How to prune Daphne odora
Today's focus is on how to prune Daphne odora and the illustration of pruning methods for this green plant and flower knowledge. Keep reading!
Daphne odora is also known as Pittosporum tobira, with aliases such as water fragrance, pearl fragrance, and mountain sumac. It belongs to the Pittosporaceae family, Daphne genus, and is an evergreen shrub. Cultivated as a small tree, it can grow to a height of 1 to 3 meters. The crown is nearly spherical, with lateral branches in a whorled pattern. Old branches are gray-brown, young branches are green, and the whole plant has a light, special fragrance. Leaves are alternate, sometimes whorled at the top, leathery, dark green with a waxy sheen. The leaf shape is obovate to elliptical, with a blunt tip, wedge-shaped base, entire margin, and the leaf edge often curls downward. Terminal corymbs of small white flowers are in whorls, turning yellow in the later stage, with green calyces and a light fragrance. The fruit ripens in October, splitting into three parts to reveal red seeds.
Daphne odora is an evergreen species of warm temperate regions, native to the central and southern parts of China. It thrives in sunny conditions,不怕烈日强光直射, and can tolerate semi-shade to full shade. It grows best in warm and humid conditions. It has some cold resistance and can overwinter outdoors in the south, while in the north, it is grown in pots. In coastal cities of the south, it is used as an ornamental tree, resistant to tidal waves and sea breezes. It is not picky about soil and can tolerate slight salinity and alkalinity. For pot cultivation, it requires rich, loose, and fertile sandy loam soil. When potting, add a moderate amount of long-acting fertilizer and fertilize with compound fertilizer during the growing season as needed.
Daphne odora has many seeds with strong germination. In the south, it is commonly sown in beds, and in the north, it can be sown in pots. Harvest when the fruit turns from green to yellow and just begins to split, then dry the seeds in the shade and store them until March of the following year for sowing. Seedlings grow quickly and can be transplanted after two years. Daphne odora is tolerant of pruning and can be propagated through cuttings, with the highest survival rate from April to May. Use 15 cm long healthy terminal branches as cuttings, retaining a few small leaves at the top, and insert them into a mixture of pure sand and peat soil, about 5 cm deep. Cover with shade cloth, maintain warmth and humidity, and roots will develop in about 40 to 50 days. After the beginning of autumn, transplant them into pots with strong root systems.
Daphne odora is robust and is commonly planted in groups or as a hedge in many southern areas. In the north, potted plants need to be repotted and the soil changed every spring, moving to larger pots each year and pruning moderately to form a spherical crown that is tidy and full. In summer, it is necessary to pinch the tips in time to prevent leggy growth. In the north and further north, it needs to be moved into a cold room at the end of autumn for winter, ensuring good ventilation and light, preventing the multiplication of scale insects. When moved outdoors in early spring, pay attention to the moisture of the potting soil, frequently spray water to keep the environment humid, and keep the foliage fresh. Daphne odora is highly resistant to harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide and has the ability to absorb them, making it an excellent urban environmental protection species.
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