As a rule, growing a small lychee plant from a seed is very easy. However, it is more difficult to get the small plant to grow and thrive. If you already have a well-growing lychee tree at home, we recommend propagating it using cuttings. The cuttings have the same favorable genetic makeup and should therefore also grow well.
How can I successfully propagate lychees?
Lychee cuttings are easy to propagate in summer: choose a he althy side shoot, cut it off and plant it directly in sandy-loamy potting soil. Keep the soil slightly moist, avoid direct sun and drafts, and provide adequate light.
Choosing a cutting
Lychees usually only grow upwards and develop little or no side shoots. It is only possible to take cuttings from perennial plants - and only if the tree has formed enough side shoots. To ensure that this happens, try not to cut back your lychee tree - lychees grow very slowly. Once you have selected a possible cutting, carefully snip it off the trunk (e.g. with sharp scissors (€14.00 on Amazon)).
Let the cutting root?
The usual method would be to first place the cutting in a glass of water and wait for roots to form. Once this has been done, the cutting and roots can be planted in a pot with optimal lychee soil. If you choose this method, only use room temperature, stale water. Change the water regularly and place the glass in a bright and warm location, but not in direct sunlight. However, this step is essentially superfluous.
Pot the cutting straight away
Instead, you can pot the cutting straight away without letting it root in a glass of water first. To do this, put it in a pot with a suitable substrate and press the soil lightly. Always keep the soil slightly moist, but not wet - lychees only need a little water and are very sensitive to (congested) moisture. However, you do not need to fertilize your cuttings. It should develop its first roots within a few days.
Optimal growing conditions for your cuttings
- bright and warm location
- no direct sun (especially no midday sun!)
- no drafts, no wind
- sufficient light through additional lamps on dark/rainy days (even in summer!)
- water moderately, do not fertilize
- loose, nutrient-poor soil (a mixture of sand, potting soil and clay is ideal)
Tips & Tricks
It will be easiest for you to grow offspring if you let the cuttings root in the hot summer. At this point in time, the climatic conditions are optimal for a lychee, which is why propagation should be easier.