How to propagate Davidia involucrata

Seed collection and processing

The tree only blooms for 40 days, so you can collect seeds between mid-September and early October. However, the collected seeds cannot be sown immediately, and some processing work is required. Here is one of the methods. First, choose a place that is shaded from light and relatively humid, place the collected seeds on it, and let them cool on their own. Wait until the flesh inside the fruit is completely rotten and the shell is frozen brittle, then leave it for another three months. During these three months, the temperature must be kept at around 7°C. However, if conditions permit, the temperature can be lowered to minus 2.5°C, and the germination rate will be even higher.

Sowing method

First of all, you need to choose a good planting site. It is best to choose a location with good drainage and sandy loam with good moisture. The depth around should not be less than 40cm. Before sowing, you must disinfect and deeply till the soil. After sowing the seeds, water them thoroughly, but first cover them with soil that has been compacted.

Seedling management

The environment of this tree cannot be too humid during the germination period. If this cannot be achieved, it will easily lead to root rot or even direct death. Therefore, if it rains for a few days, you must pay attention to drainage. In addition to this, professional reagents should be used for spraying. It is recommended to use a drug such as thiophanate-methyl to stabilize its germination rate. If you encounter a cold wave, you should put up plastic film to keep out the cold. After this treatment, it can generally grow to more than one meter, or even about 1.5 meters in the second year.

When it's time to transplant, use a sunshade so they can safely spend the summer. Another point to note is that this tree can be planted together with some broad-leaved trees, which is helpful in ensuring the humidity within the environment.