How to grow Daphne odora? Cultivation methods and precautions: likes fertilizer but hates waterlogging

Daphne odora, also known as Fengliu Shu, has a natural and elegant tree shape, small white flowers, and a rich fragrance, making it a flower deeply loved by gardening enthusiasts. In daily life, after learning about Daphne odora, many people want to grow it, so how do you grow Daphne odora? Below are the cultivation methods and precautions for Daphne odora compiled by the editor, very detailed, so those who want to grow it must take a look~

I. How to grow Daphne odora indoors, understand its habits

Daphne odora prefers a warm, humid, semi-shaded environment. It is not cold-tolerant, hates heat, and fears direct strong light. When growing it indoors, the potted Daphne odora should be placed in a semi-shaded spot, watered appropriately to keep the potting soil moist, and protected from the cold in winter. As for the growing medium, it is best to choose a loose, fertile, well-draining sandy loam. So how to grow Daphne odora requires us to satisfy its growth habits.

II. Cultivation methods and precautions for Daphne odora

1. Soil

Although Daphne odora has been cultivated and domesticated, it is still difficult to grow well, so for how to grow Daphne odora, we should first reselect the potting soil, starting from the most basic. Because gardening enthusiasts' potted plants are basically purchased online, and that soil is very cheap. Normal care can ensure plant growth, but if you want Daphne odora to grow well, it is best to reselect the soil.

Soil selection: According to the growth habits of Daphne odora, it likes loose, fertile, well-draining, humus-rich, slightly acidic sandy loam. For this, the editor recommends using: a soil mix of 5 parts garden soil (mountain soil) and 2 parts leaf mold (pine needle soil).

2. Light

The growth of Daphne odora cannot do without light, but it also fears strong light, so in the cultivation methods and precautions for Daphne odora, everyone should pay attention to light. In summer, place the potted Daphne odora in a well-ventilated semi-shaded spot; in spring, autumn, and winter it should also be placed in a semi-shaded spot, and when the temperature is relatively low, it can be placed on a balcony to receive sunlight.

3. Watering

Water is the source of life, so how to grow Daphne odora? Watering is indispensable. However, Daphne odora has fleshy roots, so it is relatively drought-tolerant. When watering, water less, not too much. Otherwise, it is easy to cause the potting soil to remain wet for a long time, which easily causes root rot, resulting in poor plant growth and even death.

4. Fertilizing

Having covered watering, let's talk about fertilizing, which is also a very important part of Daphne odora cultivation methods. Daphne odora likes fertilizer. During its rapid growth period, we should apply liquid fertilizer every 10 days, paying attention to keeping the fertilizer concentration low.

Precautions: When fertilizing Daphne odora, there are a few points to note. First, human feces and urine cannot be used as its fertilizer; second, in summer when temperatures are high, Daphne odora enters a dormant state, and at this time fertilization should be stopped to avoid burning the roots.

5. Pruning

In the process of growing Daphne odora, for the healthy growth of the plant and also for its appearance, we should prune it in a timely manner. First, before sprouting, cut off relatively dense branches to facilitate ventilation and light penetration; second, after the flowering period of Daphne odora, shorten the branches bearing withered flowers, and cut off leggy branches, crossing branches, overly dense branches, and overlapping branches, which can maintain its appearance.

6. Repotting

In the cultivation methods for Daphne odora, there is another point everyone should note, which is repotting. Everyone should change the potting soil for Daphne odora every 2-3 years, generally after the flowers fade. When repotting, replace 2/3 of the old soil, or replace all the old soil with new soil.

Introduction to the cultivation methods and precautions for golden-edged Daphne odora

Even though Daphne odora is actually a traditional famous flower of our country, it is of course also a world-famous flower. In modern horticultural history, it was praised together with Changchun monk's clivia and Japanese five-needle pine as the three treasures of world horticulture, and golden-edged Daphne odora is famous worldwide for its four excellences of color, fragrance, posture, and charm, and has even left behind the chant that among peonies the national beauty and heavenly fragrance, among Daphne odora the golden-edged one is best. So what do we need to pay attention to if we want to grow it? Today let the editor explain it to everyone in detail.

[Growth habits]
For generally potted golden-edged Daphne odora, its potting soil is most suitable as fertile, loose, humus-rich, acidic leaf mold, and an appropriate amount of river sand and decomposed cake fertilizer can also be mixed in. The roots of golden-edged Daphne odora are fleshy, so during usual care and management special attention must be paid to controlling watering for it. If watered too much and the potting soil remains too wet for a long time, it will very easily cause root rot. After rain, the accumulated water in the pot must be poured out promptly.
Although golden-edged Daphne odora likes semi-shade, in winter and spring it should be placed in an environment with sunlight, and during its growth period if there is sufficient light and suitable fertilizer, it can make the branches plump and the leaves dark, with bright flowers and rich fragrance. In summer it should be placed in a cool, well-ventilated spot, and when it is hot, water should also be sprayed to lower the temperature. Because golden-edged Daphne odora relatively likes fertilizer, we can water it with a thin liquid fertilizer about every 10 days during its growing season. Before and after flowering, it is suitable to apply a thin cake fertilizer water once each. After Frost's Descent, move it indoors to a sunny spot, keep the room temperature at around 5°C, and control watering; the water content of the potting soil should be controlled at around 45% so it can make it through winter safely. In addition, the branches and trunks of golden-edged Daphne odora grow in clusters, with strong sprouting ability and tolerance to pruning, so branch training must be carried out after flowering.

[Cultivation methods]
Potted management: Daphne odora is actually also called Penglai Hua or Qianli Xiang. It also belongs to the evergreen shrub category of the Thymelaeaceae family, and is even more famous for its fragrance. Its variety is golden-edged Daphne odora, which is even the best among Daphne odora. And we should know that the propagation method of golden-edged Daphne odora mainly uses old branch and young branch cuttings, and this method has the characteristics of a high survival rate, being simple and easy to learn, and saving labor and effort. For potted golden-edged Daphne odora, the potting soil is also most suitable as loose, humus-rich, slightly acidic leaf mold or mountain soil (or frozen and crumbled pond soil), mixed with an appropriate amount of river sand and decomposed cake fertilizer.
Although golden-edged Daphne odora is a plant that likes semi-shade, in winter and spring it should still be placed in an environment with sunlight, because during its growth period if there is sufficient light and suitable fertilizer, it can make the branches supple and the leaves dark. Before and after flowering, it is suitable to apply once each a thin cake fertilizer water or decomposed chicken or duck manure water. After Frost's Descent, move it indoors to a sunny spot, keep the room temperature at around 5 degrees, and control watering; the water content of the potting soil should be controlled at around 45% so it can safely pass the winter. In addition, the branches and trunks of golden-edged Daphne odora grow in clusters, and its sprouting ability is relatively strong and it is also relatively tolerant of pruning. We generally can carry out branch training after its flowering.

Watering: The leaves of golden-edged Daphne odora are leathery, glossy, and contain a large amount of wax, so the transpiration of the leaves is very small, and therefore it is not tolerant of wetness. In usual watering, it is best to water when dry and stop when wet. In early spring when the buds are about to sprout, water once thoroughly, and afterward water thoroughly again after the potting soil has dried out. In summer, besides maintaining alternating dry and wet potting soil, it is also necessary to regularly spray water around it and on the leaf surface to lower the temperature. In late autumn, keep the potting soil in a semi-dry state to slow down the growth vigor, which is beneficial for overwintering. In winter when growth stagnates, the potting soil should be on the dry side, and watering should be reduced.
Fertilizing: Although golden-edged Daphne odora does not like heavy fertilizer, in normal times we still need to apply a decomposed thin fertilizer liquid once a month for it. Applying a thin fertilizer liquid once before and after it flowers can make the plant lush, with fragrant flowers and bright colors. Be careful not to splash the fertilizer liquid onto the leaves, and fertilizing should also be done when the potting soil is dry. It is taboo to apply human feces and chemical fertilizers to it.

Cultivation methods and precautions for Daphne odora

1. Morphological characteristics

Flowers pale purplish red outside, flesh-red inside, glabrous, several to 12 forming a terminal capitate inflorescence; bracts lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 5-8 mm long, 2-3 mm wide, glabrous, veins conspicuously raised; calyx tube tubular, 6-10 mm long, glabrous, lobes 4, cordate-ovate or ovate-lanceolate, base cordate, equal to or exceeding the calyx tube; stamens 8, in 2 whorls, the lower whorl stamens inserted above the middle of the calyx tube, the upper whorl anthers 1/2 exserted from the throat of the calyx tube, filaments 0.7 mm long, anthers oblong, 2 mm long; ovary oblong, glabrous, apex obtuse, style short, stigma capitate. Fruit red. Flowering period March-May, fruiting period July-August.

2. Growth habits

3. Geographical distribution

4. Taxonomy

5. Species under the genus

Daphne odora Thunb. Fl. Jap. 159. 1784; Sims in Curtis′s Bot. Mag. 38: t. 1587. 1813; Keiss. in Bot. Jahrb. 25: 89. 1898; Matsum. et Hayata, Pl. Formos. 354. 1906; Rehd. in Sarg. Pl. Wils. 2: 545. 1916; H. Winkl. in Fedde, Repert. Sp. Nov. Beih. 12: 441. 1922; Kanehira, Formos. Trees, ed. Rev. 482. 1936. ——D. triflora Lour. Pl. Cochinch. 1: 236. 1790. ——D. japonica Thunb. in Mus. Acad. Upsal. 13: 106. 1792. ——D. mazeli Carr. in Rev. Hort. 1872: 392. t. 1872. ——D. odora Thunb. var. mazeli (Carr.) Hemsl. in Gardeniana 14: 442. t. 1878.
Daphne odora(Original form) Plate 67: 1-5
f. odora.
Golden-edged Daphne odora(Form) (Chinese Tree Taxonomy)
f. marginata Makino in Bot. Mag. Tokyo 23: 69. 1909; Hamaya in Bull. Tokyo. Univ. Forests. 55: 69. 1959.
Leaf margins pale yellow, center green.
Cultivated in all major cities of our country. Also cultivated in Japanese gardens. Besides being ornamental, the roots of this form can be used medicinally; the stem bark fibers can be used as papermaking material.
Types
White-flowered Daphne odora, flower color pure white;

Red-flowered Daphne odora, flowers red;
Purple-flowered Daphne odora, flowers purple;
Yellow-flowered Daphne odora, flowers yellow;
Golden-edged Daphne odora, leaf margins golden yellow, flower buds red, opening white; Mao Ruixiang, flowers white, the outside of the perianth densely covered with grayish-yellow silky pubescence; golden-edged Daphne odora is the best among Daphne odora, and there is a saying that among peonies the national beauty and heavenly fragrance, among Daphne odora the golden-edged one is best;
Rose Daphne odora, petals white inside and light red outside;
Concave-leaved Daphne odora, leaf margins recurved, apex obtuse with a small concave notch.

6. Cultivation techniques

Planting methods

Cutting propagation
Golden-edged Daphne odora likes sun but fears intense sunlight, tolerates dryness but avoids waterlogging, and is suitable for planting in potting soil made of sun-exposed pond soil and humus. Flowering at Spring Festival can be ensured by controlling light, temperature, and water.
Golden-edged Daphne odora does not set seed after flowering and is mainly propagated by cuttings, which can be done in spring, summer, and autumn, with the highest survival rate in summer cuttings. Select semi-lignified branches of the current year as cuttings, make the cut smooth, sterilize the scissors or blade with an alcohol lamp or lighter at high temperature, cut the branches into 8 cm lengths, keep 4-6 leaves, soak the inserted part in a special rooting agent, then dip it in carbendazim powder, and insert 3/5 of the plant into the growing medium. The growing medium is rice husk ash burned to carbonization but not to ash and extinguished by pouring cold water, then scalded with boiling water or treated with potassium permanganate solution to remove alkali and sterilize. Cover with film for 15 days to retain moisture; generally roots in 30 days and can be transplanted into pots in 50 days. It is better to apply air-isolated fermented and decomposed human feces and urine or cake fertilizer water, applying small amounts multiple times and appropriately increasing phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Combine pruning and shaping with pest elimination to make golden-edged Daphne odora upright and elegant. By the Spring Festival of that year it can bloom with bursts of rich fragrance and brilliantly colored flowers, and after the second year it can grow into a large ornamental bonsai with a graceful posture.

Field management

Management after planting: open-field cultivation is relatively extensive, watering only when the weather is too dry; before overwintering, apply some decomposed barnyard manure around the plant clump. For potted Daphne odora, keep the potting soil half dry and half wet, and apply fertilizer once each in spring and autumn. In spring during the bud sprouting and shoot growing period, use a mixed liquid fertilizer of 30% decomposed soybean cake and chicken manure; in autumn in late September, the fertilizer concentration should be light. Fertilizing should be chosen on a sunny day, preferably before 10 a.m. After 5 p.m. on the day of fertilizing, spray water once on the leaf surface. The water cannot be newly drawn tap water; it is best to use water that has been exposed to sunlight or stored indoors for a day, and the water temperature cannot be lower than the indoor temperature. Do not spill the fertilizer liquid on the leaf surface; if spilled, immediately rinse it off with water from a watering can. Fertilizer is mainly nitrogen fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, that is, often a mixture of cake fertilizer and fishy fertilizer. But it must be fully fermented fertilizer liquid, and a small amount of black alum water should also be added. Daphne odora should not be fertilized heavily, but lightly. Note that fertilization is not suitable when the potting soil is too wet and the temperature is too high or too low. From early summer, potted Daphne odora should be placed under tree shade or in a shade shed to avoid strong light. The pot should not be placed directly on the ground, so that the flower's fragrance does not attract ants and earthworms. Daphne odora is relatively tolerant of pruning. Generally before sprouting, densely growing small branches can be pruned away, leaving a certain gap to facilitate ventilation and light penetration. Daphne odora should be shaped and pruned after flowering, shortening the branches that have flowered, and cutting off leggy branches, overlapping branches, overly dense branches, crossing branches, and other branches that affect the beauty of the tree shape, so as to maintain a graceful form. Daphne odora should be repotted and have its soil changed every 2 to 3 years, generally after the flowers fade, and also in autumn. When repotting, remove 2/3 of the old soil, appropriately trim away some overly long fibrous roots, and combined with repotting, appropriately raise the roots.

Before Qingming at the end of March, Daphne odora can be moved outdoors, but it must be protected from strong wind and heavy rain so that the newly sprouted tender buds of Daphne odora are not damaged. By the end of April, gradually shorten the light duration. From mid-June to mid-September it can be without light all day. Because by summer Daphne odora basically stops growing and enters a semi-dormant state. During this period, prevent heavy rain, and strictly prohibit fertilization. Also create a cool and ventilated good environment for it, and reduce the amount of watering. After Daphne odora passes the summer, from late September to early October it can see some morning sunlight, 2 to 3 hours is good, and afterward the light duration can be gradually extended; by the end of October it can have all-day light. According to different local climate conditions, in October or early November Daphne odora should be moved indoors, and after being moved indoors it should be placed in a position with a long light duration. In mid-November and early and late December, apply a thin fertilizer liquid once each. Because the flower buds of Daphne odora grow relatively slowly, fertilizer cannot be applied too frequently, too much, or too concentrated, but it also cannot be not applied at all.
Golden-edged Daphne odora has poor sexual reproduction ability and mostly uses vegetative organ propagation, so seedlings are in short supply and expensive. Vegetative propagation of golden-edged Daphne odora can be carried out all year round, usually using methods such as cuttings, grafting, and air layering. Below is an introduction to water cuttings and bud cuttings propagation methods. Water cuttings and bud cuttings
Water cuttings.Water cuttings are generally carried out in summer, when new branches tend to mature, making it a good season for water cuttings. The water cutting method roots quickly and has a high survival rate (almost 100%), and can reduce the number of water sprays. The specific method is: take current-year branches, 8-12 cm long. The day before cutting the branch, it is best to cut a ring at 1-2 mm from the branching point with a sharp knife (scissors cannot be used), which can accelerate healing and rooting. After ring-cutting at the branching point, smooth the wound, remove the leaves on the lower half of the branch, keep 3-4 leaves on the upper part, and cut off the rest. Then insert it into a prepared wide-mouth bottle. Fill the bottle with about 3/4 water and drop in 2-3 drops of vinegar. The cutting should be about 1/3 in the water, held upright and fixed. Cover the bottle mouth with gauze and tie it tightly. After insertion, place it on an indoor windowsill. When the water amount decreases, add water to the original water level. After about 5 days, spray water on the leaf surface 1-2 times, change the water once a week, and it can root within one month. Transplant into pots promptly.
Bud cuttings.Bud cuttings are carried out before sprouting in spring. Select plump, robust current-year branches from the middle and upper part of the crown as cuttings, keep one leaf on the upper part, and there should be an obvious bud point at the leaf axil; a cutting with one leaf and one bud is best. When taking the cutting, use a sharp knife, start the cut from above the axillary bud, cut diagonally, and shape it into a horse-ear form, being careful not to damage the axillary bud, so as to facilitate rooting and sprouting. Use pine needle soil plus 30% fine sand as the cutting substrate, which facilitates the insertion and fixing of short cuttings. Note that before cutting, the pine needle soil and fine sand substrate must be placed in the sun to be exposed and sterilized. When cutting, insert 1/2 into the soil, press firmly after insertion, sprinkle a little water, and keep moist; it can root and survive in about 40 days. After new branches grow, transplant into pots in the spring of the following year.

Bonsai making

[Layering propagation]: Usually the air layering method can be used. Air layering is best done from May to June. First select suitable branches, determine the air-layering position, use the notching method to make one or two horizontal cuts or ring-barking at the layered position, with the cut reaching the xylem, then wrap the cut part with a plastic bag or half a bamboo tube, tie the lower end tightly, apply growth hormone to the wound, then fill in the prepared growing soil, and tie the upper end of the bag tightly. Keep the soil in the bag moist, and fix the air-layered branch well so it is not broken. Generally it can root in about 40-50 days, and after about 2 months it can be cut from the mother branch and potted for cultivation. Propagating Daphne odora by water cutting is simple and easy, and the survival rate is also relatively high.

Pest and disease control

7. Main value

Medicinal value

[Aliases]: Xuedonghua, Xuehuapi, Duixuekai, Xuedi Kaihua, Xuedonghua, Jin Yaodai, Tie Niupi, Shan Mianpi, Nuan Gufeng, Hong Zongguan
[Source]: The plant Daphne odora Thunb. of the genus Daphne in the family Thymelaeaceae, with its roots, bark, leaves and flowers used as medicine. It can be collected throughout the year, and used dried in the sun or fresh.
This product also contains a large amount of umbelliferone.
[Medicinal properties]: When white daphnin is given orally to rabbits at 30-50 mg/kg, it can reduce blood coagulability, with the strongest effect on days 2-3, lasting 1-3 days.
As time is prolonged, the blood's tolerance to heparin decreases, and the activities of factors II, VII and X decline.
Thromboelastography also shows prolongation of the reaction time (τ) and clot formation (k).
This effect can be antagonized by vitamin K.
White daphnin can also promote the excretion of uric acid in the body.
The bark of the related plant Daphne mezereum, especially the fresh bark (known as white daphne bark), contains mezerein, a strong vesicant; internal use can cause vomiting, bloody stools, etc., and absorption poisoning can cause elevated body temperature, excitement, rapid pulse, difficulty breathing, and finally death from collapse.
[Nature, flavor and meridian entry]: Pungent, sweet, warm.
[Functions and indications]: Dispels wind and removes dampness, promotes blood circulation and relieves pain. Used for rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, pharyngitis, toothache, early-stage breast cancer, and traumatic injuries.
[Dosage and usage]: 2-4 qian.
[Excerpt]: "National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicines"

Ornamental value