How to grow red sandalwood

1. Breeding methods

1. Light: Dalbergia small-leaf likes light. It needs to be placed in a sunny place. If it is an indoor potted plant, it is recommended to place it on the balcony or windowsill to ensure long-term sunlight exposure.

2. Soil: Dalbergia small-leaf has low requirements for soil. Its root nodules have the ability to fix nitrogen and can improve soil quality. So as long as it is loose enough and has good drainage and ventilation, it will be fine. It is best to choose weathered red soil for planting.

3. Watering: Small-leaf red sandalwood likes moisture and is not drought-tolerant. Water it every 2 to 3 days, usually in the early morning or evening. Never water it at noon, as high temperature accelerates evaporation and causes it to lack water. When watering, be sure to water thoroughly, but do not allow water to accumulate. Waterlogging will prevent the roots from breathing and affect the growth of the plant.

4. Fertilization: Dalbergia small-leaf has the ability to fix nitrogen, so it does not need frequent fertilization. When planting, use compound fertilizer as base fertilizer and apply fertilizer twice a year.

2. Breeding techniques

Small-leaf red sandalwood is generally propagated by seeds. The seeds can be collected after the fruits mature in April and May. If there is no obvious dormancy, they can be sown and will germinate after 7 days. However, the germination rate of direct sowing is not high. If you want to increase the germination rate, you can soak it in clean water for a week before sowing and change the water once a day. This will greatly increase the germination rate.

3. Pest and disease control

Small-leaf red sandalwood has fewer diseases and pests. However, it is susceptible to anthracnose and black mole disease in the seedling stage, which can be controlled with Bordeaux mixture or diluted carbendazim. Leaf-eating pests such as flower bugs and beetles can also cause damage to it, which can be killed with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.