A Complete Guide to Watering and Pruning Serissa

Serissa is an evergreen small shrub in the Rubiaceae family, with strong drought tolerance, preferring relatively shaded places and fearing strong light. Serissa blooms from May to July, with small white flowers like snowflakes, which is how it got the name "June snow"; it is often grown as a potted plant. So how do you water serissa? How do you prune it?

1. How to water serissa

1. Watering time

Summer: Summer temperatures are relatively high, so you need to water once every day and keep the soil moist. The temperature difference in summer is relatively small, so you can spray water on the plant surface and the surrounding ground every morning and evening. The purpose of doing this is, first, to lower the temperature, and second, to increase the humidity of the environment.

Autumn: In autumn the weather turns cooler and the temperature gradually drops, so the amount of water should also be appropriately reduced; watering about once every 2-3 days is enough.

Winter: When winter arrives, if the plant's growing environment is at 0-10 degrees, you can water once every 20-30 days; if the plant's growing environment is above 15 degrees, then you must water once every 7-10 days, and at the same time keep the environment humid. Especially in winter in the north, both indoors and outdoors are very dry; in this case you can shorten the watering interval and spray water on the plant surface and the surrounding ground every day to keep the environment humid.

2. Points to note

Serissa is not suitable for surviving in overly moist soil. When watering, you must control the amount of water well, and there must not be water accumulation in the soil, otherwise the root system will become damp, soft and rotten. In addition, note that when the serissa flowers are in full bloom, do not spray water on the plant surface; just spray water on the ground, otherwise the flowers will rot.

2. How to prune serissa

1. Pruning of serissa trees

Pruning time: Pruning can be done every year after the serissa leaves fall in winter, and also before the buds sprout the following spring.

Pruning method: Shorten long branches, thin out dense foliage and branches, and directly cut off any parts with pests or diseases to avoid spreading to healthy growth. During the growing period of serissa, pay attention to pinching and bud removal, so as to maintain the serissa's graceful shape.

2. Pruning of serissa bonsai

Pruning time: Serissa bonsai should be pruned between February and March in winter.

Pruning method: Select about 5 as the main trunks, cut off the leggy parts growing from the bottom, and if the main trunks themselves grow too long, cut off the tips of the branches of the main trunks.

In addition, you must continually cut off old branches and dense branches growing from the roots, which helps root growth and allows other parts to absorb sunlight as well. Old woody branches should be cut flush at the point where the shoots emerge, without leaving stubs, and then use your hands or a small knife to remove branches that sprout during the growing period. Finally, carry out a shaping and pruning once every year in early winter in November.

Pruning styles: You can prune it into curved-trunk style, slanting-trunk style, cascade style, forest style, and so on; you can prune it into a shape according to personal preference.

3. Pruning principles

For the main trunk, use the principle of “strong main branches, light pruning” to make it easier to regulate the growth of the main branches, while for side branches use the principle of “strong side branches, heavy pruning; weak side branches, light pruning”, in order to regulate branch vigour and promote flowering. Be careful not to prune frequently over a long period, otherwise the new young branches will shrivel and become diseased, affecting the growing shape.

The above is Tuliu.com's summary of the watering methods and pruning techniques for serissa. Friends who grow serissa at home can use it for reference.