What is the best month for hydrangea cutting
Core introduction: This article introduces the best time and method for hydrangea cutting, as well as some knowledge about flower cultivation. Keep reading!
Hydrangea, also known as八仙花 (八仙花) or 粉团花 (粉团花), has a beautiful and elegant appearance with clustering flowers after blooming. It is suitable for planting in parks, courtyards, balconies, and other places for ornamental purposes and is very popular among people. With the arrival of spring, many people start to propagate hydrangeas in large quantities. To avoid the decay of the base of the cuttings and the failure of normal root growth during the cutting process, this article will introduce some detailed issues that need attention when cutting hydrangeas.
In spring, as the temperature warms up, hydrangeas enter the growth stage. Many flower enthusiasts start to propagate hydrangeas at home, and by the time of flowering, the garden is full of blooming hydrangeas, which is very beautiful. Of course, some inexperienced flower enthusiasts may not handle the cuttings and growing media properly during the cutting process, leading to bacterial infection, decay, and failure to root and survive. This article will provide another introduction to the cutting and later care of hydrangeas, hoping to help those who love hydrangeas.
I. Hydrangea Cutting Propagation Method
Hydrangea cutting propagation is the most commonly used method. Whether it can survive or not mainly depends on the temperature, humidity of the environment, and the treatment of cuttings and media. If the method is mastered, cutting hydrangeas is a very simple task.
1. Cutting Season
Theoretically, hydrangeas can be propagated at any season as long as the temperature is suitable. However, when propagating at home, we generally choose the period when the plants are growing vigorously. During this time, the branches are strong with sufficient water and nutrients, which can help the cuttings root and survive faster. April to June in spring and September to October in autumn are both periods of vigorous growth for hydrangeas, and the temperature is suitable for plant growth. Of course, branches pruned after flowering can also be cut at any time, as long as every detail is handled properly, the survival rate is very high.
2. Choosing Strong Branches
The cuttings should be selected from healthy branches free of diseases and pests. This way, after the cuttings survive, the seedlings will grow vigorously and shape up faster. If weaker branches are used as cuttings, they can also survive but will grow less vigorously. Therefore, when selecting cuttings, try to choose strong and vigorous branches.
After selecting the cuttings, trim the branches into segments about 10 centimeters long, remove all the leaves from the bottom to reduce water evaporation, and retain 2 leaves on the top. The base of the cutting should be cut diagonally to form a horse hoof shape to increase the water absorption area and improve the survival rate.
3. Media Used for Cutting
Experienced gardeners know that the success of cutting propagation also depends on the media used, which should be loose and well-ventilated to facilitate root growth. If clayey soil is used directly for cutting, the rooting effect will also be poor. The commonly used media for cutting include vermiculite, perlite, and river sand. However, through several cutting experiments, I find that using a single medium like vermiculite or perlite is not as effective as a mixture of several media. If using vermiculite or perlite, you can also add a small amount of garden soil or river sand, which makes it easier to root.
4. Cutting Operation Method
After preparing the cuttings and the cutting media, you can proceed with the propagation. First, fill the pot with the growing media, then use bamboo chopsticks to make several small holes in the media. Do not insert the cuttings directly into the media as it may damage the base of the cuttings and affect normal rooting. Make holes with bamboo chopsticks first, then insert the cuttings into about 1/3 of their length, gently press the soil around them, and then spray the media with water to moisten it. Place the pot in a shaded and well-ventilated area for care.
II. How to Prevent the Base of Cuttings from Rotting
Hydrangea cutting is very simple, but the problem is that after cutting, the base of the cuttings often rots and fails to root normally. How can we avoid this phenomenon?
1. Sterilization of Media
When propagating flowers at home, we may skip sterilizing the media and cuttings to save time, but this is the reason why blackening and rotting often occur after cutting. Because the soil is attached with bacteria, which can infect the cuttings through the wounds, leading to decay. Therefore, advance sterilization is a very necessary step.
What is the Best Month for Hydrangea Cutting
① Sunlight Sterilization
If cutting in summer when sunlight is strong, you can use sunlight to sterilize the media by spreading it on the cement ground and letting it bake in the sun for a day before using it for cutting, which can effectively prevent the cuttings from rotting due to bacterial infection.
② Drug Sterilization
In addition to sunlight sterilization and microwave heating, you can also use 0.3% potassium permanganate or carbendazim and other fungicides to spray the media, which can also reduce the chance of bacterial infection and improve the survival rate of cuttings.
2. How to Sterilize Cuttings
To prevent infection, after trimming the leaves, you can also soak the cuttings in a 0.3% potassium permanganate or carbendazim solution for 2 minutes, then dry them before cutting. If you want to speed up the rooting of the cuttings, you can also soak them in a rooting hormone such as naphthylacetic acid to increase the chance of rooting.
III. Post-Cutting Care is Also Very Important
Whether the cuttings can root normally after cutting depends on the later care. If the care is not proper, it can also lead to cutting failure. So how to care for the cuttings after cutting?
1. Avoid Direct Sunlight
Newly cut hydrangea seedlings should be placed in a shaded and well-ventilated area for care. If the temperature is low, you can cover the pot with a layer of plastic wrap to keep it warm and humid. At this stage, you must not expose it to direct sunlight, especially in the hot summer, as it can easily cause the cuttings to dehydrate and wilt. After the cuttings have fully survived, you can gradually increase some scattered light to help the plants grow vigorously.
2. Soil Should Not Be Too Wet
After cutting the hydrangeas, it is best to water them with a spray bottle to avoid loose cuttings caused by heavy watering. Also, water properly; some people worry about water shortage after cutting and water frequently, causing the soil to become too wet. This prevents the cuttings from breathing normally and can lead to decay over time. Therefore, during later care, keep the soil slightly moist but ensure the environment is humid. You can spray water around the plants to increase the humidity, which is beneficial for the growth and development of the cuttings.