What are the cultivation methods and precautions for winter cherry?

Winter cherry, also known as “lucky fruit”, produces small white flowers in summer, and after the flowering period it bears attractive berries that complement its emerald green leaves, making it beloved by many people. For this kind of potted plant grown mainly for its fruit, many people do not yet fully understand its growth habits and cultivation methods. Let's learn together below on how to grow it.

How to grow winter cherry

1. Soil: It requires fertile soil with good drainage, is not strict about acidity or alkalinity, and is most suitable for pot cultivation.

2. Fertilizing: After potting, apply liquid fertilizer regularly (twice a month); apply phosphorus fertilizer before flowering, and then the flowers will be abundant and the fruit plentiful.

3. Watering: When the flowers are in full bloom, fertilize less and water less to reduce flower drop and increase the fruit-setting rate. Once the fruit is the size of a mung bean, fertilize more and water more, so that the fruit becomes large and red in color.

4. Pruning: For those used as potted flowers, when the plant reaches 10-15 cm in height, pinch off the growing tips several times to remove apical dominance, so that it produces more new branches and more fruit. For those used as cut branches for vase display (for fruit viewing), when the plant reaches 10-15 cm in height, remove the side buds so that the main branch grows taller.

5. Other: Old winter cherry plants should have their soil loosened and be fertilized in spring; old plants over 3 years old should be discarded because their branches are sparse and they bear little fruit.

Cultivation methods and precautions for winter cherry

I. Cultivation methods

1. Soil

For potted winter cherry, choose a flower pot of appropriate size. When potting, choose loose, fertile soil with good drainage, and you can add a little base fertilizer appropriately.

2. Light and temperature

Winter cherry likes a warm growing environment and likes sunlight, and is suitable for growing in sunny places. Its suitable growing temperature is between 18°C-25°C. In winter, when the temperature is low, you need to ensure that the temperature of its living environment is not lower than 5°C, so that it can overwinter safely. In addition, winter cherry likes sunlight, so it is best not to shade it. In summer, when the temperature is high and the sunlight is strong, you can place the winter cherry in a well-ventilated and bright place for care.

3. Watering and fertilizing

Winter cherry is not drought-tolerant, and it is relatively afraid of waterlogging, so avoid water accumulation in the pot. During cultivation, keep the soil moist and water appropriately; it should not be too dry or too wet. For fertilizing, apply a thin liquid fertilizer once every half month. Note that before flowering, some phosphorus fertilizer needs to be applied to produce abundant flowers and fruit. During flowering, water and fertilizer need to be controlled to avoid flower and fruit drop. When the fruit grows to the size of a mung bean, water and fertilizer can be resumed, and some phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied appropriately to make the fruit bright in color.

II. Cultivation precautions

1. Propagation methods

Winter cherry is mostly propagated by sowing or cuttings. Sowing is done in spring, and cuttings can be done in either spring or autumn.

2. Pests and diseases

For potted winter cherry, when the summer temperature is relatively high, it is prone to anthracnose, which harms stems and leaves and can be quite serious. When the disease occurs, the diseased leaves can be cut off and burned, and pesticides need to be sprayed. The main pest is aphids, which can be controlled by spraying insecticide.

3. Flowering period management

The main management during the flowering period of winter cherry is water and fertilizer management. Fertilizing needs to be suspended and watering controlled; after the fruit grows, water and fertilizer can be resumed.

How to manage the flowering period of winter cherry

1. Fertilizer management

Winter cherry has a strong ability to adapt to the environment and does not have high requirements for fertilizer, but reasonable fertilizing can promote the growth and development of winter cherry and make the winter cherry plant robust. When winter cherry is about to enter the flowering period, it is the bud-forming stage. At this time, we can apply some fertilizer that promotes flower quantity. When the winter cherry flowering period arrives, fertilizing should be stopped. Once the winter cherry grows fruit the size of a mung bean, fertilizing can be resumed.

2. Water management

During the flowering period of winter cherry, the amount of watering should be reduced somewhat. Generally, as long as the soil is kept moist, do not water if possible. This is because watering may wash away the pollen on the winter cherry flowers or cause a large number of flowers to drop. Reduced pollen and a large number of dropped flowers will both lead to a reduced amount of fruit, or even no fruit at all, during the winter cherry's fruiting period.

Likewise, once the winter cherry grows fruit the size of a mung bean, we can resume watering, and can slightly increase the amount compared with normal watering. At the same time, we can also appropriately spray water on the leaves of the winter cherry. This can increase the humidity in the air, give the winter cherry enough water, and also clean the leaves, making them fresher and more beautiful.

What to do if winter cherry does not bear fruit

1. Causes

Winter cherry does not have very high environmental requirements, but if there is too much water, it will cause root rot and withered branches and leaves. Such a weak winter cherry will find it very difficult to bear fruit. Also, during the flowering period, if winter cherry cannot be watered regularly, making the soil alternately dry and wet, and fertilizing is also irregular, then it is very easy for winter cherry not to bear fruit. Another cause is that the flowers of winter cherry have not been pollinated, which will also lead to winter cherry not bearing fruit. 2. Solutions

First, ensure that the winter cherry plant is robust. During the winter cherry flowering period, water regularly and do not let the soil be wet for a few days and dry for a few days. Also fertilize regularly to ensure that winter cherry gets sufficient nutrients. If the winter cherry is maintained very well in daily care but still does not bear fruit, then this may be a problem of the flowers not being pollinated, and we can pollinate the winter cherry by hand. Since winter cherry is monoecious, we only need to gently dab each flower with a clean, damp cotton swab.

The cultivation method of winter cherry is relatively simple, and many people find it very easy to grow. However, extra attention should be paid to the fact that winter cherry has relatively strict watering requirements. Too much water will not only cause root rot in winter cherry, but may also affect its fruit-setting rate.