How to cultivate Taxus chinensis seedlings
Let me tell you about the experience of cultivating Taxus chinensis seedlings and the related skills of Taxus chinensis cultivation management. Please refer to the detailed introduction below.
Chinese Taxus (Taxus cuspidaea Sieb.et Zucc.,1846), also known as Zizhu (from "Northeast Medicinal Plants"), Chiba pine (from "Shengjing Gazette"), Ziba pine (from "Mongolian Literature Collection"), Northeast Taxus (from "Chinese Higher Plants Atlas" and "Chinese Plant Catalog"), wide-leafed Zizhu (from "Northeast Woody Plant Atlas"), belongs to the Taxus family (Taxaceae) TaxusLinn.,1753, is an ancient species left over from the Quaternary glaciers, has existed on Earth for 2.5 million years, has poor self-reproduction ability under natural conditions, is a species on the verge of extinction in the world, known as a "living fossil," and is also the owner of the rare anti-cancer drug "paclitaxel," belonging to a class-one national rare and protected species. There are about 15 species in this genus worldwide (including natural hybrids, excluding the hidden species in Huangshan), of which 10 are distributed in Asia, all distributed in China. They are Taxus cuspidata Sieb. Zucc., Taxus contorta Griff, Taxus wallichiana Zucc., Taxus florinii Spjut (natural hybrid), Taxus cuspidata Sieb.et Zucc., Taxus calcicola L.M.Gao & Mich.M ller, Taxus emeiensis (not yet discovered, natural hybrid), Taxus mairei (Lemée & H. Lév.) S.Y.HuexT.S.Liu, Taxus qinlingensis, and Taxus phytonii Spjut (belonging to the Philippines flora component with a small proportion on Taiwan Island).
Due to the high medicinal value of Taxus chinensis, and its graceful canopy branches, dense and green leaves, evergreen all year round, elegant tree shape, autumn red false seed coats like small red lanterns hanging on branches, very beautiful, and also has a powerful function of purifying the air, it has become a potted plant for flower lovers, but it can only survive for 1~2 years after purchase, which is very regrettable.
Taxus chinensis is a dioecious tree. The tree height can reach 30m, the diameter is 60~100cm, the main root is not obvious, the lateral roots are developed, and it belongs to a shallow-rooted plant. It is cold-resistant, shade-loving, mainly distributed on the shady or semi-shady slopes, often scattered in mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, can survive in temperatures below 30℃, the optimal growth temperature is 20~25℃, and it prefers loose and moist sandy loam soil with good drainage. Therefore, Taxus chinensis can grow normally in most parts of China and is also suitable for potted cultivation.
1. Seedling source and propagation
1.1 Seedling source
Taxus chinensis seedlings are mainly purchased from the flower market, and most of the seedlings on the market are cuttage seedlings, which are cheap. Just pay attention to the variety when purchasing and do not choose the false Taxus (Cephalotaxus fortunei) with dark green leaves and needle-like leaf tips. Of course, you can also propagate by cuttage or seeding yourself, and experience the fun of cultivating personally.
1.2 Propagation methods
At present, the seedling raising technology of Taxus chinensis is relatively mature, with a seedling rate of 70%~90%. The main seedling raising methods are still the traditional cuttage and seeding methods.
1.2.1 Cuttage seedling raising Taxus chinensis cuttage seedling raising is easy to survive, the key is the cuttage time and the selection of cuttings.
1.2.1.1 Cuttage tools. Use rectangular pots, 20~30cm deep, 30~40cm wide, and the length can be determined according to the number of cuttings.
1.2.1.2 Cuttage substrate. The cuttage soil is mixed evenly with coarse sand, garden soil, and peat soil in a ratio of 3:4:3 and 5g of ferrous sulfate is added.
First, spread about 5cm of coarse sand at the bottom of the pot, then put the prepared culture soil into the pot, 20~25cm thick, pour it with a 3%~5% potassium permanganate solution, cover the pot mouth with plastic wrap or plastic bags for 1 week, and then open and move it to a sunny place for 4~5 days before cuttage.
1.2.1.3 Cuttage. In the spring of the same year (May to June in the Longnan area), cut the one-year-old semi-woody branches from the crown layer of Taxus chinensis, cut the branches to a length of 10~15cm, remove the leaves from the lower 1/3, tie them into small bundles, immerse them in a 1000-fold potassium permanganate solution for 10 seconds, then remove them and immerse them in a 50mg/kg ABT rooting hormone solution for 1 hour, rinse with clean water, insert into the pot, water thoroughly after cuttage, cover the pot surface with plastic wrap, and be careful not to let the plastic wrap touch the cuttings (can also use a plastic bag to cover the pot). Roots can be formed in 2 months, and after rooting, they can be transplanted into pots in mid-to-late January.
1.2.2 Seeding seedling raising Taxus chinensis seeds have a dormancy characteristic, and if not properly stored after harvesting, they can easily lose water, so they need to be processed promptly after harvesting. The processing method is sand storage, which is better for a large number of seeds but not suitable for a small number of seeds, and it is also long (taking a year and a half) and cumbersome, so it is not recommended. The following method is more suitable for small-scale cultivation, process the seeds immediately after harvesting, sow them in the same year, and the seedlings can emerge in the spring of the following year with a seedling rate of 75%~95%. The seeding method is as follows:
1.2.2.1 Container selection. Choose rectangular wide-mouthed pots that are 25~30cm high, over 40cm long, and over 20cm wide.
1.2.2.2 Seed treatment. To make Taxus chinensis seeds germinate earlier, it is necessary to break the seed dormancy, so the treatment methods are all focused on breaking seed dormancy.
In October each year, when the outer seed coat of Taxus chinensis seeds turns brown, harvest the seeds, wash off the outer seed coat, remove the empty seeds floating on the water, and then pick out the full seeds. Place the seeds on a rough cement floor and rub them back and forth with the sole of a shoe until the surface is uneven, then wash and dry in the shade. Soak the dried seeds in over 50-degree liquor for 30 minutes, then remove them and immerse them in a 500mg/kg gibberellin solution for 24 hours, then sow.
1.2.2.3 Soil preparation for seeding. The soil for seeding needs to be prepared two weeks in advance. The seeding soil is mixed with garden soil, peat soil, and river sand in a ratio of 1:1:1. Place the soil in the pot, pour it with a 500-fold potassium permanganate solution until the soil is moist, cover the pot mouth with a plastic bag or plastic wrap, remove the covering after one week, then dry it in the sun for another week before sowing.
1.2.2.4 Seeding. Place the processed seeds at a distance of about 5cm apart on the surface of the potting soil, cover them with about 0.5cm of soil (too thick soil is not conducive to seedling emergence), water with a spray bottle until moist, seal the pot mouth with a plastic bag or plastic wrap, place it in a well-ventilated area on the indoor阳台, and the seedlings can emerge 70%~75% in March and April of the following year. The remaining seeds will continue to germinate, with a final seedling rate of about 95%. When a few seeds have germinated, uncover half of the sealed plastic bag or plastic wrap, move the pot to a semi-shady place, and after half a month, remove the sealed plastic bag or plastic wrap. After seedling emergence, provide 2 hours of sunlight every morning and evening, and by the second year, January to February, you can start transplanting and cultivating.
Indoor cultivation of Taxus chinensis seedlings is relatively simple compared to seeding, which allows for better control of the ratio and number of male and female plants and a shorter time to produce seeds. If you want to achieve an ideal tree shape for cuttage seedlings, the scion must be from the terminal branches of the crown with a terminal bud.
2. Daily management
Taxus chinensis is a wild tree, so ventilation is very important for Taxus chinensis.
2.1 Light
Taxus chinensis is a shade-loving species and only needs scattered light. It is usually best to place it under a taller plant for maintenance. For seedlings less than 2 years old, it is best to place them in a place where direct sunlight cannot reach, such as a window sill on the shady side of the house. Seedlings over 2 years old can be moved to a larger balcony and gradually provided with moderate sunlight, starting with no more than 30 minutes, and gradually extending the duration of sunlight to 2 hours in the morning and evening when there is no leaf curling; seedlings over 3 years old can be provided with full sunlight from 10 am to 4:30 pm in spring and autumn. In summer, it is recommended to reduce the time by half, and there is no need to shade in winter.
2.2 Temperature
Taxus chinensis is relatively cold-resistant and can withstand low temperatures of 15~25℃. From November to the following March, it is in a dormant period. In the northwest region, if there is floor heating in winter, it needs to be moved to a corridor or an area without floor heating coverage, of course, it can also be placed on a支架 about 20cm above the ground, but it needs to be away from radiators and other heat sources; in the southwest region, it should be moved outdoors; in the northeast region, it should be indoors but not close to heat sources. Taxus chinensis can grow normally at temperatures between 15~30℃, so it can grow indoors and outdoors in spring, summer, and autumn throughout the country. It is important to note not to place it in a room with air conditioning or where the air conditioner can blow.
2.3 Watering
Taxus chinensis prefers loose and fertile soil and is relatively drought-resistant but not flood-resistant. It is best to choose the immersion method for watering, and after watering, the water in the bottom tray should be drained in time to maintain good ventilation of the roots. Water once every 7 days in March and April; once every 4 days in summer; if the indoor temperature is above 20℃ in winter, water once every 15 days, and if below 20℃, water once every 20~25 days. In spring, summer, and autumn, follow the principle of "dry and then water thoroughly," where "dry" means the surface soil turns white or dry, and "water thoroughly" means to immerse the pot until the surface soil is moist; in winter, follow the principle of "better dry than wet," keeping the soil slightly moist, and if the pot soil is damp, there is no need to water. If it is difficult to judge, you can also dig about 0.5cm of the surface soil to check if it is dry. The water used for watering should be晾晒 river water or rainwater, or tap water that has been晾晒 for more than 3 days.
2.4 Fertilizing
Taxus chinensis is relatively tolerant to poor soil and should be fertilized once every half year. You can use crushed oil slag or black oil from the range hood, mixed into the soil around the pot edge. You can also use a diluted 800-fold phosphorus and potassium fertilizer solution to spray the leaves once every 2~3 months, and fertilizing should be done before 9 am or after 1 pm.
When repotting, you need to cover the bottom of the pot with soil, then apply organic fertilizer (such as decomposed soybean cake, sesame paste residue, etc.), cover with soil, and then plant Taxus chinensis, filling the soil to about 2cm from the pot opening.
2.5 Ventilation
Taxus chinensis requires good ventilation and can be placed outdoors if possible. If indoors, let it be near a window that is often opened to maintain ventilation.
2.6 Repotting
Taxus chinensis indoor cultivation needs to be repotted once a year, and no more than twice every 2 years, and each repotting should be a larger pot, but not too large. The time is in March to April every year. When repotting, do not damage the original potting soil. If the original potting soil ball must be damaged, it can be soaked in water, removed, and the rootlets should not be injured. Apply sufficient decomposed organic fertilizer at the bottom of the pot when repotting, and after repotting, shade for about 1 month, then gradually increase sunlight.
Indoor cultivation of Taxus chinensis can be trimmed into various shapes such as pagoda, ball, umbrella, etc., as desired. Trim the dense, weak, and poorly growing branches at the base, and when pruning, cut 0.5cm away from the trunk or lateral branches to prevent injury to the trunk or retained branches.
3. Disease control
Young trees may develop diseases during high temperature and dry seasons.
3.1 Stem rot disease
Use a mixture of 5g/kg pentachloronitrobenzene powder and dichloran powder, diluted in water and poured, or use a mixture of 4g/kg carbendazim and methyl thiophanate wettable powder, diluted in water and poured.
3.2 Leaf blight and red leaf blight
Can be sprayed with a 1% Bordeaux mixture for prevention.
The above comprehensive method of how to cultivate Taxus chinensis seedlings and the cultivation management techniques of Taxus chinensis are hoped to be a stone to attract jade and solve your problems with green plants.