Why won't osmanthus bloom? Grow it this way at home and it will flower

Every year on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, besides admiring the moon and eating mooncakes, there is also admiring osmanthus flowers - orange osmanthus is like fire, golden osmanthus dazzles the eyes, and their rich fragrance drifts far. But some osmanthus flowers just won't bloom - why is that? How should you grow them so they will bloom?

I. Basic introduction to osmanthus

1. The origin of osmanthus

The osmanthus tree is an evergreen shrub or small tree, and is one of China's ten traditional famous flowers. It is also called rock osmanthus, muxi, jiulixiang, jinsu, and so on. It originated in the eastern section of the Himalayas in southwest China, and is also widely distributed in India, Nepal and Cambodia. At present, wild osmanthus grows in southwestern China, Sichuan, southern Shaanxi, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Henan and other places, and it is now widely cultivated in the Huai River basin and areas to its south.

2. The growth habits of osmanthus

Osmanthus is a tree species that grows in subtropical climates. It likes warm, humid climates, can tolerate low temperatures of minus 13 degrees, and grows best at temperatures of 15-28 degrees. The water requirement of osmanthus is highest in young trees and during the flowering period of mature trees, and drought will affect its flowering.

3. Osmanthus varieties

After long-term hybridization and selective breeding, there are now about 32 varieties of osmanthus. At present, they are divided into four major groups: orange osmanthus, golden osmanthus, silver osmanthus and four-season osmanthus. The color and flowering time of each group are also different, so you can choose according to your preference when planting.

II. Why won't osmanthus grown at home bloom?

In ancient times, people thought that osmanthus not blooming meant something bad was going to happen, but in fact it is simply the influence of the growing environment and conditions. Below are several reasons why osmanthus does not bloom.

1. Not enough or too much watering of osmanthus

As mentioned above, osmanthus needs a large amount of water in young trees and during the flowering period of mature trees. If it is too dry during the flowering period and is still not watered, it naturally cannot bloom; in addition, too much watering without timely drainage can easily cause root rot, which can also cause osmanthus not to bloom.

2. Unsuitable temperature and light conditions for osmanthus

Osmanthus flowering needs warm temperatures. Continuous high temperatures during the flowering period will lead to no flowering or sparse flowers; and as a long-day plant, insufficient light will make the plant grow leggy and weak, thus affecting flower bud differentiation and flowering.

3. Unsuitable soil for planting osmanthus

Osmanthus likes slightly acidic sandy soil, but if it is too acidic or too alkaline, it will cause the plant's leaves to turn yellow, wither and even die, and naturally the osmanthus will not bloom.

4. Unreasonable fertilizing of osmanthus

Proper fertilizer can promote the growth of osmanthus and help it bloom, but too much or too little fertilizer will affect flowering.

III. How should osmanthus be grown so it will bloom?

Now that you know the reasons why osmanthus does not bloom, as long as you avoid the situations above, you need not worry about it not blooming. But in ordinary care, pay special attention to the following points:

1. Osmanthus is best placed in a warm, sunny place

If it is a potted osmanthus, you can choose to place it on a balcony, bay window and other places. In summer, provide appropriate shade and avoid direct sunlight. In winter, especially in northern regions, it is best to move it indoors.

2. Watering and fertilizing osmanthus should be reasonable

Watering osmanthus can be determined according to the season, or according to actual conditions. Generally, when the potting soil is dry, water more. In spring and autumn, water once every 2-3 days; in summer, water once each morning or evening; in winter, water once a week. In winter, choose to water at noon, and the water temperature should be close to the soil temperature.

3. Osmanthus should be pruned in time

After autumn, cut off branches that are too dense, asymmetrical, leggy, diseased, weak or rotting. This can concentrate nutrients and ensure that the osmanthus blooms.

The above is all the content introduced to you by Tuliu.com. Be sure to pay attention to these points when planting osmanthus.