How to cultivate osmanthus
The editor explains how to cultivate osmanthus and briefly introduces the growth process of osmanthus in the field of green plants and flowers. The following is a detailed introduction for you.
Osmanthus is one of the top ten famous traditional flowers in China. When in bloom, it has a fragrant aroma and is evergreen throughout the year, making it an excellent garden species. Many flower enthusiasts also enjoy growing osmanthus in pots at home, but often encounter yellow leaves and withering. Today, Lan Yao will focus on introducing the key management points of potted osmanthus, hoping it will be helpful to you.
Key points for managing potted osmanthus
Cultivating osmanthus in the ground is very simple and easy to plant. However, to ensure good growth and fragrant blooms in pots, Lan Yao suggests focusing on the following points.
1. Use loose and fertile potting soil
Osmanthus grows best in deep, loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy loam soil. When potting osmanthus, it is recommended to mix three parts of decomposed leaf soil, four parts of garden soil, three parts of river sand soil, and a small amount of fermented organic fertilizer, or two parts of general nutrient soil plus one part of garden soil and a small amount of fermented organic fertilizer.
When potting, you can add fermented organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot. It is recommended to pot with the original soil or remove the outer part of the original soil ball to expose the roots before planting (do not wash the roots). After planting, water thoroughly once, and if it's not fully soaked, you can water 2-3 times continuously. After watering, place it in a bright area with diffused light for 2-3 days to acclimate, then gradually increase sunlight exposure.
2. Maintain adequate sunlight
Osmanthus enjoys a sunny environment. When caring for potted osmanthus, except for the acclimation period after potting, ensure at least 4 hours of direct sunlight during the growing season, ideally full sun. In the summer, you can shade the pot to cool it down, but it's fine for the osmanthus tree not to be shaded. For potted osmanthus on a indoor balcony, make sure to open the windows for ventilation.
3. Water only when the soil is dry
Many flower enthusiasts have difficulty growing potted osmanthus well, and a major issue is watering. The watering rule for osmanthus is to water only when the soil is dry and to water thoroughly when you do. Usually, if the surface of the potting soil turns grayish-white, feels hard to the touch, or the soil below the surface is dry for 2 cm, it's time to water. Make sure to water until a large amount of water flows out of the bottom of the pot, avoiding half-watering.
In northern regions, where the soil is more alkaline, you can add a small amount of ferrous sulfate or citric acid to each watering to prevent soil alkalization. Alkalized soil can lead to iron deficiency yellowing in osmanthus, and in severe cases, withering.
For outdoor potted osmanthus, be mindful of drainage during continuous rainy days to prevent waterlogging.
As temperatures drop in autumn before flowering, reduce watering appropriately. Maintaining a moist soil and air environment around the potted osmanthus when flowering is important. If the air is dry, it is recommended to spray the leaves more often to increase the relative humidity, which is beneficial for osmanthus bud formation and flowering.
4. Fertilize appropriately to avoid fertilizer damage
Potted osmanthus begins to germinate in mid-March and quickly enters the vigorous growth period of new shoots. It is recommended to apply a moderate amount of fermented organic fertilizer and slow-release fertilizer, and after germination, apply 1-2 times of balanced NPK compound fertilizer or soybean cake fertilizer to make the new shoots strong and full, laying the foundation for flower bud differentiation.
Osmanthus cultivation method
In late May and early June, as the leaves harden and new shoots stop growing, the plant enters a nutrient accumulation period. At this time, it is recommended to use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote flower bud differentiation. It is suggested to shallowly bury fermented organic fertilizer plus bone meal or calcium magnesium phosphorus fertilizer to continuously provide nutrients for osmanthus. From August, add monopotassium phosphate fertilizer to each watering until flowering.
During the flowering period, stop top-dressing osmanthus. After the flowering period, apply 1-2 times of balanced NPK compound fertilizer to promote the recovery of the osmanthus plant. As temperatures decrease, you can apply 1-2 times of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer before winter to strengthen the root system of osmanthus, laying the foundation for next year's flowering.
Precautions for managing potted osmanthus
1. Avoid using too much fertilizer.
Many flower enthusiasts do not control the amount of fertilizer well and may cause fertilizer damage. Fertilizing potted osmanthus should follow the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently. If water-soluble fertilizers are difficult to control, you can use more fermented organic fertilizers, which have a gentle effect and are less likely to cause fertilizer damage. Using a small amount multiple times is also acceptable without water-soluble fertilizers.
2. Avoid using raw fertilizer.
The tolerance for fertilizer in potted osmanthus is not strong, and unfermented raw fertilizer should not be used, not even rice washing water before fermentation. Once fertilizer damage occurs, it is difficult to save the plant.
3. Avoid direct contact with fertilizer.
When potting osmanthus, the roots should not come into direct contact with the base fertilizer. The base fertilizer should be separated by soil, especially for bare-rooted osmanthus seedlings. When top-dressing, do not place it directly on the roots but shallowly bury it around the pot edge.
4. Avoid not repotting for a long time.
It is recommended to change the potting soil of potted osmanthus every two years and prune the old roots. The best time for repotting is in late October every year or in March the following spring, when osmanthus growth is slow and the impact of repotting is minimal.
The above is [Green Plant Enthusiast Website]'s introduction on how to cultivate osmanthus and a brief overview of the growth process of osmanthus, hoping to bring a little help to your life!