Care Tips for Potted Osmanthus
The following is a detailed introduction to the knowledge of potted Osmanthus cultivation for netizens, and the editor will introduce it next.
Osmanthus is one of the top ten famous traditional Chinese flowers. It has a fragrant smell when blooming and stays green all year round, making it an excellent garden species. Many flower enthusiasts also like to pot Osmanthus at home, but often encounter yellow leaves and wilting. Today, we will focus on the key points of managing potted Osmanthus, hoping it will be helpful to you.
Key Points for Cultivating Potted Osmanthus
Cultivating Osmanthus in the ground is very simple and easy to plant. However, to ensure that the potted Osmanthus grows well and blooms with a fragrant smell, it is recommended to focus on the following points.
1. - - Loose and fertile potting soil - -
Osmanthus grows best in deep, loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy loam. When potting Osmanthus, it is recommended to mix 3 parts of decomposed leaf soil, 4 parts of garden soil, 3 parts of river sand soil, and a small amount of fermented organic fertilizer, or 2 parts of general nutrient soil + 1 part of garden soil + a small amount of fermented organic fertilizer mixed evenly.
When potting, you can add fermented organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot. It is recommended to pot with the original soil or remove the outer part of the original soil ball to expose the roots (do not wash the roots). After planting, water thoroughly, and if it is not watered enough at once, you can water 2-3 times continuously. After watering thoroughly, place it in a bright and diffused light area for 2-3 days to acclimate, then gradually increase the light.
2. - - Maintain sufficient lighting - -
Osmanthus enjoys a well-lit environment. When caring for potted Osmanthus, except for avoiding direct sunlight during the acclimation period after potting, it is necessary to ensure at least 4 hours of direct sunlight during the growing period, preferably full sunlight. In the summer, you can shade the pot to cool it down, and it's fine if the Osmanthus tree is not shaded. For indoor balcony cultivation of Osmanthus, attention should be paid to opening windows for ventilation.
3. - - Water only when the soil is dry - -
Many flower enthusiasts cannot cultivate potted Osmanthus well, and the problem often lies in watering. The watering requirement for Osmanthus is to water only when the soil is dry and water thoroughly. In daily maintenance, if the surface of the potting soil turns grayish-white, the surface feels hard when touched, or the soil below 2cm is dry, it indicates that watering is needed. Watering should be done until a large amount of water flows out from the bottom of the pot, and do not water halfway.
In the northern regions, where the soil is alkaline, a small amount of ferrous sulfate or citric acid can be added to the water each time to prevent soil alkalization. Alkalized soil can cause iron deficiency yellowing in Osmanthus, and severe cases can lead to wilting.
For outdoor potted Osmanthus, attention should be paid to drainage during consecutive rainy days to prevent waterlogging.
As autumn approaches and temperatures begin to drop, it is advisable to reduce watering. Keeping the soil and air moist before and after the potted Osmanthus blooms is important. If the air is dry, it is recommended to spray the leaves more often to increase the relative humidity, which is beneficial for Osmanthus bud formation and blooming.
4. - - Reasonable fertilization to avoid fertilizer damage - -
Potted Osmanthus germinates in mid-to-late March and quickly enters the vigorous growth period of new shoots. It is recommended to apply an appropriate amount of fermented organic fertilizer and slow-release fertilizer and apply 1-2 times of balanced NPK compound fertilizer or soybean cake fertilizer after germination to make the new shoots grow robust and lay the foundation for flower bud differentiation.
Care Tips for Potted Osmanthus
In mid-to-late May, the leaves harden and the new shoots stop growing, entering the nutrient accumulation period. It is recommended to focus on phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote flower bud differentiation. It is suggested to shallowly bury fermented organic fertilizer + bone meal or calcium magnesium phosphate fertilizer to continuously provide nutrients for Osmanthus. From August, add monopotassium phosphate fertilizer to each watering until blooming.
During the blooming period, Osmanthus should stop applying top dressing. After the blooming period, apply 1-2 times of balanced NPK compound fertilizer to promote the recovery of the Osmanthus plant. As the temperature drops, apply 1-2 times of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers before winter to strengthen the Osmanthus roots and lay the foundation for next year's blooming.
Care Tips for Potted Osmanthus
1. - - Avoid over-fertilization - -
Many flower enthusiasts do not master the amount of fertilizer for potted Osmanthus well and often cause fertilizer damage. The principle of fertilizing potted Osmanthus should be thin and frequent. If water-soluble fertilizer cannot be controlled, more fermented organic fertilizer can be used. Fermented organic fertilizer has a gentle effect and is less likely to cause fertilizer damage. It can be used in small amounts multiple times without using water-soluble fertilizer.
2. - - Avoid raw fertilizer - -
The tolerance of potted Osmanthus to fertilizer is not strong, and raw fertilizer that has not been fermented cannot be used, not even rice washing water before fermentation. Once fertilizer damage occurs, it is difficult to save.
3. - - Avoid direct contact with fertilizer - -
When potting potted Osmanthus, the roots should not directly contact the base fertilizer. The base fertilizer should be separated by soil, especially for bare-rooted Osmanthus seedlings. When top-dressing, do not place it directly on the roots but shallowly bury it around the pot edge.
4. - - Avoid not changing pots for a long time - -
Potted Osmanthus is recommended to change the potting soil every 2 years,剪除 old roots. The potting time is more suitable in late October of each year or March in spring, as Osmanthus grows slowly at this time, and the impact of repotting is smaller.
The above is the main content of the cultivation points and care tips for potted Osmanthus, hoping it will be helpful to you!