Elderberry cultivation methods and precautions

How to grow elderberry

Pot soil selection

When growing elderberry in a pot, you need to choose a flower pot with good air permeability and drainage, and it is best if the flower pot is larger. The requirements for soil are not high, but it is better to have loose and fertile soil. Place broken tiles at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage, then add soil.

Light and temperature

Elderberry likes sunlight, but can also tolerate shade. It needs to be guaranteed to have sufficient light, otherwise the plant will grow too tall and affect flowering. It is not very demanding on the climate and is cold-resistant, able to withstand temperatures as low as -5°C. However, in the north it is best to keep it indoors for insulation.

Watering and fertilizing

Elderberry has a high demand for water. During its peak growth period, the soil in the pot needs to be kept moist and watered frequently. However, elderberry is afraid of waterlogging, so it is necessary to avoid water accumulation in the pot, especially in the rainy season, and attention should be paid to drainage. Elderberry needs to be fertilized in moderation. During the peak growth period, in order to ensure that the soil has sufficient nutrients, fertilizer can be applied every 7-10 days. Nitrogen fertilizer is the main fertilizer, and pay attention to applying top dressing after flowering.

Elderberry cultivation precautions

Reproduction

Elderberry is generally propagated by cuttings and division. Cuttings are done in spring, and division can be done in spring or autumn, but spring is preferred.

prune

The pruning of elderberry mainly involves root pruning and branch pruning. Because the root system of elderberry is well-developed and the branches grow very rapidly, the well-developed root system needs to be pruned, and excessive branches also need to be pruned frequently during daily maintenance.

Pests and diseases

The common diseases of elderberry are leaf spot, powdery mildew and canker, which can be treated by spraying 65% mancozeb wettable powder. The insect pests are mainly fall armyworms, scale insects, aphids and penelopetrix, which are quite harmful and need to be killed by spraying with insecticides or homemade insecticides.