Does Nandina domestica need pollination to bear fruit (Why does Nandina domestica bloom but not bear fruit)

A netizen asked : If you want Nandina domestica to bear fruit after it blooms, is it necessary to pollinate it?

In fact, there are many reasons why Nandina domestica is not easy to bear fruit. However, untimely pollination after flowering is also one of the main reasons for its failure to bear fruit.

Because Nandina domestica blooms during the rainy season, the fruit set is often poor due to poor pollination.

In addition to being careful not to expose it to long-term rain, you can also use artificial pollination to dip pollen with a brush. It is advisable to pollinate multiple times during flowering. This is also a relatively effective way to increase the fruit-bearing rate of Nandina domestica.

Analysis of the reasons why Nandina domestica is difficult to bear fruit

Nandina domestica grown in urban households is generally difficult to bear fruit. Although some of them bloom, it is difficult to see fruit. What is the reason for this?

There are many reasons for Nandina domestica to bear fruit, but the most important one is that the humidity should be high, preferably around 75% to 80%. In addition, Nandina domestica is very sensitive to air pollution, so the air should be kept fresh.

Because there are many roads in the city and vehicles come and go, there are many harmful gases such as car exhaust emitted. The dust and smoke blown by the wind are also much more than in the countryside, causing the branches and leaves of Nandina domestica to be covered with dust . This is also the reason why Nandina domestica is not easy to bear fruit.

This makes it difficult for Nandina domestica planted in urban households to bloom and bear fruit. However, Nandina domestica planted in suburban or mountainous areas can bloom and bear fruit even though it has not been carefully cultivated artificially, because the air there is fresh and not turbid.

If you can do the following things well when growing Nandina domestica in a pot, you can also increase its fruiting rate:

(1) Sunlight exposure needs to be appropriate

   The place where the Nandina domestica potted plants are placed should not be exposed to the scorching sun or too much shade. If it is too shaded, the plant will grow poorly and the fruit will be reduced; too much sunlight will burn the tender leaves and affect its fruiting.

Potted plants should be placed in a ventilated place with diffused light. If they can be exposed to sunlight in the morning and before 9 a.m., it would be most appropriate to place them in the shade at noon and in the afternoon.

(2) Artificial pollination is required during the flowering period

   From May to July every year , Nandina domestica blooms during the rainy season in the south of the Yangtze River. Untimely pollination often results in poor fruiting of Nandina domestica.

Therefore, flower lovers need to be reminded that during the flowering and fruiting period of Nandina domestica, in addition to preventing the plants from being watered by rain, artificial pollination should be carried out in time, using a brush to dip pollen and perform multiple pollinations during flowering.

(3) Root pruning should be done well

   Since Nandina domestica grows one-year-old branches from 2-3-year-old branches and then blooms and bears fruit, it is best not to over-prune the branches. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the old branches to grow new branches and thus bloom and bear fruit.

For Nandina domestica planted in the courtyard, the roots around the plant should be cut off with a shovel 30 to 40 centimeters away from the plant before the new shoots grow. This can promote the fruiting rate of Nandina domestica.

(4) Apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote flowering

   In the summer, it is best to place it in a semi-shaded place outdoors, water it with rain frequently, and apply a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once every 30 to 45 days, and then add 1% ferrous sulfate liquid fertilizer; in winter, fertilization should be stopped.

When entering the bud formation stage, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers every 15 to 20 days or so, and apply less or no nitrogen fertilizer to promote bud formation, flowering and fruiting. Do not apply any fertilizer during the flowering and fruiting period to promote fruiting.