How to improve the survival rate of cutting
Plant management tips, content about flower propagation, how to improve the survival rate of cutting, details are as follows:
Main environmental factors affecting the survival of cuttings include:
Temperature Different types of flowers require different cutting temperatures. Generally, the temperature for root formation is 2 to 3 degrees Celsius higher than the temperature required for cultivation. Cuttings are more likely to root at 15 to 20 degrees Celsius. High-temperature loving greenhouse flowers often need a temperature of 25 to 30 degrees Celsius for good root formation; if the soil temperature is 3 to 6 degrees Celsius higher than the air temperature, it can promote rapid germination of the cutting roots.
Humidity After cutting, the cutting bed should be kept in a warm and humid state and well ventilated. For softwood cuttings, a relative humidity of 80 to 90% is ideal. Only by maintaining a relatively high air humidity can the cutting and the retained leaves prevent withering and produce nutrients for root growth.
Sunlight The duration and intensity of sunlight have a significant impact on the rooting ability of cuttings. It is better for cuttings to receive diffused light; strong sunlight is detrimental to the survival of cuttings. High temperatures and excessive evaporation can cause the branches to wither, so appropriate shading is needed in the early stages of cutting, and the amount of light should be gradually increased when a large number of roots have grown.
Ventilation When cuttings root, cell division is vigorous, respiration increases, and sufficient oxygen is needed, so the soil used for cutting should have good breathability, which is conducive to rapid root growth.
Cutting Substrate For hardwood cuttings in the open field, they can be done in fertile loam with higher water content; softwood cuttings can be done in water, coarse sand, vermiculite, and perlite, slag, peat, etc. The cutting substrate should have good aeration conditions, contain no organic fertilizers or other easily moldy impurities, and maintain a certain humidity.
The author has summarized several main measures based on the above factors:
First, choose good cuttings. The mother plant should be of good quality, strong growth, and free of diseases and pests. When taking cuttings from the same plant, choose branches from the upper middle part that are sunny, with short internodes and full buds. Second, choose a suitable substrate, such as vermiculite, perlite, and river sand, which should have water retention and good aeration. Third, properly handle the cuttings. The lower cut should be 0.5 cm below the node, the cut should be smooth, remove the lower leaves, retain only 2 to 3 top leaves, and insert the cutting to one-third to one-half of its length. For woody flowers that are difficult to root, using a rooting hormone before cutting can facilitate root growth. Hardwood cuttings are generally suitable for deciduous trees such as pomegranate, begonia, crape myrtle, plum blossom, hibiscus, hydrangea, June snow, peach, and honeysuckle, with cutting time 1 to 2 months before germination; semi-mature cuttings are generally used for evergreen trees and herbaceous flowers such as azalea, oleander, gardenia, chrysanthemum, snapdragon, and salvia, with the timing from March to May or September to October; root cuttings of peach, plum, and rose are generally done from February to March.
Hardwood cuttings should be inserted into the soil to two-thirds of the cutting length; semi-mature cuttings should be inserted shallowly; root cuttings can be buried diagonally in the soil, with the thicker end upwards. Use a bamboo stick to make a hole first, then insert the cutting and press the soil around it. Fourth, create an environment for root growth. Maintain a relative humidity of 80% to 90% in the cutting bed and control the temperature between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. In summer cutting, full-day automatic misting and temperature-controlled cutting seedling equipment can be used. In winter and spring, water the cutting bed, cover it with plastic film, make 2 to 3 small holes in the film to supplement oxygen, and regularly observe the root growth of the cuttings, supplementing sufficient necessary water in a timely manner.
In addition, during the root growth process of cutting seedlings, the moisture must be moderate, slightly larger in the early stage and slightly drier in the later stage, otherwise, the lower part of the seedlings is prone to rot, affecting the healing and rooting of the cuttings. When the new roots of the cuttings grow to 3 to 5 centimeters, they can be transplanted into pots at the right time.
The above is the detailed content on how to improve the survival rate of cuttings, hoping it can be helpful to you!