Can West海棠 be potted? How to care for it
Answering for netizens whether West海棠 can be potted and how to care for it, as well as the knowledge of flowers and plants about the cultivation methods of海棠 potted plants, the editor will introduce next.
West海棠 grown as a bonsai, full of flowers in spring, and full of cheerful "little red fruits" in autumn
West海棠 has a beautiful tree shape, full of flowers in spring, and small fruits in autumn, which are cute and ideal materials for making bonsai. They can be admired for both flowers and fruits. So, how can West海棠 be grown into a beautiful and attractive bonsai?
I. Pot Selection
As West海棠 grows strong, it is best to choose a deeper pot for potted maintenance. The pot shape can be square, round, etc., depending on the tree shape, and the material of the pot should have good breathability, such as purple sand pot, ceramic pot, etc.
II. Potting Planting
West海棠 is not strict about soil requirements, but to make the plant grow vigorously and produce more flowers and fruits, it is recommended to prepare loose, fertile, and breathable soil, mixed with some decomposed organic fertilizer.
Before potting, cover the drainage hole, put a layer of coal cinder or small stones as the drainage layer at the bottom, then fill in the cultivation soil and plant the plant deeply in the pot, compact the surrounding pot soil, water once to settle the roots, and place it in a shady and well-ventilated area for maintenance.
III. Watering Requirements
In the period of vigorous growth, keep the potting soil moist but do not water too frequently to avoid making the soil too wet, as this may cause the branches and leaves to grow excessively. In the hot summer, water evaporates quickly, so observe the potting soil condition at any time and water promptly when the surface soil is dry. Also, spray water around the potted plant to cool and increase humidity.
In autumn, after the plant bears fruit, reduce watering to keep the potting soil slightly moist, as excessive watering can cause fruit drop. After entering winter, the plant enters a dormant state, and the potting soil should be kept slightly moist and slightly dry.
Can West海棠 be potted? How to care for it
IV. Fertilization Requirements
Potted West海棠 is limited by the potting soil and has sparse nutrients, so it needs to be applied with some base fertilizer when potting. During the period of vigorous growth, it should be supplemented with a complex fertilizer or fermented cake fertilizer, chicken manure, sheep manure, etc., once a month.
Before budding and flowering, you can top-dress 1-2 times with phosphorus fertilizer, such as applying a 0.2% solution of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, or burying some bone meal in the potting soil to help the plant bloom and bear fruit.
V. Light Requirements
West海棠 is a plant that loves light. During maintenance, it should be exposed to the sun as much as possible. Only under sufficient light can the plant carry out photosynthesis fully, grow stronger, and produce more flowers and fruits.
If it is exposed to less sunlight, the branches and leaves may grow excessively, affecting normal flowering and fruiting.
VI. Pruning and Shaping
West海棠 grows branches and leaves quickly and needs constant pruning and shaping to achieve the desired shape. Pruning is usually done after the leaves fall in winter and before the spring sprouts, mainly pruning dead branches, overlapping branches, crossing branches, and messy branches, and shortening overly long branches.
Usually, shaping should be combined with pruning. After pruning the messy branches, use wire to wrap the main trunk and large branches to be shaped, and gradually process them into the desired bonsai form. West海棠 commonly has oblique trunk, curved trunk, double trunk, multi-trunk, and cliff styles.
The above introduction of West海棠 potted plant care and the specific cultivation methods of海棠 potted plants brought by the Green Plant Enthusiast website are hoped to provide some knowledge of flowers to green plant enthusiasts.