How to Grow Lilac in Pots? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods
The lilac has a beautiful flower shape and a fragrant, delicate scent, making it an outstanding choice among household flowering plants and a great favorite. The lilac can be considered a fairly common flower; as the city flower of Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, China, it has its own unique charm. So what are the planting methods for lilac? Today we will take a look together at how to grow lilac in pots.
Planting Methods for Potted Lilac
1. Soil Requirements
Lilac is not strict about soil and can tolerate poor, thin soil. Except for strongly acidic soil, it can grow normally in all types of soil; in lilac planting methods, loose neutral soil is best. Generally, avoid planting it in low-lying ground, as standing water can cause disease or kill the whole plant.
2. Growing Environment
Plants of the genus Syringa are sun-loving trees that prefer to grow in places with ample sunlight; in shady or semi-shady places they grow weak and thin and bloom sparsely, though a few species such as Yunnan lilac require moist air. When cultivating these plants in the north, it is best to choose a small environment with relatively high air humidity, such as a sheltered, sunny spot or the edge of a sparse forest. It is native to the equatorial rainforest climate and has a certain tolerance to cold. The optimal growing temperature is 15-20°C; when the temperature falls below 3°C, the plant will suffer frost damage and die.
3. Watering Methods
Many friends raising lilac for the first time want to know how to grow potted lilac. In fact, lilac is very adaptable, so lilac planting methods are relatively extensive; usually you just need to weed promptly, and rather than using a hoe, simply pull the weeds out by hand. In addition, water whenever the potting soil is dry, and do not let water accumulate, and it will grow normally. As for watering frequency, there is no strict requirement; water when it is dry.
4. Repotting and Pruning
Lilac needs to be repotted once every 2-3 years. Remove the plant from the pot, trim the root system, cut away old roots, and replace with fresh growing medium to promote new root growth. Each year before lilac sprouts in mid-March, prune it by cutting off overly dense, weak, and diseased or pest-infested branches, and shorten vigorously growing branches. After leaf fall, another shaping prune can be done to keep the crown round and attractive and to favor growth and flowering the following year.
After 3-4 years of planting, the lilac branches age, so the aboveground part should be heavily pruned, that is, cut the trunk back to 30 cm above the ground. After trunk cutting, sturdy branches will soon grow, making the crown full, and it will produce abundant flowers the next year.
5. Fertilization Methods
In lilac planting methods, it is best not to use heavy fertilizer. Lilac is averse to excessive fertilization, which causes leggy branches and affects flowering. Generally, applying well-rotted compost once a year or every other year before winter is enough.
6. Pest and Disease Control
Compared with other plants, lilac has relatively few pests and diseases. The main pests are aphids, bagworms, and nettle caterpillars. If pest damage is found, spray 800-1000 times diluted 40% dimethoate emulsion or 1000 times diluted 25% phosmet emulsion for control.
Notes on Growing Lilac
In the end, lilac is actually very easy to grow. Its growing requirements are not high; on the whole, leaving it mostly alone is completely fine. Give it some soil and some water and it can grow and bloom. Lilac likes sunlight and tolerates shade, cold, and drought, and it does not need frequent watering; watering once every two or three days is completely fine. Lazy flower lovers are in luck.
However, be careful about keeping it warm. If the temperature is below 3°C, you can take a little action and just move the flowerpot indoors. In addition, during the young stage, if a typhoon is coming, be sure to do good windproofing work; you can use rope and bamboo poles to secure the lilac trunk to prevent strong winds from blowing the trunk over.