The cylinder cleaner, originally native to Australia, looks fantastic as both a tree and a shrub. Why reproduce it as not? There are two methods that have proven themselves, one of which is considered more difficult
How can you propagate callistemon?
Callistemons can be propagated by cuttings or seeds. Cut 10 cm long, half-woody top cuttings and stick them in potting soil. The seeds of the hard capsule fruits are sown in potting soil and germinate in light. Specimens propagated from cuttings bloom more often than those propagated from seeds.
Cutting to obtain cuttings
The easiest way for hobby gardeners is to propagate through cuttings. It is best to use head cuttings that are flowerless and semi-woody. It would be ideal to combine propagation with cutting back the cylinder brush.
How to proceed specifically:
- Cut 10 cm long head cuttings (alternatively tear-off cuttings)
- remove lower leaves
- Put into approximately 7 cm wide pots with potting soil
- Keep the soil moist and, if necessary, cover it with a plastic cover (€32.00 on Amazon)
- optimal temperature for rooting: 18 to 20 °C
- Rooting duration: 6 to 8 weeks
- Location for rooting: bright, but without direct sun
The right time to propagate cuttings is between February and March or between August and September. The plants should be indoors or on the protected balcony. They should not be left outside during the winter, but should be put inside.
Plant out after rooting
After the cuttings have rooted securely - you can see this by the new leaves - they can be planted out in spring or summer. Choose a location with the following characteristics:
- airy, but protected from the wind
- sunny to partially shaded
- protected from winter sun
- The plants can also be kept indoors (they tolerate dry indoor air)
Growing the callistemon from seeds
Sowing is also possible - although more difficult than propagating cuttings. In nature, this plant is only sown after a bush fire. Their capsule fruits are so hard that they only break open through fire and release their seeds.
When sowing the seeds, please note the following:
- hard capsule fruits e.g. B. cause it to break over a candle flame
- Sowing seeds in spring
- Caution: seeds are extremely fine!
- sow in potting soil
- Seeds germinate in light, so do not cover them with soil
- Keep soil moist with a spray bottle
- ideal germination temperature: 15 °C
- preserved plants are less likely to flower than specimens propagated from cuttings
Tip
The growing plants should be fertilized every two weeks. The reason: cylinder cleaners are heavy eaters.
