Many gardeners grow decorative varieties of conifers on their backyards. Among these plants are thuja. They fit well with landscape design. After rooting a store-bought seedling, you can propagate thuja yourself in several ways that are available even for beginners.
How to propagate thuja
Breeding options
There are two ways of reproduction of thuja: by seeds or cuttings. The layering method is not practiced.
Seed method laborious and time consuming for planting and complete rooting of the seedling (usually covers about 5-6 seasons).
Also, when growing from seeds, the chances of maintaining the quality characteristics of the mother tree are small, and sowing necessarily requires preliminary material stratification, i.e. soak it in the cold.
However, there are also pluses - trees quickly adapt to new growth conditions after transplanting and are much more resistant to environmental influences.
Cuttings Is a faster and easier way to get seedlings at home.
It takes less time and at the same time retains all the quality characteristics of the donor plant.
The disadvantages include less endurance and not 100% survival of the processes.
The rooting rates are around 70-80%.
Timing for the procedure
It is recommended to propagate the undersized thuja at home in the fall, however, rooting can be carried out at any time of the year, even in winter, if you follow all the rules for harvesting and planting and provide the seedlings with full subsequent care.
The choice of timing in favor of autumn is explained by the higher endurance of plants that received good nutrition during the summer season, as well as their saturation with moisture, because before the onset of cold weather, the vegetative process and sap flow stops.
The only drawback: planting autumn cuttings is possible only for the next season. And the branches harvested in spring give roots after 3 months.
Cuttings
Thuja propagation by cuttings begins with harvesting shoots and ends with planting them in a prepared soil mixture.
Blank
The technology includes several stages.
In spring or autumn, lignified branches (10-15 cm each) are cut from healthy trees aged 2-3 years. The cuttings should have a bright green color.
The material from the spherical thuja is taken from the upper part (cut off from the lower tier are formed curved, and not erect). In the pyramidal variety, branches are cut off from the side shoots.
With the autumn collection of shoots, harvesting activities are planned for October, immediately after the end of leaf fall in deciduous trees.
The branches are recommended to be torn off with part of last year's bark - the heel, in which nutrients accumulate.
From the collected green cuttings, twigs and needles are removed at a distance of 3-4 cm from the bottom, because excess vegetation can be a source of rot.
Preparations for propagation are usually not stored, but immediately begin to prepare them for planting and rooting. For branches left in a cool place for storage, the survival rate decreases.
The planting material is placed in a growth stimulant diluted in water for 12 hours, for example, Epin or Kornevin.
Preparation of soil mixture
The soil must be prepared for planting
The soil mixture for rooting is prepared from washed and disinfected sand with peat.
Disinfection against pathogenic microflora and pest larvae is carried out:
- diluted in water with potassium permanganate or phytosporin;
- boiling water;
- baking in the oven.
For planting cuttings, choose containers with drainage holes to drain excess moisture.
Rooting
When grown in a single container, the shoots are planted at a distance of 3 cm or more from each other, leaving an interval of 8-10 cm between rows and the same amount from the edges of the container.
Plastic cups and glass jars are suitable for individual fit.
For planting seedlings, make shallow, up to 1.5-2.0 cm holes with an inclination of 45 °. The soil is compacted, poured abundantly with water and covered with polyethylene or a jar (when planted in separate containers) to create a greenhouse effect.
When planted closely, the roots of the shoots are intertwined during growth and are damaged during transplantation.
Non-standard rooting in potatoes
Some gardeners practice rooting thuja cuttings in potatoes.
This unusual way of forming the root system in an immature plant is based on the presence of a large amount of nutrients in the vegetable.
Healthy tubers with a fresh, dense structure are suitable for the procedure:
- wash potatoes;
- all eyes are cut out with a knife;
- make a 4-5 cm depression in the pulp with a nail;
- cuttings are installed in the formed holes.
The potatoes stuffed with coniferous shoots are folded into a suitable container and covered with a fertile substrate.
From above, each stalk is covered with a plastic bottle or jar cut to the desired length from the bottom, creating a greenhouse effect. Watering is carried out through the lid.
Open ground transplant
Young thuja are transplanted in the fall, after their final formation of the root system.
The best place is the south-west or south-east side of the site, well lit by the sun.
The successful rooting of a seedling will be indicated by the appearance of new shoots on it.
Reproduction and cultivation of thuja with do-it-yourself cuttings at home
How to propagate and grow thuja
Thuja / juniper propagation by cuttings.
Seedling care
Before transplanting into open ground, care consists in maintaining the optimal temperature regime (20-23 ° C) and humidity (70% or more).
The container with plantings is placed in a place well-lit by the sun, avoiding direct rays in the hottest time of the day, and regularly ventilated.
Watering is carried out carefully, not using a large amount of liquid and not exposing the heel.
It is preferable to use a spray bottle. The frequency of the procedure depends on the stage of drying of the upper layer of the soil mixture.
After transplanting into open ground, care consists in regular watering as it dries, applying top dressing for the first 2 years, mulching the trunk circle with the removal of weeds and loosening.
For the winter, young plants must be sheltered from the cold with spruce branches, fallen leaves or sawdust.