How to Grow and Care for Weigela in Pots: Methods and Precautions

Weigela blooms at the turn of spring and summer and is one of the important flowering shrubs in Northeast and North China. Its branches and leaves are dense, its flowers are trumpet-shaped, and its colors are vivid. The flowering period generally lasts about two months, giving a long ornamental season. So how should a potted weigela grown at home be cared for? What daily precautions are there for potted weigela?

How to Grow Potted Weigela

1. Best propagation time: generally in early spring and autumn and winter, or in summer from June to July.

2. Best growing soil: weigela needs deep, moist soil rich in humus.

3. Growing humidity requirements: weigela likes light, tolerates shade and cold, and fears waterlogging; the suitable air humidity is 65%-75%.

4. Best growing temperature: the suitable growing temperature is 15°C-30°C, and the suitable temperature during the flowering period is 18°C-22°C. It tolerates low temperatures and can overwinter outdoors in the north.

5. Best growing light: weigela likes a warm, humid environment with plenty of sunlight.

Growing Methods and Precautions for Potted Weigela

I. Growing Methods

1. Soil selection

Weigela is not strict about soil and can tolerate poor soil, but it fears waterlogging, so choose well-drained sandy loam. The soil should be deep, moist and rich in humus; this kind of soil is most suitable for the growth of weigela.

2. Fertilizing

Weigela likes fertile soil. When potting, garden soil can be mixed with rice husk ash, and a small amount of base fertilizer can be applied. During the growing season, weigela should be fertilized 1-2 times a month, and decomposed liquid fertilizer can be chosen. Every 2 to 3 years, fertilizer should also be applied once during the dormant period in winter or early spring by digging a trench around the roots.

3. Temperature

The suitable growing temperature for weigela is between 15-35 degrees, and the suitable temperature during the flowering period is between 18-22 degrees. It is relatively cold-tolerant, and in northern regions it can also overwinter outdoors, in a sheltered, sunny spot.

4. Watering

During the growing season, pay attention to watering weigela. When it resumes growth in spring, gradually increase the amount of watering and keep the potting soil moist. In high summer temperatures, water appropriately more to maintain sufficient moisture and spray water to lower the temperature. Because weigela fears waterlogging, pay attention to preventing waterlogging during the rainy season. Water thoroughly 1 to 2 times a month to meet its growth needs.

II. Precautions

1. Propagation methods: seed propagation, cutting propagation, layering propagation, and also division.

2. Pests and diseases: not many, occasionally harmed by aphids and red spider mites, which can be killed by spraying dimethoate.

3. Pruning: it is sensitive to spring drought and spring cold and easily has dry tips, so before flowering, dried and withered branches should be cut off, and after full bloom, flower branches should be cut off in time to promote branch growth. Old branches have a short lifespan and need heavy pruning from the base for renewal.

How to Pot Weigela

I. Time

Spring has strong sprouting ability, so the survival rate when planting at this time is also somewhat higher, and spring is also its growing season and the best period for repotting and changing soil.

II. Preparatory Work

1. Flower pots: the best flower pot is an unglazed ceramic pot, which has better air permeability and drainage. Other flower pots are also acceptable, but it is best not to choose plastic flower pots.

2. Soil: 1 part rice husk ash + 3 parts garden soil, stirred evenly before use. But before potting, some crushed stones or harder plastic foam and other objects can be placed at the bottom of the flower pot, which can increase the air permeability and drainage of the soil.

III. Selection of Plants

1. Generally, potting can be done directly in spring when repotting the plant. Dig out the entire plant directly, then divide it into several plants for potting.

2. Before potting, the roots should be treated. First clean off all the original soil from the roots, then prune away all old roots and dead roots, and according to the size of the flower pot, cut overly long fibrous roots shorter.

How to Prune Weigela in Daily Care

1. Cut off dead branches, diseased branches, weak branches, leggy branches and old branches, and do not shorten the branches.

2. For those root-sucker branches, some should be kept, as this helps renew old branches and expand the shrub.

3. Pay attention to adhering to the principle of “dense on the outside, sparse inside” to ensure ventilation and light penetration through the shrub.

When weigela blooms, it is exactly when spring flowers have faded and summer flowers have not yet opened, so the beautiful flower shape and vivid colors of weigela nicely fill the gap at this time. When growing it at home, pay attention to reasonable watering to avoid weigela dying from waterlogging.