How to plant wintersweet seeds to germinate
If you want to know how to plant wintersweet seeds to germinate and the instructions on planting and caring for wintersweet seeds in green plants and flowers, the following is an introduction by the editor.
wintersweet is a deciduous shrub of the wintersweet科 wintersweet属, also known as golden plum, wintersweet, wax flower,蜡 plum blossom, waxwood, purple麻木, stone cold tea, etc. The flowers bloom before the leaves, with a flowering period from November to the following March, and the fruit matures in July-August.
wintersweet prefers sunlight and can tolerate shade, cold, and drought, but dislikes waterlogging. The flowers of wintersweet bloom proudly in frosty and snowy weather, with yellow flowers resembling wax and a strong fragrance, making it a main ornamental plant in winter. It is wind-resistant and cold-tolerant, capable of safely overwintering at temperatures not lower than -15°C. In areas south of Beijing, it can be cultivated in the open field. If the temperature drops to -10°C during the flowering period, the flowers may be damaged by frost. It thrives in deep, fertile, loose, and well-drained slightly acidic sandy loam soil and grows poorly in saline-alkali soil.
It has strong drought resistance and dislikes waterlogging, so it is not suitable for cultivation in low-lying areas. The tree has a strong growth momentum, with vigorous branching and easily generates suckers at the rootstock. It is tolerant to pruning and easy to shape.
I. Propagation methods of wintersweet: There are several methods of wintersweet propagation, including grafting, dividing, sowing, cutting, layering, and tissue culture. Grafting and dividing are commonly used.
Grafting propagation: The main method of grafting is cut grafting, but approach grafting and bud grafting can also be used. Commonly, wild wintersweet is used as the rootstock, or poor-quality wintersweet seedlings, with main grafting methods including cut grafting, cleft grafting, approach grafting, cut side grafting, and bark grafting.
Dividing propagation: This is often done from autumn after defoliation to spring before germination. In the previous year, at a height of 20-30 centimeters from the ground, the top of the wintersweet branches to be divided is cut off. During division, the soil around the mother plant is dug out, and the branches are split into 2-3 stems using a knife. The divided plants are then transplanted, leaving 2-3 strong stems in place. The transplanted wintersweet seedlings are planted with a spacing of 60 cm × 50 cm. After 2-3 years of cultivation, they can be sold or divided again.
Seed propagation: Harvest the yellow mature fruits in July-August, remove the seeds and dry store them. In the following spring, soak the seeds in 60°C water for 12-24 hours before sowing. Prepare the nursery beds, broadcast or drill the seeds, and cover with 4-5 cm of soil. Pay attention to watering, weeding, and applying a light fertilizer every 20-30 days. Ensure drainage to prevent waterlogging. The seedlings can be used as rootstock after 3-4 years of cultivation.
Layering propagation: Both high and low layering can be used. Low layering is done in early spring on 1-3-year-old branches. First, bend the wintersweet branches near the base or tip into a 180-degree arc, bury the curved part in the soil, place a stone on top to prevent the branch from flipping out of the soil. Keeping the soil moist after layering will help root growth. After rooting, cut the plant below the root formation from the mother plant and transplant it to become a new plant. High layering is done on 2-4-year-old branches that are growing vigorously and upright, stripping half to two-thirds of the bark at a distance of 20-30 cm from the base, then wrapping the wound with a mixture of fertilizer and high-quality compound fertilizer, and covering it with plastic film to keep it moist. The high layering is usually done in early spring from February to March, and by August-September, white roots can be seen through the plastic film. The layered branches are then cut 3-5 cm below the ball and must be immediately planted in a false position.
II. Preparation of the cultivation soil should use potting soil that retains water and fertilizer, is breathable, loose and fertile, and rich in organic matter. Generally, use loose and fertile soil, add compost at the bottom of the pot or add well-prepared potting soil mixed with an appropriate amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. The potting soil is usually prepared with 30% compost, 10% sand, and 60% garden soil.
III. Potting: First, place broken tiles at the bottom of the pot, then fill with potting soil. Choose large seedlings with soil balls for winter and spring potting. Place the wintersweet plant in the center of the pot, straighten it, spread the roots, and fill the soil to half the pot. Lightly lift and shake the plant to compact the soil. Do not plant too deep, keeping the rootstock level with the pot rim. Too shallow may affect survival, and too deep may affect the growth of the transplanted wintersweet. After planting, water thoroughly. After planting, keep the plant in a shaded environment for about a week, then move it to a sunny place and manage it as usual.
IV. Water and fertilizer management: After potting wintersweet, water thoroughly twice, then place it in a sunny area for cultivation. wintersweet dislikes waterlogging; too much water can damage the roots and cause leaf fall, affecting bud formation. Water once in the afternoon during summer, and during rainy days, place the pot upside down to remove accumulated water. Reduce watering in autumn, and during flowering and leaf expansion periods, also reduce watering. After defoliation, water only when the soil is dry. During the growth period of the branches in June, apply diluted human waste or fermented oil cake water every 10 days. After June, when the branches grow slowly to stop growing, spray 1-2 times with 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Avoid applying concentrated or dry fertilizer.
V. Daily management: The flower buds of wintersweet form on new branches in the same year. To promote more flowers, pruning can be used to encourage branching. Prune plum blossom to thin and shorten. Before flowering, thin the buds, and repot plum blossom every spring after flowering. After defoliation in autumn, place it in a cool place and about 20 days before the Spring Festival, move it to a sunny, warm place. At a temperature of 5-10°C, it can bloom during the Spring Festival. Repot every two years or, after the flowers fade, move it to the ground, then repot for viewing after budding.
VI. Pruning of wintersweet: When the branches reach a certain length, leave 4-5 buds and pinch the top. After flowering, do heavy pruning, usually after flowering, thinning the main and lateral branches that have bloomed, then leaving 2-3 buds on the lateral branches of the main branches and shortening them. In autumn, shorten the short branches with flower buds and leave 5-6 leaf buds on the long branches. Generally, keep 3-5 main branches, ensuring a mix of lengths, heights, and density.
The above is a specific introduction to how to plant wintersweet seeds to germinate and the planting and care of wintersweet seeds, for reference by netizens.