How to propagate Catharanthus roseus in winter? These key points you need to master
Catharanthus roseus (detailed introduction) is a fairly common indoor flowering plant, with large, brightly colored flowers and a neat, tidy plant shape that closely resembles plum blossoms (detailed introduction), making it deeply loved by flower enthusiasts. Caring for Catharanthus roseus in winter requires good management, and if you are interested you can also propagate it at home. However, due to the characteristics of our country's geographical environment, the propagation methods in winter differ depending on whether there is heating or not.
Catharanthus roseus (detailed introduction)
1. Propagation in households with heating in winter: The seeds mature from August to October, and can be collected after maturity. If grown as a potted plant at home, there is no need to specially collect seeds and raise seedlings. Loosen the soil in the pot where the Catharanthus roseus itself is growing, and once the seeds mature and the pods split open, they will scatter automatically and then sprout automatically. When the seedlings grow to 3 to 4 true leaves, they can be transplanted into a pot filled with fertile soil. They can be transplanted into a pre-prepared pot, watered, and then watered again after 3 to 5 days.
2. Propagation in households without heating in winter: Collect seeds from August to October, and in late March of the following year, seedlings can be raised in pots. Sow after mixing fertile sandy loam and fine sandy soil, then cover the pot mouth with a layer of plastic film and tie it tightly to maintain the temperature and humidity inside the pot. Seedlings emerge in 20 to 25 days. By this time the weather is gradually warming up, and when the seedlings grow 3 to 4 true leaves, they can be transplanted into a pre-prepared pot, watered, and then watered again after 3 to 5 days.
Key points for propagating and cultivating Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus, also known as riyuecao, shanfanhua, wubanlian, wubanmei, etc., is a perennial subshrub-like herbaceous plant of the genus Catharanthus in the Apocynaceae family, but in temperate regions it is mostly cultivated as an annual flower. Under general cultivation conditions, the plant height is about 40 cm. The leaves are opposite, membranous, and obovate-oblong. The cyme has a salverform corolla with 5 petals, pink or white, yellow, and bicolor. The flowering period is from June to October, and those cultivated in greenhouses can flower all year round. Catharanthus roseus has lush leaves, fresh flower colors, and a long flowering period, making it a good material for arranging flower beds and flower borders in summer. It is also suitable for pot cultivation and for indoor beautification and decoration.
Catharanthus roseus originated in the tropical regions of eastern Africa. It is robust, prefers a warm and humid climate and an environment with sufficient sunlight, is also tolerant of semi-shade, relatively tolerant of high temperatures and drought, not tolerant of cold, and avoids dampness and fears waterlogging. It requires fertile, loose, well-drained sandy loam soil and is not suitable for saline-alkali land.
Catharanthus roseus can be propagated by sowing or cutting. Sowing is best done indoors in early spring. The most suitable temperature for germination is 15 to 20 degrees. When the seedlings grow 4 to 5 true leaves, transplant them once, and when they have 7 to 8 leaves, plant them out in the open field or in pots. Cutting propagation can be done in spring or autumn. Select tender branches growing from old plants and insert them into a sand bed. The suitable temperature for rooting is 20 to 25 degrees. In the hot summer season, water cutting can also be used. Note to change the clean water once every 2 to 3 days, and roots will form in about 20 days.
The key points for cultivating Catharanthus roseus are: at the initial stage of planting, attention should be paid to watering and fertilizing. Generally, liquid fertilizer can be applied once every half month to promote early bushy growth. During the growth period, pinch the tips 1 to 2 times to encourage more branching. Catharanthus roseus likes sunlight. If the light is sufficient, it grows vigorously and blooms densely and brightly; otherwise, not only is the plant prone to leggy growth, but the number of flowers is also reduced. Therefore, when potted, it should be placed in a sunny spot outdoors during the growing season. In the hot summer season, ensure an adequate water supply. If there is continuous rainy weather, pay attention to timely drainage. In winter, move it indoors to a sunny place to overwinter, and the minimum temperature must be maintained above 5 degrees, with watering controlled. If the room temperature can be maintained above 15 to 20 degrees and there is sufficient light, it can bloom continuously. After a potted plant has grown and bloomed for one growing season, the plant becomes tall and loose, so it should be pruned back. After new buds sprout, strengthen fertilizer and water management, and it can continue to grow and bloom for many years.
For flower bed planting, faded flowers should be cut off in time, otherwise the plant will set seed and consume too many nutrients. If seeds need to be collected, pay attention to timely harvesting to prevent the fruit from splitting after the seeds mature and the seeds from being lost.
Seven key points of the cultivation method for Catharanthus roseus
Catharanthus roseus (scientific name: Catharanthus roseus), also called ririchun, riricao, ririxin, sanwanhua, sishichun, shizhonghua, yanlaihong, etc., is a perennial herb. The stem is erect and much branched. The leaves are opposite, oblong, with short petioles, entire margins, smooth on both sides**, and the main vein is distinctly white. The cyme is terminal. The flowers come in many colors such as red, purple, pink, white, and yellow. The corolla is salverform, with 5 lobes, and there is a dark eye in the center of the flower. At the tip of the tender branches of Catharanthus roseus, each time a leaf grows, two flowers emerge from the leaf axils, therefore it has especially many flowers, an especially long flowering period, lush flowering, and full vitality. It blooms continuously from spring to autumn, so it has the beautiful name "ririchun". At present, many varieties have been bred in Taiwan, China, and in recent years the breeding trend has been toward larger flowers. Catharanthus roseus is very suitable for planting in pots to decorate the home. Below I will share a few key points of the cultivation method for Catharanthus roseus:
1. Soil: It should be fertile and well-drained soil. It tolerates poor soil, but must absolutely not be alkaline. In compacted, poorly aerated clayey soil, the plant grows poorly, the leaves turn yellow, and it does not bloom.
2. Sunlight: Catharanthus roseus is a light-loving plant. During the growing period it must have sufficient sunlight for the leaves to be verdant and glossy and the flowers to be brightly colored. If it grows in shade for a long time, the leaves turn yellow and fall off.
3. Temperature: It prefers a warm, slightly dry, and sunny environment. The suitable growing temperature is 18 to 24°C from March to July, and 13 to 18°C from September to March of the following year. The winter temperature should not be lower than 10°C.
4. Watering: Catharanthus roseus avoids dampness and fears waterlogging, so the pot soil should not be watered too much, as excessive moisture affects growth and development. In particular, plants overwintering indoors should have watering strictly controlled, and it is better to keep them dry, otherwise they are very prone to frost damage. For open-field cultivation, during heavy summer rain showers, pay attention to timely drainage to avoid waterlogging causing the death of the entire patch.
5. Fertilizing: When fertilizing, a method of alternately applying compound fertilizer and liquid fertilizer can be adopted once every ten days. A layer of base fertilizer should also be spread at the bottom of the pot soil for Catharanthus roseus as much as possible to ensure the nutrient content of the pot soil.
6. Pests and diseases: The Catharanthus roseus plant itself is toxic, so it is relatively resistant to pests and diseases. The main diseases at the seedling stage include: damping-off at the seedling stage, gray mold, etc. In addition, prevent fertilizer burn and pesticide burn at the seedling stage. If these occur, immediately water thoroughly with clean water and strengthen ventilation to reduce the damage.
7. Pruning: Catharanthus roseus is an herbaceous plant and is relatively suitable for pot cultivation, but be careful not to let the plant grow too tall, which would affect indoor decoration and appreciation. Therefore, after the potted plant survives, pinch the tips several times to promote more branching and more flowering. After flowering, the faded flowers must be cut off.
Summary
Catharanthus roseus has a long flowering period, brilliant flower colors, and graceful posture. In recent years, the bred varieties have increasingly larger flowers, making it very suitable as a potted ornamental plant, with unexpected effects when used in home decoration. The cultivation method for Catharanthus roseus is introduced here, and I hope it is helpful to everyone.