How to grow osmanthus trees
Summary: This article covers the contents of planting green plants and flowers, focusing on how to grow and care for osmanthus trees. Corrections are welcome if there are any mistakes!
Osmanthus is an evergreen shrub that emits a strong and long-lasting fragrance when in bloom. Planting it in a pot on the balcony or in the courtyard can fill the entire garden with fragrance. Placing branches in a vase and placing them in the living room, bedroom, study, or dining room can make the scent sweet and refreshing, improving one's mood and appetite.
Osmanthus is also one of China's top ten famous flowers and has been loved by people since ancient times. As the poem goes, "Osmanthus seeds fall in the moon, the celestial fragrance drifts beyond the clouds." The rich aroma of osmanthus is truly captivating. With the expanding group of flower lovers, the fragrance of osmanthus has spread far and wide, deeply captivating people, and more and more flower enthusiasts are starting to grow osmanthus at home.
So, how to cultivate osmanthus? What issues need attention in cultivation? These may not be clear to everyone. Today, let's share some knowledge about growing osmanthus.
1. Selection of cultivation soil. Osmanthus prefers a warm and humid growing environment and requires fertile, loose, well-draining, and slightly acidic soil. It dislikes clayey soil with high alkalinity. For home potted cultivation of osmanthus, a mixture of peat soil, garden soil, and vermiculite rich in organic matter can be used as the cultivation soil. Pots with a diameter of 20-30 cm and a depth of 35-40 cm are suitable for planting.
2. Requirements for light and temperature. The optimal growing temperature for osmanthus is around 18-28 degrees Celsius. It is not cold-resistant, so in northern regions, measures must be taken to protect it from frost in winter, otherwise the leaves may freeze and affect the following year's growth. Osmanthus enjoys sunlight but also adapts well to semi-shaded environments. Avoid direct sunlight, and during the strong midday sun in summer, adequate shading is necessary.
3. How to water and fertilize. Osmanthus enjoys moisture but dislikes waterlogging. Watering should be done when the surface of the potting soil is dry, and it should feel slightly moist 2 cm below the surface. Avoid waterlogging in the pot. During the growing period, the soil should be kept moist, and the leaves can be sprayed with water regularly, but less watering is needed during the blooming period. Osmanthus enjoys fertilizer, with a thin application every 7-10 days during the growing season, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, and a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer application in summer to promote abundant flowers and foliage.
4. How to prune osmanthus branches. Pruning osmanthus branches to reduce their density can save many nutrients and promote healthy growth of the remaining branches. However, care must be taken not to prune too many branches during flowering, as this may harm the vitality of the plant and affect the following year's blooming.
5. How to prevent and treat diseases and pests. Osmanthus is prone to leaf spot, leaf blight, and sootycrust disease, which can cause early leaf drop and weaken the plant's nutrient supply during growth, thereby reducing its ornamental value. For home potted osmanthus, diseased leaves should be promptly removed, ventilation and light should be improved, and humidity on the leaves should be reduced to prevent the spread of the disease. In the early stages of the disease, a fungicide like carbendazim can be used at a dilution of 1:800. For pests like spider mites, a miticide can be sprayed on the leaf surfaces, making sure to spray both sides of the leaves and repeat the process 2-3 times to completely eradicate the pests.
6. How to propagate osmanthus. Osmanthus propagation by cuttings can be done before spring germination, selecting one-year-old healthy branches, cutting them into 5-10 cm lengths, removing the lower leaves, and retaining 2-3 green leaves at the top. The cuttings are planted in a culture medium, which can be river sand, coconut bran, or vermiculite. Before planting, moisten the culture medium, then proceed with the cutting. After planting, seal the pot opening with plastic wrap, keep the medium slightly moist, place it in a shaded area, and maintain an ambient temperature of around 20-25 degrees Celsius. After about two months, the cuttings can be transplanted with soil to a pot of your choice.
This article shares the full content on how to grow and care for osmanthus trees, hoping it will be helpful to green plant enthusiasts!