How to Grow White Orchid Tree (Michelia alba) as a Potted Plant at Home, and Can It Be Kept in an Indoor Bedroom?

The white orchid tree (Michelia alba) is fairly common in southern China, a very beautiful flowering tree that can generally be seen in parks or along roadsides. Its flowers are creamy white, especially beautiful, and come with wave after wave of pleasant fragrance. So can the white orchid tree be grown as a potted plant at home? Below, let's learn together with the editor about how to grow the white orchid tree in a pot!

How to Grow the White Orchid Tree as a Potted Plant at Home

1. Choice of flower pot and soil: For a home potted white orchid tree, choose a loose soil with strong air permeability and fairly rich humus. Usually choose a clay pot or purple clay pot (jar) with good air permeability, or a plastic pot with more drainage holes in the bottom. The soil in the pot should preferably contain a certain amount of granular soil of various sizes, to facilitate water drainage and air movement.

2. How to repot: According to the size of the white orchid tree's canopy and the length of its age, replace it with a pot or jar of appropriate size, to help the plant grow vigorously. When doing this, wait until the potting soil is slightly dry, slowly tilt the pot (jar) (or turn it upside down), support the pot with one hand, grip the plant firmly with the other, and tip the white orchid tree out into the new pot. The new pot (jar) should first be lined with a small amount of loose soil, then water thoroughly, and once it is planted stably it is fine.

3. Planting position: Every year from March to April, move the pot or jar containing the white orchid tree outdoors and place it in a spot with plenty of sunlight. In summer, when temperatures are high, use a shade net or build a simple shade shed as appropriate, so that the white orchid tree can receive the morning sun while avoiding the strong light of summer afternoons (to prevent sunburn damage to branches and leaves).

4. Pruning: For a potted white orchid tree, choose a suitable height, use pruning shears to cut off the terminal bud and shorten some side branches. Cutting off the terminal bud helps it grow more side branches, more flower buds and more flowers.

5. Fertilizing: During the vigorous growth period of the white orchid tree (usually May to June or July to August each year), apply a flower fertilizer about once every half month, or apply a small amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer around the 20th, 2 grams to 6 grams each time. The specific method: first use a small iron shovel to draw a few vertical and horizontal small furrows in the soil in the pot, then slowly sprinkle the fertilizer into the furrows, cover it with the surface soil in the pot, and water a little. This lets the fertilizer gradually seep through to the plant's roots with each watering. Never sprinkle fertilizer directly onto the roots, to avoid "burning the roots" caused by overly strong fertilizer effect in the soil around the roots. Apply thin fertilizer frequently; cake fertilizer is best. Do not fertilize in winter. From after new buds sprout until June, water with fertilizer solution once every 3-4 days; from July to September, water with fertilizer solution once every 5-6 days; after applying fertilizer several times, stop applying once.

Can the White Orchid Tree Be Placed in an Indoor Bedroom?

The white orchid tree has a strong fragrance that stimulates the nerves, causes excitement and affects sleep, so it is best not to put it in the bedroom. Moreover, the white orchid tree likes plenty of light and good ventilation. A bedroom has insufficient light and is not suitable for growing the white orchid tree.

How to Water the White Orchid Tree

Spring is the sprouting period of the white orchid tree; water once every 2-3 days, just enough to keep the potting soil moist;

Summer is the vigorous growth period of the white orchid tree; water once in the morning and once in the evening every day, but during rainstorms or continuous rainy weather, deal with accumulated water in the pot promptly;

In autumn, the plant's transpiration begins to decrease and water evaporation becomes less; at this time, determine the amount of watering according to the specific dry or wet condition of the potting soil. When the surface layer of the potting soil turns white, it indicates that watering is needed; usually water once about every 5 days;

In winter, the white orchid tree needs very little water; prevent the potting soil from becoming overly wet and from accumulating water. If water accumulates at the roots, the leaves will turn red and the tips of the branches will turn brown; pour off the accumulated water as soon as possible, loosen the soil and strengthen ventilation. Usually water once about every 10 days, keeping the potting soil slightly moist.

When Does the White Orchid Tree Bloom?

It generally grows flowers in summer and autumn each year; the farther south the geographical location, the earlier the flowering time. If planted in Shenzhen, its flowers can be seen in midsummer. Its flowering period is fairly long and can even last 1 month. In daily care, be careful not to plant it in a low-lying area that is too wet; unless there is a drought, there is no need to water it artificially. Fertilizing should also be moderate.

Many people like to grow all kinds of potted plants at home. In fact, the editor wants to remind every friend who loves and cherishes flowers that although most plants have a certain air-purifying effect, there are also quite a few plants in life that cannot be grown indoors!