When is the suitable time for transplanting Chionanthus retusus seedlings
If you want to know the suitable time for transplanting Chionanthus retusus seedlings and the best transplanting time for old Chionanthus retusus plants, here are the details:
Chionanthus retusus (Scientific name: Chionanthus retusus Lindl.et Paxt.) belongs to the Oleaceae family and Chionanthus genus. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree with a tall and elegant shape, lush branches and leaves, and white flowers covering the tree in early summer, resembling frost and snow, which are graceful and pleasant. In autumn, it bears fruit, with ellipsoid drupes that are bluish-black. Up close, the leaves of Chionanthus retusus are simple, opposite, elliptical or oblong, with entire margins and slightly leathery texture. It is dioecious, with conical inflorescences at the tips of lateral branches; the corolla is white, deeply 4-lobed, with linear-lanceolate lobes. Male flowers have 2 stamens, and female flowers have a 2-lobed stigma. The flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
Seed Treatment
Seeds are harvested from September to October after maturity. After harvesting, they are selected by water. The method of water selection is: soak the seeds for 48 hours while adding 0.1% potassium permanganate for seed disinfection. During soaking, float and remove the seeds that are not fully mature and the seeds infested with pests to obtain pure seeds. At the same time, rub off the brown epidermis on the surface of the seeds during soaking to facilitate seed germination.
Nursery Methods
Method 1: Root Promotion. Choose a place with a sunny, leeward, and good drainage. Dig a pit 10 centimeters deep, and the length can be determined according to the number of seeds. Mix the Chionanthus seeds with clean river sand (disinfected and screened) at a ratio of 1:2, evenly distribute them in the pit, then cover with 2 centimeters of sand, water thoroughly, and cover with plastic film to keep it moist. Place some straw mats in the bed for ventilation and prevent seed decay. After two months, the roots of the Chionanthus seeds will basically grow completely, with roots reaching 4-5 centimeters. At this time, the seeds in the bed can be taken out, and the seeds with roots can be selected for planting. It can also be planted after the following year, and this method can be used from autumn to the following spring, saving labor as it is not busy before the New Year. Planting before the New Year grows slowly, while planting after the New Year grows faster.
Method 2: Germination Promotion. Choose a leeward and sunny area to make ridges, water thoroughly, and after two days, evenly spread the pure seeds in the ridges, cover with 0.5 centimeters of soil, then cover with 0.5 centimeters of sand, and cover with plastic film. Frequently observe and pay attention to the soil moisture. Water when dry, and pay attention to weeding and loosening the soil to ensure seed germination rate. By the end of March of the following year, the seeds will basically break through the soil. Strengthen management, and by the beginning of May, when the seedlings have 3-4 leaves, they can be directly planted in the field.
Method 3: Cutting. This method is often used during the rainy season. It involves selecting semi-lignified branches of the current year and using sandy loam as the matrix. It is rarely used because it can only adapt to some varieties and the stability of the original variety is not well maintained after cutting.
Comparison: Both of the first two methods show good results in the Chionanthus seedling raising process. Overall, the second method is not as good as the first method after transplanting, with the seedlings growing vigorous. The first method promotes root growth, and after planting the roots, the seedlings grow vigorously. The second method involves young seedlings that need to go through a certain period of slow growth, but the advantage is that the germination rate is high and the seedlings are uniform. The first method saves space and avoids the busy farming season, while the second method requires more space and is during the busy season.
Planting Management
In the field, make ridges, water thoroughly, and plant 20,000 seedlings per mu; the spacing is 30 centimeters between rows and 10 centimeters between plants; after 2 years, they can be used as rootstocks for grafting osmanthus. If cultivating绿化 seedlings, they can be transplanted every year, according to the spacing for transplanting and cultivating large seedlings. The seedlings should be transplanted in spring and autumn, with small and medium-sized seedlings needing to be transplanted with soil and large seedlings with soil balls. During planting, if Chionanthus is used for later use, the first seedling raising method can be used to cultivate penjing. The method is: when planting the roots, as the roots are relatively soft, put the root tip 1 centimeter into the soil, then turn the remaining roots to the left and right, press them into the soil, and pile up the soil. After 2 years, when the Chionanthus seedlings are grafted, the curved part of the root system is pulled out of the soil to form the usual Osmanthus-shaped penjing with various shapes and strange postures. The roots can be curved as needed when planting, but be careful not to damage the roots. Chionanthus likes fertilizer, and in summer, it should be tilled and weeded to keep the soil loose. One-year-old seedlings can grow to 0.8-1.2 meters in height with a ground diameter of 1 centimeter, and 3-year-old seedlings can reach 3-4 centimeters and are used for greening.
Fertilization and Water Management
In the process of cultivating Chionanthus, especially in the first three years after planting, it is necessary to strengthen water and fertilizer management. When planting, apply decomposed and fermented cow and horse manure as a base fertilizer, mix it thoroughly with the planting soil, and apply nitrogen fertilizer once to improve the growth of the plants. In the late autumn, apply decomposed leaf fertilizer or sesame paste residue with the anti-freezing water. In early May of the following year, apply nitrogen fertilizer once, in early August, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and in late autumn, apply half-decomposed and fermented cow and horse manure. In the third year, fertilization can be carried out according to the method of the second year. From the fourth year onwards, it is only necessary to apply a sufficient amount of cow and horse manure in late autumn each year.
Chionanthus prefers a humid environment and should be watered thoroughly after planting, followed by a second thorough watering after five days and a third thorough watering after another five days. Then, water thoroughly once a month. In the North China region, July and August are the rainy season, so watering can be reduced or omitted, and accumulated water should be drained in time after heavy rain. In late autumn, water well for anti-freezing. In early March of the following year, water in time for reviving. In the dry and windy spring of the north, water thoroughly in early and mid-April. In the third year, water according to the method of the second year, and from the fourth year onwards, in addition to watering well for frost prevention and thawing, water should also be provided in case of dry weather and insufficient rainfall.
Pruning and Shaping
In the application of Chionanthus in gardens, there are two common tree shapes: single-trunk and multi-trunk.
• Single-trunk: When the seedlings grow to about 1.5 meters in height, remove all lateral branches from the main stem during the winter pruning, leaving only the main stem, and cut the main stem short. In the second year, select a strong new branch below the cut as the main stem extension, remove all other new branches, and continue to cut the main stem extension in late autumn. In the third spring, select a strong bud opposite to the branch selected in the second year as the main stem extension, and continue to prune as before until the desired height is reached. Then, cut the main stem short again, and in the following year, select 3-4 strong and evenly distributed branches as main branches. When the main branches reach a certain length, they can be cut short and lateral branches selected. At this point, the tree shape of the乔木状 plant is basically formed, and only the redundant branches, pest-infested branches, drooping branches, and dry branches need to be cut.
• Multi-trunk: In the nursery stage, 3-4 strong branches can be selected as the main stems. Later, select branches with good angles and balanced growth as the main branches. When selecting main branches, be careful not to let them cross each other. The pruning should select upper branches with larger angles for extension and cut them medium to short. The purpose of this is to expand the canopy and facilitate ventilation and light penetration.
The above is about when to transplant Chionanthus retusus seedlings and the best transplanting time for old Chionanthus retusus plants, for reference by green plant enthusiasts, hoping to solve your problems in green plant and flower management.