How to grow a Radermachera sinica so it thrives? These care methods you need to master
Radermachera sinica, also known as chili tree, mountain bean tree, and jiegu liangsan, is a medium-sized deciduous tree of the genus Radermachera in the Bignoniaceae family. It has a beautiful tree form and elegant posture, a long flowering period with large flowers, and a delicate fragrance. It has extremely high ornamental value and landscaping application prospects, and is often used as an excellent tree species for landscaping in towns, streets, parks, courtyards and other sites. Now let us take a look at how to grow a Radermachera sinica so it thrives!
Propagation methods of Radermachera sinica
1. Sowing: Between March and April, first soak the seeds for 3 to 4 hours, remove them and spread them out to dry slightly, then mix them with sandy soil and scatter them on a prepared seedbed, lightly cover with a thin layer of soil, cover with plastic film to retain moisture, and after the seeds sprout and emerge, remove the film and set up a light shade frame for shading.
2. Cuttings: Between March and April, when the ambient temperature reaches about 15°C, cut 1-year to 2-year-old woody branches and insert them into a sandy loam seedbed. The depth of the cutting into the soil is about 1/3 to 1/2 of the cutting length, and spray water to keep the seedbed moist.
3. Layering: Between March and April, perform ring barking below a node on a 2-year-old vigorous branch or stem, use peat soil or sandy loam to pinch a suitable ball of soil around the ringed area, then wrap the soil ball with plastic film, leave a water-catching opening at the top and tie it against the main trunk.
How to grow a Radermachera sinica so it thrives?
1. Temperature: Radermachera sinica likes a warm and humid environment. Keep it between 19-21°C during the day and between 18-20°C at night. Too high or too low will affect growth. When the ambient temperature is very high, appropriate shading with a shed should be used. In winter, the temperature must not be lower than 8°C.
2. Humidity: Radermachera sinica likes humidity. Keep indoor humidity between 70-80%. If the humidity is too low or it is kept in a dry environment for a long time, the leaves will curl and turn yellow, thus affecting its ornamental value.
3. Light: Radermachera sinica is relatively fond of light and can also tolerate slight shade. Full sun and semi-shade environments are both acceptable. Potted plants displayed indoors should be placed by a window with ample light. If placed in a dim indoor area for a long time, leaf drop is likely to occur.
4. Watering: Radermachera sinica likes moisture and fears dryness. During the seedling stage, keep the seedbed moist. In hot and dry seasons, attention should be paid to water supply. To prevent excessive growth, watering can be controlled when new shoots emerge in spring. In summer and autumn, spray regularly, but do not water too much to avoid root rot from waterlogging.
6. Soil: Radermachera sinica likes loose, fertile, well-drained soil rich in humus. It can be mixed with garden soil + leaf mold + decomposed organic fertilizer + river sand in a ratio of 5:3:1:1. At the same time, perlite or vermiculite should be added to the soil to avoid soil compaction.
7. Fertilizing: Radermachera sinica grows relatively quickly and requires more nutrients. During the growing period, it needs frequent fertilizing. Generally, a mixed fertilizer of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in equal proportions is sufficient. Diluted thin fertilizer water can also be used instead of plain water. Stop fertilizing in winter.
Pest and disease control of Radermachera sinica
1. Leaf spot disease: When a small number of diseased leaves are found, they should be removed and burned promptly, and 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 600 times dilution should be sprayed regularly. For household potted plants, when disease spots appear on a small number of leaves of individual plants, Daktarin cream ointment can be applied.
2. Scale insects: When a small number of live insects are found, they can be wiped off promptly with a damp cloth, or removed by sticking with transparent tape. In commercial cultivation, during the peak hatching period of nymphs, 25% buprofezin wettable powder at 1500 times dilution can be sprayed to kill them.
3. Mites: They generally occur from June to September. High temperature and dryness favor massive outbreaks of this pest, while under relatively humid conditions the pest occurs less. Acaricides such as manjing, d, and hexythiazox can be used.
4. Aphids: The most common aphid is the green peach aphid. Symptoms include wrinkled and deformed leaves, usually with glistening honeydew spots, which can be seen with the naked eye. Control methods include spraying with zinc sulfur phosphorus, omethoate, and deltamethrin.
Precautions for Radermachera sinica
1. When the temperature is above 30°C, Radermachera sinica should be appropriately shaded and sprayed with water, or kept in a cool place for the summer. In winter, it should be placed on a south-facing balcony with ample light. A minimum temperature below 5°C will cause cold damage and lead to massive leaf drop. Seedlings are shade-tolerant, so shade them in summer.
2. The air humidity for Radermachera sinica should be kept between 70-80%, and should not exceed 85% at most. If placed at home, the plant can often be sprayed with slightly warm clean water to maintain its fresh appearance and also increase environmental humidity.
3. Radermachera sinica likes warmth. In hot seasons, it is best to place the plant in a well-ventilated place with ample scattered light, avoiding direct strong light to prevent scorching the leaves. In winter, it should be placed in a warm room, and the overwintering temperature is best maintained above 10°C.
4. Radermachera sinica likes moisture. In spring, water once every 2-3 days; in the hot seasons of summer and autumn, water once every 1-2 days; in winter, water once every 7-10 days. Watering should be determined according to weather, season and other conditions. In dry and hot seasons, spray the plant daily to retain moisture.