Reasons why osmanthus likes more or less water
Summary: The reasons why osmanthus likes more or less water and the correct watering methods for osmanthus, let's learn about them together.
Osmanthus, one of the top ten traditional famous flowers in China, is also an auspicious风水 flower that has developed into a very large number of varieties.
Although osmanthus has strong resistance to adversity, it is both heat and cold resistant, many friends still have trouble getting their osmanthus to bloom. Osmanthus has "3 likes" and "1 fear", no wonder it doesn't bloom, which one did it hit?
Likes light
Osmanthus is a full-sun, light-loving flower that needs plenty of sun exposure and ventilation. To make osmanthus grow strong, leaves green, and produce more flower branches, it should be placed in a sunny, well-lit, and clean air environment, as it does not tolerate smoke and oil fumes. If kept in a second-hand smoke-filled room or kitchen, the osmanthus may be harmed and fail to bloom.
It is best to keep it outdoors or in a sunny balcony. If kept indoors with sufficient light, ventilation should also be maintained, which will speed up the growth of the osmanthus and make the flowers more fragrant and beautiful.
However, if potted osmanthus is kept outdoors, it should be shaded appropriately in the summer and water should be sprayed to cool down to prevent the leaves from being sunburned. The humidity of the water should not be too high, otherwise the leaves may become burnt, blackened, and rot. Moreover, if the soil dries slowly in a poorly ventilated environment, it can cause yellowing and falling leaves, and easily lead to root rot.
To better ventilate and illuminate, it is also necessary to prune at least once a year. Except for the seasonal osmanthus, which needs to be pruned promptly after flowering, most other varieties that bloom in autumn should be pruned before the summer arrives.
However, do not prune after entering summer, as the new branches will gradually harden and age, the top branches will stop growing, and enter the stage of preparing to differentiate flower buds, so that they can bloom smoothly in autumn. If pruned, there will be no flowers in autumn.
Reasons why osmanthus likes more or less water
Likes fertilizer
Osmanthus likes fertilizer, and it is quite special, especially liking pig manure. There is a saying in folk wisdom, "If you want the osmanthus to be fragrant, always keep a pig manure pit." In the city, where we don't have pig manure or farmyard manure, we can use decomposed cake fertilizer liquid and apply it "frequently and thinly." From the beginning of spring when the temperature is above 15 degrees until before flowering, water every 10-15 days.
After August, when it's about to bloom, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers mainly, such as monopotassium phosphate. Those with conditions can apply decomposed chicken and duck manure liquid fertilizer every 15 days to promote flower bud differentiation.
When flower buds appear, stop fertilizing to avoid excessive nutrition causing bud drop, except for the seasonal osmanthus. Also, pay attention to the amount of fertilizer used during the flowering period, and the concentration should not be too high. After flowering, apply nitrogen fertilizer promptly, which should not be too concentrated or in large amounts to avoid causing new branches in autumn, consuming the nutrients of the plant.
Likes water
Osmanthus is a woody plant, and we often think that we should not water too much, fearing root rot. In fact, potted osmanthus also has a high demand for water, especially in the summer high-temperature weather when water evaporation is high, and more water should be added. In dry air and during the June-July flower bud differentiation period, water should be frequently sprayed on the leaves and around the plant to increase air humidity.