Propagation of linden by cuttings at home in spring

Content

1 Is it possible to propagate linden by cuttings?
2 Advantages and disadvantages of the method
3 When to take cuttings
4 How to grow a linden tree from a branch
5 Further care
6 Conclusion

Propagation of linden by cuttings is one of the methods often practiced by gardeners to obtain new specimens of the tree. The method is in demand due to its combination of simplicity and consistently good results. Of course, it is not without some disadvantages, but it has significantly more advantages. No special care is required for trees rooted as a result of linden propagation by cuttings.

Is it possible to propagate linden by cuttings?

In terms of propagation, linden is a universal tree. New specimens can be obtained either by generative or any vegetative method. Amateur gardeners rarely practice growing from seeds.

Gardeners prefer simple-to-implement vegetative methods - rooting layering, cuttings, transplanting root shoots

Important! The percentage of rooting for cuttings, layering and root shoots is approximately the same, as is the number of trees surviving after transplantation to a permanent location.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

Among the undoubted advantages of growing linden from cuttings:

Guaranteed preservation of varietal characteristics in varieties bred through selection.
Painless for the donor plant. The tree tolerates the loss of planting material without problems.
Possibility to receive at least 8-10 new copies at once. From many trees, more cuttings can be taken at once for propagation. This is determined by age and size.
Guaranteed adaptability of the tree to the climate in the region.
Quite fast growth and development of seedlings. After 2-3 seasons, the gardener has a low, but full-fledged, and sometimes flowering linden tree.

When propagating by cuttings, you can be sure that the offspring will not differ in appearance from the parent

There are also certain disadvantages:

Cuttings cut in the spring cannot be planted in a new place in the fall. The seedlings will not develop a root system developed enough to survive the winter. They will have to look for a place to winter at home.
The taproot appears later than the system of thin fibrous ones. Seedlings react very negatively to drought; the soil should not be allowed to dry out.
Limited period of time for procurement of high-quality planting material.

Important! When cutting cuttings for propagation from disease-affected linden trees, new specimens inherit these diseases. Therefore, only absolutely healthy trees are used as donors.

When to take cuttings

The best time to harvest planting material is the second half of May and the beginning of June. For cutting, choose a cloudy, rainy day or do it in the morning - then the tissues of the cutting will be saturated with moisture to the maximum. With its deficiency, new linden trees take root reluctantly and for a long time. In addition, their overall stamina and survivability are reduced.

Sometimes gardeners practice cutting in the fall. But in this case, the planting material will need to be stored somewhere until spring.You can’t plant it right away - in winter they won’t have enough natural light or heat for normal development.

Regardless of when it is cut, a linden cutting for propagation must meet the following criteria:

length 7-15 cm;
thickness 6-10 mm;
the presence of 4-5 growth buds (even if they are dormant).

The bases of lignified linden shoots are not suitable for propagation by cuttings: cut off annual green growth

How to grow a linden tree from a branch

Linden is no different from other crops suitable for propagation by cuttings. The procedure follows a standard algorithm; seedlings do not require special conditions for rooting.

Preparing cuttings for planting

If the linden cuttings were cut arbitrarily, the sections are renewed. The lower one is done obliquely, retreating approximately 1 cm from the first bud. The top one is straight (flat), immediately above the last one.

Direct preparation is limited to soaking the lower cut in a solution of any root formation stimulator (Kornevin, Kornerost) or a universal biostimulator (Epin, Zircon). You can also use folk remedies to promote rooting:

potato or aloe juice;
natural honey diluted with water;
succinic acid.

Important! While soaking cuttings for linden propagation indoors, it is necessary to maintain heat and air humidity of at least 70%.

Soil preparation

For rooting, it is quite possible to use universal soil for seedlings. It combines all the necessary properties - average fertility, friability and neutral pH. Any other soil with similar characteristics will also work. Prepare it yourself by mixing approximately equally:

fertile high turf;
ordinary garden soil;
humus or finished compost;
peat chips or coarse river sand.

To prevent fungal diseases, sifted wood ash or powdered chalk (about 1 tablespoon per liter) is added to the soil for linden propagation. Before planting, the homemade substrate must be disinfected in any way.

Purchased soil is the most convenient option for propagating linden by cuttings

Important! You can do without soil at all by rooting linden cuttings in water. But it will have to be changed 3-4 times a day.

How to root a linden cutting

Planting is a simple procedure that even a novice gardener can handle:

Fill plastic or peat cups of suitable size with soil about ¾ full. It is necessary to have drainage holes in the container, a drainage layer and its preliminary disinfection.
It is good to spill the substrate with water and let it absorb.
Plant the cuttings, deepening them by 1-1.5 cm, at a slight angle. Cut the leaf blades in half.
Gently compact the substrate and water moderately.
Create a greenhouse using a plastic bag and a cut plastic bottle.

For the procedure to be successful, after planting, the plants are provided with 10-12 hours of daylight and warmth (24-27 °C). As the top layer of soil dries, it is moistened by sprinkling with water from a spray bottle.

Every day the cover is removed for 10-15 minutes for ventilation, preventing condensation from accumulating inside

Further care

It takes about a month to root. The formation of roots is indicated by the appearance of new leaves. When this happens, the cover must be removed. The temperature of the cuttings is slightly reduced (to 22-24 °C), they are provided with good aeration, while being protected from cold drafts.

The recommended daylight hours do not change, but seedlings need protection from direct sunlight

Caring for linden trees that have taken root after propagation by cuttings is limited mainly to watering. They are very sensitive to moisture deficiency; the soil should not be allowed to dry out. In hot weather, plants are additionally sprayed 1-2 times a day.

Root feeding is carried out every 4-5 weeks. Natural organics and folk remedies are not used. Complex store-bought preparations or fertilizers based on humates are suitable. If the seedlings develop clearly slowly, you can spray them with a biostimulant solution.

Important! Linden from a branch can be planted in a permanent place next spring. The exact timing depends on the climate in the region.

Conclusion

The culture is rarely found in nurseries and catalogs, therefore, among other methods, gardeners practice propagation of linden by cuttings. The procedure is quite simple and does not require complex preliminary preparation - you just need to follow a certain algorithm of actions. It allows you to get a small but full-fledged tree in 2-3 years, growing in a permanent place and not requiring careful care.