How to grow banana shrub (Michelia figo)? A detailed guide to the latest growing methods
Banana shrub is an evergreen shrub plant belonging to the Magnoliaceae family, and it is very widely distributed in the southern provinces of South China. The flowers of banana shrub have very high nutritional value; drinking them as flower tea offers benefits such as promoting blood circulation and relaxing the tendons, calming the mind and reducing stress, and beauty and health care. The ornamental value of banana shrub is also very high, so how should banana shrub be grown? Below, the editor brings you the growing methods for banana shrub. Let's take a look!
1. Propagation methods
The propagation methods for banana shrub include cuttings, air layering and various other methods. For cutting propagation, the time should be chosen around August each year. First select a lignified branch that has not yet sent out new buds but has about 4-6 leaves, or a 15 cm terminal bud. Then dip the base of the cutting in some rooting agent and insert it directly into the soil, do a good job of shading, keep the soil moist, and it will take root in about 3 months or so; then transplant it in the spring of the following year.
2. Reasonable watering
During the process of growing banana shrub, pay attention to keeping the soil moist, but the water must not be excessive either. Because the roots of banana shrub are mostly fleshy roots, if you water too much, or if rain causes water to accumulate in the flower pot, then banana shrub will develop root rot. So while controlling watering, we must also pay attention to doing a good job of drainage during the rainy season. During the growing period of banana shrub up to before flowering, the demand for water is relatively large; during this period, water appropriately once a day, and in the high-temperature environment of summer, also spray the leaves appropriately every day to maintain air humidity.
3. Scientific fertilization
Banana shrub's demand for fertilizer is also relatively large. When fertilizing, generally use rotted cake fertilizer and farmyard manure mixed with water for application. The growing period of banana shrub is generally from April to September each year. After entering the growing period, the fertilizer requirement of banana shrub will further increase. At this time, appropriately reduce the proportion of topdressing, fertilizing about once every half a month. After entering the flowering period and after October, stop topdressing. Then frequently observe the growth of banana shrub; if you find that the leaf color is dull, appropriately apply one topdressing of alum fertilizer water.
4. Pruning
Although pruning is a relatively important task when growing banana shrub, when pruning banana shrub, pay attention to the degree of pruning and do not prune excessively, otherwise it will affect the normal growth of banana shrub and reduce its ornamental value. Usually, after banana shrub flowers, cut off some vigorous growing branches, pest- and disease-affected branches, and overlapping branches that affect the tree shape of banana shrub. Also remove the fruit, which can both improve the ornamental value of the plant and reduce nutrient consumption. Then each spring, before the plant sprouts new buds, appropriately thin out some old leaves to promote the sprouting of new branches and leaves.
The above is a brief introduction to the growing methods for banana shrub. That's all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!