Ice Plum is a standout flower in the cold winter season, but its market price is relatively high. How can you have Ice Plum flowers in your own home? Besides planting seedlings, leaf cutting is also a cost-effective and labor-saving method. However, whether leaf cutting will be successful is a concern. Let's find out if Ice Plum can be propagated by leaf cuttings and how to do it successfully.
I. Can Ice Plum be propagated by leaf cuttings?
Although there are various ways to propagate Ice Plum, leaf cutting is actually one of the effective methods. As long as you master the leaf cutting technique, you can successfully propagate new Ice Plum plants.
II. Prepare tools and materials
Successful leaf cutting of Ice Plum requires preparing appropriate tools and materials, mainly including scissors, cutting knife, hydroponic pot, transparent plastic bag, honeycomb charcoal, etc.
III. Select a healthy mother plant
Selecting a healthy mother plant is the first step for successful leaf cutting. You should choose a mother plant with strong branches, no pests or diseases on the surface, and good growth to take leaves from.
IV. Precautions for taking leaves
Taking leaves is one of the important steps in leaf cutting. You should choose tender green, fresh and vigorous new shoots, cut them off with scissors, and try to avoid damaging the mother plant as much as possible.
V. Process the leaves
Processing the leaves is to ensure that the new plant can grow quickly. The size of the leaves should be appropriately trimmed, and half of it should be cut off to reduce the nutrient burden on the new plant and promote its growth.
VI. Process the cuttings
Processing the cuttings is to make them easier to root. You can cut the lower end at a 45-degree angle, and then make a cut in the middle with a cutting knife, which will help the plant root faster in the later stage.
VII. Pot for hydroponic culture
Potting for hydroponic culture is to ensure that the new plant can get sufficient water and nutrients in the early stage of growth. Insert the processed cuttings into the hydroponic pot and fix them with honeycomb charcoal.
VIII. Avoid direct sunlight
New plants need to avoid direct sunlight, otherwise it will cause their water to evaporate too quickly, affecting their normal growth. You can cover the pot with a transparent plastic bag to maintain the humidity and temperature of the plant.
IX. Change water in time
Changing water in time is to keep the water clean and prevent bacterial infection, which affects the growth of the plant. Generally, the water should be changed once a week.
X. Pay attention to temperature and humidity
Temperature and humidity are important factors affecting the success or failure of Ice Plum leaf cutting. Generally, the room temperature should be controlled between 18-25°C, and the humidity should be maintained between 60-80%.
XI. Pay attention to ventilation
Ventilation is to ensure that the new plant can get enough oxygen to promote its growth. You can open the windows for ventilation during the day, but avoid placing the pot in a place that is too cold at night.
XII. Pay attention to fertilization
New plants need appropriate fertilization. You can add a suitable amount of liquid fertilizer each time you change the water, but avoid over-fertilization to avoid affecting its normal growth.
XIII. Wait for rooting
Rooting is the key to successful leaf cutting, but this takes some time. Generally, it takes 3-4 weeks to see the new plant take root.
XIV. Transplant and settle
When the new plant has grown some roots and new leaves, you can consider transplanting it into a fixed pot. Note that it should not be moved too frequently to avoid adverse effects on its growth.
XV.
Through the introduction of the above 15 steps, I believe everyone has mastered the skills of successfully propagating Ice Plum by leaf cuttings. As long as you operate carefully, I believe you can also make the Ice Plum flowers bloom in your own home, filling the garden with fragrance.