Periwinkle watering methods and frequency, and what to do when the leaves turn yellow

Periwinkle is a very beautiful flowering plant, quite common in daily life, because it has a long flowering period, and its flowers are elegant in shape and rich and brilliant in color. It can generally be seen in parks or community green belts. Many people even like to grow periwinkle at home, so do you know how to water periwinkle properly?

How to water periwinkle (how often to water)

Periwinkle dislikes wet conditions and fears waterlogging, so the pot soil should not be watered too much; excessive moisture affects growth and development. Water about once every 3 to 5 days. Especially for plants overwintering indoors, watering should be strictly controlled, and it is better to keep them on the dry side, otherwise they are very prone to cold damage. For open-field cultivation, during midsummer rain showers, pay attention to timely drainage to avoid waterlogging that causes the entire patch to die.

What to do when periwinkle leaves turn yellow

1. Soil tends to be alkaline

Periwinkle does not have very high soil requirements, but it is suitable for growing in slightly acidic soil. Alkaline soil can cause poor growth in periwinkle, leading to yellow leaves and failure to bloom.

Solution: Test the pH of the soil used for planting. If the soil tends to be alkaline, it must be treated.

2. Poor soil aeration

Poor soil aeration is also a cause of yellow leaves in periwinkle. The soil many people use for planting flowers is fairly sticky and has poor water permeability. This kind of soil may not show any problems in the short term, but over time, soil with poor water and air permeability causes poor respiration in the lower roots of periwinkle, leading to frequent yellow leaves and leaf drop.

Solution: Choose sandy soil with good drainage for planting, and also be careful not to water too much.

3. Overwatering

Periwinkle dislikes wet conditions and fears waterlogging, so the pot soil should not be watered too much; otherwise it will affect root respiration and cause old leaves to turn yellow and new leaves to become tender yellow.

Solution: Strictly control watering, and it is better to keep the soil on the dry side. During the rainy season, pay attention to drainage.

4. Overfertilizing

Many flower lovers worry that periwinkle does not have enough nutrients and will not bloom well, so they occasionally put a little fertilizer or something into the pot soil, hoping it can absorb more and bloom more. This approach is correct, but the mistake lies in the frequency of fertilizing. If fertilizer is applied frequently, it is very difficult for periwinkle to absorb it completely. The fertilizer remains in the soil, constantly surrounding the roots, causing the whole periwinkle plant to become listless, grow slowly, bloom less, and have smaller petals.

Solution: For periwinkle, you can apply a compound fertilizer and a liquid fertilizer alternately in turn, and do not fertilize casually at other times. Water the day after fertilizing to promote nutrient absorption.

What to do when periwinkle leaves wither

When you see yellow leaves, it is best not to water again. Loosen the soil in the pot and let it dry in a ventilated, dry place so that the remaining water at the bottom evaporates as soon as possible. It is best to water only after it dries!

If you see leaves that are wilted, yellow, and soft, looking as if they have no energy, then this is because of a lack of water. You can appropriately sprinkle water on the periwinkle leaves, or place a basin of clean water near the flowers to increase the nearby air humidity.

Periwinkle care tips

When managing periwinkle in normal times, also be careful to ensure the plant receives sufficient light. Being in a shaded place for a long time with insufficient light will cause the leaves to turn yellow.

If the soil tends to be alkaline and compacted, with poor aeration and poor water seepage, it will also cause poor plant growth, yellow leaves, and failure to bloom.

In winter, move it indoors, keep the room temperature above 5°C, and control watering, keeping the pot soil on the drier side.

If the indoor room temperature is kept at around 15-20°C, it can continue to bloom continuously. After the beginning of spring, periwinkle can be moved outdoors for management. Periwinkle is generally repotted once every two years of cultivation.

The fruit ripening period of periwinkle is from September to October, and the fruits mature one after another, so they must be collected in time. Periwinkle is mostly propagated by sowing.

Sowing is generally carried out in early April, and it can be done in open ground or in pots. In addition, in spring, tender branches from old plants can also be taken for cutting propagation. After periwinkle survives, pinch the tips to encourage more branching.

As mentioned above, when growing periwinkle, you must pay attention to watering, because many people's problems, such as yellow leaves, root rot, and so on, may all be caused by improper watering. Periwinkle fears both drought and wetness, so you must master the water amount well!