How to Care for Plumbago auriculata
The editor will share with you how to care for Plumbago auriculata and related correct maintenance methods and precautions for green plants, which will surely help you. Let's learn about it together!
Plumbago auriculata, also known as Plumbago, Blue Snowflake, Blue Mountain Hyacinth, and Blue Jasmine, is native to the southern part of Africa. It is a perennial, delicate semi-shrub of the Plumbaginaceae family. When caring for Plumbago auriculata, choose a pot and soil with good ventilation and drainage, provide appropriate shading during strong sunlight, regularly place it outdoors in weak indoor light, and maintain the temperature between 22 to 35℃ as best. Watering should follow the principle of "watering when dry and keeping it slightly wet," and fertilize with a compound fertilizer every 7 days during the growing season.
I. Maintenance Methods
1. Potting Soil
For caring for Plumbago auriculata, choose a clay or tile pot with good ventilation and drainage, and select soil that is loose, well-drained, and rich in humus. A mixture of 3 parts decomposed leaf soil, 3 parts garden soil, 2 parts humus soil, 2 parts peat soil, and a small amount of base fertilizer can be used to prepare the potting soil. Before filling the pot with soil, cover the bottom with a layer of broken tiles to facilitate drainage. The potting soil should be exposed to sunlight for 1 to 3 days before planting for disinfection.
2. Light
Plumbago auriculata prefers light but can tolerate shade and is sensitive to direct sunlight. During summer, it can be placed outdoors for 4 to 5 hours of sunlight in the morning or afternoon. In spring, autumn, and winter, it is necessary to increase light exposure and extend the duration of sunlight. The optimal temperature for sunlight exposure in winter is between 7 to 12℃, to prevent high temperatures from causing new buds to sprout prematurely, which may lead to poor growth in spring.
3. Temperature
Plumbago auriculata is a tropical shade plant that prefers a warm environment and does not tolerate cold or high dry temperatures. The most suitable growth temperature is between 22 to 35℃. When the temperature exceeds 35℃ in summer, water can be sprayed on the plant and its surroundings to cool it down. In winter, when the temperature drops below 6℃, it should be moved indoors to a warm place to avoid frost damage.
4. Watering
Watering Plumbago auriculata should follow the principle of "watering when dry and keeping it slightly wet." Water the plant when the top layer of soil is dry, stopping when water渗透ates from the bottom of the soil. Generally, water twice a day in summer to keep the soil moist, once every 10 to 15 days in spring and autumn to keep the soil slightly dry, and once before winter to keep the soil slightly dry.
5. Fertilizing
Fertilizing Plumbago auriculata should be done in small, frequent doses, applying thin fertilizer close to the roots to avoid over-fertilization and root rot or plant damage. During the growing season, apply a nitrogen-rich, phosphorus-supplemented compound fertilizer every 7 days.
II. Breeding Tips
1. Pruning
Pruning is needed during the vigorous growth period and after flowering to remove withered, diseased, and overgrown branches, reducing nutrient consumption and promoting new branch growth.
2. Propagation
Plumbago auriculata can be propagated by sowing. In spring, soak the seeds in warm water for 2 hours to stimulate germination, then evenly sprinkle them on a moist seedbed, cover with a thin layer of soil, and spray water when the seedbed is dry to keep it moist. Seedlings will emerge in about 7 days, and they can be transplanted when they have 3 to 4 true leaves.
II. Precautions
1. Yellow Leaves
If the leaves of Plumbago auriculata turn yellow, it may be due to insufficient sunlight. The plant should be placed outdoors to gradually increase the duration of sunlight.
2. Root Rot
Excessive watering can cause积水 in the potting soil, leading to root rot. The roots should be dug out from the soil, remove the rotting, withered, and dense roots, apply多菌灵 for disinfection, and placed in a ventilated area to dry until the wounds contract before repotting.
The above introduction to how to care for Plumbago auriculata and related correct maintenance methods and precautions are provided for everyone to learn and understand!