How to Cultivate Orchids
Sharing experience on how to cultivate orchids and the cultivation methods of pot-grown magnolia, let's get to know them together.
White magnolia is an evergreen tree that prefers warm and humid conditions, does not tolerate cold or drought, and its fragrance is pervasive, with flowers as white as jade.
The key to making the pot-grown white magnolia have large flowers, numerous blooms, fragrant scent, vibrant color, and a long blooming period is to strengthen the flowering management.
1. Provide Appropriate Light
White magnolia is a sun-loving flower that requires plenty of sunlight. During the growing period, it should be placed on a sunny balcony or sunny ground, especially during the flowering period. It needs at least 6 hours of sunlight every day.
If white magnolia is cultivated in a shaded area, it will only grow leaves and not bloom, or bloom very few flowers, with thin, long branches, pale leaf color, thin leaves, and no luster, which is very detrimental to its growth.
However, during the hot and high-temperature "dog days" of summer, it should be moderately shaded, avoiding direct sunlight from 12 to 4 pm, as well as the high-temperature radiation from brick walls or concrete ground.
During this time, not only should water be sprayed on the plants to cool them down, but water should also be poured or sprayed on the ground to cool and dissipate heat, increasing the humidity and artificially creating a suitable environment.
2. Watering Appropriately
White magnolia has fleshy roots that require water but fear waterlogging.
Therefore, from early summer to late autumn, water should be given once a day to keep the soil moist, but during the hot "dog days," water should be given twice a day, morning and evening, and water should also be sprayed on the leaves and ground around the pot to increase humidity.
When using tap water to water white magnolia, be careful to prevent soil alkalization. If yellowing of the leaves is observed, apply a solution of ferrous sulfate or 0.7% to 0.8% vinegar water to the roots. You can also spray 0.3% to 0.4% vinegar solution on the leaves, which works well. During the rainy season in spring, water should not accumulate in the pot, otherwise, the roots will rot.
3. Supplementing Nutrients
This is an important part of flowering management. White magnolia is a flower that loves fertilizer, as it has a long flowering period and many flowers. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement nutrients regularly to achieve more flowers, larger blooms, vibrant colors, and fragrant scent.
In addition to applying enough base fertilizer when potting, it is necessary to apply a phosphorus and potassium-based organic liquid fertilizer every 5 to 7 days during the flowering period from May to October, such as decomposed cake fertilizer. The principle of fertilizing is to apply thin fertilizer frequently, or start with a lighter solution and then increase the concentration, never apply raw fertilizer, as it will burn the roots. Also, apply foliar feeding every 7 to 10 days using 0.5% plant growth hormone and 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate.
4. Pruning Leaves and Pinching Shoots
The time to move white magnolia outdoors is between the vernal equinox and Qingming every year, choosing a cloudy or overcast day to move it out. After moving it out, let the potted plant adapt to the outdoor environment for 2 to 3 days before starting to remove the old leaves, leaving only a few tender leaves on the branches to promote new growth.
After each batch of flowers has finished blooming, also remove a few old leaves to promote new branch growth and flower bud formation. During the growing period of white magnolia, it is also necessary to pinch the tips to control the apical dominance and promote the growth of lateral branches.
5. Pest and Disease Control
The main pests affecting white magnolia are aphids and scale insects.
Scale insects can be controlled by spraying 0.3% to 0.4% vinegar solution or removing them by hand.
Aphids affect the buds and flower buds and can be controlled using a rapid insect killer or a 500-fold solution of laundry detergent. You can also use a cotton swab dipped in laundry detergent solution to remove the pests, then rinse the branches and leaves with clean water.
In the management of white magnolia, in addition to preventing and treating yellowing disease and root rot, it is also necessary to prevent and treat anthracnose.
If disease symptoms are observed, promptly remove the diseased plants and leaves, and spray 50% carbendazim 500 to 800-fold solution on the leaves, or use 70% thiophanate-methyl 800 to 1000-fold solution for control.
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