How to propagate Lantana camara through cuttings
Let's follow the editor to learn about some small experiences in plant cultivation regarding how to propagate Lantana camara through cuttings and the timing and methods of doing so.
Lantana camara needs regular pruning during the growing season to maintain an attractive shape and avoid leggy growth. The branches pruned can be used as cuttings and planted in cultivation soil. With proper care, new Lantana camara plants can be obtained after some time. How to prune and propagate will be introduced below.
I. How to prune
1. Pinching
When the seedlings of Lantana camara grow to about 10 cm, you can pinch the top leaves in time to prevent leggy growth and promote the growth of surrounding lateral branches for a fuller plant shape.
2. Thinning branches
When Lantana camara is growing vigorously, cut the leggy branches short, leaving only 3-5 main branches, and prune overlapping, disordered, and weak branches to promote nutrient accumulation for better plant growth.
3. Before and after flowering
Do not prune significantly before flowering to avoid cutting off flowering branches. After flowering, prune the spent flowers in time to avoid excessive nutrient loss.
II. How to propagate through cuttings
1. Propagation time
The branches cut during pruning can be used for propagation. It is most suitable to propagate in spring and autumn, when the survival rate is relatively high. In winter, with lower temperatures, you need to place the cuttings in a warm room to ensure survival.
2. Preparing the soil
Lantana camara prefers loose, fertile, and well-drained soil, which is conducive to plant growth. You can use a mixture of decomposed leaf soil, garden soil, and river sand in a ratio of 5:3:2 as the cultivation soil, and let it be exposed to the sun for 1-2 days before use.
3. Choosing cuttings
Select strong, disease-free branches, cut 10-15 cm long, remove the base leaves, retain 1-2 top young leaves, cut the bottom of the branch diagonally, soak in root-promoting water for 20-30 minutes, and let it dry in a shaded place.
4. Planting cuttings
Prepare an appropriate pot, fill it with cultivation soil, make holes in the soil with a stick, spaced 4-5 cm apart, insert the cuttings into the holes, slightly cover them with soil around, keep the soil moist without watering immediately, and water thoroughly when the soil is dry. Keep the temperature at 20℃-25℃, and after 20-25 days, the cuttings will root.
The above is a complete introduction to how to propagate Lantana camara through cuttings, including the timing and methods, for everyone to learn and understand!