What are the propagation methods of Murraya exotica
About the propagation methods of Murraya exotica and the detailed introduction of the cultivation techniques and flower care knowledge, the following is a detailed explanation.
Murraya exotica belongs to the Rutaceae family, Murraya genus, evergreen shrubs, also known as stone chili, autumn fragrance, nine-tree fragrance, seven-mile fragrance, thousand-mile fragrance, ten-thousand-mile fragrance, over-mountain fragrance, golden osmanthus, mountain yellow peel, thousand-eye, moon tangerine. It has a beautiful plant posture, beautiful branches and leaves, and fragrant flowers. It is commonly used as a fence material in the southern regions, or as an ornamental plant in gardens and hotels, and family cultivation usually adopts potting.
Murraya exotica is mainly produced in southern regions such as Hainan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi, preferring warm and humid conditions. The most suitable growth temperature is between 20-32°C and it is not cold-resistant. It is a positive tree species and should be placed in a sunny and well-ventilated area for lush leaves and fragrant flowers. During flowering, it can be moved to the window sill, filling the room with fragrance. After the flowers fade, it still needs to be placed in a sunny area. It grows less robust in semi-shade and the fragrance of the flowers is lighter, and it may produce few or no flowers in the shade. In winter, when the minimum temperature drops to about 5°C, it may freeze at 0°C, and if the room temperature is too high, the plant cannot enter dormancy properly. It should be placed in a shaded area to make the Murraya exotica flowers abundant and fragrant.
Murraya exotica is not strict about soil requirements and should choose a sandy soil rich in humus, loose, and fertile. After planting or repotting, Murraya exotica should be watered thoroughly and placed in a shaded area for about 10 days before being moved to a sunny and well-ventilated area for cultivation.
I. Propagation methods of Murraya exotica: The propagation methods include cutting propagation, seed propagation, layering propagation, grafting propagation, and tissue culture propagation.
1. Layering propagation: Murraya exotica can choose low-layer propagation and high-layer propagation. Layering propagation usually takes about 50 days to root. It is easy to root and has well-developed fibrous roots, with good results.
Low-layer propagation is done in early spring by selecting branches close to the ground, making 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 ground), burying the incised part in the soil, pressing it with a stone, and keeping the branch tip upward without swaying. When it's time to plant, dig up the soil to observe, cut the rooted layer from the end close to the mother plant, and separate it from the mother plant to become a planting seedling.
High-layer propagation method: High-layer propagation, also known as aerial layering, is done by selecting 2-4-year-old branches that are growing vigorously on vines. During the growing period from May to June, make a circular incision half to two-thirds of the bark 20-30 cm away from the base, then wrap the wound with a mixture of fertile soil and some high-quality fertilizer like compound fertilizer, forming a ball shape, and cover it with plastic film to keep it moist. High-layering is usually done from May to June, and by August to September, white roots can be seen through the plastic film. The layer should be cut 3-5 cm below the layer ball and immediately planted in a false position before being transplanted.
2. Grafting propagation: Use Murraya exotica seedlings as rootstocks and use cleft grafting, cut grafting, or small bud grafting during the growing period. When grafting, be sure to peel off the thick bark to expose the yellowish-white cambium layer, otherwise it will not survive easily.
3. Seed propagation: Pick plump, mature red fruits, rub them in water to remove the peel and float the impurities and seeds on the surface, then dry them for later use. Spring and autumn are both suitable for sowing. Spring sowing is usually done in March to April. In southern regions, when the temperature reaches 16°C or above, seeds can germinate in about 25 days. Autumn sowing is suitable in September to October. Before sowing, choose a plot with good water and fertilizer conditions as a nursery, deeply turn the soil, crush it, level it, and make ridges 1 to 1.2 meters wide. Apply enough base fertilizer in the nursery, and the common sowing methods include drill sowing, drill furrow broadcasting, or ridge broadcasting. After sowing, cover the soil so that the seeds cannot be seen, and cover with straw or plastic film to keep the soil moist. Remove the covering when about 10% of the seeds have germinated, and thin out the weak, leggy, and杂 seedlings. When 2-3 true leaves appear, thin to a spacing of 10-15 cm, combined with weeding and applying manure. When the seedlings are 15-20 cm tall, they can be transplanted.
II. Cultivation:
Murraya exotica is generally planted on flat and fertile land or sunny areas. Before planting, the land should be prepared, ridges made, and planting holes dug. It can also be planted around houses or as a hedge for greening. For family planting, potting is usually adopted, and the seedlings can be transplanted into pots when they are ready. Move the rooted seedlings to the flower pot, trim the broken, damaged, and long roots before potting. Place broken tiles at the bottom of the pot, then add some cake fertilizer, bones, fish bones, chicken feathers, etc., as base fertilizer, then fill with cultivation soil, place the Murraya exotica plant in the center of the pot, straighten it, spread the roots, and fill the soil to half the pot. Then lift the plant slightly and firm the soil, making sure not to plant too deep or too shallow. After planting, water thoroughly. After planting, keep it in a shaded environment for about a week before moving it to a sunny area for care.
III. Management: Murraya exotica is drought-resistant, and watering should be done when the soil is dry, avoiding waterlogging in the pot. During continuous rainy weather, the pot should be placed on its side or in a rain shelter. Excessive watering can cause root rot, so during the growing period, watering should not be excessive, just keeping the soil slightly moist. In the hot summer season, avoid excessive watering, but do not let the pot accumulate water. It is also necessary to spray water on the branches and leaves frequently, which can help lower the temperature and increase humidity, making the leaves greener. In winter, when brought indoors, water less, keeping the potting soil slightly moist. Murraya exotica is not suitable for indoor placement and should be kept in a semi-shaded area. In summer, it must be protected from direct sunlight; in winter, it needs to be kept in a greenhouse with a temperature not lower than 5°C. The placement area should be sprayed with water frequently to maintain humidity. In spring, combine planting or repotting with pruning and applying base fertilizer. Overcrowded and vertical branches should be pruned or thinned as needed. Major pruning should be done in late October or November. Avoid strong pruning during flowering to avoid affecting the view.
The above information on the propagation methods of Murraya exotica and the detailed explanation of its cultivation techniques hope to be helpful to you. Don't forget to check out more experience and knowledge!