How should potted camellias be fertilized to grow well?
How should potted camellias be fertilized? Please give a detailed introduction to the method. Fertilizing potted camellias should be done selectively according to the different growth stages of the camellia. During the growth period, camellias need topdressing, and it is best to apply quick-acting liquid fertilizer and chemical fertilizer. During the stage of sprouting branches and leaves, nitrogen fertilizer or a mixed fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen should be applied. During flower bud differentiation and flower bud formation...
How should potted camellias be fertilized? Please give a detailed introduction to the method
Fertilizing potted camellias should be done selectively according to the different growth stages of the camellia. During the growth period, camellias need topdressing, and it is best to apply quick-acting liquid fertilizer and chemical fertilizer. During the stage of sprouting branches and leaves, nitrogen fertilizer or a mixed fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen should be applied. Before flower bud differentiation, flower bud formation, enlargement and flowering, phosphorus fertilizer or a mixed fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus is needed. In autumn and winter, a mixed fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium is most suitable.
(1) Nitrogen fertilizer to promote spring shoots
Camellias generally begin to sprout spring shoots at around 18°C. At this time, apply a bud-promoting fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen, once every 10 days, until the spring shoots begin to become woody. If conditions permit, a diluted liquid mixed with 1000 times potassium dihydrogen phosphate, about 1% urea and about 300 times rice vinegar can also be sprayed on the leaves at the same time. After repeated root and foliar spraying, the spring shoots will grow very luxuriantly, the leaves can extend to the maximum, and the branches and shoots can accumulate abundant nutrients, creating good conditions for flower bud differentiation.
(2) Increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote flower bud differentiation and form flower buds
After the spring shoots of the camellia have fully sprouted and entered the woody stage, there will be a relatively short semi-dormant period. At this time, the camellia changes from the vegetative growth stage to reproductive growth, and the flower buds begin to differentiate. If you want the camellia to form more buds, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers and no or little nitrogen fertilizer. If the goal for a small camellia plant is mainly to grow larger, then still mainly apply nitrogen fertilizer and no or little phosphorus fertilizer. About every 10 days, spray a diluted liquid mixed with 1000 times potassium dihydrogen phosphate, a small amount of borax and rice vinegar on the leaves. This can not only control excessive spindly growth of camellia branches, but also promote and shorten the time of flower bud differentiation, which is beneficial to flower bud formation.
(3) Do not fertilize in midsummer, and even more so do not apply concentrated fertilizer
In midsummer, when the weather is hot, camellias grow slowly or fall into a semi-paused state. At this time, fertilization is not suitable, and special attention should be paid not to apply concentrated fertilizer. If the soil is poor and thin, a slightly diluted liquid fertilizer can be applied along with watering to improve the soil.
(4) In autumn, appropriately apply a mixed fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium
In autumn, the sky is high and the air is crisp, which is a period of nutrient accumulation for the camellia plant. In order to survive the winter safely, a mixed fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus and potassium can be applied once every half month, combined with foliar spraying, to promote robust plant growth and improve the cold resistance of the camellia.
(5) In winter, it is suitable to apply diluted phosphorus-potassium liquid fertilizer
In the cold winter, camellias enter a semi-dormant period. When camellias are moved indoors or into storage pits, vegetative growth has entered dormancy and not much fertilizer is needed. However, reproductive growth has not completely stopped, and it is precisely the season of flowering or preparing to flower, so a diluted phosphorus-potassium liquid fertilizer should be applied along with watering. By all means, do not apply concentrated fertilizer.
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