Latest Cultivation Techniques and Planting Methods Tutorial for White Orchid Tree
White orchid tree, also known as white Burmese flower and Burmese osmanthus, belongs to the genus Michelia in the magnolia family. The white orchid tree is a backbone tree species in southern gardens and also an excellent street tree; during the flowering season, its fragrance drifts for miles, making people feel relaxed and joyful. Potted plants can be placed in halls. Besides being used for wearing as decoration, the fresh flowers can also be used to scent tea and extract essential oils, making it one of the traditional fragrant flowers widely loved by the people of our country.
Morphological Characteristics
Evergreen tree, with alternate simple leaves, entire margins, oblong shape, thin leathery texture, glossy surface, and light green underside. Flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils of the current year's growth, white or slightly yellow, thick and fleshy, linear and narrow, extremely fragrant.
Ecological Habits
The white orchid tree is native to the Himalayas and the Malay Peninsula. It is widely cultivated in southern China, while in the Yangtze River basin and areas to the north it is mostly grown as a potted plant. It likes environments with ample sunlight, warm and humid conditions, and good ventilation. It is not tolerant of shade, nor of extreme heat and scorching sun. It fears cold, and the winter temperature must not drop below 5C. It is most averse to smoke. Because its root system is fleshy and tender, it is neither tolerant of drought nor of excessive moisture, and is especially averse to waterlogging. It prefers humus-rich, well-drained, loose and fertile, acidic sandy soil. Its wood is relatively brittle, and branches and trunks are easily broken by wind. In the Jiangnan region, it sends out new shoots 3 times a year: the first from Qingming to Guyu, the second during the plum rain period, and the third around the Beginning of Autumn. The flowering period lasts up to 150 days, with the most abundant blooming in June to July.
Propagation Methods
Layering and grafting are commonly used for propagation.
1. Air layering propagation: In June to July, select well-developed two-year-old branches, slightly notch or girdle them, then enclose them with a split bamboo tube or flower pot, fill with humus soil or moss, bind with rope, and keep the pot moist at all times. Roots will form after about 2 months; then cut away from the mother plant and plant separately.
2. Grafting: Methods such as approach grafting and cut grafting can be used. For approach grafting, in February to March, select Yulan magnolia (Magnolia denudata) with a trunk diameter of about 0.6 cm as rootstock and pot it; carry out approach grafting between April and September, especially in May to June. About 50 days after grafting, once the graft union has healed, it can be cut away from the mother plant and given enhanced management. For cut grafting, use 1- to 2-year-old robust Yulan magnolia as rootstock, graft in mid-March; after 20 to 30 days, the terminal buds sprout leaves; pot them in October to November and move them into a greenhouse for cultivation. In the same year, the seedlings can reach 60 cm to 80 cm in height, growing faster than approach-grafted seedlings.
Cultivation Management
The management of the white orchid tree is very important, directly affecting the tree's form and flower yield, and requires careful tending. The time to move it outdoors is generally from Qingming to before Guyu. Before moving it outdoors, the pot must be changed; generally, young plants are repotted every 1 to 2 years, and after growing larger, every 3 to 4 years. Adding loose, fertile soil is beneficial for root development. Watering is also key to cultivating a good white orchid tree. After moving outdoors in spring, watering at noon is best, once every other day, but each watering must be thorough. In summer, as temperatures rise and evaporation increases, water once in the morning and once in the evening each day, and appropriately increase the frequency of misting in midsummer. In autumn, water once every 2 to 3 days. In winter, watering should be strictly controlled, only keeping the potting soil moist. For plants after flower harvesting and weak-growing plants, watering should be reduced to avoid excessive vegetative growth or affecting growth. At the same time, the water temperature should not be too cold and should not differ much from the potting soil.
The white orchid tree has lush branches and leaves and a relatively long flowering period. Apply decomposed cake fertilizer water once every 10 days, and before flowering, supplement with phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote new leaf growth and flowering.
In summer, attention should be paid to placement; poor ventilation makes it susceptible to damage from red spider mites and scale insects. During the growing period, remove diseased and dead branches, prune excessive vegetative branches, and remove some old leaves to suppress tree vigor, promote flower bud formation. In June to July, it enters the peak flowering period, and flowers picked in the morning have the strongest fragrance.