How to Grow Nandina? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Methods

Nandina is a common woody flowering plant species in southern China, also known as red loquat fruit, sky candle fruit, red wolfberry, diamond yellow, heavenly bamboo, orchid bamboo, etc. It is an evergreen small shrub of the genus Nandina in the Berberidaceae family. Because of its graceful plant form, bright fruits, and strong adaptability to the environment, it often appears in landscaping applications. Let us take a look together at the cultivation methods for Nandina!

Growth Habits of Nandina

Nandina prefers warm and humid environments, is relatively shade-tolerant, and is also cold-tolerant, making it easy to care for. The cultivation soil should be fertile, well-draining sandy loam. It is not very strict about water requirements, as it can tolerate both moisture and drought. It relatively prefers fertilizer and can be given more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. During the growing season, apply liquid fertilizer 1 to 2 times per month. After a potted plant has been enjoyed for several years, the branches and leaves age and fall off, and it can be reshaped by pruning. Generally, about 15 cm of the main stem should be retained. After pruning in April, it can recover to 1 mi in height by autumn, and the crown will be full.

Propagation Methods of Nandina

1. Sowing: Collect seeds in autumn, and sow immediately after collection. On a prepared seedbed, open furrows at a row spacing of 33 cm, about 10 cm deep, and sow evenly. The sowing rate is 90 to 120 kg per hectare. After sowing, cover with plant ash and fine soil, and press firmly. In the second year, the seedlings grow slowly, so frequent weeding, loosening of the soil, and application of light human and animal manure and urine are needed. After that, pay attention every year to intertillage, weeding, and topdressing. After 3 years of cultivation, they can be lifted from the nursery and planted out.

2. Division: In spring and autumn, dig out the clustered plants, shake off the old soil, cut them apart from the weak points where the bases join, keeping 2 to 3 stems per clump and retaining part of the root system. At the same time, cut off some of the larger pinnate compound leaves, then plant in the ground or in pots. After one to two years of cultivation, they can bloom and bear fruit.

Cultivation Methods for Nandina

1. Soil: Nandina is suitable for slightly acidic soil, which can be mixed in a ratio of 5 parts sandy soil, 4 parts leaf mold, and 1 part manure soil. Before planting Nandina, first cover the small drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with broken tile pieces. Adding a layer of charcoal is even better, as it helps drainage and sterilization.

2. Temperature: Nandina is best cared for in semi-shade, cool, and humid places. The suitable growth temperature is around 20°C, and the suitable temperature for flowering and fruiting is 24 to 25°C. In winter, move it into a greenhouse, generally not lower than 0°C. After Qingming Festival the following year, move it back outdoors.

3. Water: Nandina should be watered by the principle of dry-wet alternation. In dry seasons, water frequently to keep the soil moist. In summer, water once a day and spray the leaf surface 2 to 3 times to keep the leaves moist and prevent the leaf tips from scorching, which would harm its appearance. During flowering, special attention should be paid to watering so the potting soil does not dry out, and water should also be sprinkled on the ground to increase air humidity and help improve the pollination rate. As for watering time, in summer it is best done in the morning and evening, and in winter it is best done at noon.

4. Fertilizer: During the growing season, apply thin fertilizer to young Nandina seedlings about once every half month. Adult Nandina plants are given dry fertilizer three times a year, in May, August, and October respectively. The third application should be made when moving them indoors for overwintering. Fertilizers such as fully fermented cake fertilizer and sesame paste residue can be used. The application amount should generally be small for the first and second times, and can be increased for the third time.

5. Humidity: Nandina likes humid or semi-dry climatic environments and requires the relative air humidity of the growing environment to be 50 to 70%. When the relative air humidity is too low, the lower leaves turn yellow and fall off, and the upper leaves lose their luster. Because Nandina originates from subtropical regions, it has strict requirements for winter temperature. When the environmental temperature is below 8°C, growth stops.

6. Light: Nandina has a relatively strong ability to adapt to light. When caring for it indoors, place it in a place with bright light as much as possible, such as a well-lit living room, bedroom, study, and similar locations. After Nandina has been cared for indoors for a period of time (about one month), move it to an outdoor place with shade (with insulation conditions in winter) for a period of care (about one month), and alternate back and forth in this way.

Precautions for Growing Nandina

1. Potted plants should be repotted once every early spring. When repotting, remove part of the old soil and old roots, apply base fertilizer, and fill in new culture soil. At the seedling stage, it is suitable to use a mixture of 5 parts sandy soil, 4 parts leaf mold, and 1 part decomposed cake fertilizer powder. At the mature plant stage, the decomposed cake fertilizer powder can be increased to 2 parts.

2. In summer, keep Nandina in a well-ventilated, shaded, and cool place. When watering every day, spray water on the leaf surface and nearby ground 1 to 2 times to increase air humidity and lower temperature.

3. Nandina likes moisture but fears waterlogging. During growth and development, the number of waterings should increase or decrease with weather changes, and each watering should not be too much. Generally, water once a day in spring and autumn, and twice a day in summer, just keeping the potting soil moist. During flowering, the timing and amount of watering need to remain stable to prevent sudden increases or decreases, or sudden wetness or dryness, otherwise it easily causes flower and fruit drop. In winter, the plant is in a semi-dormant state, so watering should be controlled. If watered too much, it tends to grow excessively, hindering dormancy and affecting flowering and fruiting the following year.

4. Nandina likes fertilizer. From May to September, apply dilute cake fertilizer water once every 15 to 20 days, and water with 0.2% ferrous sulfate solution about once every two months. At the seedling stage, the liquid fertilizer should be light rather than concentrated (liquid fertilizer to water at 1:10). At the mature plant stage, it can be slightly more concentrated (liquid fertilizer to water at 1:8). In the rainy season, switch to dry fertilizer, once a month, about 20 to 40 grams per pot.

5. Potted Nandina should be moved indoors in early to mid-October. After being brought indoors, place it where it can receive direct sunlight in the morning and evening. The room temperature only needs to be above freezing. Spray and wash the branches and leaves once a week with warm water to keep the leaves fresh.

6. Nandina should be pruned and shaped in conjunction with repotting. Thin out dead branches and weak branches from the base to encourage new branch growth. Generally, it is advisable to retain 4 to 5 branches.