Air layering is one of the popular methods of propagating ornamental plants, helping the young plants retain the characteristics of the mother plant and have a high survival rate. In the context of the increasing demand for ornamental plants in Vietnam, this technique is not only effective in preserving valuable plant varieties but also opens up great economic opportunities for growers.
Air layering is an asexual propagation technique, in which a branch is created to root while still attached to the mother plant. After the roots have fully developed, the grafted branch is cut off and planted into a new tree. This method helps the young plant retain the genetic characteristics of the mother plant, ensuring the desired quality and shape.
According to agricultural experts, there are many popular air layering methods such as air layering without soil, air layering with soil, air layering using rooting stimulants. Each method has its own advantages but all aim to ensure that the grafted branch roots quickly and healthily.
The demand for ornamental plants in Vietnam is increasing, especially for beautiful and rare varieties such as yellow apricot, banyan, si, pine, bodhi, bonsai, etc. These types of plants have high economic value, even some perennial ornamental plants are valued at hundreds of millions to billions of VND.
Using air layering techniques helps growers shorten the propagation time, instead of growing from seeds or cuttings which can take many years. This helps to provide the market with a larger number of plants in a short time, thereby improving business performance.
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| Air layering plants helps to increase economic value. (Photo: Nam Dinh Newspaper) |
According to data from the Vietnam Ornamental Plant Association, the domestic ornamental plant market has an average growth rate of 10-15% per year. Nurseries applying grafting techniques have helped many farming households become rich, typically in ornamental plant craft villages in Nam Dinh, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai.
Professor, Dr. Tran Duc Vien - former Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture - commented: "Grafting is an effective propagation method, helping to preserve valuable ornamental plant varieties, while promoting economic development for growers. However, to achieve optimal efficiency, it is necessary to select healthy mother plants, use the correct techniques and ensure care conditions after grafting".
In the context of increasing demand for ornamental plants, grafting is still the optimal propagation method, especially when combined with modern biotechnology such as using root stimulants and controlling nutrition for grafted plants.
In addition, the ornamental plant business model combined with ecotourism is developing strongly, opening up new opportunities for growers. Building ornamental plant gardens combined with sightseeing and experience will help increase economic value, not only from selling plants but also from related services. In short, grafting is not only an effective propagation method but also brings great economic benefits to growers. With the support of science and technology and increasing demand, this will be an important direction in the development of the Vietnamese ornamental plant industry.
