The 'April-Fool's day cutting method' for large leaf evergreen rhododendron propagation.

摘要

A new cutting method, "Fool's Day air layering method", for late winter is described. This method, applied by Norfolk Botanical Garden volunteers on camellias, produces nearly 100% rooting in 6 months when started in early April. They apply the scarification area to the 3-year-old wooded part of a branch 30-50 cms (12-20 inches) long. This method differs from the traditional air layering by not partially wounding, but by total removal of the bark-phloem cylinder down to the xylem (the woody water-conducting tissues). This approach has been successfully applied on camellias, gardenias, and the large-leaf, evergreen (Hymenanthes) rhododendrons, with camellias being the easiest to air layer this way. The steps in making air layer cuttings of large leaf evergreen rhododendrons is presented.