How to propagate barberry by cuttings?

Barbary thorn generally refers to Euphorbia pilosa, which is a plant of the Euphorbiaceae family. It has a thick stem and can bloom all year round if properly cared for, which is very beautiful. So how do you propagate barberry by cuttings? Let’s learn the method below.

1. Cutting time

You can safely take cuttings during the growing season of Euphorbia milii, but the best time for cuttings is from April to June. At this time, the light is strong but not fierce, the temperature is moderate, and the rooting speed of Euphorbia milii is the fastest.

2. Branch selection

Use branch cuttings to propagate Euphorbia milii. Since Euphorbia milii is a plant that blooms on new branches, and the flowers usually appear at the tops of new branches, it is necessary to prune it frequently to shorten the old branches and promote the growth of new branches. The cut branches can then be used for propagation. Generally, the branch length is required to be about 10 cm and contain 4 to 6 nodes. Try to choose healthy branches that are relatively thick and free of pests and diseases. The flowers and buds on the branches should be removed cleanly to reduce the nutrient consumption of the branches themselves and improve their rooting efficiency.

3. Wound management

The wounds of newly pruned branches also need to be carefully treated to ensure the health of the branches during the rooting process. Use a paper towel or towel to wipe off the white juice flowing out of the pruning wound. This action needs to be repeated until no white juice flows out of the wound. After wiping it clean, apply carbendazim or wood ash to the wound to achieve the effect of disinfection and sterilization. Place the branches in a cool and ventilated place to dry in the sun for about 3 days. After the wounds become dry and white, you can make cuttings and prepare for cuttings.

4. Requirements for cuttings

After the branches of Euphorbia milii are pruned, they have basically met the requirements for being used as cuttings. You just need to keep the incision at a 45-degree slope as much as possible to increase the contact area between the incision and the soil, which is conducive to rooting. When taking cuttings of Euphorbia milii, the lower 1/3 or even half of the branch should be buried in the soil. There should be no leaves at this position, and there should be no flower buds or flowers on the entire branch. After cleaning the flower buds and leaves, the cuttings are ready.

5. Cutting soil

For Euphorbia milii cuttings, you can mix coarse river sand and nutrient soil in equal proportions, or you can directly use coal slag. Before transplanting the cuttings into pots, the river sand can be disinfected by soaking in boiling water for a period of time, and the nutrient soil can be disinfected by spraying carbendazim. After disinfection, mix the soil evenly.

6. Cutting steps

Soak the Euphorbia milii cuttings in rooting agent solution for 20 minutes. Use a watering can to moisten the soil, keeping it moist but not wet. Use a wooden stick to poke small holes in the soil, keeping the depth at 3 to 5 cm, then gently place the branches of Euphorbia milii into them. Water the newly cut Euphorbia milii thoroughly and place it in a cool and ventilated place for maintenance.

7. Maintenance matters

The newly grown branches after cuttings are fragile, so the soil should be kept relatively dry. If the soil content is relatively high, you can water it thoroughly after half of the soil is completely dry. The newly grafted Euphorbia milii can be placed in a cool environment for maintenance, but as the number of new leaves increases, we need to gradually increase the light. After 3 to 5 new branches sprout out of Euphorbia milii, it can be placed in a full-sun environment for rough maintenance.

That’s it