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The Forest Service National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources (RNGR) is a leading source of technical information for nurseries and land managers regarding production and planting of trees and other native plants for reforestation, restoration, and conservation.

 
NPN Protocol Details Image

Ledum (glandulosum)

Mark E. Majerus
USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center
99 South River Road, Rte. 2, Box 1189
Bridger, Montana 59014-9718
(406) 662-3579
(406) 662-3428 (fax)
mmajerus@mt.nrcs.usda.gov
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mtpmc
Family Scientific Name: Ericaceae
Family Common Name: Heath Family
Scientific Name: Ledum glandulosum Nutt.
Common Name: Western Labrador tea
Species Code: LEDGLA
Ecotype: Ecotype from water treatment plant area of Yellowstone National Park.
Propagation Goal: plants
Propagation Method: vegetative
ProductType: Container (plug)
Stock Type: One gallon and 4.5 inch azalea pots, depending on plant size.
Time To Grow: 0
Propagule Collection: Collect summer cuttings in early August back to 2- and 3-year wood. Take 6- to 10-inch long cuttings with a basal diameter of at least 0.25 inches. Place the cuttings inside a ziplock bag moistened with water, and then store in a portable cooler packed with ice. Store the cooler in a shaded location such as the back of a pickup with a camper top. Minimize storage time. The cuttings we collected were held in the cooler less than 16 hours before being moved to a walk-in cooler maintained at 34 to 37øF and 80+% relative humidity. Inspect each bag periodically to assure high humidity and re-moisten as necessary. We collect cuttings from numerous individual plants in an attempt to sample to the diversity of the ecotype. Our use of summer cuttings reflects limited access to plants in the winter months in Yellowstone National Park. Cuttings collected at other times of the year may propagate as well or better.
Propagule Processing: See below.
Pre-Planting Treatments: Trim all cuttings to a 6- to 8-inch length. Remove all buds, leaves, and branches from the basal 2 to 3 in. of each cutting. Remove all flowers and fruit, when present, as well. Store the cuttings in moistened paper towels during processing. Recut the base of each cutting at an angle with a sharp knife and wound the basal end of the stem. This is accomplished by holding a knife perpendicular to the stem, flat side of the knife against the round surface of the stem, and then making a slicing cut downward to produce a 1- to 1.5-inch wound just below the cambium. Lightly spray the wound with water from a mist bottle, shake off excess water, and then insert the base into rooting compound. Remove excess hormone by lightly tapping the end of the cutting on the side of a hard surface. Our trial treatments included softwood, 1-y heel, 2-y heel, 1-y wood treated with 2,000 ppm NAA + 40,400 ppm ThiramT (fungicide), as well as, summer hardwood (any age 2-y or older) and 3-y wood treated with 16,000 ppm IBA. The number of cuttings per treatment ranged from 5 to 24. Rooting ranged from 20% (5 softwood cuttings treated with NAA + ThiramT) to 100% (13 summer hardwood cuttings treated with IBA and 18, 3-y cuttings treated with IBA).
Growing Area Preparation/
Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:		 A 100% coarse perlite propagation media was used in our trial, although any sterile, highly drained media, such as sand or vermiculite, should work equally well. Moisten the media and make holes to receive each cutting. Use hot water heat to maintain the propagation media at 70øF for the first 8 to 12 weeks in the bed (root initiation phase) and then turn it off. We use overhead intermittent mist activated by a Mist-o-maticT controller. Firm the media around each cutting after sticking to assure good cutting:media contact. Maintain the greenhouse at 70 to 75øF days and 60 to 65øF nights on 14- to 16-hour photoperiods.
Establishment Phase: Cuttings initiate roots at 8 weeks, are well rooted at 12 weeks, and heavily rooted after 16 weeks. This species produces abundant, fine roots. Fertigate the cuttings once or twice each week with150 to 250 ppm 9-45-15 as soon as budbreak occurs. Because we let these plants remain active in the greenhouse over the winter, we waited until late January to transplant them into pots in a commercial peat-lite mix. The plants were moved to a shade house in May for hardening off and finishing.
Length of Establishment Phase: Allow 3 to 4 months from time of sticking before potting up.
Hardening Phase: No experience.
Harvesting, Storage and Shipping: No experience.
Length of Storage: No experience.
Other Comments: Easy to propagate by stem cuttings. Best results in limited trials with heavier, older wood given our propagation system.

Citation:

Scianna, Joe. 2003. Propagation protocol for production of Container (plug) Ledum glandulosum Nutt. plants One gallon and 4.5 inch azalea pots, depending on plant size.; USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center Bridger, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2024/07/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.