Propagation of Seabuckthorn / Seaberry Plants - (Vegetative Propagation)

Be sure to read the comment below by MikeH.  He provides some great information! 

The varietal plants have been growing well this year.  Last year, you may remember, my experiment was nearly wiped out by a few insect pests.  Take my advice and disregard all the published statements that Seabuckthorn is not bothered by pests.  It could be my location but both Winter Moth Caterpillar and June bugs favor Seaberry leaves.  Learning that lesson last year, I was able to anticipate their arrival and take measures to minimize the damage.  The plants benefited greatly.

Softwood Cutting Propogation-
The literature states this method has a 96-100% success rate.  My attempt starts here.  First I chose one variety to begin.  Assuming success, I will then know without careful labeling, which plant I am propagating and will be able to compare varietal success variations.

Titan was chosen since I wanted 6 good Seaberry cuttings and this plant could provide that easily.

Titan - minor insect damage

cutting made with sharp knife ( notice minor insect damage done by June Bugs)

6 cuttings were made with a sharp knife.  The cuttings were 10-15cm long with at least 3 leaf nodes.  

 

Important- keep cuttings moist in water or moistened burlap





I removed the lower leaves and was careful to do this quickly so the cutting could be placed in water immediately.

soaking in water/bleach solution

Soaking in water/bleach solution to kill bacteria and fungus.

Drying clay pots

Next, I decided to run a little test.  Splitting up the sterilized sand planting medium, I mixed half with a few tablespoons of sulfur based organic fungicide and the other without.  This may offer some protection-I'll see as the experiment progresses.

Sulfur visible on right bag before mixing.

   Pots filled with the sand and sand mixed with sulfur planting medium.  Ready for the Seabuckthorn cuttings.

(dry assembly)

Cuttings dipped in rooting hormone (there are two types and I am not sure which one I used.  I had transferred it to a unlabeled glass jar and discarded the package.  Thomas S.C. Li and Thomas H.J. Beverige recommend indole butyric acid, IBA at 0.1%.  Check out your labels if you want to replicate their recommendation.

cuttings set in sand, watered and placed in a tray.

After three days, the cuttings are still turgid (essential and a predictor of success). They require 80-90% humidity for this, or so I have read.  I will be placing these in a bright indirect sunlight location and encasing the tray in opaque white plastic--yes a tall kitchen garbage bag and monitor closely for disease. The sand must be kept moist and kept in the pots for 1-2 months.  That's quite a variation in time, I will be planning on 2 months which should bring these to outdoor planting time in late September 2011.

Will it work?  Will the fungicide show a benefit?  Would another variety performed better?  These and other insights will be a result of this trial.
Thanks for visiting!
Vielen Dank für den Besuch der Sanddorn blog!