Features and characteristics of Catharanthus roseus
An article filled with useful knowledge, introducing the features and characteristics of Catharanthus roseus and the propagation methods of this green plant, which is sure to be helpful to you. Let's learn about it together!
As the name implies, Catharanthus roseus has a long blooming period. Indeed, the flowering period of Catharanthus roseus is very long. With proper care, it can bloom from April to October. Here, the term "blooming period" does not refer to a single flower lasting that long, but rather to the sequential blooming of the plant. When the lower flowers fade, new flowers grow from the nodes, allowing for continuous blooming. Catharanthus roseus also has several aliases: Pot Marigold, Four Seasons Plant, Daily New, Goosehead Red, Thirty Thousand Flowers, and Evergreen plum blossom.
Song Dynasty poet Dong Siyuan wrote in his poem "Catharanthus roseus": "One branch fades, another flourishes, as if spring's work never ceases. Even though peonies are known for their beauty, their glory is fleeting." This is a true portrayal of Catharanthus roseus.
Friends who enjoy flowers can plant a pot of Catharanthus roseus. Although it is not fragrant, as an ornamental plant, Catharanthus roseus has very high ornamental value. It comes in many colors and is also a medicinal herb, which can be used to extract drugs for cancer treatment. However, Catharanthus roseus contains some toxins, and ingestion can lead to a decrease in white blood cells, platelets, muscle weakness, and limb numbness, so medication should be under the guidance of a doctor!
Is Catharanthus roseus easy to cultivate?
Actually, Catharanthus roseus is an easy-to-grow flower. However, to grow it well, one still needs to do some research on Catharanthus roseus! Let's learn about it together today.
Catharanthus roseus belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is a relatively tall plant, as it is a type of sub-shrub that can grow to about 60 cm in height.
Catharanthus roseus prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil and grows poorly in saline-alkaline soil. Therefore, care must be taken to prevent soil salinization during soil preparation and maintenance. You can mix some deciduous leaves or directly dig some forest soil. This is usually difficult in urban areas, so sandy soil can be used instead. Since Catharanthus roseus is not strict about soil requirements, as long as it is not saline-alkaline soil or clayey soil (which is poorly ventilated and has poor water permeability, easily causing root rot), it can grow well. Catharanthus roseus has a very strong vitality.
Features and characteristics of Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus is a drought-tolerant plant and is relatively drought-resistant, as well as having some cold resistance. In Shangqiu, Henan, it can survive indoors without air conditioning and not freeze. However, although Catharanthus roseus is drought-resistant, it prefers to grow in warm and humid environments. If it grows in a dry environment for a long time, the leaves will turn yellow and lack vitality. Therefore, watering is important during the growing season to keep the soil moist, allowing the soil to dry once a month to prevent bacterial growth and plant infection.
Catharanthus roseus is also tolerant of poor soil, but since it requires a long blooming period of up to 6 months, it consumes a lot of nutrients. Poor soil may result in abnormal blooming or twisted branches. Therefore, Catharanthus roseus should be fertilized every 10 days during spring, summer, and autumn to ensure sufficient nutrient supply for leaves and flowers. Fertilizers should mainly contain nitrogen and phosphorus (not too much nitrogen and phosphorus, as excess can burn the roots). If seeds are not needed, the flowers can be removed after they fall, with less potassium fertilizer and more organic fertilizer, which does not cause soil compaction and has a long-lasting effect. Organic fertilizers are often made from soybean cakes and can also include a few drops of milk in the water. Milk ferments in the soil, providing calcium and rich nutrients. However, the concentration should be controlled, as too much can cause plant death, so it is best to apply thin and frequent fertilization.
Catharanthus roseus is a light-loving plant, and during maintenance, it should be ensured that the plant gets adequate light to grow more vigorously and have more vibrant flowers. However, during summer, it is important to water to prevent rapid water evaporation and drooping leaves due to intense sunlight.
As long as water and fertilizer are sufficient, Catharanthus roseus can grow very well. After some branches finish flowering, they should be pruned to promote the formation of new flower buds and more side buds. Overly dense branches should be thinned to make the plant grow better. Since Catharanthus roseus has a larger plant size, a strong pruning can be done after flowering in autumn.