A Detailed Guide to Fertilizing and Propagating Banana Shrub (Michelia figo)
When it comes to banana shrub (Michelia figo), most people are probably fairly familiar with it, because banana shrub is a world-famous flower: not only elegant and refined, but also richly fragrant, and it is an ornamental plant with beautiful flowers and especially beautiful leaves. Such a beautiful flower makes many people want to have one and grow it at home or in the courtyard, so how should a banana shrub be watered and fertilized? Come with the editor below to learn about the care techniques for banana shrub!
How to fertilize banana shrub
Banana shrub is generally moved outdoors around Qingming, and usually 1 week after being brought out, it can be given one watering with liquid fertilizer, because this period is precisely the plant's vigorous growth stage and it urgently needs the nourishment of nutrients, so afterward, once every week, apply fertilizer water once, and this continues until the end of May.
Starting in June, fertilization can be appropriately reduced, generally applying liquid fertilizer once every 10~15 days.
July to August is the period of flower bud formation and growth, requiring more nutrients, but at this time it is the plum rain season and rather humid, so some dry fertilizer can be appropriately used, such as soybean cake or sesame paste residue powder, with 25 to 50 grams per pot, varying by pot.
After the Beginning of Autumn, apply dry fertilizer once or twice more, until the plant enters the greenhouse. When fertilizing, do not sprinkle the fertilizer water directly on the plant, so as to avoid damaging or contaminating the leaves.
Propagation methods for banana shrub
1. Grafting propagation method for banana shrub
Grafting time: Grafting of banana shrub is generally divided into spring grafting and autumn grafting. Spring grafting is suitable from late March to early April before banana shrub sprouts, and autumn grafting is suitable from late September to early October.
Grafting method: Grafting generally adopts the cut grafting method. For the scion, select a robust one-year-old branch from the mother plant, without leaves. Graft the branch directly onto the rootstock. After cut grafting, to prevent water from entering the wound, it needs to be covered with straw, or wrapped with paper towels, exposing the top shoot. After 25 days, the scion will heal and sprout. At this time, remove the covering and cut off the sprouts that grow out.
2. Cutting propagation method for banana shrub
Cutting time: Spring and summer are suitable times for cuttings. Spring cuttings are carried out in late March. Cutting propagation can propagate more plants in a short period, but compared with grafting, cuttings are slower.
Cutting method: Select 1~2-year-old branches, 10~15 cm long, cut off the lower leaves, insert them into loess, shade them after cutting, keep the sand surface moist, and once rooted, pot them and plant them in place.
3. Layering propagation method for banana shrub
Layering time: Layering can be carried out at any time during the growth period of banana shrub, but April is the most suitable. The survival rate of layering propagation is relatively high, because home growing generally only requires propagating 2~3 plants, so layering is most suitable for home use.
Layering method: Select a 2-year-old branch of appropriate size, well developed, and full and robust in tissue, 15~20 cm in length, choose the site for wrapping soil and rooting, make a ring-shaped bark girdle 0.5-1 cm wide, with the girdle reaching deep to the xylem, then put on a plastic bag, tie the lower end firmly, fill the bag tightly with moss and potting soil or vermiculite that has absorbed enough water, and leave an opening at the upper end to facilitate watering and ventilation.
4. Seed propagation method for banana shrub
Sowing time: Seed propagation of banana shrub is suitable for mass propagation, but the flowering period is late and the flowers are small. Sowing is usually carried out from late February to early March. Seeds can be sown as soon as they are collected, or they can be stored in sand and sown from late February to early March of the following year.
Sowing method: At home, directly sow the seeds in a flower pot, cover with 2~3 cm of soil, place in a semi-shaded spot, and seedlings will emerge in about 1 month. After the seedlings emerge, care for them for a period, and the following spring they can be planted with the soil!
When does banana shrub bloom
The petals of banana shrub are light yellow, with a purple tinge at the edges, and the flowers are 2~3 cm in diameter, with a rich banana scent. The natural flowering period is March to May. Varieties in the same genus as banana shrub also include purple-flowered banana shrub, which bears purple flowers; and Michelia maudiae, whose flowers are white as jade, as large as lotus, and whose leaves resemble those of an orchid.
Banana shrub flowering continues until April to May, but if the branches are pruned diligently, it can be made to bloom in three seasons of the year. Although not as many flowers bloom as in spring, the fragrance of the flowers is still very rich.
How to water banana shrub
After banana shrub is moved outdoors, place it in a shaded spot for care, and it should be given one thorough watering, after which water when the potting soil becomes dry.
From April to June, as the temperature rises, the plant's growth resumes, flowering and sprouting, and at this time the frequency of watering should gradually increase, from the original once every 1~2 days slowly becoming once every day. Also spray water every day before noon to keep the environment around the plant moist and lower the temperature.
In July to August, the weather is relatively hot, so it must be watered every day, and sprayed with water 1~2 times per day.
From September to October, the weather gradually turns cool, evaporation decreases, and watering should also gradually decrease. The frequency of watering should be decided according to the weather conditions; when the weather is clear, water once every 1~2 days. When the weather is dark and humid, water once every 3~4 days.
Through the above content, I believe everyone has gained a certain understanding of how to grow banana shrub. When growing banana shrub, be sure to pay attention to moisture, because overwatering banana shrub can easily cause root rot, affecting the plant's growth and appearance!