Techniques Summary of Gardenia Propagation
An introduction to the woody flower Gardenia for most women, here is a summary of Gardenia propagation techniques, which will be introduced by the editor for netizens.
Gardenia is a woody plant, evergreen throughout the year, blooming around the Dragon Boat Festival every year. The flowers are pure white, dense, and the fragrance fills the air, making it an excellent plant for urban beautification, road greening, and courtyard appreciation. Gardenia is a flowering plant that does not bear fruit and has no seeds, relying only on cutting propagation. Gardenia cuttings are usually carried out in mid-April, as this time has the highest survival rate. With skilled techniques or in a greenhouse environment, summer and autumn cuttings can also be used, with the respective timings being from early June to early August and from early October to mid-November.
Preparation of Nursery Site Gardenia thrives in loose, deep, well-ventilated, and moisture-retaining soil with a pH value of 5.5 to 6.5. Before propagation, the soil should be disinfected with a 50% carbendazim wettable powder solution at 0.125% concentration, then covered with plastic film for 3 to 4 days. After removing the film for a week, the soil can be used when the chemical fumes have dissipated. For the southern acidic coniferous humus soil, lime powder can also be used for disinfection.
Selecting Cuttings Choose healthy, fully lignified, disease-free 1 to 2-year-old branches from middle-aged trees with fragrant flowers and large blooms for cuttings. These branches not only have a high survival rate when propagated but also produce high-quality and high-value plants.
Handling Cuttings Cut the branches into cuttings 10 to 15 cm long, leaving only the top 3 to 4 leaves to reduce transpiration. The top cut of the cutting should be straight and the bottom cut should be diagonal to increase contact with the soil, which is beneficial for water absorption. The top cut should be 1 to 2 cm away from the bud, and the bottom cut 0.5 cm away, with smooth cuts to prevent splitting. Bundle the cuttings into groups of 30 to 50 and soak the bottom 3 to 5 cm in a 50ppm GGR6 solution for 1 hour.
Propagation Insert the treated cuttings into the nursery site. To prevent damage to the cutting's bark, a trench burial method can be used (dig a small trench first, then neatly place the cuttings inside, and finally cover the base with soil). The depth of insertion should be 2/3 of the cutting's length, with a spacing of 10×15 cm. Press the soil down with your hands and water thoroughly to ensure the cutting and soil bond tightly. To prevent water loss from the cuttings, they should be cut and planted immediately. For summer or autumn cuttings, due to high temperatures, it is best to plant early in the morning or in the evening.
Post-Propagation Management Set up a plastic greenhouse and cover with a shading net. The key to the survival rate of Gardenia is to control the temperature and humidity of the soil and air to provide the best growing conditions. The optimal environmental conditions for Gardenia root growth are: soil temperature between 20°C to 25°C, relative air humidity between 80% to 90%, and soil moisture should be maintained at about 80% of the field water capacity. In the early stage of propagation, water every 10 days. After the shoots have unfolded, water every 3 to 7 days. After 30 to 40 days of propagation, the cuttings can take root and can be alternately sprayed with a 0.25% to 0.5% urea solution and a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution to promote root growth. After 6 months, it is appropriate to extend the ventilation and lighting time to enhance the seedlings' ability to adapt to the external environment. The following spring, the seedlings can be transplanted.
This article shares detailed content on the techniques summary of Gardenia propagation, hoping it can be of help to you!