Does osmanthus prefer shade or sun?
If you want to know whether osmanthus prefers shade or sun, as well as the planting methods and precautions for growing osmanthus, the editor will introduce them as follows.
Many people like to buy a pot of osmanthus in spring and keep it indoors. If well cared for, it can bloom in autumn. Some people also choose to buy everblooming osmanthus, which has a longer blooming period and can bloom multiple times a year. The fragrance is very pleasant when it blooms at home. However, the osmanthus bought is usually planted in yellow clay soil, which is hard and prone to problems when kept at home. Often, there are issues such as leaf scorch, root rot, and even bud rot. Today, Xiaoqi will tell you the techniques needed to grow osmanthus. Only by mastering these key points can you keep its leaves green all year round and fill the house with blooming fragrance.
1. Change the pot
If you buy osmanthus in spring and find that it is planted in hard yellow clay soil, you need to change the pot after receiving it. This type of soil is not ventilated indoors, and it can easily cause root rot after watering. Moreover, once the soil compacts, it becomes difficult to water thoroughly, leading to dry roots and yellow leaves. Try to wash the roots and change the pot, then soak the cleaned roots in a rooting hormone solution for half an hour. Trim the weak and thin branches, and cut the long branches short. Then plant it in well-draining soil. Once the seedlings adapt successfully, the plant will grow well later without any issues.
2. Ensure proper ventilation
Good ventilation is very important for growing osmanthus. If the ventilation is poor and the humidity is too high, the leaves may become scorched, blackened, and rotten. Moreover, in a poorly ventilated environment, the soil dries slowly, which can cause root rot and leaf drop. Therefore, when caring for it at home, try to place it in a well-ventilated area. It has strong cold resistance, and even in winter, opening the windows for ventilation at noon will not cause any problems.
3. Do not let it lack water
Osmanthus is a woody plant. Many people are afraid to water too much,担心 it may cause root rot. However, it also requires a significant amount of water. When growing it, make sure not to let it lack water. Generally, when the potting soil is dry to about half, water it thoroughly, and there will be no problems, neither dry roots nor root rot, and the roots will grow well.
4. Provide plenty of sunlight
Osmanthus is also a typical sun-loving flower. It is a plant that requires full sunlight, even in strong summer sunlight. There is a prerequisite for exposing osmanthus to sunlight: we cannot lack water. If you place it in a sunny area and forget to water when the soil is completely dry, although it can recover after watering, you will find that its leaves become scorched later, which is caused by insufficient water and strong sunlight. Place it in a well-lit area but ensure it does not lack water.
Does osmanthus prefer shade or sun?
5. Sufficient fertilization
Different osmanthus varieties require different fertilization methods. Generally, during the growing season, we choose to use multi-element fertilizers with balanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to maintain stable growth. When it is about to bloom, supplement phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, such as monopotassium phosphate, which can help it quickly differentiate flower buds and directly produce flower buds for blooming. For example, the everblooming osmanthus usually produces flower buds with new shoots. It is recommended to use a lot of No. 2 Huaduo fertilizer, which has a high content of phosphorus and does not lack other elements, allowing it to bloom continuously. Fertilize once or twice a month, but not too much, and the concentration should be adjusted lower.
6. Pruning should not be done blindly
Osmanthus pruning has a specific time. Generally, for the everblooming osmanthus we grow, it continuously produces flower buds while the new branches grow. Therefore, after each blooming, we should prune it in time to promote the growth of new branches, which will then bloom again. If you are growing other osmanthus varieties, most of them bloom in autumn. Therefore, we can prune them before summer arrives. However, once summer comes, the new branches will gradually harden and age, and the top will stop growing, which is the stage when the branches are differentiating flower buds. By autumn, it can directly bloom. For other osmanthus varieties, it is recommended to stop pruning when summer arrives.
Osmanthus is relatively easy to grow, as woody plants are generally easy to care for. However, due to the large environment at home, we need to adjust it according to its habits. By following the techniques mentioned by Xiaoqi and mastering these key points, its leaves will remain green all year round, without dry or rotten leaves, and the roots will become more developed, allowing it to bloom profusely during the blooming period and fill the room with the fragrance of flowers.
The above (Green Plant Enthusiast Network) introduces the comprehensive information about whether osmanthus prefers shade or sun, as well as the planting methods and precautions for growing osmanthus, hoping to bring some knowledge about green plants to green plant enthusiasts.