How to propagate and cultivate osmanthus
Comprehensively analyzing the knowledge of osmanthus propagation and cultivation, as well as the green plant and flower cultivation methods. Let's learn about it together next.
Osmanthus is an evergreen tree belonging to the Osmanthus genus of the Oleaceae family. It is one of the top ten traditional famous flowers in China, integrating greening, beautifying, and fragrant features. It is an excellent garden species with both ornamental and practical purposes. The osmanthus is so pure it can purify the dust, and its fragrance can spread far and wide, making it a wonder. Especially during the mid-Autumn season, clusters of osmanthus bloom, and on quiet nights with full moons, enjoying osmanthus with wine, the aroma is refreshing, making one feel clear-headed and relaxed. It is a famous fragrant flower in China. Osmanthus is native to the southwest region, a temperate and subtropical plant, and is widely planted in the southwest, especially in gardens, parks, and on both sides of streets. Especially during the mid-Autumn season, clusters of osmanthus bloom, and on quiet nights with full moons, enjoying osmanthus with wine, the aroma is refreshing, making one feel clear-headed and relaxed. It has been deeply loved by Chinese people since ancient times and is considered a traditional famous flower.
The common propagation methods of osmanthus include layering, grafting, cutting propagation, and seed propagation.
1. Seed propagation: From March to April each year, when the peel of the osmanthus fruit gradually changes from green to blue, it can be harvested. It can be collected and sown at any time, or the fruit flesh can be washed off after stacking and then dried and stored in sand until autumn or spring sowing. The sowing rate is about 25 kilograms per mu. The common sowing methods include strip sowing, furrow sowing, or bed surface sowing. The seeds should be placed on their side to prevent bending of the radicle. After sowing, cover the soil so that the seeds are not visible, and use straw or plastic film to keep the soil moist. Generally, the seeds can germinate in about 10 days. Once about 10% of the seedlings have emerged, promptly remove the covering material and thin out the weak, elongated, and mixed seedlings. Maintain good air circulation and sufficient sunlight to allow the osmanthus seedlings to grow rapidly.
2. Layering propagation: Low layering and high layering propagation are usually adopted.
Low layering propagation: In early spring, select branches close to the ground, make a 1 cm incision with a knife (the position of the incision should be buried in the soil when the branch is pressed into the soil), and then bury the incision part in the soil. Press down with a stone to keep the branch head upward and prevent the branch from swaying. During the planting season, dig open the soil and observe. Cut the rooted layering from the side close to the mother plant and separate it from the mother plant to become a planting seedling.
High layering propagation: High layering, also known as air layering, involves selecting 2-4-year-old vigorous vertical branches on the tree crown. At a distance of 20-30 cm from the base, first strip half to two-thirds of the bark using the ring stripping method, then wrap the wound with a mixture of fertilizer and high-quality top dressing such as compound fertilizer, forming a ball shape, and cover the outside with plastic film to keep it moist. The high layering is usually done in early spring (February to March), and by August to September, white roots can be seen through the plastic film. Then, cut the layering 3-5 cm below the ball and immediately plant it. Milan generally takes about 3 months to root after high layering.
3. Cutting propagation: This method is simple, has a high繁殖 quantity, fast speed, high survival rate, and low cost. It is the most widely used and common propagation method by nursery producers and flower enthusiasts.
Usually done in the summer and autumn seasons with tender branches. After cutting, keep the soil moist but avoid waterlogging, and shade from direct sunlight. Maintain a temperature of 25-27°C for easy survival. The cutting bed should be a mixture of yellow loam and yellow sand. Cuttings tend to bloom earlier than seeds. Select healthy branches from healthy plants, cut them to a length of about 8-15 cm, remove the withered leaves, and insert them into moist sandy soil. Keep the temperature between 15-30°C, and pay attention to shading and moisture retention. Insert half to two-thirds of the cutting斜 into the hole, compact the soil, and water once. After cutting, shade and keep moist, and the roots will grow quickly. To improve the cutting survival rate, plant growth hormones can be used to treat the cuttings, which significantly promote root growth. Common growth hormones include indole butyric acid, indole acetic acid, naphthylacetic acid, 2,4-D, and root powder, all of which have a good effect on promoting root growth.
4. Grafting propagation: Common rootstocks include small-leaf privet, small wax, water wax, ligustrum, and white wax trees. Grafting is done in spring before the scion sprouts, using methods such as cut grafting and cut side grafting in spring, approach grafting in summer, and "T" grafting or large bud grafting in autumn.
Cut grafting: The position for cutting the rootstock is one-third to one-fifth of the cross-section downward and slightly inward. The scion is cut with one long and one short cutting surface, usually with the same thickness on both sides. Insert the scion with the long cutting surface inward and the short cutting surface outward, just leaving a thin white line. When wrapping, pay special attention to pressing the outer layer of the rootstock's incision, the thin part, against the scion to maximize the contact area of the cambium layers. When wrapping the wound with plastic film, also wrap the top cross-section of the scion to reduce water evaporation, otherwise, it is not easy to survive grafting.
Approach grafting: The method involves planting the scion and rootstock separately in pots, then bringing them close together for grafting. Cut a wide and narrow surface on the opposite sides of both, immediately bring them together, and seal the wound with a plastic film strip. After the graft takes, cut off the scion below the graft and the rootstock above the graft, and it becomes a grafted seedling.
The above sharing on how to propagate and cultivate osmanthus and the experience of osmanthus cultivation and planting methods hope to bring help to your life!