How to cultivate osmanthus trees to make them bloom
If you want to know how to cultivate osmanthus trees to make them bloom and the key points of promoting blooming in green plants, let's take a look together!
Osmanthus is an evergreen shrub that emits a strong and long-lasting fragrance when in bloom. Planting it in a flowerpot on the balcony or in the courtyard can fill the entire garden with its fragrance; breaking off branches and placing them in a vase in the living room, bedroom, study, or dining room can make the scent sweet and pleasant, refreshing the mood and increasing appetite.
Osmanthus is also one of China's top ten famous flowers and has been loved by people since ancient times, as evidenced by the poem: "Osmanthus seeds fall in the moon, the celestial fragrance drifts beyond the clouds." The strong and enchanting fragrance of osmanthus is truly captivating! Therefore, as the group of flower lovers continues to expand, the fragrance of osmanthus spreads far and wide, deeply cherished by people. More and more flower enthusiasts are starting to cultivate osmanthus at home.
So how should osmanthus be cultivated? What are the issues to consider in its care? Perhaps not everyone is clear about this. Today, let's share some knowledge about cultivating osmanthus.
1. Selection of cultivation soil. Osmanthus prefers a warm and humid growing environment and the choice of cultivation soil should be fertile, loose, drainable, and slightly acidic. It is most averse to soils that are sticky and high in alkalinity. For home pot cultivation of osmanthus, you can choose peat soil, garden soil, and vermiculite mixed together to make a cultivation soil. It is suitable to plant in a pottery or ceramic pot with a diameter of 20-30 centimeters and a depth of 35-40 centimeters.
2. Requirements for light and temperature. The optimal growth temperature for osmanthus is around 18-28 degrees Celsius and it is not cold-tolerant. In northern regions, it is necessary to protect osmanthus from frost in winter, otherwise, the leaves will freeze and affect the growth in the following year. Osmanthus enjoys sunlight but can also grow in a semi-shaded environment. Avoid direct sun exposure, especially during the strong midday sun in summer, and make sure to provide shade.
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 the soil 2 centimeters below the surface is slightly damp. However, avoid waterlogging in the pot. The soil should remain moist during the growing period, and you can often spray water on the leaves, but reduce watering during the blooming period. Osmanthus likes fertilizer, and during the growing period, apply a thin fertilizer every 7-10 days, mainly nitrogen fertilizer, and apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once in summer to promote abundant flowers and lush 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 blooming can harm the vitality of the osmanthus and affect blooming the following year.
How to cultivate osmanthus trees to make them bloom
5. How to prevent and control diseases and pests. Osmanthus is prone to diseases such as leaf spot, leaf blight, and sootycrust disease, which can cause early defoliation and weaken the plant's nutritional supply during growth, thus reducing the ornamental value of osmanthus. For home potted osmanthus, it is important to remove diseased leaves in a timely manner, enhance ventilation and light, reduce leaf moisture, and prevent the spread of diseases. In the early stages of the disease, you can use a carbendazim fungicide, diluted 1:800 in water for spraying. For pest infestations like spider mites, you can use miticide for foliar spraying, making sure to spray both sides of the leaves, 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 spring germination, selecting one-year-old healthy branches, cutting them to 5-10 centimeters in length, removing the lower leaves, retaining 2-3 green leaves at the top, and inserting them into the culture medium. The medium can be river sand, coconut bran, or vermiculite. Before inserting, moisten the culture medium, 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 ensure the environmental temperature is around 20-25 degrees Celsius. After about two months, you can transplant it with soil to your preferred flowerpot.
The above is Green Plant Enthusiast Network's introduction to how to cultivate osmanthus trees to make them bloom and the key points of promoting blooming in osmanthus, which can be used as a reference for everyone.