Cultivation methods and precautions of jasmine

Forsythia is one of the first flowers to bloom in spring. Its blooming indicates that all flowers are about to bloom, which is also the origin of its name. Forsythia has strong adaptability. It is both cold-resistant and heat-resistant. It has low requirements for soil and is very easy to maintain. Its branches are soft and hanging, and are often planted by water, in rock crevices, on slopes, etc. It is also often cultivated as a bonsai. Let’s learn about the cultivation methods and precautions of Forsythia.

1. Soil selection

When potting forsythia, it is recommended to use acidic to neutral soil. If the soil is too alkaline, it will affect its normal growth. Forsythia is drought-resistant but not water-resistant, so the potting soil should be loose, breathable sandy loam or general nutrient soil.

2. Pot size

Forsythia has strong germination ability and grows rapidly. If you want to control its growth and grow it into an old stump, it is recommended to choose a small flowerpot for maintenance. If you want the forsythia to grow into a larger plant, you need to gradually replace it with a larger flowerpot during its growth process and maintain an adequate supply of fertilizer and water.

3. Lighting management

Forsythia likes an environment with sufficient light. When planted in the ground, it is recommended to plant it in a sunny and windproof place. Potted forsythia should be kept in sufficient light in autumn, winter and spring, but due to the high temperature in summer, it is recommended to provide shade. During the high temperatures of summer, flower pots can easily be overheated and cause root damage, so they can be placed in a location with half sunlight in the morning during the summer.

4. Watering and fertilizing

Forsythia cannot tolerate waterlogging, so when watering, you should follow the principle of "water thoroughly when dry." During the hot summer, water the plant thoroughly when the surface of the soil in the pot becomes dry to avoid drought. Forsythia does not require much fertilizer . Since potted forsythia has limited growing space, it is recommended to apply ternary compound fertilizer water 1-2 times a month after flowering in spring to promote its growth, or regularly sprinkle a small amount of slow-release fertilizer on the edge of the pot.

July and August in summer are the flower bud differentiation period of Forsythia. Attention should be paid to supplementing phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. A small amount of horticultural bone meal fertilizer can be shallowly buried beside the pot, or 2-3 times of potassium dihydrogen phosphate fertilizer can be applied to promote flower bud differentiation. After autumn, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers once every 15 days or so. In winter, you can bury an appropriate amount of bone meal fertilizer on the edge of the pot to promote the growth of flower buds. When the flowering season comes, you can enjoy the blooming flowers.

5. Pruning tips

Forsythia has a strong ability to sprout and should be pruned promptly after flowering in spring. In order to control the growth of potted forsythia, it is usually pruned heavily after flowering. 2-3 buds near the base of each flowering branch are retained, and the rest are cut off, or pruned according to the desired shape. After pruning, maintain sufficient fertilizer and water to promote the growth of new shoots.

After the new branches have grown for a period of time, they can be shortened again around early April to prevent them from growing too long. The side buds that grow again can be pruned off appropriately according to the shaping requirements. By January, the buds of the forsythia are already visible. At this time, the branches without buds can be cut off, and the branches that are too long can be shortened appropriately to trim them into the ideal flowering shape. However, it should be noted that heavy pruning should not be performed at this time. Pruning after budding is mainly to create a better flowering shape.

Forsythia is very easy to care for. If it is planted in the ground, the management is relatively extensive and it requires almost no excessive care. If you want to plant it in a pot for viewing, the above suggestions can be used as a reference.