How to grow Serissa japonica? A detailed guide to the latest cultivation methods
Serissa japonica avoids strong light, prefers a warm climate, is somewhat cold-tolerant and drought-tolerant, and likes well-drained, fertile, moist and loose soil. It is not demanding about its environment and has strong growth vigor. Grown indoors, it is pleasing to the eye and is a common household plant. Below, the editor will introduce the cultivation methods for Serissa japonica!
Propagation methods for Serissa japonica
Serissa japonica is commonly propagated by cuttings and division, and layering can also be used. Cuttings can be taken throughout the year, with hardwood cuttings in February to March and softwood cuttings during the plum rain season giving the highest survival rates. Cuttings taken during the plum rain season should be shaded, and winter cuttings need protection from the cold. Division is best done in early spring before budding, or in late autumn when growth has stopped.
Dormant branch cuttings are taken from February to March, and semi-mature branch cuttings from June to July. Generally, hardwood is used in early spring, but during the plum rain season either hardwood or old branches can be used, and all require a shade frame. After inserting the cuttings, water them and keep the seedbed moist; they root very easily.
Serissa japonica can also be propagated by the scatter-sticking method, using vacant greening land: loosen the soil, break up the clods, and level it. Evenly scatter one- to two-node branch sections (about 3 cm) cut during pruning onto the prepared ground, press the surface soil firmly with feet or an object, and water thoroughly. After that, spray water once every other day. Roots begin to form after ten days, and shoots sprout. After twenty-five days, apply the first dilute liquid fertilizer. At fifty days, apply a 1:1000 dilution of urea once to promote seedling growth. After two months, they can be transplanted and planted out. After four months, they can be potted, and initial cuttings can also be taken at the same time. After one year, a fairly ideal tree-stump bonsai with exposed roots can be formed. Used as a hedge, it takes only half a year to take shape.
Cultivation methods for Serissa japonica
1. Transplanting and potting: Generally, February to March is the best time to transplant, though the plum rain season and late autumn are also good seasons. When transplanting, it is best to use a purple clay pot or a glazed pot; the pot color should be dark to form a sharp contrast with the flower color. The potting soil should be sandy soil, preferably loose, rich in organic matter, and well drained and aerated. In addition, for fertilizer selection, pine needle soil, leaf mold and peat can be mixed together, with about 10% rice husk ash added for best results.
2. Water and fertilizer management: The water and fertilizer management for Serissa japonica should be appropriate, neither too dry nor too wet, keeping the potting soil at a suitable moisture level. In winter, reduce the frequency of watering; in summer, generally spray water on the leaves, 1-2 times is fine. In addition, April to May each year is the best time for fertilizing; a 0.5% phosphorus-potassium fertilizer solution can be used for watering. In winter, an additional topdressing can be given, and dilute organic fertilizer can be applied; apart from this, no fertilizer should be applied. Concentrated fertilizer is a major taboo.
3. Light and temperature requirements: Serissa japonica likes sunlight, warmth, moisture and ventilation. Therefore, during the growing season it should be cared for under these conditions. In summer, it should be shaded appropriately and must never be placed in direct sunlight. In winter, it should be moved indoors and kept at a certain temperature, for example 5 to 12 degrees Celsius.
4. Repotting and pruning: Repotting every other year can make the soil looser and more suitable for the plant's growth. At the same time, removing old soil and properly pruning the roots can also enhance its ornamental value. In winter, shaping and pruning should be carried out, trimming long and short branches and thinning or thickening dense branches. This not only removes messy foliage to improve the ornamental appeal, but also cuts off branches and leaves affected by pests and diseases. At the same time, through pinching, bud removal and removal of side branches, a certain shape can be maintained, elegant and charming.
5. Pest and disease control: Serissa japonica generally has few pests and diseases, though aphids occasionally appear. At this time, it can be sprayed with essential balm to kill the aphids, but the concentration must not be too high; diluting 500 to 600 times is more appropriate. In addition, root rot sometimes occurs. In this case, irrigate it with 800 times dilution of Genfuling or 600-1000 times dilution of 12% copper abietate emulsifiable concentrate, spraying once every few days, three times in succession.
Efficacy and effects of Serissa japonica
Serissa japonica, also known as Mantianxing, Riri You and so on, is a medicinal flowering plant of the Rubiaceae family. Its nature and flavor are bitter and cool. It has the effects of dispelling wind and draining dampness, relaxing sinews and activating collaterals, clearing heat and detoxifying, and regulating the spleen and soothing qi. It has a certain therapeutic effect on rheumatic pain, migraine, toothache, sore throat, stomatitis, neurodermatitis, damp-heat jaundice, herpes zoster, leukorrhea and turbid urine, and other conditions.