Master the Periwinkle Growing Methods for Year-Round Blooms

Periwinkle, also known as Rosy Periwinkle and Madagascar Periwinkle, is a green leafy plant with a unique appearance and vibrant flowers. Many people like to place a few pots at home or in the yard, but to grow periwinkle well, you need to do a good job with all aspects of care. So what are the periwinkle growing methods?

I. Introduction to Periwinkle

1. What varieties of periwinkle are there?

White periwinkle, yellow periwinkle, Balcony Purple, Little Dot series, Cherry Kiss, Apricot Delight, Blue Pearl, Pepper Mint, etc.

2. Growth habits of periwinkle:

Periwinkle likes to grow in high-temperature, high-humidity environments, and generally can grow at 20-33 degrees. It has low soil requirements; generally, sandy soil with good drainage and good ventilation, or loam rich in humus, will allow it to grow.

3. What is the flower language of periwinkle?

Loyalty, eternal youth, pleasant memories

II. What are the periwinkle growing techniques? Master these seven key points for year-round blooms!

1. Soil:

Periwinkle likes to grow in loose, fertile, well-drained loam rich in humus that is slightly acidic. So when choosing soil, try to use sandy soil with good breathability and drainage for planting. Avoid alkaline, compacted, or poorly aerated clay soil, so as not to cause poor plant growth, leading to yellowing leaves and no flowers.

2. Sufficient light:

Periwinkle is a light-loving plant, so during the growing season, try to place it in a spot with light, so that the leaves are green and glossy and the flowers are brightly colored.

3. Suitable temperature:

Periwinkle likes to grow in a warm environment. Generally, it can grow at 18-24°C from March to July, and at 13-18°C from September to March of the following year. In winter, the temperature should not be lower than 10°C.

4. Reasonable watering:

Periwinkle is afraid of waterlogging, so it should not be watered too much. Generally, follow the principle of letting it dry between waterings and watering thoroughly when watering. For example, in summer, determine the amount of watering based on how dry or wet the surface soil is; in winter, watering should be controlled to avoid excessive moisture, which can lead to pests and diseases.

5. Reasonable fertilizing

Periwinkle has low fertilizer requirements, but that does not mean it does not need fertilizer. Generally, apply compound fertilizer or liquid fertilizer alternately every ten days to ensure sufficient nutrients in the potting soil. Especially before flowering, be sure to apply enough fertilizer to extend the flowering period. When fertilizing, use organic fertilizer as the main type and compound fertilizer as a supplement, and apply once a month to ensure sufficient soil nutrients.

6. Pest and disease control:

During the growth period, periwinkle may suffer from pests and diseases due to poor management and various other factors. Common ones include seedling damping-off and gray mold, so water and fertilizer management at the seedling stage should be strengthened to effectively prevent and control pests and diseases.

7. Shaping and pruning:

Periwinkle is a landscape plant. After growing for a period of time, useless branches such as short branches, diseased branches, and dead branches will appear, so these branches need to be pruned off to improve indoor ornamental value and decoration.

III. What are the precautions for growing periwinkle in pots?

1. Temperature should not be too low: Periwinkle likes warmth, and generally when the temperature is below 10 degrees, growth will be affected.

2. Do not water too much: Periwinkle is afraid of waterlogging; if watered too much, the leaves will turn yellow.

3. The soil should not be compacted or alkaline: Periwinkle likes to grow in loose, fertile loam with good water permeability, so when choosing soil, use this kind of soil for cultivation. You can also make your own substrate with peat, perlite, vermiculite, etc., then add some pine needles and organic fertilizer to mix into nutrient soil, which can also let the plant grow quickly.

4. Fertilizer should not be excessive: Generally, apply organic fertilizer once a month, and water promptly when fertilizing, so as not to let the fertilizer concentration in the soil become too high and cause the leaves to turn yellow.

IV. Is periwinkle toxic?

Periwinkle is toxic. This is because periwinkle belongs to the genus Catharanthus in the dogbane family Apocynaceae, and contains alkaloids such as vinblastine, vincristine, and isovinblastine, which have an inhibitory effect on human white blood cells. Isovinblastine in particular can cause the development of teratomas, so be sure to pay attention when growing it. Especially if there are children or elderly people at home, it is best not to grow it. If you do grow it, try to place it somewhere children cannot reach, so as to avoid accidental ingestion of the sap causing poisoning symptoms such as muscle weakness and limb paralysis. However, if you do not casually break the branches and leaves, there is no problem.

The above are the periwinkle growing methods and related precautions. We hope they are helpful to everyone.