How to grow potted osmanthus? Cultivation methods and maintenance matters

Osmanthus potted cultivation method

1. Slightly acidic soil

Before planting potted osmanthus, you need to choose suitable soil. Because osmanthus likes to grow in loose, breathable, well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic soil, you can mix sandy loam and peat soil in equal proportions, or you can mix garden soil and sand.

2. Adequate lighting

Potted osmanthus is a sun-loving plant, so it should be placed in direct sunlight frequently to promote the differentiation of flower buds. Some scattered light is sufficient during the seedling period. If the light intensity is high in summer, it should not be exposed to direct sunlight. It is best to place it in a well-ventilated semi-shaded place.

3. Water appropriately

Osmanthus has a high demand for water, so it needs to be watered frequently. During the growing seasons in spring and autumn, it can be watered every 2-4 days. In summer, the temperature is higher and the water evaporates quickly, so it can be watered once in the morning and evening every day. If the air is dry, you can spray water around it and on the leaves. In winter, water it once a week.

4. Reasonable fertilization

Osmanthus does not require much fertilizer, but in order to grow better and bloom more fragrantly, organic fertilizer should be applied regularly. Apply thin cake fertilizer water once every 15 days in spring and autumn, and apply superphosphate at the same time to achieve rapid flowering. Note that not too much fertilizer should be applied each time, and no fertilizer should be applied on the leaves.

Precautions for osmanthus maintenance

1. It is difficult to manage water for potted osmanthus. If over-watered, it will cause excessive growth or root rot. Therefore, do not water too much in daily maintenance, and do not allow water to accumulate even in the early stages of flowering when more water is needed.

2. Potted osmanthus grows very fast and generally needs to be repotted every 1-2 years. Failure to change the potting soil for many years will lead to insufficient nutrition for the plant, difficulty in extending the root system, and affecting flowering. When repotting, apply a small amount of hoof slices as base fertilizer, and apply additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the growth period.

3. If you move potted osmanthus indoors for maintenance in winter, you need to provide a low-temperature environment to allow it to naturally enter a dormant period. If the ambient temperature is high, the osmanthus cannot fully dormant, causing it to grow new leaves and consume more nutrients. After being moved indoors in spring, it will easily shrink and die when encountering drought and wind.

4. Potted osmanthus is not resistant to smoke and dust. If it grows in an environment with poor air quality, it will grow poorly, the leaves will become smaller and turn yellow and fall off, and there will be few or no flowers. Therefore, smoke and dust pollution should be avoided during cultivation.

5. Common diseases of osmanthus include leaf spot, sooty mold, algae spot, root rot, iron deficiency disease, etc. Common insect pests include sawflies, whiteflies, mites, white scale, yellow thorn moth, etc., which need to be sprayed with pesticides as soon as possible. Diseases can be controlled by spraying Bordeaux mixture or carbendazim, and insect pests can be killed by spraying dimethoate and fenicloid.