Cultivation techniques and precautions for osmanthus trees

The osmanthus tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Osmanthus in the family Oleaceae. It is famous for its rich fragrance, diverse flower colors and high ornamental value. It is one of the top ten traditional famous flowers in China. The following are the cultivation tips and precautions for osmanthus trees.

1. Choose the right varieties and seedlings

(1) Variety selection

There are many varieties of osmanthus trees, the most common ones include golden osmanthus, silver osmanthus, red osmanthus and four-season osmanthus. The flowers of golden osmanthus are golden in color and have a strong fragrance; the flowers of silver osmanthus are white or light yellow and have an elegant fragrance; the flowers of red osmanthus are orange-red and have high ornamental value. When choosing, you can choose according to your preferences and planting environment.

(2) Seedling selection

Priority should be given to cuttings or grafted seedlings with compact plant shape, dense branches and leaves, well-developed root system and no diseases or pests. These seedlings grow fast and bloom early.

2. Soil and potting soil

(1) Soil requirements

Osmanthus trees prefer fertile, loose, well-drained and slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5 - 6.5). Sandy soil, cake fertilizer, garden soil and leaf mold can be mixed in a ratio of 3:2:3:2, or garden soil, manure and river sand can be mixed in a ratio of 1:1:1.

(2) Potting soil

For potted osmanthus trees, you need to choose loose and breathable soil, such as leaf mold, peat soil or garden soil, and add an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer as base fertilizer.

3. Light and temperature

Osmanthus trees like light and need sufficient diffuse light, especially in the early stages of flowering. In summer, proper shade is needed to avoid strong light burning the leaves; in winter, sufficient light is needed. The suitable growth temperature for osmanthus trees is 15℃-28℃. It can overwinter outdoors in southern areas, but needs to be moved indoors to keep warm in northern areas, with the room temperature maintained at 2-4℃.

4. Watering and Fertilizing

Follow the principle of "water when dry and water when wet", and water thoroughly after the soil in the pot is completely dry to avoid water accumulation. The frequency of watering needs to be increased during the high temperatures in summer, and attention should be paid to drainage during the rainy season. Apply thin cake fertilizer water once every half a month during the growing season; apply additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizers during the flower bud differentiation period; apply compound fertilizer after flowering.

5. Pruning and shaping

Prune in autumn after flowering, cut off dead branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, and overcrowded branches, and keep strong short branches evenly distributed on the side branches. Cut off the suckers in time to avoid excessive consumption of nutrients. For branches that are too long, they can be shortened appropriately to promote the growth of new shoots.

In addition, please note that potted osmanthus trees need to be repotted once every spring. When repotting, the old roots need to be trimmed and new, loose and breathable soil needs to be replaced. When transplanting, choose a cloudy day or evening to avoid direct sunlight and reduce water evaporation.