How to Propagate Premna Microphyllia

how to propagate premna microphyllia alagao taiwan
Share

What is Alagao Taiwan or Premna microphyllia?

Alagao Taiwan, scientifically known as Premna microphylla, is one of the most loved bonsai materials in the Philippines. Pinoy Bonsai enthusiasts love it because it is very easy to propagate premna microphyllia into many small bonsai trees.

This popular bonsai species is a very well-liked bonsai plant that is found all over Southeast Asia. Typically, you may find it growing wild on the eastern Taiwanese beaches. Its normal growth habit is to develop a huge tree with leaves that are 6–8 inches long, but with good bonsai care, these are dramatically reduced.

It displays small leaves with the proper trim and prune techniques. It is easy to grow, maintain, and shape into many different bonsai styles. Another good thing about premnas is that they can be propagated effortlessly.

The most common propagation method I use, with a high success rate, is cuttings. Although it can also be propagated through seeds or by air layer/marcotting, many go by the easiest and most effective method which is propagation through cut stems.

How to Propagate Premna Microphyllia or Alagao Taiwan?

Let me share with you this amazing way to multiply this amazing bonsai material by giving you some tips and steps that worked for me.

 
TIP! It is best to propagate Premnas during summertime or the hot dry season. That is from March-May here in the Philippines. Plants seem to be so thirsty and they take in as much water as they can when they get a chance to drink.
 
So what are the steps propagating Premna by cuttings?
 
1. Cut stems from the mother plant. 

how to cut premna microphyllia

 
2. Remove some leaves. 
      remove leaves of premna microphyllia premna microphyllia cutting

3. Divide the cut stems further into at least 3 inches of cuttings.  
premna microphyllia cuttings 
 
4. Prepare rooting hormone solution. 
bonsai rooting hormone
 
5. Soak cuttings in a root hormone solution for at least 1-2 hours. (Check out this article about “Rooting Hormones and Other Alternatives For Bonsai”) 
 bonsai rooting hormone
6. Prepare pots and rooting soil mix. (Check out this article about “The Best Rooting Soil Mix For Bonsai Materials”)
pinoy bonsai soil mixpinoy bonsai soil mixpinoy bonsai soil mix
7. Plant the cuttings. 
newly planted premna cuttings
8. Water newly planted cuttings using the rooting hormone or with ordinary water and place them in a bright shaded area away from direct sunlight. 
9. Mist water once a day.
10. Wait for 15 days. Here’s a bunch of premna cuttings a planted 3 weeks ago using the same soil mix.
successfull premna cuttings
TIP! Soaking your cuttings in a rooting hormone is optional. With the rooting soil mix that I use, I found that rooting hormones do not make much difference as I still get the same success rate with my planted cuttings even without it. 
Propagating premna microphyllia is starting to become a popular option for many Pinoy Bonsai enthusiasts because this premna species is not endemic to the Philippines. This means that hunting in the wild is not an option.

As for many Pinoy Bonsai enthusiasts, the best option is to propagate it on their on and graft it to our local premna which is scientifically known as Alagao Dagat or Premna Odorata. This premna is abundant in the Philippine shorelines and that’s how it received its last name “Dagat”. 

Conclusion

And that’s it! The process of propagating and growing premna is pretty easy and you will surely find it just so fulfilling just before you know it. Premna microphyllia is not the last tree on the list of trees that are beginner-friendly for all new bonsai lovers. One of the simplest bonsai trees to grow and maintain is this one.

Please do not forget to subscribe to my Youtube Channel for more of Pinoy Bonsai videos.

 

Jaycee G

Jaycee works in digital marketing and has been bonsai-obsessed for more than ten years. He currently serves as the secretary of Sandugo Bonsai Society -  a growing group in Oriental Mindoro, Philippines.

You may also like...

No Responses

  1. Great article. I'm dealing with some of these issues as well..
    tahi lottery
    Thai lottery result

  2. Unknown says:

    good day, since premna grows roots very fast, is it possible to plant long roots like we do with cuttings? Thank you.

  3. pusoy says:

    argao taiwan and argao dagat ay same lang ba??

  4. pusoy says:

    nalilito kasi ako sa mga yan "argao taiwan/ argao dagat." Kung magkaiba po sila, paano po malalaman kung taiwan yung isa at dagat naman yung isa?

  5. pusoy says:

    ano ang pinagkaiba ng argao taiwan at argao dagat?

  6. Mikey says:

    Alam k argo taiwan is endemic to them, while ung parehong species natin is tje argao dagat

  7. Jaycee says:

    Premna root cuttings also grow as a new plant based on my experience. It is practically no waste.

  8. Jaycee says:

    Magkaiba po. Ang alagao dagat po at tamad mag ramify ng branches di gaya ng taiwan variety

  9. Jaycee says:

    Yup of the same species lang pero my mga nag-uwi ng Taiwan variety dito at pinarami. And since super bilis dumami, marami ng Pinoy bonsayistas ang meron nito.

  10. Unknown says:

    So hindi po ito common na nakikita dito sa pinas?

  11. Unknown says:

    ang alagao ba ay parehas din ba ng argao taiwan

  12. Unknown says:

    Question po..may argaq taiwan po ako pero malalaki ang dahon.bakit po maliliit ang dahon ng ibang nakikita ko?

  13. Any ideas or tips po pano watering sa cold places like baguio city?and pwede po ba mababad sa ulan ang argao taiwan tuwing tag ulan?

  14. Unknown says:

    Where can i find argao plant po? Thanks

  15. Unknown says:

    Alagao herb po ba at yung argao
    Parehas lang po ba?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *