Methods of propagation of Azalea at home: from cuttings to dividing the bush

Azalea is an ornamental culture characterized by long flowering, beauty and a variety of colors.

To increase the number of bushes in the collection and preserve the decorative features of the variety allows the propagation of plants at home.

In this article we will talk in detail about the methods of propagation of azaleas, provide illustrative examples on the video and talk about the problems that flower growers face when caring for this plant.

How to propagate indoor rhododendrons: step-by-step instructions

Ornamental plants are propagated in two main ways.:

1. Seed - germination of seed material taken from the mother bush.
2. Vegetative - part of the plant is taken to grow a new flower.

Seed propagation takes up to 5 years. The vegetative method reduces the expectation of flowering by 2 times. Vegetative propagation techniques:

• rooting of the handle;
• bush division;
• graft.

Time

Azalea blooms in winter. At this time, it is impossible to engage in plant propagation. It is necessary to wait for the end of flowering. After the inflorescences wither, they begin to cut the cuttings and divide the bushes. The procedure is from April to August.

Ways

Cuttings

Rooting cuttings (young shoots aged 6 to 12 months) is a popular method. It gives a positive survival rate of 90%. It will require semi-lignified processes 8-9 cm long, having at least 5 leaves. The process of grafting is as follows:

1. Part of the shoot is cut off from the apical part of a healthy bush. The incision is performed obliquely, under the kidney.
2. Lower leaves are removed.
3. To accelerate the formation of the root system, cuttings are lowered into a solution of organic stimulants:
   • Zircon (0.25 ml per 1 liter of water);
   • "Kornevin" (1 g per 1 liter of water);
   • "Heteroauxin" (2 tablets per 1 liter of water) for 6-12 hours.
4. The stem is rooted in a special substrate - heather land in proportion to sand (perlite) 2: 1. An alternative is a mixture of peat land with sand (2: 1) or coniferous and peat land. The substrate should have a loose structure.
5. The shoots are deepened by 2 cm, planted at a distance of 3 cm from each other. The soil is moistened with settled water.
6. The container with cuttings is covered with plastic wrap. The container is placed in a warm (+ 25 °), well-lit place. The seedlings are aired and sprayed every morning.

Division of a bush or layering

A common technique is dividing a bush. It is suitable for plants at least three years old. The root system of the flower must be healthy and well developed..

1. Share a bush with a clod of earth. Thoroughly moisten the soil helps to simplify the procedure. The pot is lowered into a container of water for 15 minutes, so that the earthen lump is saturated with moisture.
2. The azalea is removed from the container and cut into pieces with a sharp knife, without injuring the roots.
3. Each part is placed in a separate pot with a substrate for azaleas.
4. The soil is well moisturized.
5. A divided bush for a week put in a shaded place.

Seed cultivation

Planting seeds for germination is carried out in the spring. Short daylight hours do not provide sufficient lighting. For illumination, fluorescent lamps are used.

1. A layer of drainage of 3 cm is poured at the bottom of the boxes under the seedlings. The seeds are germinated in a special soil for azaleas. Do not use seeds that have been stored for longer than three months, they will germinate.
2. The soil is abundantly moistened.
3. Seeds are mixed with sand and distributed over the surface of the soil. Spraying with soil is not required.
4. The box is covered with glass or film on top. Intensive lighting is important for seed germination. The direct rays of the sun trigger the growth process.
5. The greenhouse is aired daily, watering is carried out from a spray bottle. When watering, oxalic acid is added to the water - 4 g per 10 liters of liquid.
6. The first shoots appear after 2 weeks, but most sprouts appear later.Attention! After the seedlings germinate, the glass or film is removed from the box.
7. When the cotyledons are fully expanded, the sprouts dive. They develop in common containers until the end of summer. When watering, seedlings are fertilized with acidic mineral fertilizer. The procedure is carried out 2 times a month.
8. In August, seedlings are planted in separate pots.

The following is a visual video of how to grow azalea from seeds:

Graft

Vaccination propagation is used only for varieties that are poorly rooted and grow slowly.. The execution time is the end of spring or the beginning of summer. Vaccination involves the transfer of azalea (scion) cuttings to a mature plant 4-5 years old (stock).

1. The graft is separated from the mother bush and make an oblique cut.
2. A similar cut is done on the stock.
3. Parts are combined and fastened with plastic wrap.
4. In order for the stalk to take root, high humidity is provided. The bush is sprayed daily for 1.5-2 weeks.

Photo

Next you can see a photo of a flowering plant:

Plant rooting

For rooting the cuttings, certain conditions are created:

• temperature - 25 ° C;
• humidity - 80%.

Stable microclimate provides covering of azaleas with a film or a glass jar. Rooting time depends on several factors.:

• the age of the handle;
• temperature and humidity in the room;
• composition of the substrate.

On average, the process takes 1.5-2 months. Care during this period consists in moistening and airing the greenhouse. A sign of rooting is the appearance of new leaves.

Common problems

• Wrong material choice - old cuttings take root for a long time.
• Shoots may not take root, but rot. The problem arises when using a substrate infected with fungi and bacteria. Before use, the soil is disinfected with steam.
• The accumulation of condensation under the film provokes the appearance of mold. Daily ventilation of the greenhouse will help to avoid waterlogging.
• At temperatures below 25 ° C, the cuttings do not root, in order to provide the seedlings with the necessary heat, the container is heated. For this, a 60 W lamp is placed under the capacity.
• If the roots do not form for a long time, the plant is sprayed with water once a week with the addition of Zircon (2 drops per 200 ml of water).

How to care for a young flower?

Young azaleas propagated by cuttings or seeds, after rooting in a greenhouse, cannot immediately be transplanted into separate pots. Climate change will negatively affect their condition.

1. Within a week, seedlings adapt to new conditions, leaving open for 2-3 hours.
2. The first pots should be 7 cm in diameter. Expanded clay is poured on the bottom for drainage. The substrate remains the same as when rooting.
3. After 2-3 months, the tips of the shoots are nipped in young azaleas. This procedure contributes to the appearance of lateral shoots forming a branched bush.
4. After 6 months, the flower throws the first buds. They are cut off, the azalea still does not have enough strength for simultaneous growth and flowering.

The propagated plant is kept at a moderate temperature - in winter - 15-16 °, in summer - 20-22 °. The soil in the pot should not dry out until the next watering. Moisturize it with soft water. The bush needs a humid climate, it will provide frequent spraying and placing nearby water tanks.

The choice of propagation method depends on the variety of azalea. It is better for novice gardeners to stop on cuttings or dividing the bush. The main advantage of independent reproduction is that azaleas fully adapt to the climatic conditions of the room. A new plant blooms in 2-3 years.

Watch the video: Azalea's How to Prune & Propagate (May 2024).