How to care for the June Snow with golden edges
Answering netizens' questions on how to care for the June Snow with golden edges and the precautions for its maintenance in terms of green plants and flowers, here is a comprehensive introduction.
The June Snow, also known as Bai Ma Gu, Man Tian Xing, and Ri Ri Chun Hua, belongs to the Rubiaceae family and is an evergreen or semi-deciduous dwarf shrub. It is named after the white flowers that resemble snow in summer. With its elegant posture, sparse branches and leaves, and delicate beauty, it is an exquisite ornamental flower and leaf species in landscaping, as well as an excellent material for potted landscapes. It is one of the five famous trees in Lingnan potted landscapes, known as one of the "Eighteen Scholars" in tree-stump potted landscapes. It is one of the potted plants exported to the United States after China's entry into the WTO.
I. Growth Habits
The June Snow prefers a warm and humid environment, enjoys sunlight, is shade-tolerant, drought-resistant, pruning-tolerant, slightly cold-resistant, fertilizer-loving, and not strict with soil requirements, adapting to neutral and slightly acidic soils.
II. Sources of Stock Material and Processing Techniques
The June Snow is commonly propagated by division in March of spring, and between February and October, it can be propagated through stem or root cuttings at any time. If protected cultivation (seedbed) is used, cuttings can be made from November to January of the following year, with attention to shading, insulation, and moisture retention after planting, resulting in a high survival rate. Two to three-year-old seedlings can start to be processed and shaped, usually from the semi-deciduous period in winter to before spring germination. The main stem and branches are tied with wire, and small branches are carefully pruned into shape. The branches of June Snow are soft and easy to bend but require a long time to set, with the wire ties removed after about 2-3 years. It's best to use multiple re-ties to prevent wire embedding from affecting plant growth and tree shape aesthetics. In the southeastern and central provinces of China, wild old stocks or young trees can be dug from the mountains and processed into pots after being cultivated in the ground.
III. Key Points of Potting Technique
The June Snow is suitable for transplanting and potting between February and March, or during the plum rain season and late autumn. Choose a shallow round, square, or oval purple sand or glazed pottery pot, with a slightly deeper color to contrast with the flower color. The potting soil should be rich in organic matter, loose and fertile, with good drainage and aeration, and can be mixed with garden soil, humus soil, pine needle soil, and 40% sand or rice husk ash. Trim the roots properly when potting, and for stocks that need to be processed into exposed-root style or stone-attached style盆景, this can be done during potting. After potting, a fine pruning of the upper branches and leaves should be performed (removing branches and leaves unrelated to shaping and affecting aesthetics) and proper shading and frequent misting are necessary to ensure survival and normal growth.
IV. Key Points of Maintenance Management Technique
1. Water and Fertilizer Management: During the growing season, the June Snow potted landscape should be watered frequently to keep the soil moist. In summer, the leaves should be sprayed with water 1-2 times a day, and during the rainy season, it is important to check for积水. In winter, watering should be reduced, with thorough watering every 3-6 days when the soil surface is slightly dry and turns white. Before the peak flowering period (April-May), apply 2-3 times of 0.3%-0.5% phosphorus-potassium fertilizer solution. In the winter, apply 1-2 times of thin organic fertilizer solution, and do not fertilize during other seasons. Avoid using thick fertilizer.
2. Light and Temperature Requirements: The June Snow is a subtropical species and avoids strong sunlight. In summer, it should be shaded by 50%-70%. In the south, it can overwinter outdoors; in the north, it should be moved indoors, maintaining a room temperature of 5-12℃.
3. Repotting and Pruning: Repotting and changing soil is usually done every 1-2 years in spring (February-March) or late autumn, replacing all old soil and trimming the roots properly. Root lifting can be combined with repotting to form suspended roots, enhancing its ornamental value. Every winter after semi-deciduous and before spring germination, a shaping pruning is performed, shortening long and vigorous branches, thinning dense and weak branches, cutting off diseased and pest branches, and other messy branches affecting the view. During the growing period, pinching, removing buds, and removing branches are done in a timely manner to maintain an exquisite shape. Healthy branches cut off can be used for cutting propagation.
4. Pest and Disease Control: June Snow potted landscapes have few pests and diseases, occasionally encountering aphids and snails. If they occur, they should be treated promptly with appropriate medication. Aphids can be controlled with a 500-600 times dilution of eucalyptus oil or with a 150 times dilution of neutral laundry detergent. Snails can be killed by spreading 80% Metarex granules on the potting soil surface or by spraying with a 58% Fengleiji emulsion.
When the potting soil is compacted and too wet or when the pot is waterlogged for too long, root rot can occur, and attention should be paid to control. When the potting soil is compacted, it should be repotted and changed immediately, and care should be taken not to keep the soil too wet for a long time, avoiding waterlogging. When symptoms first appear, apply a 12% Lüryo copper emulsion at a dilution of 600-1000 times, or a 50% Genrongling solution,喷洒 on the roots and leaves, every 3-5 days for 3-4 times. For severely affected plants, remove them from the pot, replace with new cultivation soil, clean the roots, cut off the diseased roots, soak the roots in the above medicine for 30 minutes, and then repot them, usually saving the plant.
The detailed explanation of how to care for the June Snow with golden edges and the precautions for its maintenance introduced above, I hope this article can bring you help in green plant management!