What to Do When Osmanthus Leaves Turn Yellow? Indoor Growing Methods and Tips
Osmanthus is one of China's ten traditional flowers, an excellent garden tree that combines greening, beautification and fragrance, and is both ornamental and practical. Its fragrance is pure enough to cleanse the dust, and rich enough to carry far, making it truly peerless. Especially in mid-autumn, when the osmanthus bushes bloom in full glory, on a quiet night with a full moon, enjoying the osmanthus with wine while its aged fragrance fills the nose is refreshing to the spirit. So then what should you do when osmanthus leaves turn yellow? Is it suitable for growing indoors? How should you grow it to grow it well?
1. What to Do When Osmanthus Leaves Turn Yellow
When osmanthus leaves turn yellow, you need to take countermeasures according to the cause: if it is caused by unsuitable temperature, give it an appropriate temperature; if it is due to too much watering, reduce watering and do not water until the soil is dry; if it is due to too little fertilizer or too much fertilizer, fertilize reasonably; if it is due to unsuitable soil, appropriately change the soil.
1. Appropriate temperature
15-28°C is the most suitable temperature for osmanthus growth. If the summer temperature is too high and you do not cool it down or still leave it exposed to the sun, its leaves will easily turn yellow. If the winter temperature is too low and you do not take appropriate insulation measures, it will also cause its leaves to turn yellow. Therefore, when growing osmanthus, pay attention to cooling in summer and you can put it in a relatively shady place; pay attention to keeping it warm in winter and you can move it indoors.
2. Reasonable watering
This flower is not tolerant of waterlogging. Once it is watered too much, it easily leads to root rot, and root rot will inevitably cause yellow leaves. Therefore, when planting this plant, be sure to choose loose soil with good drainage. In addition, do not water too frequently in daily care, and do not water too much at one time. Just water after the potting soil is dry.
3. Correct fertilizing
If there is too little fertilizer, it will cause this plant to have yellow leaves, so we should apply fertilizer reasonably during its growing period. Both liquid fertilizer and compound fertilizer are fine, but note that the concentration applied must not be too high. In addition, we should repot and change the soil in time to ensure the potting soil does not become compacted and that there are enough nutrients in the soil. It is worth noting that when fertilizing, you must not be impatient. Applying too much fertilizer at once or using too high a concentration is not good for its growth and may even cause root burn and yellow leaves.
4. Changing the soil
Relatively speaking, it prefers slightly acidic soil. If the soil is alkaline or becomes alkalized, the leaves of this plant may turn yellow. To keep the soil acidic, you can mix a little ferrous sulfate or leftover beer into the water when watering. Likewise, note that both the ferrous sulfate solution and the beer must be diluted, and the concentration must not be too high.
2. Is Osmanthus Suitable for Growing Indoors
1. Osmanthus is very suitable for growing indoors
Osmanthus is not poisonous and will not cause harm. You can grow it indoors with peace of mind.
Osmanthus is one of China's traditional famous flowers. In mid-autumn, after the flowers bloom in full glory, clusters upon clusters of osmanthus look spectacular and are highly ornamental. In addition, it can also give off a fragrance, with an aged scent filling the nose and giving people a refreshing feeling.
Osmanthus blooms in autumn, which is exactly the harvest season. Therefore, its symbolic meaning includes “harvest.” There are many poems and verses describing it, and it carries rich cultural heritage. Also, there are many legends about it, such as “Wu Gang Chopping the Osmanthus,” and so on. Growing it indoors is quite charming.
2. Points to note
Some friends may be allergic to osmanthus pollen, so they need to pay attention when growing it indoors. After the plant blooms, keep a certain distance from it. Some friends may also be unable to tolerate too strong a fragrance, so they should also be cautious when deciding whether to grow it.
If growing it indoors, the most important thing to note is light. It needs to be placed in a place with good light, otherwise its growth will be weak and it will produce few flowers.
3. How to Grow Osmanthus Well
1. Potting soil
Osmanthus likes fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. You can mix and prepare it with humus soil or peat, garden soil, sandy soil or river sand.
2. Watering
Before osmanthus grows new shoots, water less. As long as the soil is in a slightly moist state, that is fine. Watering too much will not only affect the growth of new roots but may also cause root rot. Reduce watering during the rainy season, and increase watering during the high-temperature summer season. Water once each morning and evening. When the sunlight is strong, you can appropriately spray some water mist. There should be no standing water in the pot.
3. Fertilizing
During the growing period, fertilize frequently but in small amounts. After sprouting, apply a thin cake fertilizer solution once every half month, which can help the new branches grow better; in May, in order to make the branches more mature, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once every 10 days. After each fertilizing, water and loosen the soil, which can help it grow better.
4. Light
When growing osmanthus, sunlight must be sufficient. It is a long-day plant, so it must fully receive sunlight. Only by promoting photosynthesis can it grow better. If there is insufficient light, its branches will be very thin, and it will be difficult for flower buds to form.
5. Temperature
The temperature suitable for osmanthus growth is 15-28°C, and the lowest temperature it can accept is -13°C. Seedlings must not be in a high-temperature environment while growing, and shade care measures should be taken, otherwise they can easily wither.