How to Plant Osmanthus Seedlings? A Detailed Guide to the Planting Method

Osmanthus seedlings are the young plants of osmanthus, also known as muxi, yangui, and other names. Osmanthus culture has a long history in our country and is widely used for courtyard cultivation and ornamental viewing. So, how do you plant osmanthus seedlings?

1. Planting preparation

It should be done in spring or autumn, and planting on an overcast or rainy day is best. Choose a ventilated, well-drained, and warm spot; either full sunlight or a semi-shaded environment will do. When transplanting, make a soil ball to ensure the survival rate. The planting soil should be on the acidic side, and alkaline soil should be avoided. For potted osmanthus, the potting soil ratio is 2 parts leaf mold, 3 parts garden soil, 3 parts sandy soil, and 2 parts decomposed cake fertilizer. Mix them evenly, then pot them or repot them, which can be done before spring bud break.

2. Light and temperature

In areas south of the Yellow River basin, it can be grown outdoors and overwinter there. Potted plants should be moved indoors in winter and placed in a sunny spot so they receive plenty of direct sunlight, with the room temperature kept above 5°C but not exceeding 10°C. After budding the following April, move them outdoors, first placing them in a wind-sheltered, sunny spot for care, and after stable growth gradually move them to a ventilated, sunny, or semi-shaded environment, then carry out normal management. Insufficient light during the growing period affects flower bud differentiation.

3. Watering and fertilizing

Before planting in the ground, plant ash and organic fertilizer should first be mixed into the planting hole, and after planting, water thoroughly once. Keep the soil moist before new branches emerge, and be sure not to water with fertilizer solution. Generally, apply a nitrogen fertilizer once in spring and a phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once in summer to make the flowers abundant and the leaves lush, and apply an organic fertilizer once before winter for overwintering, mainly decomposed cake fertilizer and barnyard manure. Avoid strong fertilizer, and especially avoid night soil and urine. Potted osmanthus should be moved into a low-temperature greenhouse in winter in the north, and indoors attention should be paid to ventilation and light transmission, with less watering. After being taken out in April, the amount of water can be appropriately increased, and during the peak growing season a suitable amount of dilute fertilizer solution can be applied, and during the flowering season the fertilizer solution can be slightly stronger.

4. Shaping and pruning

It depends on the tree; according to the tree's form, set the main framework well, and remove other root suckers, overly dense branches, leggy branches, crossing branches, and diseased or weak branches to allow ventilation and light transmission. For trees that are strong at the top and weak at the bottom, the upper branches can be cut back by 1/3 to make the overall tree vigor strong, and at the same time apply a wound healing and antiseptic membrane to the pruning cuts to protect the wounds.

Osmanthus is a treasure among fragrant plants. It can not only be used for ornamental viewing, greening, and scenting the environment, but can also be refined into seasoning and used as a raw material for the food industry, etc. When planting osmanthus seedlings, note that farmyard manure should not be applied, and especially avoid night soil and urine.