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Magnolia can be propagated in several ways without acquiring new seedlings to increase the population of the shrub. But in order for the shrub propagated at home to take root safely, it is necessary to clearly understand the rules of cultivation.
How Magnolia Reproduces
In general, the magnolia tree propagates in 2 main ways:
- vegetative reproduction, for him, cuttings of an adult shrub or layering are taken;
- 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 an ornamental beautiful shrub. But propagation 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 cuttings
Cuttings are the easiest and most affordable way to get a new plant from an existing shrub. Even novice gardeners can handle magnolia propagation by cuttings at home, since there is nothing complicated in this process.
Recommended dates
Traditionally, cuttings of magnolia are carried out in the spring. During this period, the shrub awakens to active growth, so the cuttings will take root and get stronger much faster than in autumn. Regardless of whether the cutting is planted immediately in open ground or first in a closed container, its adaptation will be more successful during spring planting.
Harvesting cuttings
In order to propagate magnolia by cuttings in the spring, it is recommended to take young, but already beginning to wood shoots of magnolia.
- You need to cut the branches directly under the kidney, leaving an indent of 2-3 mm.
- There should be at least 4 leaves on the handle, the bottom 2 will need to be removed, and the top 2 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 the length.
- The upper cut of the cutting should be 5-6 cm above the remaining leaves.
The prepared stalk is lowered for a day with the lower part into a solution with an added growth stimulator. The magnolia stalk will be able to take root without additional stimulation, however, the rooting solution will speed up the rooting process.
Where to plant cuttings
After the prepared stalk has stood for a day in a solution with a growth stimulator, it can be planted in the ground. At this stage, reproduction is carried out in two ways – magnolia is either placed immediately in the ground under the open sky, or planted first 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 needs good natural light, so the cutting is best placed in a sunny and warm area of the garden, protected from strong winds. The video of reproduction of magnolia with cuttings shows that the propagation of shrubs 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 the magnolia stalk feel comfortable, you can prepare such a mixture – mix 2 parts of peat with 1 part of soddy soil and add 1/2 part of sand.
How to plant magnolia cuttings
Planting cuttings is carried out in a standard way:
- Shoots treated with a root-forming solution must be buried in the ground by about 5-10 cm.
- The cuttings are lightly sprinkled with loose, moist soil, and then immediately watered.
- 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 immediately in open ground, at the first stages it needs to create greenhouse conditions. To do this, after watering, the plant is covered with a 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 stalk is best planted in a greenhouse until rooting, and only then transferred to a permanent place.
At home, magnolia cuttings are faster, because the shoots are in stable comfortable conditions without temperature and humidity fluctuations. If possible, it is recommended to root the cutting in a container, and transplant it into the ground 2-3 months after the cut, in June or July.
How to grow magnolia from cuttings
Caring for magnolia cuttings consists of a few simple procedures.
- Watering. In order for magnolia reproduction to be successful, the stalk must be watered regularly, about once every 3-4 days. The top layer of soil must remain constantly moist.
- Protection against drafts and insects. 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 cover.
- Support. Since the formation of a shrub begins already at the cutting stage, it is better to immediately install a support post 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 cutting even when planting – these magnolia fertilizers will be enough for the whole season or until transplanted to another part of the garden. Under all conditions, the rooting of the plant takes about 2-3 months.
How to grow magnolia from seeds at home
Planting and caring for magnolia seeds looks a little more complicated than cuttings. However, amateur gardeners use it to obtain hardy and beautiful trees that retain all varietal characteristics.
Recommended dates
Magnolia seeds should be sown in late spring, early or mid-May, after the start of the vegetative period in plants and the complete thawing of the soil. Although magnolia seeds can be propagated outdoors, the seeds are more commonly sown in home containers. This increases germination and reduces the risk that most of the seeds will die.
Tank selection and soil preparation
When propagated by seed, a magnolia shrub forms a very powerful and long root stem. Therefore, the capacity 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 rest against the bottom, and this can lead to the death of the plant.
The soil when propagating magnolia from seeds should be loose and fertile. It is better to choose a slightly acidic or neutral soil containing carbonates for planting. You can also prepare nutrient soil for seeds yourself, soddy soil must be mixed with peat in a ratio of 1 to 2, and then add another 1/2 sand. Before planting seeds, mineral and organic complex fertilizers must be applied to the soil.
Preparing magnolia seeds for planting
Theoretically, magnolia seeds can be planted in the ground immediately after purchase. However, experienced gardeners highly recommend preliminary 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. Prepared seeds are laid out in the fall in a small container on abundantly moistened sphagnum, sawdust, foliage or hay.
- For 3 months, the seeds are put in the refrigerator on the lower shelf for vegetables. From time to time, the container with them needs to be checked, if necessary, rewet the substrate. The temperature in the refrigerator should be about 5 degrees above zero.
- In the photo of magnolia seeds, you can see that if the stratification is carried out correctly, after 3 months they will swell slightly, 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 indent 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. Keep the pot or seed box in a warm place with a stable temperature.
Growing magnolia from seeds at home
After the magnolia from seeds at home sprouts in a container, you will need to take care of it very carefully. First of all, the container will need to be moved to a well-lit place – young sprouts need not only heat, but also sunlight.
- Seedlings need to be protected from drafts, but at the same time regularly ventilate the plants so that the magnolia gets enough fresh air.
- The soil in the container must be moistened as it dries up, the water should not stagnate, but dry soil will also affect the condition of the seedlings badly.
- In early to mid-summer, seedlings can be fed a little more with complex fertilizers. Since the young magnolia is highly sensitive during seed propagation, top dressing will benefit it.
1,5-2 weeks after germination, magnolia sprouts are recommended to be thinned out. It is better to remove weak and painful sprouts – they will still not be able to develop into a good tree, and they will interfere with neighboring healthy sprouts.
With proper care, the magnolia from the seed is extended up to 15-30 cm during the warm season.
How to propagate magnolia by layering
Another simple way to propagate a shrub is to increase the population with layering. The method is convenient in that it implies 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, making a small incision on the shoot bark.
- The branch is fixed with a staple or wire so that it does not straighten.
- The section with a cut must be slightly deepened into the soil and sprinkled with a mound of loose earth up to 20 cm high.
By the end of the season, the layering should be firmly rooted, and caring for it comes down to regular watering and top dressing, which can be done simultaneously with top dressing of the main bush.
Another method of propagation by layering is air 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, cover 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 air rooting is carried out correctly, then after 2-3 months the shoot forms young roots, and in the fall it can be separated from the main bush.
Magnolia transplant to a permanent place
Magnolia is a plant with a delicate and sensitive root system. She does not like transplants in principle, therefore, when transferring a seedling or seedling to a permanent place, the site must be chosen very carefully.
- If you need to transplant a seedling to a permanent place, you must wait until it reaches about 1 m in height. Transplanting is best done in early autumn so that the shrub has enough time to adapt.
- When propagating magnolia from seeds, planting is recommended in the spring of 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 site for magnolia should be sunny, protected from strong winds and drafts, with nutritious neutral soil. You can not plant magnolia on limestone – this is detrimental to the plant. The magnolia transplant algorithm is very simple. On the site, you need to dig a landing hole about 50 cm deep and wide, fill it up to half with soil, and then lower the seedling and throw it with earth up to the root collar. Immediately after planting, the plant is watered and mulched with humus.
It is necessary to water the seedling in a permanent place as the soil dries up, complex top dressing is applied in early spring before flowering begins. In the middle of summer, sanitary pruning can be carried out with the removal of diseased and broken branches.
Conclusion
Propagating a magnolia on your own is not difficult if you follow the simple rules of planting and care. Cuttings, layering and seed propagation bring equally good results, you need to choose the method of reproduction based on your own experience and convenience.
