Quick Seedling Raising Method for Fuchsia Using Paper Pots
Today, the editor will explain the content about the propagation of Fuchsia, the quick seedling raising method using paper pots. Next, the site editor will introduce this method to the netizens.
Fuchsia, also known as hanging bell begonia or lantern begonia, is native to South America and is a perennial semi-shrub or small shrub. When the flowers bloom, they look like inverted golden bells, with bright colors, and are deeply loved by people.
Fuchsia is sensitive to temperature, and growth can be affected by temperatures below 5°C or above 30°C. In recent years, we have explored commercial seedling production methods and achieved satisfactory results, summarized as follows:
I. Preparation of Nutritious Paper Pots
Take several old newspapers (four-page size), unfold and fold them into three folds horizontally, and cut into paper strips about 54 cm long and 13 cm wide. Take a can, wrap the cut paper strip around the top of the can, leaving 3 to 5 cm, and stick the joint with glue. Flatten the remaining part inward and remove it to form a nutritious paper pot about 8 to 10 cm high and 6 cm in diameter.
II. Preparation of Growing Medium
Take coal ash, decomposed leaf soil or decayed sawdust, and a small amount of garden soil, crush them and mix them evenly, spread them out to dry and disinfect in the sun, or disinfect with a 50 to 100 times formaldehyde solution, sprinkle with an appropriate amount of water, and sieve while wet. Also, prepare several mud balls of about 1 cm in diameter using yellow clay or disinfected mature or raw soil for备用.
III. Cutting
It can be done throughout the year, with the best time being from mid-March to mid-April and from mid-September to late October under natural conditions. The cuttings can be long or short, generally 2 to 3 nodes, about 10 cm long. Use a sharp knife to reduce mechanical damage to the stem tissue, leaving 1 to 2 pairs of leaves at the top and removing the lower ones. Flatten the cut surface below the node and insert the cutting into the mud ball, with the insertion depth being half. Finally, place the mud ball with the cutting into the paper pot filled with growing medium, and cover it with a little more growing medium until the mud ball is buried, with one seedling per pot.
IV. Maintenance
The cuttings need to be shaded for the first week, and then can be maintained conventionally. On sunny and windy days, pay attention to sprinkling water on the leaves and keeping the soil surface moist. Roots can form in 15 to 30 days. After rooting, a mixture of 1% to 2% urea and potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can be sprayed or watered to promote early growth. When the roots penetrate the paper pot, they can be transplanted into a pot or used directly as paper pot seedlings (C-S).
The spring cuttings produced by this method, after 1 to 2 times of pinching, generally take shape from late June to early July, have strong resistance to high temperatures, and can bloom slightly shaded in summer without obvious summer dormancy. The autumn cuttings are cold-resistant and can overwinter in a solar greenhouse without heating. They can tolerate short periods of 0°C and long periods of 1°C, but the leaf veins will turn red and the leaves will curl outwards. Even if the tender shoots are slightly frostbitten, it does not cause much harm.
They can safely overwinter at temperatures above 2°C, and will take shape and bloom by the end of May the following year. The optimal overwintering temperature is 3 to 6°C, and it should be avoided to have too high temperatures that may cause etiolation.
This method is simple and easy to implement, solving the problem of Fuchsia seedlings' summer dormancy and intolerance to low temperatures. Under natural conditions, the flowering period can last 6 to 7 months, and each square meter of seedbed can produce 240 to 280 seedlings per batch. The drawback is that the paper pots can easily rot and should not be exposed to rain for long periods.
The above introduces the complete content of the quick seedling raising method for Fuchsia using paper pots, for your comprehensive understanding and reference!