both ends for ventilation. Once the cuttings are fully rooted, they can be transplanted with soil to the open ground. To improve survival rates, transplantation is usually done in the spring of the following year. After the cuttings have survived transplantation, a thin application of human waste urine can be applied to promote growth.
Do you understand the detailed introduction of cutting propagation of camellias mentioned above?