How to water and fertilize Golden-edged Daphne? Water when dry, keep moist, apply light fertilizer frequently.
Golden-edged Daphne is a fairly common plant in people's daily lives; it can be grown in pots or planted over large areas. However, if you want to grow it well, there are many things to pay attention to, and watering and fertilizing are the most important among them. How to water Golden-edged Daphne? What fertilizer should be given to Golden-edged Daphne? Below, the editor will walk everyone through it.
I. How to water Golden-edged Daphne
1. Watering in spring and summer: water when dry, keep moist
Golden-edged Daphne's water needs differ with the seasons. In spring, we can water thoroughly once just before it buds, and after that we should follow the principle of watering when dry and keeping moist, watering again only after the soil has dried out completely. In summer, Golden-edged Daphne enters a semi-dormant state; at this time we need to keep the potting soil on the dry side, but air humidity should still be maintained. We should spray its leaves every day to maintain air humidity, generally twice a day is enough.
2. Watering in autumn and winter: reduce watering frequency
In autumn, humidity gradually drops; we should keep the potting soil in a semi-dry state, not water too frequently, and let its growth trend slow down a bit in preparation for winter. Once winter arrives, Golden-edged Daphne stops growing and enters dormancy; at this time we should strictly control moisture and water as little as possible.
3. Notes: avoid waterlogging
The root system of Golden-edged Daphne is fleshy, so when watering it we must control the amount of water. Remember not to water too much; otherwise, if water accumulates, it can easily cause root rot and, in severe cases, even threaten its normal growth. If we accidentally water too much, we must promptly remove the excess standing water.
II. What fertilizer should be given to Golden-edged Daphne
1. Fertilizing time: depends on the season
The timing of fertilizing Golden-edged Daphne is a point that needs particular attention; depending on the climate, our fertilizing time also differs. In spring and autumn, the temperature is relatively suitable, so there are no restrictions on fertilizing time. The summer climate is relatively hot, so when fertilizing we had best choose to fertilize in the morning or evening, because at these times the soil and environment are not too hot and the plant can absorb it better. After entering winter, it is just the opposite; it is best to fertilize at noon.
2. Fertilizing frequency: once every 10 days during the growing period
Fertilizer is one of the main nutrients in Golden-edged Daphne's growth process; only by keeping it adequately supplied with nutrients can it grow better. Especially after it enters the growing period, Golden-edged Daphne's demand for fertilizer is very great, and basically it needs fertilizing once every 10 days. For fertilizer selection, a liquid fertilizer that has already been fully decomposed can be used.
3. Notes: avoid concentrated fertilizer
When fertilizing Golden-edged Daphne, there are several points to note. First, the fertilizer must be diluted before application so the plant can absorb it; if the fertilizer concentration is too high, it can easily burn the plant. Second, the fertilizer we apply is liquid, so when applying it we must be careful not to get the liquid fertilizer on the leaves of Golden-edged Daphne.
Golden-edged Daphne Daphne odora "Aureomarginata" Golden-edged Daphne illustrated guide: how to grow Golden-edged Daphne / how to propagate Golden-edged Daphne
Golden-edged Daphne profileGolden-edged Daphne Daphne odora "Aureomarginata"
Golden-edged Daphne cultivation methods and precautions, an introduction to Golden-edged Daphne
Golden-edged Daphne is a traditional famous flower of our country and also a world-famous flower. In modern horticultural history, it, along with the Changchun monk's Clivia and the Japanese five-needle pine, was praised together as the three treasures of horticulture. Golden-edged Daphne is renowned in the world for its four excellences of "color, fragrance, posture, and charm," leaving behind the verse: "The peony is the national beauty and heavenly fragrance, but among daphne flowers the golden-edged one is the best."
Morphological characteristics of Golden-edged Daphne
Golden-edged Daphne is a variety of daphne, an evergreen small shrub of the genus Daphne in the family Thymelaeaceae. It has a fleshy root system. The leaves are densely whorled, elliptical, about 5-6 cm long and 2-3 cm wide; the leaf surface is smooth and thick, leathery, hairless on both sides, dark green on the surface and light green on the underside, with golden-yellow leaf margins and short, thick petioles. It bears terminal capitate inflorescences with tubular perianth, the upper end split into four, about 1.5 cm in diameter; each flower is composed of dozens of small florets, opening from the outside inward. The flowering period lasts more than two months, with the peak blooming period during the Spring Festival. The flower color is vivid purplish-red, and the fragrance is rich.
Ecological habits of Golden-edged Daphne
For potted Golden-edged Daphne, the potting soil should preferably be fertile, loose, humus-rich, acidic leaf mold, mixed with an appropriate amount of river sand and decomposed cake fertilizer. Golden-edged Daphne's roots are fleshy, so in routine care and management special attention must be paid to controlling watering; if watered too much and the potting soil stays wet for a long time, root rot is easily caused. After rain, the standing water in the pot must be poured out promptly.
Although Golden-edged Daphne likes partial shade, in winter and spring it should be placed in an environment with sunlight. During the growing period, if light is sufficient and fertilizer effects are appropriate, the branches can be plump and the leaves dark, with bright flowers and strong fragrance. In summer it should be placed in a cool, well-ventilated place, and during hot weather water should be sprayed to lower the temperature. Golden-edged Daphne relatively likes fertilizer; during the growing season, a dilute liquid fertilizer should be applied about once every 10 days. Before and after flowering, a dilute cake fertilizer solution should be given as a supplementary application 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 potting soil moisture content should be controlled at around 45% so it can safely overwinter. In addition, Golden-edged Daphne has clustered branches and strong sprouting ability, is tolerant of pruning, and must be pruned after flowering.
Distribution area of Golden-edged Daphne
Golden-edged Daphne originates from the Yangtze River basin and grows in shaded, humid areas of low mountains and hills. According to the Song Dynasty work Qing Yi Lu: an old monk on Mount Lu sat on a stone bench behind the temple in meditation, and in a dream smelled an unusually intense rare fragrance; he rose joyfully and searched among the fragrant grasses around him, finding a plant with dense leaves and fragrant flowers. He transplanted it into a pot and offered it before the Buddha, naming it "Shuixiang" (Sleeping Fragrance). Soon the Spring Festival arrived, and the flower's fragrance had not diminished; more and more people came to worship the Buddha, and people from all around found it wondrous, all saying it was bestowed by the old Buddha and was an auspicious sign for the year, so the name was changed to Ruixiang (Auspicious Fragrance). Thereafter, more and more people collected seeds, and through the long years of artificial cultivation, domestication, and acclimatization, and from the parent varieties of daphne flowers that produced bud mutations, the golden-edged daphne with golden margins on the leaves was selected.
"Golden-edged Daphne" is produced in Dayu County, Ganzhou, Jiangxi. In March 1996, Dayu County was named by the China Specialty Economy Professional Committee and other relevant departments as the country's only "Hometown of Chinese Daphne."
Cultivation techniques of Golden-edged Daphne
Golden-edged Daphne is the first choice among potted flowers for its pure flowers and rich fragrance. The propagation method of Golden-edged Daphne mainly uses cuttings from old branches and young branches; this method has the characteristics of a high survival rate, being simple and easy to learn, and saving labor and effort. It is briefly introduced as follows:
1. Collection of cuttings
Old-branch cuttings are taken before the plant buds in spring, generally from late March to early April, selecting 1-year-old thick, strong branches that are robust, well developed, free of pests and diseases, and have plump buds. Young-branch cuttings are taken in June-July using robust branches of the current year.
2. Cutting and treatment of cuttings
Golden-edged Daphne is generally cut from the upper, middle, and lower three parts of the stock branch; middle and upper branches are best, and the tip is the worst. Old-branch cuttings require a thickness of more than 1 cm and are cut to a retained length of 15 cm; young-branch cuttings are generally cut to a retained length of 10-12 cm, keeping only 2-3 leaves at the top of the branch and cutting off all the rest. If the retained leaves are too large, in order to reduce transpiration, 1/3-1/2 should also be cut off from each retained leaf. After cutting the cuttings, soak them in a 0.5%-5% sugar solution for 10-12 days, then take them out and insert them.
3. Cutting technique
Choose a cutting medium with good permeability and a pH of about 5, generally water-retaining fine sandy soil or vermiculite. Before cutting, split the base of the cutting from the middle with a sharp small knife to a length of 1.5-2 cm, then insert a small stone in the middle so it does not close up, increasing the contact area between the base of the cutting and the medium and benefiting rooting. Insert 1/3-1/2 of the cutting into the medium and firm the medium.
4. Management after cutting
After cutting, keep the cutting bed moist at all times and promptly supply the water needed for the cuttings to root; keep the temperature at 20-25°C. At the beginning of the seedling stage, frequently water with a small amount of clear water, just enough to penetrate the medium; absolutely avoid muddy water and flooding irrigation, to prevent young leaves from being stained with mud and suffering scorch damage. At the same time, pay attention to shading and avoid direct sun exposure. The root system of Golden-edged Daphne has a fragrance, so ants and earthworms must be kept from eating it. Generally, rooting occurs 30-35 days after cutting.
Disease control of Golden-edged Daphne: control of stem rot
Golden-edged Daphne is a precious flower and tree loved by the masses, but it is delicate and difficult to grow. The main reason is stem rot.
Symptoms: In the early stage of the disease, it is not easy to notice. The first part to show symptoms is the root crown. The phloem of the diseased part turns black and rots, gradually spreading toward the roots. However, the xylem appears normal and the leaves remain normally green, not falling even until death, with no disease symptoms found on the surface.
2. Disease characteristics: The disease occurs from June to October, with July to September as the peak period. This is precisely the period of high temperature and strong light. Observation shows that the incidence rate for plants placed in sunlight all day was 37.5%, while for those shaded from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. it was only 5%.
Diseased plants are mainly 1-year-old to 5-year-old plants that grow rapidly in spring and have abundant leaves, and the disease is highly contagious.
Regarding the culture soil, the incidence rate was significantly higher for potting soil that dries easily than for soil with better water retention. The incidence rate for soil with 80% leaf mold content and 20% river sand was significantly lower than for soil with leaf mold and river sand at half each. Soil with 100% burned manure soil had a lower incidence rate than soil with a high sand content.
Control methods: Based on the disease characteristics of Golden-edged Daphne and three years of practice, the control of stem rot can be approached from five aspects:
1. Selection of culture soil: Choose humus-rich soil with good drainage and water retention. This kind of soil can be obtained by directly digging surface leaf mold from mountain forest areas and then mixing in a small amount of river sand and decomposed cake fertilizer, or by using garden soil with some leaf mold and a small amount of river sand added.
Golden-edged Daphne cultivated in a shed
and decomposed cake fertilizer.
2. Selection of the placement environment for potted flowers: Golden-edged Daphne is a plant that likes a cool, ventilated environment. From June to October, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., potted flowers should be placed in a cool place, or a shade frame can be used to solve this.
3. Timely pruning: For plants that grow vigorously in spring and have abundant branches and leaves, carry out pinching and leaf removal, and thin out excess newly sprouted branches to control excessively rapid water evaporation.
4. Water management: In summer and autumn, the soil must be kept moist, better wet than dry, to ensure the plant's water supply.
5. Handling of diseased plants: Once a plant becomes diseased, the diseased plant together with the potting soil should be disposed of immediately, and the flowerpot should be washed and disinfected. Other unaffected plants should be watered and washed for disinfection with 500-fold carbendazim to prevent the disease from spreading.
In short, for stem rot, comprehensive control should be carried out, with prevention as the main approach. For 1-year-old to 5-year-old plants, on the basis of choosing good culture soil and doing good summer and autumn shading work, stem rot can generally be controlled fairly well. [5]
Control of leaf spot disease
Symptoms: At the beginning of the disease, small chlorotic round spots appear on the leaf surface; later they expand into relatively large near-circular lesions. The size of the lesions varies and there is black mold. The disease occurs from April to September. The lower leaves of the plant are affected first, gradually spreading to the middle and upper leaves, and in severe cases the leaves all drop off, growth weakens, and the whole plant dies.
Control methods: Water reasonably, prevent waterlogging, strengthen ventilation, apply more decomposed liquid fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium, promptly clean up diseased plant fallen leaves and burn them in a centralized manner. You can also spray 1% Bordeaux mixture in early spring for prevention. During the disease period, use mancozeb, carbendazim, and thiophanate-methyl at 500-800 times, spraying alternately and crosswise on the leaf surface every 7-10 days, for 3-4 consecutive rounds.
Control of wilt disease
Symptoms: At the beginning of the disease, old leaves turn yellow, become brown, and dry up, gradually spreading to the upper old leaves. The disease mostly occurs when temperatures rise in spring. The pathogen invades from root wounds, and the disease is especially severe in hot, rainy seasons. Generally from onset to death, the disease course is usually 15-45 days, and it is extremely harmful.
Control methods: Cultivate reasonably. When disease is found, promptly clean up diseased leaves and branches and destroy them. Before potting, disinfect the soil with formalin solution or quintozene. In the early stage of the disease, irrigate the roots with carbendazim or benlate at 800-**** times solution, once a week, for 5-6 consecutive irrigations; the effect is obvious.
Medicinal dietary or medicinal value of Golden-edged Daphne
The medical information and health dietary information on Huhua Network are for reference only and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical treatment. Any health problem should be consulted with professional medical personnel, and treatment of any disease should follow a doctor's advice.
Ultimate flower-protecting mission: Love yourself, start from reality, and strictly follow a doctor's advice. Toward illness, do not be careless, do not delay, do not give up hope; face it bravely, warm the silent world with love, and care for the flower field in your heart with your heart.
Medicinal value
Golden-edged Daphne contains daphnin. Its roots, stems, leaves, and flowers can all be used as medicine. It is sweet in nature and non-toxic, and has the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing inflammation and relieving pain, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and dispersing nodules. It has been included in the compilation of the Dictionary of Chinese Materia Medica.
Dayu County, the hometown of Chinese daphne, has a long history of Golden-edged Daphne cultivation and is the main production base of Golden-edged Daphne in our country. The Golden-edged Daphne produced in this county is good in quality and large in quantity. Every year it supplies Golden-edged Daphne seedlings to all parts of the country and sells hundreds of thousands of potted flowering plants annually, and is also exported to Southeast Asia.
The economic and social benefits are both very good. Many farmers have grown Golden-edged Daphne to escape poverty, become better off, and make money, and many laid-off workers have found a path to reemployment by growing flowers, with economic income greatly increased compared with when they were employed. Because the development of the flower industry has also driven the prosperity of related industries, it has thus promoted the overall economic development of Dayu County.
According to the compilation of the "Dictionary of Chinese Materia Medica," the roots, stems, leaves, and flowers can all be used as medicine. It is sweet in nature and non-toxic, and has the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing inflammation and swelling, and promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.
In folk use, fresh leaves are often pounded and applied to treat sore throat, toothache, bloody boils and hot boils, and the flowers are steeped in wine for wiping and applying to unnamed swellings and various skin diseases.
The main medicinal component of Golden-edged Daphne is "daphnin."
Its flowers, leaves, bark, and roots can all be used as medicine. It is sweet, cold, and non-toxic. It has the effects of reducing inflammation and detoxifying, promoting blood circulation and diuresis, reducing swelling and relieving pain, and dispersing blood and invigorating stasis. It can treat unnamed swellings, boils, mastitis, ulceration, toothache and sore throat, stomach problems, and so on.
The methods are as follows:
1. Pick several leaves of Golden-edged Daphne, pound them, and apply to the affected area; it can treat bloody boils, ulceration, unnamed swellings, mastitis, and so on. Doing this several times will produce results.
2. Golden-edged Daphne is an evergreen shrub that sheds old leaves. In spring, after new leaves grow out, the old leaves fall off naturally. Wash the naturally fallen leaves, dry them in the sun, then soak them in baijiu for later use. If there is unnamed swelling and pain, poisonous mosquito or insect bites, boils, and so on, rub it on the affected area several times a day. If there is toothache, dip a cotton ball in the medicinal liquor and bite down on the painful tooth with it; it can relieve pain.
3. After the petals of Golden-edged Daphne naturally fall, pick them up, dry them in the sun, and soak them in sesame oil or tea oil; except for toothache, the usage is as above.
Functions and uses of Golden-edged Daphne: ornamental value
Golden-edged Daphne blooms at the Spring Festival, with a flowering period of 60 days. Its posture is graceful and unrestrained, naturally curved and extended; its leaves are neat and emerald green, with golden margins like gold and green like jade, and the jade leaves with golden edges are luxuriant all year round.
Its flowering period coincides with the celebration of the New Spring Festival; the fragrance of the flowers accompanies the fragrance of wine. Its flowers cover the branches in clusters and groups, a riot of blossoms, with a rich, clear fragrance, adding an auspicious sign to the New Spring.
Golden-edged Daphne is a traditional famous flower of our country and also a world-famous flower. In modern horticultural history, it, along with the Changchun monk's Clivia and the Japanese five-needle pine, was praised as the three treasures of horticulture.
First, its tree posture is beautiful, its branches vigorous, naturally curved and extended, graceful and full, with elegant charm, inner spirit, dashing beauty, and full vitality.
Second, golden-edged jade leaves: the leaf margins are edged with gold, neat and bright, fresh green and deep green, luxuriant all year round, and can be enjoyed in all four seasons.
Third, it blooms at the right time; its peak blooming period coincides with the very beginning of the New Spring. With its auspicious sign, it adds joy to people's celebration of the New Spring and to welcoming and seeing off guests; the fragrance of the flowers accompanies the fragrance of wine, and it is even more full of festive joy.
Fourth, the flowering period is long: from bud formation, the color changes from green to purplish-red. It opens tube by tube from the outside inward, a riot of blossoms, with a flowering period of more than two months.
Fifth, the fragrance is rich; the floral fragrance overflows, filling the whole hall with fragrance and refreshing the heart and mind, with a tendency to gather the essence of all flowers and the spirit of all fragrances. It is indeed a precious flower with excellent posture, color, fragrance, and charm, a superior New Year flower, deeply favored by the broad masses of flower lovers; more and more people buy Golden-edged Daphne for the New Year, and it has become a new fashion.
Cultural background of Golden-edged Daphne: origin of the flower name
There is also a legend about the origin of the name "Golden-edged Daphne": in early years a monk traveled to Dayu. Because he felt tired, he rested leaning on a stone, and in his sleep smelled wave after wave of floral fragrance, very strong; after waking, the floral fragrance was indeed there, so he went to look for it, and indeed found it, and gave the flower the name "Shuixiang" (Sleeping Fragrance). Later, some people felt that the word "shui" meaning sleep was inelegant both in speech and in hearing, so they changed the character "shui" to "rui."
The flower language of Golden-edged Daphne
Golden-edged Daphne is renowned in the world for the four excellences of "color, fragrance, posture, and charm." It opens around the Spring Festival, with branches covered in clusters and groups, a riot of blossoms, clear and rich fragrance, adding an auspicious sign to the New Spring, and thus it has become an object that adds auspiciousness and good fortune in ordinary people's homes at Spring Festival time. Therefore, the flower language of Golden-edged Daphne is: auspiciousness and good fortune.
Golden-edged Daphne pictures
How to cultivate Golden-edged Daphne? A detailed explanation of potted Golden-edged Daphne techniques
Golden-edged Daphne's posture is very graceful, and when it blooms its fragrance is clear and rich, so it has the reputation of "king of fragrant flowers." So how should Golden-edged Daphne be cultivated? Beginners who want to grow it in pots can learn the potted management techniques.
I. Potting soil management
Golden-edged Daphne likes loose, fertile, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. Its culture soil can be made by mixing garden soil, decomposed mushroom compost, and furnace ash at a ratio of 4:4:2, or by mixing garden soil and peat soil at 1:1. Golden-edged Daphne must be repotted once every two years; repotting is done in early spring before budding, removing the outer soil from the roots while keeping the protective core soil, replacing it with new culture soil, and maintaining the original depth when planting.
II. Light management
Golden-edged Daphne originates from shaded, humid areas of low hills and likes partial shade, fearing strong light. In winter and spring it can receive sunlight; in summer and autumn it must be shaded or placed in partial shade. If light is too strong, the leaves will turn yellow.
III. Temperature management
Golden-edged Daphne likes coolness, fears heat, and is not cold-tolerant. It stops growing when the temperature exceeds 25°C. The minimum overwintering temperature should not be lower than 5°C. If the temperature is below 5°, the leaves will turn yellow or even fall off. In summer high temperatures it enters semi-dormancy, and in extremely hot weather the leaves can be sprayed with water to lower the temperature.
IV. Watering management
Golden-edged Daphne's leaves are leathery and covered with a waxy layer, so transpiration is low and water demand is small; it is not tolerant of waterlogging. Watering should follow "water when dry, keep moist." In autumn, control watering and keep the potting soil in a semi-dry state to slow growth and benefit overwintering. In winter, reduce watering, and the potting soil should preferably be on the dry side.
V. Fertilizing management
Golden-edged Daphne likes fertilizer but does not like heavy fertilizer; it is suitable to apply light fertilizer frequently. During the growing season, apply a dilute cake liquid fertilizer about once every 10 days. In the north, water tends to be alkaline and the soil tends to be alkaline, and the leaves will turn yellow. A small amount of ferrous sulfate (black alum) can be added to the cake fertilizer liquid. In summer semi-dormancy, stop fertilizing. In autumn during flower bud differentiation and the bud gestation period, spray a 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution once every 7-10 days to supplement phosphorus and potassium fertilizer and promote flower bud differentiation.
VI. Shaping and pruning
Golden-edged Daphne is tolerant of pruning. After flowering, remove thin and weak branches and overly dense branches, and shape it according to the desired tree form.