How to manage the foliage of Catharanthus roseus in summer
An introduction to the management of Catharanthus roseus in summer and the knowledge of its maintenance in green plants and flowers. Next, the editor will provide an explanation.
Catharanthus roseus, also known as the money plant, belongs to the Apocynaceae family and is a type of evergreen subshrub. The leaves of Catharanthus roseus are elegant and beautiful with irregular yellow and white patterns on the edges. It prefers a warm, humid, and well-lit environment, but it can also tolerate shade. For indoor cultivation, you can choose a pot made of clay, ceramic, or plastic with a diameter of 16 to 18 cm. If you plan to grow it as a hanging plant, you should choose a pot with a hook. To coordinate with indoor decor, you can also choose a pot with color variations. It is suitable for hanging cultivation, and the pot can be hung long-term in a bright doorway, wall corner, or high place in the room, allowing the vines to hang freely. It can also be placed on a windowsill, table, or plant stand with light exposure for pot observation.
Catharanthus roseus prefers fertile, loose, breathable, and well-drained sandy soil. For home cultivation, you can use a mixture of 5 parts garden soil, 3 parts decomposed leaf soil, and 2 parts sand, or 4 parts peat soil, 2 parts decomposed leaf soil, 3 parts sand, and 1 part perlite.
Catharanthus roseus is fond of fertilizer, with nitrogen fertilizer being the main type. No fertilizer is needed during the initial potting phase. Once new leaves grow, top dressing should begin. Young plants and those that have been pruned again should be fertilized with a well-rotted 10-fold liquid fertilizer every 15 days or with a 1000-fold general-purpose fertilizer like "Floraduo" once. For mature plants, apply a well-rotted 20-fold liquid fertilizer once a month or 1000-fold "Floraduo" twice. Summer and winter are not suitable for plant growth, so no fertilizer is needed. In spring, when new growth is abundant, the liquid fertilizer can be mixed with an equal amount of 1000-fold potassium bicarbonate solution and applied 2 to 3 times consecutively.
Catharanthus roseus prefers moist soil and a humid growing environment. During the growing season, the soil in the pot should be kept moist. If the indoor air is too dry, the leaves will lose their luster, and water should be sprayed on the leaves, especially in summer, when the frequency of spraying water on the plant leaves and around the pot should be increased. In winter, when the temperature is low, the soil in the pot should be kept slightly dry. The editor will introduce the management methods for Catharanthus roseus in different seasons below:
One, spring management;
When the temperature stabilizes above 10°C in spring, repotting should be done, and the vines should be pruned during repotting. Catharanthus roseus prefers plenty of light when new leaves grow, and the leaf patterns tend to fade when there is insufficient light. In early spring, it should be placed on a sunny windowsill. After the temperature rises in spring, the plant begins to sprout new buds, and the potting soil should be kept moist and fertilizing should start. When the temperature is high, the midday sunlight should be blocked or provide half-shade. In late spring, the pot should be moved to a semi-shaded area or a brightly lit room, and attention should be paid to increasing the indoor humidity.
Two, summer management;
Catharanthus roseus does not tolerate high temperatures but is not resistant to strong sunlight. In summer, the strong sunlight can burn the leaves, so the pot should be placed in a brightly lit indoor area. The soil should be kept moist, and water should be sprayed frequently around the pot and on the plant leaves to increase the humidity in the air. Indoor ventilation is important, and no fertilizer is needed when the temperature is high.
Three, autumn management;
In autumn, when the temperature is cool, light exposure can be increased. After the temperature drops, the pot should be gradually moved to a sunny windowsill. Reduce the frequency of watering, keeping the soil slightly dry, which is beneficial for the plant to enter a semi-dormant state and stop fertilizing.
Four, winter management;
Catharanthus roseus is not cold-resistant but can safely overwinter in temperatures above 0°C. In winter, the pot should be placed on a sunny windowsill, and the soil should be kept slightly dry. When the midday temperature is high, water should be sprayed several times on the leaves and around the pot to meet the plant's humidity requirements.
Additionally, young plants need to be pinched 2 to 3 times to encourage new growth and form a full plant shape. Indoor potted plants should be controlled in height to prevent the branches from becoming too long and drooping. Long branches should be cut off with scissors in time. For mature plants that have been growing for 2 to 3 years, with aging vines and leaves, you can剪去 the top part of the branches and leaves, leaving a base of 5 to 10 centimeters, during spring repotting. At the same time, strengthen water and fertilizer management, and new branches and leaves will soon sprout.
The above introduction on how to manage Catharanthus roseus in summer and the full content of knowledge on its maintenance are hoped to be helpful for green plant enthusiasts!