Can the leaves and flowers of Catharanthus roseus be propagated by cutting?
The editor introduces the propagation of Catharanthus roseus by cutting and the green plant maintenance tips related to the care of Catharanthus roseus. Detailed content will be shared next.
Catharanthus roseus, as the name implies, 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. The so-called flowering period does not mean that a single flower can last so long, but rather that Catharanthus roseus blooms in a sequential manner. When the lower flowers fade, new flowers grow from the nodes, thus maintaining continuous blooming. Catharanthus roseus also has several aliases: Pot Marigold, Four Seasons Spring, Daily New, Swan's Head Red, Thirty Thousand Flowers, and Four Seasons Plum.
Song Dynasty poet Dong Siyao wrote in his poem "Catharanthus roseus": "One branch fades and another flourishes, the spring work never ceases. Even though peonies are known for their beauty, their glory fades in an instant." This is a true depiction of Catharanthus roseus.
Friends who enjoy admiring flowers can plant a pot of Catharanthus roseus. Although it is not fragrant, as an ornamental plant, Catharanthus roseus has very high ornamental value. There are many colors of Catharanthus roseus. It is also a herbal medicine and can be refined into drugs for treating cancer. However, Catharanthus roseus contains certain toxins. Ingesting it can lead to a decrease in white blood cells, platelets, muscle weakness, and limb paralysis, so it should be used under the guidance of a doctor!
Is Catharanthus roseus easy to cultivate?
In fact, Catharanthus roseus belongs to the category of easy-to-grow flowers. However, even though you can keep Catharanthus roseus alive, you still need to do some research on how to grow it well! Let's learn about Catharanthus roseus today.
Catharanthus roseus belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is a relatively tall plant because it is a type of sub-shrub. The plant can grow to about 60cm tall.
Catharanthus roseus prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil and grows poorly in saline-alkaline soil. Therefore, it is important to prevent soil salinization during soil preparation and maintenance. You can mix some deciduous leaf soil or directly dig some forest soil. It is usually difficult to achieve this in cities. You can also prepare sandy soil because Catharanthus roseus is not very demanding about soil, as long as it is not saline-alkaline or clay soil (which is poorly ventilated and has poor water permeability, easily leading to root rot), it can grow well. Catharanthus roseus has a very strong vitality.
Can the leaves and flowers of Catharanthus roseus be propagated by cutting?
Catharanthus roseus is drought-tolerant and somewhat cold-resistant. It can survive indoors without air conditioning in Shangqiu, Henan, and not be frozen to death. However, although Catharanthus roseus is drought-tolerant, it prefers to grow in warm and humid environments. If it grows in a dry environment for a long time, it will show symptoms of yellowing leaves and lack of vitality. Therefore, it is important to water Catharanthus roseus during its growing period, keeping the soil moist. The soil can be allowed to dry once a month to prevent bacterial growth and plant infection.
Catharanthus roseus is also tolerant of poor soil, but since it needs a long period of about 6 months to bloom, it consumes a lot of nutrients. Poor soil may lead to abnormal blooming or branching. Therefore, Catharanthus roseus should be fertilized with a thin solution every 10 days during spring, summer, and autumn to ensure sufficient nutrient supply for leaves and flowering. Fertilizers should primarily contain nitrogen and phosphorus! (Too much nitrogen and phosphorus can burn the roots). If seeds are not needed, they can be removed after the flowers fall. Less potassium fertilizer should be used, and organic fertilizers are best. Organic fertilizers do not cause soil compaction and have a long-lasting effect. Organic fertilizers are mostly made from soybean cakes. You can also add a few drops of milk when watering. Milk, after fermenting in the soil, supplements calcium and is rich in nutrients. Be careful to control the concentration, as too high a concentration can lead to plant death. Therefore, it is best to apply thin fertilizers frequently.
Catharanthus roseus is a light-loving plant. During maintenance, ensure that Catharanthus roseus receives adequate light to grow more vigorously and have brighter flowers. However, during summer, it is important to water it to prevent rapid water evaporation due to sun exposure.
As long as water and fertilizer are sufficient, Catharanthus roseus will grow vigorously. After some branches bloom, it is important to prune them to promote the formation of new flower buds and the growth of more side buds. Overly dense branches should be thinned to help the plant grow better. The large Catharanthus roseus plant can undergo a major pruning after flowering in autumn.