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Magnolia can be propagated in several ways without acquiring new seedlings to increase the shrub population. But in order for a shrub propagated at home to successfully take root, it is necessary to clearly understand the rules for growing.
How magnolia reproduces
In general, the magnolia tree reproduces in 2 main ways:
- vegetative propagation, for him they take cuttings of an adult shrub or layering;
- seed propagation - Magnolia is grown directly from seeds.
In practice, vegetative methods are used more often, since reproduction is easier and allows you to quickly grow a decorative beautiful shrub. But reproduction from seeds also has its advantages, this method allows you to maintain the purity of the variety and get a plant with increased endurance.
How to propagate magnolia by cuttings
Cutting is the easiest and most affordable way to get a new plant from an existing shrub. Even novice gardeners can cope with the propagation of magnolia by cuttings at home, since there is nothing complicated in this process.
Recommended timing
Magnolia cuttings are traditionally carried out in the spring. During this period, the shrub wakes up to active growth, therefore, the cuttings will take root and get stronger much faster than in autumn. Regardless of whether the cutting is planted directly into the open ground or first in a closed container, during spring planting, its adaptation will be more successful.
Harvesting cuttings
In order to propagate magnolia by cuttings in the spring, it is recommended to take young, but already beginning to woody shoots of magnolia.
- You need to cut off the branches directly under the bud, leaving an indent of 2-3 mm.
- There should be at least 4 leaves on the handle, the 2 lower ones will need to be removed, and the 2 upper ones should be left. The bottom cut should not be horizontal, but oblique, approximately at an angle of 45 °.
- Leaves that are too large can be trimmed to more than half their length.
- The upper cut of the cutting should be 5-6 cm above the remaining leaves.
The prepared cutting for a day is dipped in the lower part into a solution with an added growth stimulant. A magnolia stalk can take root without additional stimulation, but a root-forming solution will speed up the rooting process.
Where to plant cuttings
After the prepared cutting has been in a solution with a growth stimulator for 24 hours, it can be planted in the ground. At this stage, reproduction is carried out in two ways - magnolia is either placed directly in the ground under the open sky, or first planted in a container.
When landing in open ground, attention must be paid to the choice of a landing site. Magnolia loves light, loose and well-drained soils of a neutral or slightly acidic type.The shrub requires good natural light, so the cutting is best placed in a sunny and warm area of the garden, protected from strong winds. In the video of the reproduction of magnolia by cuttings, it can be seen that reproduction of a shrub in partial shade is also allowed, but the shading should not be too thick.
If you plan to plant magnolia in a container at home, then before planting, you must also take care of the quality of the soil. To make a magnolia stalk feel comfortable, you can prepare such a mixture - mix 2 parts of peat with 1 part of turf and add 1/2 part of sand.
How to plant magnolia cuttings
Planting cuttings is done in the standard way:
- Shoots treated with a root-forming solution must be buried in the ground by about 5-10 cm.
- Cuttings are lightly dripped with loose, moist soil, and then watered immediately.
- Even before planting the cuttings, it is advisable to fertilize the soil with complex dressings, this stimulates faster growth of the root system.
Regardless of whether the cutting is planted in a container or directly into open ground, at the first stages it needs to create greenhouse conditions. To do this, after watering, the plant is covered with film or glass on top to provide the shoot with increased humidity and a suitable temperature of at least 20 ° C. On the site, the cutting is best planted in a greenhouse until rooting and only then transferred to a permanent place.
At home, grafting of magnolia is faster, since the shoots are in stable comfortable conditions without changes in temperature and humidity. If possible, it is recommended to root the cutting in a container, and transplant it into the ground 2-3 months after cutting, in June or July.
How to grow a magnolia from a cuttings
Caring for magnolia cuttings consists of a few simple procedures.
- Watering... In order for the reproduction of magnolia to be successful, the cutting should be watered regularly, about once every 3-4 days. The topsoil must remain constantly moist.
- Draft and insect protection... A young shoot needs a stable temperature and high humidity without sudden changes, so it is best to keep the cutting in a closed greenhouse or under a glass or polyethylene shelter.
- Support... Since the formation of a shrub begins already at the cutting stage, it is better to immediately install a support stand close to the cutting, which will not allow the young plant to bend.
It is recommended to add top dressing to the soil for the cuttings even during planting - these magnolia fertilizers will be enough for the whole season or until transplanting to another part of the garden. If all conditions are met, the rooting of the plant takes about 2-3 months.
How to grow magnolia from seeds at home
Planting and caring for magnolia seeds is a little trickier than grafting. However, amateur gardeners use it to produce hardy and beautiful trees that retain all varietal characteristics.
Recommended timing
It is necessary to sow magnolia seeds in late spring, early or mid-May, after the beginning of the growing season in plants and complete thawing of the soil. While magnolia seeds can be propagated outdoors, it is much more common to plant seeds in home containers. This increases germination and reduces the risk that most of the seeds will die.
The choice of capacity and preparation of the soil
When propagated by seed, the magnolia shrub develops a very powerful and long root shaft. Therefore, the container for sowing seeds must be appropriate - a height of 30 cm or more. In a pot or box that is too low, the seedling will quickly hit the bottom of the root, and this can lead to the death of the plant.
The soil when multiplying magnolia from seeds should be loose and fertile. It is better to choose slightly acidic or neutral soil containing carbonates for planting.You can also prepare nutrient soil for seeds on your own, sod soil must be mixed with peat in a ratio of 1 to 2, and then add 1/2 more sand. Before planting seeds, mineral and organic complex fertilizers must be applied to the soil.
Preparing Magnolia Seeds for Planting
In theory, magnolia seeds can be planted in the ground immediately after purchase. However, experienced gardeners highly recommend pre-stratification, in other words, to create an artificial imitation of the influence of climatic conditions.
- The process of stratification is understood as freezing at mild temperatures. The prepared seeds are laid out in a small container in the fall on abundantly moistened sphagnum, sawdust, foliage or hay.
- For 3 months, the seeds are stored in the refrigerator on the lower shelf for vegetables. From time to time, the container with them needs to be checked, if necessary, the substrate should be re-wetted. The temperature in the refrigerator should be approximately 5 degrees above zero.
- In the photo of magnolia seeds, you can see that if stratification is carried out correctly, after 3 months they will slightly swell, and the outer shell will burst on them. After that, the seeds can be removed from the refrigerator and planted in the ground.
How to plant magnolia seeds
Stratified seeds are sown quite abundantly, given the fact that not all of them will sprout, but only 70-75% of the seeds. It is necessary to deepen the seeds into the ground by 4-10 cm, the gap between individual seeds should be about 1.5-2 cm.
The first shoots should appear about 2 months after planting, magnolias take a long time to germinate. It is necessary to keep the pot or box of seeds in a warm place with a stable temperature.
Growing magnolia from seeds at home
After the magnolia from seeds sprouts at home in a container, you will need to take care of it very carefully. First of all, the container will need to be rearranged to a well-lit place - young sprouts need not only warmth, but also sunlight.
- The seedlings should be protected from drafts, but the plants should be regularly ventilated so that the magnolia gets enough fresh air.
- The soil in the container must be moistened as it dries, the water should not stagnate, but dry soil will also affect the condition of the seedlings badly.
- In early to mid-summer, the seedlings can be fed a little with complex fertilizers again. Since young magnolia is highly sensitive during seed reproduction, feeding will benefit it.
It is recommended to thin out the magnolia sprouts 1.5-2 weeks after the emergence of shoots. It is better to remove weak and painful sprouts - they still cannot develop into a good tree, and they will interfere with neighboring healthy sprouts.
With proper care, the magnolia from the seed is stretched up to 15-30 cm during the warm season.
How to propagate magnolia by layering
Another easy way to propagate shrubs is to increase the population using cuttings. The method is convenient in that it involves reproduction immediately in the open field, without the use of greenhouses and containers.
- In early spring, the lower branches of an adult magnolia are bent low to the ground, and a small incision is made on the bark of the shoot.
- The branch is fixed with a staple or wire so that it does not straighten.
- The area with a cut must be slightly buried in the soil and sprinkled with a mound of loose earth up to 20 cm high.
By the end of the season, the cuttings should be firmly rooted, and caring for them is reduced to regular watering and feeding, which can be carried out simultaneously with feeding the main bush.
Another method of propagation by layering is aerial rooting.In this case, the shoot does not need to be bent to the ground, it is enough to cut it, treat the bare area with a growth stimulator, overlay it with moistened moss and wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. From time to time, the cut site is re-moistened with a syringe.
If aerial rooting is carried out correctly, then in 2-3 months the shoot forms young roots, and in the fall it can be separated from the main bush.
Transplanting Magnolia to a Permanent Place
Magnolia is a plant with a delicate and sensitive root system. In principle, she does not like transplants, therefore, when transferring a seedling or seedling to a permanent place, the site must be chosen very carefully.
- If you need a seedling to be transplanted to a permanent place, you must wait until it reaches about 1 m in height. The transplant is best done in early autumn, so that the shrub has enough time to adapt.
- When multiplying magnolia from seeds, planting is recommended to be carried out in the spring the next year after germination. Ideally, you should wait 2 years, then the seedlings will finally get stronger and quickly take root in the open field.
A permanent magnolia site should be sunny, sheltered from strong winds and drafts, and with a nutritious, neutral soil. Magnolia should not be planted on limestone - it is detrimental to the plant. The magnolia transplant algorithm is very simple. On the site, you need to dig a planting hole about 50 cm in depth and width, fill it up to half with soil, and then lower the seedling and throw earth up to the root collar. Immediately after planting, the plant is watered and mulched with humus.
Watering the seedling in a permanent place is necessary as the soil dries up, complex feeding is applied in early spring before flowering. In the middle of summer, sanitary pruning can be carried out to remove diseased and broken branches.
Conclusion
It is not difficult to propagate magnolia on your own if you follow the simple rules of planting and care. Cuttings, layering and seed propagation bring equally good results; you need to choose a propagation method based on your own experience and convenience.
