Portulaca Tree Propagation Methods
Plant Management Tips: This article focuses on the propagation of Portulaca trees, providing detailed explanations on the methods for propagating these plants.
The Portulaca tree has thick and swollen stems, small and interesting leaves, resembling those of Portulaca, and exhibits a strong, ancient tree charm. It is robust and easy to care for. Apart from being used as a potted plant for ornamental purposes, it is also a good choice for creating tree-stump penjing. Due to its luxurious and colorful commercial name given by flower merchants, "Jin Zhi Yu Ye" (Gold Branch and Jade Leaf), it is even more loved by people.
Portulaca Tree Propagation Management
1) Propagation:
Mainly propagated by cutting. This can be done in spring, summer, and autumn (cuttings can also be taken in winter if the greenhouse temperature reaches above 10 degrees). Choose strong, short internode stems as cuttings. There is no strict requirement for the length of the cuttings. Remove leaves from the part of the cutting that will be buried in the soil. Cuttings can be inserted immediately after cutting, followed by watering thoroughly. Keep the potting soil moist, and it will take about 20 to 25 days to root. If planning to create a hanging penjing, select longer cuttings and use an oblique cutting method, with the buried part of the cutting extending beyond the center of the potting soil and the upper part lying on the edge of the pot, allowing for growth and downward extension. For vertical cuttings, if the cuttings are thin and long and prone to falling over, support them with bamboo or wooden stakes for a period until the trunk becomes sturdy.
2) Cultivation:
The Portulaca tree enjoys a sunny, warm, and dry environment. It is not cold-tolerant but can withstand semi-shade and drought. The soil should be a well-draining sandy loam. The temperature in winter should not be below 10 degrees Celsius. The plant's growth is directly related to the amount of sunlight it receives. The more sunlight it gets, the healthier it grows, with old stems being light brown, young stems purple-red, and leaves fleshy and green. If grown under scattered light or semi-shade, the internodes tend to become longer, the leaves are large and thin, with poor resistance to stress, easily affected by diseases and pests. The leaves at the bottom of the stem turn black and yellow, reducing their ornamental value. During the growing season, apply a dilute fertilizer every half month, with nitrogen-based fertilizer in late spring and early summer, and phosphorus-potassium fertilizer in late summer and autumn. Do not fertilize in winter.
Watering principles: From late March to late October, water when the soil is dry and not wet, and water thoroughly when watering. During the high-temperature summer season, the plant is in a semi-dormant state, so control watering and keep the potting soil slightly dry. In winter, move the plant into a greenhouse with plenty of sunlight, and water moderately, basically once every half month, with half the amount of water compared to summer. The Portulaca tree can tolerate high temperatures and does not need to be shaded in summer. It is not cold-tolerant in winter and the temperature should be maintained above 5 degrees Celsius.
Diseases and Pests: Sometimes affected by (T-J) disease, which can be treated with a 50% wettable powder of thiophanate-methyl diluted 1500 times. Pests such as whitefly and scale insects can be controlled by spraying with a 50% fenvalerate emulsion diluted 1000 times.
Potted Portulaca trees grow quickly with many branches. Under semi-shade conditions, although the stems grow vigorously, they tend to elongate. Continuous pruning and shaping are required during growth to maintain an attractive plant shape.
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