Add this to your potted osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans) and it will keep sprouting new branches and buds, filling the whole garden with its fragrance

Flowers & Gardening Jan 1, 1970 0 views

If you could smell a fresh floral scent the moment you open your front door, how would you feel? Surely it would be a wonderful sense of comfort. Indeed, after a day at work, your body and mind are both exhausted, and at times like this, catching that fresh floral fragrance really makes you feel like all your tiredness has melted away!

If we are talking about which flower is blooming most profusely right now, it has to be the osmanthus. Its pale yellow little flowers hang all over the branches, and its fragrance can carry far and wide; just smelling that fresh scent makes you feel much more at ease. But even though it should be the season when osmanthus blooms, the osmanthus at Huahua's home showed no sign of movement at all, and it was unclear what the problem was. Only after asking fellow gardening enthusiasts did Huahua learn that osmanthus actually needs some skill to care for.

1. The soil must be suitable

Osmanthus grown at home is usually potted osmanthus, and in that case the soil requirements are a bit higher. Potted osmanthus generally prefers slightly acidic soil, so we can use ordinary leaf mold to grow it, but it is best to mix a little sulfur powder into the soil to ensure its acidity. Once the soil is right, the osmanthus will have no trouble growing.

2. Water in moderation

The osmanthus growing season is concentrated in summer, and it likes to grow in a hot, dry environment, so when watering you must be moderate and not overwater, which would cause waterlogging. Pay special attention to watering less when new buds are sprouting, and also water less on rainy and overcast days; then when the summer heat dries out the potting soil, you can replenish a bit more water. It is best to water osmanthus in the early morning and in the evening, when temperatures are lower and the water naturally soaks in more thoroughly.

3. Plenty of light

Osmanthus likes to grow in full sunlight, and because it used to grow outdoors, there was no need to worry about light. But when we grow potted osmanthus at home, we must make sure it gets enough light. Generally, during the seedling stage, diffused light can be the main source; once the growing season arrives, if there is not enough light, it will drop leaves and fail to bloom, so at home you must pay attention to where you place the pot.

4. Apply light fertilizer frequently

When growing, potted osmanthus loves organic fertilizer most. In spring, when the branches have just sprouted, be sure to frequently apply a dilute fertilizer solution containing nitrogen, so that early development is good and later growth will be vigorous. In summer, apply a little compound fertilizer, which can speed up the growth of the young plant and help the osmanthus bloom.

5. Prune the branches regularly

We all know that pruning branches can make flowers and plants grow more vigorously, and the same goes for osmanthus. Potted osmanthus is generally pruned in spring and autumn: in spring, cut off diseased and rotten branches; in autumn, cut off overly leggy branches. This ensures the branches receive nutrients evenly and grow faster.

If your osmanthus did not bloom during the golden autumn season, you might consider whether one of these 5 aspects is the problem. If you have even better ways to encourage osmanthus to bloom, leave a comment and share them with Huahua!