How to cultivate Michelia alba to thrive?
If you want to learn how to cultivate Michelia alba to thrive and the maintenance methods for this plant, the following will introduce you to this knowledge.
The leaves of Michelia alba are smooth and thick, with a vibrant green color, the flowers are as white as jade, and they emit a fragrance similar to orchids. Michelia alba can not only be grown in the courtyard but also as a potted plant indoors. When in bloom, the sweet fragrance lingers for several days, making it very popular among flower enthusiasts, and many people enjoy growing it.
1. Prefers slightly acidic soil
The native region of Michelia alba is Southeast Asia, as well as countries like India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Being a species from the south, it prefers slightly acidic soil. It also likes well-drained, humus-rich soil. What specific type of soil is suitable?
Soil suggestion: When growing Michelia alba, we can use a mixture of decomposed leaf soil, peat soil, and coarse sand. Additionally, when planting Michelia alba, a small amount of decomposed manure can be added to the soil, which can not only increase the soil's acidity but also enhance its fertility.
2. Likes light but afraid of direct sunlight
Michelia alba is a sun-loving plant that enjoys plenty of light but is also sensitive to strong summer sunlight. Therefore, during the summer, it is advisable to provide some shade during the midday hours of intense sunlight. At other times, it can be placed in a well-lit area.
Moreover, when growing Michelia alba, good ventilation is necessary, especially during the hot summer, to prevent high temperatures and humidity, which can lead to diseases and pests.
Michelia alba also has poor resistance to smoke, so during cultivation, it is necessary to prevent the invasion of smoke and dust to avoid poor growth due to pollution.
3. Water after the soil dries
Michelia alba dislikes dry environments and excessive moisture, so it prefers well-drained soil and a watering method that allows the soil to dry out before watering. How exactly should you water it?
Watering management: When watering Michelia alba, wait until the soil turns white and then water thoroughly, meaning water when the potting soil is dry and ensure it is fully saturated. It's also important to loosen the soil when it's slightly dry and to water in the morning or evening during the hot summer, and to promptly remove accumulated water during rainy seasons. In spring, watering should be moderate, while in autumn, it should be a bit more frequent. In the late autumn, the amount of water should be reduced.
Michelia alba also prefers slightly acidic water, so when watering, especially for northern gardeners, you can use a 0.2% ferrous sulfate solution every 15 to 30 days to prevent iron deficiency chlorosis.
How to cultivate Michelia alba to thrive?
4. Reasonable fertilization
Michelia alba enjoys fertilizer but is sensitive to fresh or concentrated fertilizers. Additionally, during slow growth periods, fertilization should be stopped to prevent root burn from fertilizer damage.
Fertilization management: When fertilizing Michelia alba, use a method of frequent thin applications, focusing mainly on phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. During the vigorous growth period, apply a dilute, decomposed cake fertilizer every 5 to 7 days. Decomposed fish and shrimp can be used at a ratio of 1:9 in fertilizer water, and adding a small amount of superphosphate to the fertilizer water can make the flowers more abundant and fragrant.
In the autumn, when the weather cools down, fertilization should be stopped because the plant's growth is slower during this time, preventing root burn from excessive fertilizer.
5. Moderate pruning
When growing Michelia alba, moderate pruning is also necessary. Generally, pruning can be done in the autumn and winter when the plant is brought indoors. Pruning at this time involves removing dry, weak, dense, and overly long branches, which can reduce the space they occupy and also help reduce nutrient loss and improve ventilation and light exposure.
In the spring, when Michelia alba is moved outdoors, some of the older leaves at the bottom of the branches can be removed to promote the growth of new branches and result in more and larger, fragrant flowers.
The cultivation method for Michelia alba consists of the above five points. If these are followed, the plant will produce many large, fragrant flowers. The planting season for Michelia alba is spring and autumn, and enthusiasts can grow one in the autumn.
The above information about how to cultivate Michelia alba to thrive and its maintenance methods provided by Green Enthusiast Network (www.lvzhimi.com) can hopefully bring you some help in your daily life!