When does lilac bloom? Potted care methods and precautions

Lilac, also known as common lilac, is a common ornamental flower. In addition, the lilac flower is the city flower of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China. Many people have heard of it but never seen it, so when does lilac bloom? How do you grow potted lilac? What precautions are there?

1. When does lilac bloom

1. Blooming period

Because lilac varieties differ, their blooming times also differ, but most bloom between April and May, and also between July and August in autumn.

Lilac has a large flower quantity, mostly appearing in white, purple, yellow and so on, with rich and brilliant colors and a fragrant, sweet scent. It is also a flower with great ornamental value.

2. Varieties

Ornamental lilac: in spring it blooms in various colors, mostly growing in China's temperate regions, with great ornamental value. It can cluster into a sea of flowers, giving people a beautiful enjoyment.

Spice and medicinal clove: this kind of clove is a tropical plant, native to the Maluku Islands of Indonesia and the surrounding islands, and is mostly used to make spices and develop medicines.

Male clove: male clove is a kind of clove that does not bloom, having only flower buds. After the flower buds are dried in the sun, they can be used to make spices.

Female clove: female clove refers to a mature clove fruit, which, like the flower, can be used to make spices.

2. Cultivation methods for potted lilac

1. Choosing a pot

The lilac plant is relatively large and its roots are relatively sturdy, so a deeper ceramic pot should be chosen, either square or round. The pot color is best light blue or light yellow, so it matches white and purple lilac flowers better.

Choose strong young lilac seedlings and plant them in pots in February to March. Before planting, trim the root system a little, retaining more fibrous roots. When planting, make sure the roots spread out, press the soil firmly, and make the soil closely combine with the roots. Then water thoroughly.

2. Watering

Lilac is highly adaptable and its care methods are relatively extensive. Usually, as long as you pay attention to timely weeding and water when the potting soil is dry, without waterlogging, it can grow normally. As for watering frequency, there is no strict requirement; water when it is dry.

3. Temperature

Lilac likes a warm and humid environment. It is native to the equatorial rainforest climate and has a certain cold tolerance. The best growing temperature is 15-20°C. When the temperature is below 3°C, the plant will suffer frost damage and die.

Lilac likes sufficient sunlight and is slightly shade-tolerant, so be careful to place the plant in a sunny place for care.

4. Repotting and pruning

Lilac needs to be repotted every 2-3 years. Take the plant out of the pot, trim the root system, cut off old roots, and replace with new culture soil to promote the growth of new roots.

Every year in mid-March, before lilac sprouts, it should be pruned. Cut off overly dense, weak, pest- and disease-damaged branches, and cut back vigorously growing branches. After leaf fall, shaping can also be done once to keep the crown round and beautiful and help growth and blooming the following year.

3. Precautions for growing lilac

1. Wind protection

Lilac cultivation should start from its youth. During the seedling stage, wind protection should be done well. Bamboo can be used to secure the trunk of the lilac plant to reduce damage caused by swaying.

2. Weeding

From July to October each year, weed control should be carried out. Remove all the grass around the lilac plant, but do not throw the grass away. Cover the plant with the grass to make green manure. After the seedlings grow into large plants, appropriate pruning can be carried out, cutting at 30 cm above the ground, which helps branch growth and makes the branches and leaves grow luxuriantly.

3. Growing environment

Lilac likes sunlight and moisture but is drought-tolerant, so watering should not be excessive. However, in relatively dry spring, water thoroughly once each during bud break and blooming to store enough water. Fertile, well-drained sandy soil is sufficient. Lilac does not like heavy fertilizer, so it does not need much fertilizing, otherwise flowering will be affected.

4. Repotting

For lilac to bloom and grow, it also needs to be repotted about every 3 years and given new soil. When repotting, trim the root system and remove long roots and old roots.

5. Weeding

In July, September and October each year, promptly remove the weeds around the lilac, but do not turn the soil with a hoe, as that would damage the lilac roots. Pull the weeds out by hand together with their roots.

6. Pruning

After 3-4 years of planting, lilac branches age, so the above-ground part should be heavily pruned, that is, cutting the trunk at 30 cm above the ground. After cutting the trunk, strong branches will soon grow, making the crown full, and abundant flowers can bloom in the second year.