How to care for potted osmanthus seedlings
This article introduces how to care for potted osmanthus seedlings and explains the cultivation methods of osmanthus seedlings in green plants and flowers. The specific content is as follows:
Osmanthus is one of the top ten famous traditional Chinese flowers. When in bloom, it has a fragrant aroma and is evergreen throughout the year, making it an excellent garden species. Many flower enthusiasts also like to pot osmanthus at home, but often encounter yellow leaves and withering. Today, Lan Yao will focus on introducing the key management points of potted osmanthus, hoping to be of some help to you.
Key Points for Managing Potted Osmanthus
Cultivating osmanthus in the ground is very simple and easy to plant. However, to ensure that potted osmanthus grows well and blooms fragrance, Lan Yao suggests focusing on the following points.
1. Loosely fertile potting soil
Osmanthus grows best in deep, loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy loam. When potting osmanthus, it is recommended to mix three parts of decomposed leaf soil, four parts of garden soil, three parts of river sand soil, and a small amount of fermented organic fertilizer, or two parts of universal nutrient soil plus one part of garden soil and a small amount of fermented organic fertilizer.
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 before planting (do not wash the roots). After planting, water thoroughly once, and if it is not watered through the first time, you can water 2-3 times continuously. After watering through, place it in a bright area with scattered light for 2-3 days to recover, then gradually increase the light.
2. Maintain sufficient light
Osmanthus likes a sunny environment. When caring for potted plants, except for the initial period of potting and recovering, 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 down, and it's fine if the osmanthus tree is not shaded. When potting osmanthus on a室内 balcony, make sure to open the windows for ventilation.
3. Water only when the soil is dry
Many flower enthusiasts have difficulty growing potted osmanthus well, and a major problem is watering. The watering requirement for osmanthus is to water only when the soil is dry and to water thoroughly when watering. Normally, if the surface of the potting soil turns grayish-white, the surface feels hard to the touch, or the soil below the surface 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 each watering to prevent the soil from becoming alkaline. Alkaline soil can lead to iron deficiency in osmanthus, causing yellow leaves and even withering.
For outdoor potted osmanthus, be careful with drainage during consecutive rainy days to prevent waterlogging in the pot.
As autumn approaches and temperatures start to drop, it is advisable to reduce watering. Maintaining a moist environment for the soil and air is important for flowering. If the air is dry, it is recommended to spray more water on the leaves to increase the relative humidity, which is beneficial for the osmanthus to bud and bloom.
4. Fertilize appropriately to avoid fertilizer damage
Potted osmanthus begins to germinate in mid-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 sturdy and lay the foundation for bud differentiation.
How to Care for Potted Osmanthus Seedlings
In mid-to-late May, the leaves harden and the new shoots stop growing, entering the nutrient accumulation period. It is recommended to use phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote bud differentiation. It is suggested to shallowly bury fermented organic fertilizer plus bone meal or calcium magnesium phosphorus fertilizer to continuously provide nutrients for osmanthus. Starting in August, add monopotassium phosphate fertilizer to each watering until flowering.
During the flowering period, stop applying additional fertilizer. After the flowering period, apply 1-2 times of balanced NPK compound fertilizer to promote the recovery of the osmanthus plant. As the temperature decreases, you can apply 1-2 times of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers before winter to strengthen the roots of the osmanthus and lay the foundation for flowering next year.
Points to Consider When Managing Potted Osmanthus
1. Avoid using too much fertilizer.
Many flower enthusiasts do not master the amount of fertilizer for potted osmanthus well, which can easily cause fertilizer damage. Fertilizing potted osmanthus should follow the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently. If water-soluble fertilizers are not easy to handle, you can use more fermented organic fertilizers, which have a gentle effect and are less likely to cause damage. Using a small amount multiple times, without water-soluble fertilizers, is also acceptable.
2. Avoid using unfermented fertilizer.
The tolerance of potted osmanthus to fertilizer is not strong, and unfermented raw fertilizer 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 osmanthus, the roots should not come into direct contact with the base fertilizer. The base fertilizer should be separated by soil, especially for bare-rooted osmanthus seedlings. When applying top dressing, it should not be placed directly on the roots but should be buried shallowly around the pot edge.
4. Avoid not repotting for a long time.
Potted osmanthus is recommended to be repotted every 2 years,剪除老根, and the repotting time is more suitable in late October or March of the following year when the growth of osmanthus is slow, minimizing the impact of repotting.
The above content introduced by the Green Enthusiast Network on how to care for potted osmanthus seedlings and the cultivation methods of osmanthus seedlings, hoping to be helpful to green enthusiasts!