Latest Cultivation Techniques and Methods Tutorial for Callistemon
Callistemon, also known as the bottlebrush tree, is an evergreen shrub plant of the Myrtaceae family. It has a cultivation history of over a hundred years in our country. Callistemon has relatively high ornamental value and is a noble bonsai that can be used for cut flowers, potted plants and more. It also has effects such as dispelling wind and resolving phlegm, and is welcomed by many people. So how should Callistemon be cultivated? Today, the editor brings you the cultivation techniques for Callistemon. Let's take a look below!
1. Propagation Methods
The propagation of Callistemon is generally mainly by seed propagation, and cutting propagation can also be carried out. However, because the seeds of Callistemon are very small, sowing is also mainly done with small seeds. Around Qingming Festival each year, harvest the matured fruits, then take out the seeds and mix them thoroughly with fine sand. They can be directly broadcast without germination acceleration. After broadcasting, cover with a layer of fine soil and water appropriately to maintain soil moisture. They will germinate after about one month, and when they grow to about 1.2 m, transplant them.
2. Seedling Lifting and Planting
When lifting seedlings, the soil should be kept in a state of alternating dryness and moisture for transplanting with soil. When transplanting with soil, the soil ball should mainly be cylindrical. After lifting the seedlings, promptly wrap the soil ball with materials such as straw, paying attention to the force applied to avoid the soil ball scattering and exposing the roots. Then prepare the planting hole well, keeping the hole spacing at about 80*80 cm. Sufficient base fertilizer should be applied, mainly farmyard manure, applied at the bottom of the hole before planting, then cover with soil and compact it. The roots must not come into direct contact with the fertilizer. When planting, remove the wrapping from the soil ball and keep it level with the ground. Then fill with soil, ensuring there are no gaps at the bottom of the hole, and water promptly after planting.
3. Water and Fertilizer Management
After planting, water about twice a day, thoroughly soaking the soil layer each time. Also spray water on the branches and leaves to provide sufficient moisture for them and reduce water evaporation. Especially when transplanting from June to September, the high-temperature environment will increase water evaporation, so the frequency of watering should be appropriately increased. Then about half a month after planting, apply a light application of nitrogen fertilizer, and about one month later, appropriately apply an organic fertilizer. Then fertilizing about twice a year is sufficient. Finally, after the flowering period each year, pay attention to carrying out a pruning job.
4. Reasonable Pruning
Pruning is an indispensable task in cultivating Callistemon. Pruning work can create a good tree shape and improve the permeability and ornamental value of the tree body. Moreover, in the hot summer, because evaporation is very large, pruning work should be done even better. About 1/3 of the branches and leaves of the plant should be cut off, especially the inner branches and some newly sprouted branches, to reduce the plant's water consumption. In addition, it can also inhibit the growth height of the top branches of the plant, promote the sprouting of new branches, and increase the flowering rate.
The above is a brief introduction to the cultivation techniques of Callistemon. That's all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and we hope it can be helpful to everyone!