How long does the Catharanthus roseus bloom?
This article introduces the blooming period of Catharanthus roseus and explains the flower's symbolism and meaning, as well as some tips for growing flowers. Below is a detailed introduction for you.
As the name implies, Catharanthus roseus blooms for a long time. Indeed, the blooming period of Catharanthus roseus is quite long. With proper care, it can bloom from April to October. The term "blooming period" here does not refer to a single flower lasting that long, but rather that Catharanthus roseus blooms in sections. As the lower flowers fade, new flowers on the nodes grow, allowing it to bloom continuously. Catharanthus roseus has several aliases: Pot Marigold, Four Seasons Spring, Daily New, Goosehead Red, Thirty Thousand Flowers, and Evergreen梅花.
Song Dynasty poet Dong Siyue wrote in his poem "Catharanthus roseus": "One stem fades while another thrives, It is the work of spring that never tires. Even though peonies are considered exquisite, their glory fades in a short time." This is the epitome of Catharanthus roseus.
Lovers of flowers can plant a pot, but Catharanthus roseus is not fragrant. As an ornamental plant, it still has high ornamental value. Catharanthus roseus comes in many colors and is also a Chinese herb that can be refined into drugs for cancer treatment. However, Catharanthus roseus contains certain toxins, and ingestion can lead to a decrease in white blood cells, platelets, muscle weakness, and limb paralysis, so medication should be under the guidance of a doctor!
Is Catharanthus roseus easy to cultivate?
In fact, Catharanthus roseus is an easy-to-grow flower. However, to grow it well, one still needs to do some research on Catharanthus roseus! Let's learn about Catharanthus roseus today!
Catharanthus roseus belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is relatively tall, as it is a sub-shrub that can grow up to about 60 cm tall.
Catharanthus roseus prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil and grows poorly in saline-alkali soil. Therefore, care should be taken to prevent soil salinization during soil preparation and maintenance. You can mix some decayed leaf soil or dig some forest soil. It is usually difficult to do this in cities, so you can also prepare sandy soil. Catharanthus roseus is not picky about soil, as long as it is not saline-alkali or clayey soil (which is poorly ventilated and has poor water permeability, leading to root rot), it can grow well. Catharanthus roseus has a very strong vitality.
Catharanthus roseus is drought-tolerant and also has some cold resistance. In Shangqiu, Henan, it can survive indoors without air conditioning. However, although it is drought-tolerant, Catharanthus roseus prefers to grow in warm and humid environments. If it grows in a dry environment for a long time, the leaves will turn yellow and lack vitality. Therefore, during the growing period, it is important to water Catharanthus roseus to keep the soil moist. The soil can be allowed to dry out once a month to prevent bacterial growth and plant infection.
How long does the Catharanthus roseus bloom?
Catharanthus roseus is also tolerant of poor soil, but since it needs to bloom for up to six months, it consumes a lot of nutrients. Poor soil may lead to abnormal blooms or branches. Therefore, Catharanthus roseus should be fertilized with a thin fertilizer every 10 days in spring, summer, and autumn to ensure sufficient nutrients for the leaves and flowers. Fertilizers should be mainly nitrogen and phosphorus (not too much nitrogen and phosphorus at once, as too much can burn the roots). If seeds are not needed, the flowers can be removed after they fall, and less potassium fertilizer should be used. Organic fertilizer is best, as it does not cause soil compaction and has a long-lasting effect. Organic fertilizers are mostly made from soybean cakes, and a few drops of milk can be added when watering. Milk, when fermented in the soil, supplements calcium and is rich in nutrients. The concentration should be controlled, as too much can lead to plant death. Therefore, fertilize frequently with thin fertilizers.
Catharanthus roseus is a light-loving plant. During maintenance, ensure that it receives adequate sunlight to grow more vigorously and have more vibrant flowers. However, in summer, it is important to water it to prevent rapid evaporation and leaf wilting due to exposure to the sun.
As long as water and fertilizer are sufficient, Catharanthus roseus will grow vigorously. After some branches bloom, attention should be paid to pruning to promote the formation of new flower buds and the growth of more lateral buds. Overly dense branches should be thinned to make the plant grow better. Since Catharanthus roseus has a larger plant size, a strong pruning can be done after flowering in autumn.
Catharanthus roseus can be propagated by seeds or cuttings (propagation techniques are not discussed here, as those who have followed Lao Li's flower friends know that there are detailed explanations in previous chapters. All cutting methods are similar, and Catharanthus roseus cuttings are even simpler, similar to the cutting of Panax notoginseng, just cut the leafy branches and plant them directly).
The root system of Catharanthus roseus is also well-developed, and the roots should be pruned every 2-3 years. Weak and diseased roots can be cut off, and the amount of roots to be retained should depend on the size of the plant. Larger plants should have more roots left, while smaller plants can have fewer.
This article shares the blooming period of Catharanthus roseus and the methods of explaining the symbolism and meaning of Catharanthus roseus as a reference suggestion.