How to water a potted Lantana camara? Solve yellowing leaves this way
Plant diversity is the foundation of nature's diversity. Lantana camara blooms in a variety of colors, which is its most distinctive feature and, of course, the main reason it stands out among countless plants and became one of the plants people grow. Of course, growing Lantana camara means highlighting its characteristics, and only then can it count as successful cultivation.
How to water a potted Lantana camara
1. Water requirements
This plant comes from regions with high temperatures and abundant rain, so it naturally likes warm, humid environments, though it is also fairly drought tolerant. In normal cultivation, it has certain requirements for the moisture level of the potting soil and the air.
2. Different watering requirements at each stage
When it is still a seedling, it has a high demand for water and needs timely replenishment; when it is in the flowering stage and other periods of vigorous growth and development, its demand is likewise high. At other times, the demand is average, and you only need to keep the soil slightly moist or not especially dry.
3. Different seasons have different watering requirements
In spring and summer, when the temperature is generally above 15 degrees, the plant's demand is greater, so a sufficient amount of water should be supplied. When autumn and winter arrive and the temperature falls below 15 degrees, you should pay attention. At this time, as the temperature gradually drops, the plant will gradually enter dormancy, and its water demand shrinks accordingly. Especially in winter, water less, or simply pause watering altogether.
What to do when a potted Lantana camara has yellowing leaves
1. Cut off the dead leaves
Cut off the yellowing leaves of the Lantana camara, then add a layer of garden soil at the base. This protects the plant's roots, and once the weather warms up, with watering and fertilizing kept up, the plant will quickly thrive again.
2. Increase light
No matter whether it is spring, summer, autumn or winter, Lantana camara needs plenty of light. For indoor care, you should also frequently move the plant to a spot with ample light for photosynthesis. In places with long spells of rainy weather, you need to avoid rain exposure and take the chance to sun the plant.
What to do when Lantana camara grows leggy
1. Light and moisture management
During the rainy days of southern China, wanting ample light is asking too much. At such times, you have to manage the moisture instead. Lantana camara is a plant tolerant of wet conditions, but when light is insufficient, it is still best to use a small amount of water. During continuous rain, promptly control watering and just keep the potting soil slightly damp.
2. Do not apply too much nitrogen fertilizer during the flowering period
Lantana camara in the flowering period does need more nutrients, but you should apply liquid fertilizer lightly, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, with little or no nitrogen fertilizer. Flower-specific fertilizer or flowering-stage fertilizer is fine, but do not apply too much nitrogen fertilizer.
3. Beheading and cuttings
Leggy growth in young Lantana camara seedlings can be remedied with light, moisture or fertilizing, as well as with chlormequat, but for leggy growth in mature plants, the only method is beheading and taking cuttings. Cut off the top of the plant and root it as a cutting. Roots will form in 15-30 days.
How to make Lantana camara bloom more
During the flowering period, Lantana camara needs the soil kept slightly moist, not too dry, otherwise flowering will be affected. If you do not need to keep seeds after flowering, you can cut off the spent flowers, which will let it grow new flower clusters again.
When growing Lantana camara, you need to top-dress fertilizer in time. During the growth period, you can fertilize the plant every half month so that it accumulates sufficient nutrients, especially after flowering, when timely top-dressing can keep it blooming continuously. In October, move it indoors in time and keep the temperature above 10°C, and it can continue to bloom. Growing Lantana camara requires ensuring good light, because when light is insufficient, the plant will grow leggy and very thin, with sparse flowering. Keeping ample light allows it to bloom well, so basically, apart from shading needed in the peak of summer, it needs suitable light the rest of the time.
In fact, the most important thing for making Lantana camara bloom more is pruning. Timely pruning not only promotes the growth of branches and leaves, but also keeps the tree shape attractive and makes it bloom more.
During the growth period of Lantana camara, prune in time and cut off the branches and leaves that affect the plant's shape. After Lantana camara blooms, you can shorten the young branches, and when winter begins, you can also carry out a heavy pruning of the plant, appropriately shortening all the new branches of the current year.
If you want to successfully make Lantana camara produce flowers of many colors during cultivation, the correct growing methods and steps are indispensable. A little carelessness can lead to yellowing leaves, leggy growth and other problems, but there is no need to worry; just find the cause of the problem and solve it effectively.