How to Grow a Goji Berry Tree in a Pot and Points to Note

Goji berry is a common health-promoting food, and its benefits are many. In addition, the goji berry tree also has fairly high ornamental value, so how do you grow a goji berry tree in a pot?

1. Growing environment

Goji berry likes a sunny environment. For indoor potted goji berry, you can choose a sunny spot for care. Goji berry is not demanding about soil, and calcareous sandy loam with good drainage is best. It dislikes clayey and waterlogged soil.

2. Watering requirements

For goji berry, water thoroughly once the soil dries. During the high-temperature dormant period in summer, the plant stops growing and most leaves fall off, so watering should be controlled. Goji berry is drought-tolerant and afraid of wetness, so never let water accumulate.

3. Fertilizing method

Usually apply a liquid fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium fertilizer about once a week. In winter, apply well-rotted base fertilizer, and during the peak flowering period apply nitrogen fertilizer 2-3 times as a top dressing. When repotting each year, apply sufficient base fertilizer, and add phosphorus and potassium fertilizers such as superphosphate as base fertilizer.

4. Making the bonsai

The styling of goji berry bonsai is mainly done by coarse wiring and fine pruning. The trunk can be wired into many forms, and the branches are mostly wired into flat or coiled shapes. Use metal wire for bending and shaping, and loosen it when the wire starts to dig in. At this time, if the trunk shape has not set, it can be wired again. Generally, the shape can be set after 1 year of wiring. Wiring is mostly done before the buds below the branches sprout or after the sprouting branches are semi-lignified. Once the shape is formed, pruning is mostly used to maintain the tree form. During vigorous growth, leggy shoots can be cut off at any time to ensure there is sufficient nutrition for fruiting. In late summer and early autumn, remove leaves and apply several more times a dilute liquid fertilizer containing phosphorus and potassium, so that flower buds and new leaves grow out at the same time. Flowering and fruiting accompanied by new leaves are good for ornamentation.

5. Propagation methods

Goji berry propagation is mainly by cuttings and division, and both are simple and easy. Cuttings can be taken in spring and autumn. Choose vigorous leggy shoots or healthy vegetative shoots, cut them into 12-15 cm lengths, cut the upper end flat and the base into a horse-ear shape. Generally, the seedling success rate can reach more than 80%-90%. The division method is mostly done in early spring by peeling off root sprouts and transplanting them, with adequate watering, and the seedling success rate is very high. A sowing method can also be used, and seedlings grown from seed can flower and fruit in 2-3 years.

6. Pest and disease control

For goji berry diseases, powdery mildew is common. You can spray 70% thiophanate-methyl 1500 times dilution, or spray 50% sulfur powder in the early morning when the dew has not dried. The main pest is aphids, which can be killed by spraying 40% dimethoate 1000 times dilution.

Growing a potted goji berry tree in the courtyard not only beautifies the yard, but when the goji berries grow, you can also pick them at any time to brew tea.