Ginkgo biloba is commonly propagated through several methods, including sowing, cuttings, root division, and grafting. Among these, hardwood cuttings are particularly popular because they not only save seeds and reduce costs but also accelerate the propagation process while preserving the desirable traits of the parent plant. Hardwood cutting involves using mature stems that have partially lignified—typically from one-year-old or older branches. Compared to softwood cuttings, hardwood cuttings require less intensive post-cutting care, making them a practical choice for many growers.
To successfully establish ginkgo hardwood cuttings, several key steps should be followed:
First, prepare the growing medium. Common substrates include river sand, sandy loam, and sandy soil. While sandy soils and sands have lower rooting rates and are often used for large-scale spring cuttings, river sand offers higher success rates and is widely available, making it ideal for most propagation setups.
Second, set up the planting bed. The beds should be 10–20 meters long and 1–1.2 meters wide, filled with about 20 cm of fine river sand. Before use, the bed should be disinfected with a 0.3% potassium permanganate solution (5–10 kg per square meter) or alternated with 0.3% formaldehyde. After application, cover the area with plastic film for two days, then rinse thoroughly with water two to three times.
Third, collect the cuttings. In late fall or winter, take cuttings after the leaves have fallen. In spring, collect them one week before planting or during pruning. Choose healthy, disease-free branches that are vigorous and full of buds. Typically, 1–3 year old shoots from young ginkgo trees under 20 years old are selected. Studies show that 1-year-old shoots have the highest rooting rate, reaching up to 93%, while older branches have lower success rates. Additionally, naturally growing branches tend to root better than grafted ones.
Fourth, prepare the cuttings. Cut the branches into 15–20 cm lengths, ensuring each has at least three well-developed buds. Make the top cut straight and the bottom cut slanted, being careful not to reverse the direction of the buds. Bundle 50 cuttings together by their lower ends and soak them in a 100 ppm naphthalene acetic acid solution for one hour, submerging the lower ends by 5–7 cm. For autumn and winter cuttings, bundle them and store them in bales for winter protection.
Fifth, insert the cuttings. Spring is the best time for hardwood cuttings, usually between mid-March and late March. In greenhouses, planting can be done slightly earlier. When inserting, leave 1–2 buds above the soil surface, firm the soil around the cuttings, and space them 10–30 cm apart. After planting, spray water to ensure good contact between the cuttings and the substrate. Maintain humidity at 85–90%.
Sixth, manage the nursery carefully. Provide shade using black shade nets or artificial structures, or better yet, use plastic greenhouses to maintain a cool, moist environment. Water immediately after planting, and on sunny days, mist in the morning and evening. Gradually reduce watering as the cuttings develop. Once rooted, apply foliar fertilizer every one or two weeks from May to June using a 0.1% urea and 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution.
Transplant the seedlings when they are ready—open-grown cuttings can be moved after defoliation in the second year, while greenhouse-grown seedlings need hardening off before transplanting. To control pests and diseases, apply 40% methylparathion diluted to 1000 times in the afternoon to the roots, which effectively controls underground pests. Also, use 0.2% carbofuran or 2.5% chlorpyrifos at 2000 times to control leaf-eating insects. For fungal diseases like stem rot, spray 5% ferrous sulfate every 20 days starting in June, along with fungicides such as carbendazim or Bordeaux mixture. These practices ensure healthy and vigorous ginkgo seedlings.
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