How to cultivate osmanthus to make it more vigorous
Today, the editor will explain how to cultivate osmanthus to make it more vigorous and teach you the correct methods for caring for osmanthus in the topic of flowers and plants. Please see the detailed introduction below.
Osmanthus is an evergreen shrub, and its flowers have a strong and long-lasting fragrance when in bloom. Planting it in a flowerpot on the balcony of your home or in the patio of your courtyard can fill the entire garden with fragrance; breaking off branches and placing them in vases in the living room, bedroom, study, or dining room will fill the air with a sweet scent, making people feel relaxed and increasing their appetite.
Osmanthus is also one of the top ten famous flowers in China and has been loved by people since ancient times, as evidenced by the poem: "Osmanthus seeds fall in the moon, celestial fragrance drifts beyond the clouds." The strong and enchanting fragrance of osmanthus is indeed captivating! Therefore, with the expanding group of flower enthusiasts, the fragrance of osmanthus spreads far and wide, deeply captivating people, and more and more flower lovers are starting to cultivate osmanthus at home.
So, how to cultivate osmanthus? What issues need attention in cultivation? These may not be clear to everyone. Let's share some knowledge about cultivating osmanthus today.
1. Selection of cultivation soil. Osmanthus prefers a warm and humid growing environment and requires fertile, loose, and well-drained slightly acidic loamy soil, which is most unsuitable for soils with high clay content and alkalinity. For home pot cultivation of osmanthus, a mixture of peat soil, garden soil, and vermiculite rich in organic matter can be used as the cultivation soil. It is suitable to plant in clay or ceramic pots with a diameter of 20~30 centimeters and a depth of 35~40 centimeters.
2. Requirements for light and temperature. The suitable growth temperature for osmanthus is around 18~28 degrees Celsius and it is not cold-resistant. In northern regions, it is necessary to protect the plant from frost in winter, otherwise, the leaves may freeze and affect the growth the following year. Osmanthus enjoys sunlight but also adapts to semi-shaded environments, avoiding direct sunlight exposure. During the strong midday sun in summer, it is important to provide shade.
3. How to water and fertilize. Osmanthus prefers moist conditions but dislikes waterlogging. Watering should be done when the surface of the potting soil is dry, and the soil is slightly moist 2 centimeters below the surface. However, avoid waterlogging in the pot. During the growing period, the soil should be kept moist, and you can often spray water on the leaves, but reduce watering during the blooming period. Osmanthus enjoys fertilizer and should be fertilized every 7~10 days during the growing period with a thin fertilizer, mainly nitrogenous, and a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer once in summer to promote abundant flowers and leaves.
4. How to prune osmanthus branches. Pruning the branches of osmanthus to reduce their density can save a lot of nutrients and promote the healthy growth of the remaining branches. However, it is important to note that excessive pruning during flowering can damage the plant's vitality and affect the following year's blooming.
5. How to prevent and control diseases and pests. Osmanthus is prone to diseases such as leaf spot, leaf blight, and soot blight, which can cause early defoliation, weaken the plant's nutrient supply during growth, and reduce its ornamental value. For home potted osmanthus, it is important to remove diseased leaves promptly, improve ventilation and light, and reduce leaf moisture to prevent the spread of diseases. In the early stage of the disease, a fungicide like carbendazim can be used at a dilution of 1:800 to spray. For pests like spider mites, miticides can be used for foliar spraying, ensuring both sides of the leaves are sprayed, and repeat the process 2~3 times to completely eliminate the pests.
6. How to propagate osmanthus. The cutting propagation of osmanthus can be done before the spring germination, selecting one-year-old healthy branches, cutting them into 5~10 centimeters long, removing the lower leaves, retaining 2~3 green leaves at the top, and inserting them into the culture medium, which can be river sand, coconut bran, or vermiculite. Before inserting, moisten the culture medium and then proceed with the insertion. After insertion, seal the pot opening with plastic wrap, keep the medium slightly moist, place it in a shaded area for care, and always maintain an ambient temperature of 20~25 degrees Celsius. After about 2 months, you can transplant it with the soil clump into a pot of your choice.
The detailed introduction on how to cultivate osmanthus to make it more vigorous and teach you the correct methods for caring for osmanthus has been provided above. Do you understand now?