How to cut Lingjian lotus (detailed steps for cutting Lingjian lotus)

Lingjian lotus is a relatively expensive species among the flowers we usually raise. A complete plant of Lingjian lotus often costs hundreds or even hundreds of yuan, so we usually buy Lingjian lotus. Take one of its leaves, cut it yourself, and re-cultivate the seedling so that it can grow into a large plant and achieve the flowering effect. So how should Lingjian lotus be cut? How can cuttings take root quickly, avoid infection, and improve survival rate? Today, Ayong is here to talk to you about the detailed cutting steps of Lingjian lotus. The most important thing is to grasp several details.

Cutting time and cutting temperature

If we want to cut a flower, we must first find the season when it grows vigorously and provide it with suitable growing environmental conditions, so as to ensure that the cutting will be successful. success rate and survival rate. So when should Lingjian lotus cuttings be taken? Under what conditions should the ambient temperature be controlled?

The cuttings of Lingjian Lotus are divided into two types. The first one is greenhouse cuttings. In this case, cuttings can be taken all year round. The second one is our home cuttings, which is the best choice in this case. May to July. At this time, the vitality of the arrow lotus is at its strongest, and it is easy to take root after cutting, and the survival rate will be increased accordingly.

It is best to keep the cutting temperature at 10 to 20 degrees. If the temperature is too low, the vitality of the arrow lotus leaves will be reduced and it will be difficult to take root; but if the temperature is too high, it will easily cause the leaves to rot. To take both into consideration, control the temperature at 10 to 20 degrees.

Use high-quality soil for cuttings

For any plant, the survival rate of cuttings is directly related to the choice of soil, and the lotus belongs to the succulent plant of the Cactaceae family. Our most ideal soil when cutting is to use nutrient soil specially designed for succulents plus 1/3 of coarse river sand. This soil is rich in nutrients and mild, has strong water and air permeability, and is very suitable for rooting and sprouting of arrow lotus. Of course, if we want to prepare our own soil, we must remember that the content of granular soil cannot be less than 30%, and it is best to maintain it at around 50%. At the same time, before cutting the Lingjian lotus, we need to use 0.01 potassium permanganate solution to completely disinfect the cutting nutrient soil. This is also the first small detail we need to grasp. Sterilized nutrient soil can greatly reduce the probability of leaf incision infection. If there is no infection or disease, your Lingjian lotus cuttings will be half successful.

Choose strong 2-year-old leaves

If you want to get a healthy and strong Lingjian lotus, the leaves used for cuttings play a decisive role. The new leaves are full of vitality, but their structure is immature and their ability to withstand the environment is poor. Using such leaf cuttings is prone to diseases, insect pests and leaf rot. Leaves that have been grown for too long will have a high degree of lignification and weakened vitality, making it difficult to take root. Therefore, we must also take into account both. It is best to choose Lingjian lotus leaves that are about two years old. These leaves are just in the prime of life, with strong resistance and strong vitality. They are excellent in rooting and resistance to pests and diseases. But here Ayong would like to remind everyone that when selecting leaves, in addition to looking at its age, you should also pay attention to the fact that there should not be any damage or traces of diseases and insect pests on the leaves. The healthier and stronger the leaves, the higher the survival rate of the cuttings.

Hanging the cuts by drying the leaves

The freshly cut leaves of the arrow lotus cannot be used for cuttings. If we take cuttings at this time, there is a high probability that the cuts will rot and the cuttings will fail, so Before cutting, we must disinfect the leaves and incisions of the lotus.

After cutting the leaves of the arrow lotus, we must first soak the wound in 0.02 potassium permanganate solution or a carbendazim solution diluted 500 times for half an hour, and then dry it for a period of time. Start taking cuttings. We need to dry it for a long time, usually in a cool and ventilated place for about 10 days. The specific situation will be determined according to the local climate and environment. The criterion is that we see the branches and leaves of the lotus retracting, and a line is formed at the incision. Only when there is a clear layer of film can we make cuttings.

Put it in the moist soil (leave it directly, do not bury it), and then take cuttings after taking root

Lingjian lotus has completely different rooting ability and life strength depending on the variety. , some Lingjian lotus, after we have processed the leaves, it is easy to grow roots by cutting directly. However, some varieties of Lingjian lotus are relatively delicate, so we have to use special cutting methods. However, to be on the safe side, we can put all The leaves of the arrow lotus are treated with the special method we will talk about next before cutting, so as to ensure a high survival rate.

This special method is to prepare sterilized cutting soil, then spray some water into the soil to keep it moist, and then dig a shallow pit on the soil surface. , gently put the cut of the Lotus Lingjian in, do not bury it, just let it be in direct contact with the fluvoid, then put it in a cool and ventilated place, and spray some water around the leaves of the Lotus Lingjian every three to five days Mist until we see roots growing out from the bottom of the leaves of the Lingjian lotus, and then we officially transplant it into the potting soil.

The biggest advantage of this method is that it can avoid lesions and infections when the incision is buried in the soil, and because the contact area with the air is large, the probability of root emergence will also increase accordingly, and it is also convenient for us to observe. If Even if there are minor signs of infection, we can deal with them promptly.

Management after cutting

According to our method above, after the arrow lotus has taken root, we will transplant it and cut it into the prepared soil. At this point, the survival of the arrow lotus will basically be There is no problem anymore, but we still need to be extra careful about the maintenance after cutting. So how should we care for and manage the arrow lotus cuttings after they are planted in the pot?

In the first month after cutting, water less, spray more, and do not fertilize.

The newly cut lotus is in a stage of adapting to the environment. At this time, although it has grown The root system has emerged, but the vitality is still relatively fragile. At this time, we should water as little as possible. We can add a little water to the pot soil when it is almost dry, and the frequency of water spraying can be slightly higher, spraying water every 3 to 5 days. Once, of course, it must be done in a well-ventilated environment. Do not fertilize the lotus during this period. Before its root system has fully grown, its ability to absorb fertilizer is very poor. Once too much fertilizer is applied, it will easily burn the new root system of the arrow lotus, making all our efforts in vain. However, without fertilizing, we can feed the arrow lotus every other week. When watering, add some carbendazim solution and rooting agent to the water to help its roots grow faster and prevent bacterial infection.

Gradually increase the light after one month

Lingjian lotus belongs to the cactus family, and its demand for light is still very large, but during the seedling stage when it is just cut, it is best to Place the arrow lotus in a cool and ventilated place, where it can see scattered light at most. But after a month, we need to gradually increase the light for the lotus and move it step by step to an environment with sufficient light. We must pay attention here that the process must be slow and step-by-step. Never put it directly under the sun. , otherwise it will be easy to sunburn the leaves of the lotus, causing the vitality of the entire plant to decrease, turn yellow and wither.

Precautions in daily maintenance

After cutting the arrow lotus, what we have to consider is its daily maintenance. The arrow lotus is actually very easy to maintain, as long as the watering and temperature are adjusted If you pay more attention to it, you will basically not encounter any major problems in the maintenance of the arrow lotus.

Although Lingjian lotus belongs to the Cactaceae family, its leaves are not as full but very wide compared to ordinary cacti, which makes it less capable of storing water and stronger in transpiration. Therefore, when watering Lingjian lotus, we must not wait until the pot soil is completely dry before watering. It is best to replenish water when the soil humidity is still about 20. In addition, it should be kept in a well-ventilated environment. In a certain environment, you can also spray water mist around the plants of Lingjian Lotus from time to time.

As for temperature, the most suitable growth temperature for arrow lotus is 20 to 25 degrees. It also has a certain resistance to high temperatures, but we must pay special attention to low temperatures below 0 degrees, especially today In this season, if many friends in the north do not have heating at home, the temperature is likely to reach below 0 degrees. At this time, you must move the lotus to a warm room, or build a small greenhouse for it using bamboo strips and plastic film, and take certain measures. Warming measures.

Summary: We usually get Lingjian Lotus by cutting. So if we want to successfully cut Lingjian Lotus, we must choose high-quality cutting soil and choose strong 2-year-old leaves. The leaf incisions must be It can only be potted after being dried and disinfected. If you want to ensure a relatively high survival rate, it is best to wait until the leaves of the arrow lotus grow roots before officially potting it. Strictly follow the method we mentioned above to make cuttings. You can also make root blocks. The cutting success rate is high and a strong new plant will grow into a year or so.