How to plant Lechang Michelia
This article provides a detailed explanation of how to plant Lechang Michelia and the small gardening knowledge of caring for and maintaining the plant, including precautions. If there are any mistakes, please feel free to correct them!
Michelia flowers are a familiar and loved ornamental plant for both flowers and leaves, often planted in gardens or in pots indoors. When Michelia flowers bloom, they are fragrant and refreshing.
Methods for growing Michelia:
1. Soil: Michelia has fleshy roots and requires well-draining potting soil. A mixture of 4 parts of decomposed leaf soil, 3 parts of garden soil, 2 parts of decomposed manure soil, and 1 part of sandy soil can be used as the growing medium.
2. Watering: Keep the potting soil moist but not overly wet. Since the roots are mostly fleshy, excessive watering or waterlogging after rain can cause root rot, so it's important to control humidity during rainy seasons. More water is needed during the growing season and before flowering, with daily watering. In hot summer weather, water the leaves to maintain some air humidity. In autumn and winter, when sunlight is shorter, water once or twice a week.
3. Sunlight: In the summer, Michelia plants should not be exposed to direct sunlight and need to be shaded by 30% to avoid leaf burn from strong light. They can be placed near east-facing windows and balconies indoors, or in the shade of trees or shelters outdoors. In the cool autumn, they can be exposed to more sunlight. In winter, place them in a sunny and well-ventilated area indoors.
Precautions for growing Michelia:
1. Temperature: The minimum temperature for Michelia to survive winter should not be lower than 5°C. If the temperature drops below 5°C, the plant's normal physiological activities will be affected, the root absorption capacity will weaken, and the tender branches and leaves will wither. Also, the maximum temperature should not exceed 15°C. If the temperature is too high, excessive nutrient consumption within the plant will be unfavorable for the next year's growth. Therefore, it is best to keep the room temperature between 5°C and 15°C in winter.
2. Fertilizing: Michelia flowers like fertilizer. Use decomposed cake fertilizer, bone meal, chicken and duck droppings, and fish intestines as fertilizers mixed with water. Apply fertilizer every 15 days during the growing season (April to September). Stop fertilizing during the flowering period and after October. If the leaves are not bright and dark green, apply a nutrient-rich fertilizer solution.
3. Pests: Michelia is often affected by scale insects, which can also trigger sooty mold disease. Scale insects can be removed with a small brush or sprayed with a 20th petroleum emulsion diluted with water. Sooty mold disease can be treated by wiping with water or spraying with a fungicide solution diluted 500 to 1000 times with water.
4. Pruning: Michelia flowers should not be pruned excessively. Normally, after flowering, pruning can be done to remove any branches that affect the shape of the tree, such as long, weak, or overlapping branches, and remove the fruits after flowering to reduce nutrient consumption. Before spring germination, some old leaves should be thinned to encourage new growth.
The branches of Michelia are graceful, and the flowers are captivating when they bloom, making it a well-known variety for ornamental leaves and flowers. It is very suitable for beautifying living spaces. The method of growing Michelia is relatively simple, so if you like Michelia flowers, you might as well arrange them in the living room or other areas of your home.
The above information is about how to plant Lechang Michelia, including the care and precautions for planting. I hope it is helpful to you!