How to Propagate四季 crabapple through Cuttings
This article provides a detailed explanation of how to propagate 四季 crabapple through cuttings, as well as experience in green plant maintenance regarding the timing and methods of cutting. Let's follow the editor to find out more!
Four-season Begonia is a perennial herbaceous shrub from Brazil with strong propagation abilities. Both stems and leaves can be used for propagation, using soil or water as the growing medium. There are many varieties of Four-season Begonia, with double and single petals, flower colors including red, white, and pink, and leaf colors including green, bronze-purple, and dark brown. It is a common绿化 plant and many enthusiasts also grow it at home. Below is an introduction to the cutting method for Four-season Begonia.
1. Cutting Time
Spring and autumn are generally suitable, and cuttings can also survive in winter. The optimal growth temperature for Four-season Begonia is between 15 and 24°C. In southern regions, the warm and humid months of April to May are the best for cuttings, with a temperature of around 20°C making it easier for the cuttings to root and survive. If the temperature is too high, the cuttings tend to rot, especially when the soil moisture is high in summer, so it is not recommended to cut in summer.
2. Preparing Cuttings
Select a healthy two-year-old branch with two buds and three or four internodes. Use a disinfected, sharp knife to cut obliquely from 1 centimeter below the last internode, resulting in a cutting about 10 centimeters long.
Remove the top tender bud from the cutting. If there are flower buds, they should be cut off. Reduce the number of leaves, retaining three or four, and place the cuttings in a shaded area to dry for two days until the cut ends turn slightly white before planting. Reduce watering for the mother plant by 15 days in advance to slow down growth, preventing the cuttings from being too slender and weak, which makes them easier to survive after planting. Also, the leaves of Four-season Begonia can also be used for propagation.
3. Growing Methods
1. Direct Soil Cultivation
Select soil with good drainage and aeration. Clean fine river sand or soft sandy soil can be used as the growing medium, which should be disinfected and sterilized. It is not recommended to use nutrient-rich or decomposed leaf soil for cuttings, as excessive fertilizer or too much organic matter can make it difficult for the cuttings to root and more prone to rot.
Choose the number of cuttings based on the size of the pot, with the pot diameter slightly larger than the size of one plant. If multiple cuttings are planted in a large pot, there should be a 3-centimeter distance between plants. Make holes in the soil with a stick, about one-third the length of the cutting.
When planting, place the cutting in the hole and slightly press the surrounding soil at the base. Then place it in a low-light environment without direct sunlight to recover.
Do not water immediately after planting to allow the cut end to heal. Water thoroughly three to five days later and then do not water again, keeping the soil slightly moist. After about 10 days, the plant can grow roots 3 to 4 centimeters long. Then move it to a place with direct sunlight, and after another 6 to 7 days, it can be transplanted into a pot.
If the seedlings are first grown in a cutting bed, they need to wait until the new roots of the cuttings have aged before transplanting them to a pot.
2. Hydroponics before Potting
Hydroponics has a high survival rate and can be used for cutting before移植ing to soil. Cultivate the cuttings in clear water in a glass bottle, submerging the cutting part in water, and place it in a semi-shaded, well-ventilated area. When three fibrous roots have grown at the bottom, after about 20 days, they can be transplanted into the soil.
The above introduction to how to propagate Four-season Begonia through cuttings and the timing and methods of Begonia cutting is for reference and suggestion.