What are the precautions for growing osmanthus at home?

When osmanthus is in bloom, its fragrance fills the air and makes people fond of it. Quite a few people grow potted osmanthus, so what are the precautions for growing osmanthus at home?

1. Precautions for growing osmanthus at home

1. Prevent high temperatures in winter. When osmanthus is kept at high temperatures in winter, it cannot rest fully, will sprout and send out shoots early, and its branches will be thin and weak; in spring it is prone to drought attack and tip dieback. Therefore, in winter a low temperature should be maintained so that it rests fully, and only then can it grow vigorously the following year, with lush leaves and abundant flowers.

2. Prevent excessive shade and dampness. Osmanthus is a long-day flower and likes strong light, tolerating partial shade. With insufficient light and excessive shade and dampness, it is prone to sooty mold, which causes leaf drop, leggy growth, thin and weak branch tips, and poor flower bud differentiation, thereby affecting flowering, or it may fail to bloom.

3. Prevent thinness and weakness. Osmanthus requires relatively high fertilizer and water conditions; with insufficient nutrients it will grow poorly, affecting flower quality. Apply a nitrogen-based fertilizer once before each flush of shoots sprouts, in December, June and September. For potted osmanthus, insist on repotting once every 1 to 2 years, keeping the potting soil fertile, rich in organic matter, and slightly acidic, and apply a topdressing of 30% *urea about once every half month. If the leaves turn yellow, water with a 500-fold dilution of ferrous sulfate. Avoid too much nitrogen fertilizer to prevent leggy growth, and supplement phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to improve flower quality and deepen the fragrance.

4. Prevent waterlogging. Osmanthus dislikes dampness and dreads waterlogging most of all. Therefore, potted osmanthus should be watered scientifically, watering when dry and letting it dry out between waterings, and it should not be watered too much, to prevent waterlogging in the pot, which may cause root rot and leaf drop and thus affect flowering. 5. Prevent smoke pollution. Osmanthus fears smoke and dust pollution most of all; in an environment polluted by coal smoke and dust, its leaves lose their green color, become smaller and easily fall off, it flowers less, flower quality is poor, and it may even fail to bloom. If dust soils the leaves, spray water to wash them and keep the leaf surface clean.

2. Why does home-grown osmanthus fail to bloom?

1. Being brought indoors too early, with the temperature above 10 degrees Celsius, means osmanthus cannot get sufficient rest. This makes osmanthus sprout and unfold leaves too early, consuming a large amount of nutrients, and combined with insufficient light and a weakened plant, this affects flowering.

2. After being moved outdoors in spring, exposure to wind and sun dries out the leaf tips, and even if new shoots grow again, it is not easy for it to bloom.

3. Insufficient nutrients. Osmanthus likes fertilizer. Some potted osmanthus are not repotted or given fresh soil for several years, resulting in insufficient nutrients, and the root system becomes root-bound and cannot spread, which affects flowering.

4. Insufficient light. Osmanthus needs more than 10 hours of light; otherwise the leaves are not lush, which affects flower bud formation and prevents blooming.

5. Overwatering. This causes root rot and leaf drop, affecting flowering.

6. Too much nitrogen fertilizer. This makes the branches and leaves grow leggy, affecting flowering.

7. Smoke, dust and grease pollution. Osmanthus cannot tolerate smoke, dust and grease; if the leaves are polluted by smoke, dust and grease for a long time, growth is poor and the leaves may even fall off, affecting flowering.

8. Lack of pruning. Osmanthus has a well-developed root system and strong sprouting ability; if it is not pruned moderately, the branches and leaves become too dense, affecting flowering.

Growing osmanthus at home is still relatively simple; with careful care and tending in normal times, the whole room will be fragrant in the flowering season.