How to propagate honeysuckle

Honeysuckle is mainly propagated by cuttings, but it can also be propagated by seeds, root division, and layering.

Propagation by cuttings

There are two methods: direct cutting and cutting seedling raising.

Cutting period: can be carried out in spring, summer and autumn. In spring, it is best to do it before new buds sprout, and in autumn, it is from early September to mid- October .

Selection and processing of cuttings:

It is advisable to choose 1 to 2 year old strong and full branches, cut them into cuttings about 30 cm long, each with at least 3 nodes. Then, remove the lower leaves, leaving 2 to 4 leaves on the upper part, cut the lower end near the node into a smooth slope, tie 50 roots into a small bundle, quickly dip the lower slope in 500ppm indolebutyric acid (1ba) solution for 5 to 10 seconds, and start cuttings immediately after drying slightly.

Direct cuttings:

On the prepared planting ground, dig holes with a row spacing of 150 × 150 cm or 170 × 170 cm. The hole diameter and depth are 40 cm each. Loosen the subsoil and apply 5 kg of rotted manure or compost to each hole. Then, spread the cuttings evenly, inserting 3 to 5 cuttings into each hole, with the depth of the soil being 1/2 to 2/3 of the cuttings . Fill with fine soil and compact it with your feet. Water thoroughly once to keep the soil moist. It will take about 1 month to take root and sprout.

Cutting seedlings:

On the leveled and raked planting bed, draw lines with a row spacing of 15 to 20 cm, and use a small wooden stick or bamboo chopsticks to make guide holes on the bed surface every 3 to 5 cm. Then, insert the cuttings 1/2 to 2/3 obliquely into the hole, press firmly, and then water once . If cuttings are taken in early spring when temperatures are low, a bow-shaped fence of plastic film should be placed on the cutting bed to keep warm and retain moisture. It will take about half a month for the seeds to take root and sprout new buds, and then the plastic film will be removed and seedling management will be carried out. Spring plantings should be transplanted in the winter of the same year or in the spring of the second year. Seedlings grown from cuttings in summer and autumn are transplanted in the spring of the following year. Cutting seedling cultivation can obtain a large number of nutritious seedlings in a short period of time.

Seed propagation

Around the time of Frost, when the honeysuckle berries turn black, collect the ripe fruits in time, rub them in clean water to remove the peel and impurities, pick out the plump seeds that sink to the bottom, dry them and store them for later use. It can also be sown as soon as it is harvested. If sowing in the spring of the following year, take out the seeds 40 days before sowing, soak them in 40 ℃ warm water for 24 hours, take them out and layer them with 3 times the amount of wet sand to germinate. When 50 % of the seeds have cracks and white spots appear, you can screen out the seeds for row sowing.

Propagation by division

During the dormant period of honeysuckle in winter, dig up the mother plant, prune the roots and above-ground stems appropriately, dig holes for division, and plant 1 to 2 plants in each hole. Flower buds will appear in the second year after planting. However, the growth of the mother plant is inhibited, and it produces fewer or even no flowers in the same year. Therefore, except for using wild excellent varieties for root division, it is generally rarely used in the production areas.

Layering propagation

Carry out during the plant dormancy period in autumn and winter or before germination in early spring. Choose a 3-4 year old honeysuckle that is already flowering, growing healthily and has high yield as the mother plant. Bend the one- year-old branches close to the ground and bury them in the soil. Make a cut on the part where the branches are buried, cover them with 10 to 15 cm of fine fertilizer soil, and then fix and press them tightly with twigs so that the branches are exposed above the ground. If the branches are long, they can be bent continuously and pressed into the soil. After layering, water and fertilize the plants. In the spring of the second year , the rooted layered seedlings can be cut off from the mother plant and planted separately.

The layering propagation method does not require a large number of vines to be cut, and will not cause artificial reduction in production. If it is left in place and not dug up and planted, it will grow more luxuriantly and produce more flowers than other vines because it has sufficient nutrients. Compared with traditional vine cutting and cutting propagation, in addition to being able to bloom 2 to 3 years earlier and maintain stable and increased yields, more importantly, it is easy to operate, not restricted by season and time, and has a high survival rate.