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It is quite possible to carry out cuttings of blue spruce at home when studying and observing agrotechnical rules. This method is considered more efficient and simpler than other breeding methods. The tree obtained from cuttings quickly adapts to open ground and takes root better.
Cutting blue spruce does not cause any particular difficulties for gardeners
Is it possible to propagate blue spruce cuttings
Reproduction of any coniferous plants is most often carried out in two ways. This can be done with seeds, but according to experts, it is easier to grow a blue spruce from a cutting. In addition, cuttings significantly increase the chances of growing a beautiful and healthy tree.
However, this method has its own subtleties, which are recommended to be known to anyone who plans to start propagating culture.
The advantages and disadvantages of the method
Despite the fact that cuttings of a crop are more effective than its propagation by seeds, in addition to advantages, this method also has its disadvantages. For those who are afraid to face difficulties or do not want to wait several years for the tree to grow, it is better to simply purchase a ready-made seedling in a specialized store.
At the same time, cuttings of several branches of blue spruce are carried out, since the probability of rooting each is only 80%
Advantages:
- ease;
- maximum result guarantee;
- fast rooting;
- high survival rate;
Disadvantages:
- low ability of cuttings to give developed roots;
- slow tree growth even when propagated by cuttings.
When to harvest cuttings
Usually, blue spruce is propagated by cuttings in the spring, in the last week of April or early May, when the tree wakes up after winter. At this moment, all processes are activated, the plant is saturated with juice and nutrients. The scales covering the buds move apart, and a green cone appears on the branch.
If the cuttings are done correctly, then roots will appear on the cut branch already on the 80th day, and on the sixth month the shoot will begin to grow.
Some gardeners carry out cuttings in the summer, more often in the second half of July. But in this case, it should be borne in mind that the seedlings may not have time to form roots, which is why they will begin to take root only the next year.
Reproduction of blue spruce cuttings at home
Rooting blue spruce cuttings at home usually takes a couple of months or a little more. But before planting a tree in a permanent place, it will have to be looked after for several years. If cuttings, cultivation and care of seedlings were carried out in compliance with all the rules, then they will be able to take root well in a new place and form full-fledged trees in about 3-5 years.
Rules for cutting cuttings
A good result can be achieved only if blue spruce cuttings are carried out in accordance with agrotechnical rules. The first thing that is required from the gardener is to prepare the required number of cuttings, for which it is better to give preference to the Siberian Christmas tree of a silvery, blue or gray-gray type as a mother tree.
Further, in order to perform cuttings, you need to find a healthy, undamaged, young spruce (up to 40 years old) and shoots that are no more than ten years old. Then on a cloudy, non-rainy day, do the following:
- Break off the branch from the side shoot with your hands so that it is no longer than 10 cm.
- Make sure that the bark is preserved on the shoot.
- Clear the bottom of the branch from the needles.
- Treat the cut with any root former.
The most viable cuttings are on the top branches of spruce
Germination of cuttings
After the planting material from the mother tree is obtained, it becomes necessary to germinate it, but before that it is advisable to place the branches for a day in a sugar solution.
To root blue spruce cuttings, you can use the following instructions:
- Lay a drainage layer of peat and dry bark on the bottom of a previously prepared container.
- Cover the box with a mixture of garden soil, sand, peat and perlite.
- Moisten the resulting substrate.
- Plant cuttings at an angle of 45 degrees in holes 3 cm deep with an interval of 30 cm.
- Compact the ground, cover the top layer with river sand and mulch.
- Water the plantings, cover with foil and put in a shady place.
Before the cuttings take root, they will need to be moistened regularly and ventilated daily. Additionally, it is recommended to spray planting material, as well as the room itself, with water. In addition, the soil around young seedlings should be loosened quite often.
How to plant blue spruce cuttings
A strong root system in blue spruce, for the propagation of which cuttings were chosen, is formed approximately in the third year of life. Although, according to experienced gardeners, in order to get a truly strong and strong tree, you need to keep it in greenhouse conditions until the age of five. At the same time, in the cold season, this should be done in a cool place under covering material, and in the remaining months it should be hardened in the fresh air.
Plant specimens in open ground in autumn or spring in lighted areas with moist soil. Before the procedure, the seedlings are moistened.
Further Care
After the spruce cuttings are completed, the plant needs standard care. Gardeners organize moderate watering for seedlings, obligatory loosening, mulching of the near-stem circle. The tree does not need fertilizer, but if desired, it can not be fed much. Also, a mandatory procedure for caring for the conifer is its formative and sanitary pruning.
Watering
Blue spruce, although considered a drought-resistant tree, still loves moisture, and it is undesirable to allow it to dry out. If the tree is young, then moisturizing should be carried out 1-2 times a week, depending on weather conditions, it is enough to water an adult once every two weeks.
To wash off the dust from the spruce and give the needles a rich blue color, you can sprinkle its branches with water from a hose
Additional fertilizing
Blue spruce, grown by cuttings, does not require frequent top dressing. The only thing the plant may need is to add fertilizer to the soil near the trunk in the spring until the shoots appear. Also, mulch in the form of compost, peat or sawdust can serve as a nutritious top dressing for the plant.
Loosening and pruning
Blue spruce prefers loose soil, so it needs to be fluffed around the trunk periodically. Work should be done carefully so as not to damage the root system. Tree pruning is recommended as needed. This is usually done in spring and autumn in the presence of dried or damaged branches. Also, blue spruce requires shaping pruning to create a beautiful crown.
Transfer
Blue spruce, obtained by cuttings, perfectly perceives the transplant. Although it is advisable to immediately select a suitable place for her on the site and not engage in transfer from one place to another. If the need for this procedure nevertheless arises, then the gardener will need to dig a hole slightly larger than the root system of the tree in the new bed, pour a layer of drainage, soil and sand into it, and then transplant it by transshipment.
Blue spruce during transplantation should be deepened so that its basal neck remains above the ground
Pest Control
It is not uncommon for blue spruce to be attacked by harmful insects, so it is important to inspect the trees regularly to detect their presence as soon as possible. One of the most frequent guests on the plant is the spruce sawfly, which is recommended to be fought with Fufanon (20 g of the substance per 1 liter of water). The burnt shoots of blue spruce will tell you about the presence of an insect.
Another enemy of the plant is spruce-fir hermes. Lumps of white cotton wool under a tree testify to his invasion. Spring treatment of spruce with a solution of Antio or Rogov will help to bring it out (20 g of funds per bucket of water).
Conclusion
Blue spruce cuttings make it possible to relatively quickly obtain a large number of young seedlings of the culture. This conifer is often used to decorate the landscape design of personal plots, gardens and park areas. The plant won love due to its immunity to air pollution, good resistance to drought and cold. If the cuttings and planting are done correctly, and the culture is properly cared for, a positive result will be guaranteed.
