It is usually very easy to grow a small lychee plant from a seed. On the other hand, it is more difficult to get the small plant to grow and thrive. If you already have a well-growing lychee tree at home, it is advisable to propagate it using cuttings. The cuttings have the same favorable genetic material and should therefore also grow well.
Choose a cutting
Usually lychees initially only grow upwards and develop little or no side shoots. It is therefore only possible to take cuttings from perennial plants - and only if the tree has formed enough side shoots. In order for this to happen at all, do not cut back your lychee tree if possible - lychees only grow very slowly. Once you have selected a potential cutting, carefully snip it (e.g. with sharp scissors) from the trunk.
root cuttings?
Now, the usual method would be to first place the cutting in a glass of water and wait for roots to form. As soon as this is done, the cutting can be planted with the roots in a pot with optimal lychee soil. If you choose this method, use only room-warm, stagnant water. Change the water regularly and place the jar in a light and warm location, but not in direct sunlight. Basically, this step is superfluous.
Pot the cuttings straight away
Instead, you can pot the cuttings straight away without first letting them root in a glass of water. To do this, put it in a pot with a suitable substrate and press the soil down lightly. Always keep the soil slightly moist, but not wet - lychees only need a little water and are very sensitive to (logging) moisture. However, you do not need to fertilize your cutting. It should form its first roots within a few days.
Optimal growth conditions for your cuttings
- bright and warm location
- no direct sun (especially no midday sun!)
- no draft, no wind
- sufficient light through additional lamps on dark / rainy days (also in summer!)
- water moderately, do not fertilize
- loose, nutrient-poor soil (a mixture of sand, potting soil and clay is ideal)
tips and tricks
The easiest way for you to succeed in breeding is to root the cuttings in the hot summer. At this point in time, the climatic conditions for a lychee are optimal, which is why propagation should be easier.