What are the cultivation precautions for Nandina domestica?

Nandina domestica prefers a warm, humid and semi-shaded environment, and a fertile, well-drained soil. The following points should be noted when cultivating it:

(1) Potting soil. Seedlings can be potted once they reach 10-15 cm. The best potting soil is a culture soil mixed from 4 parts leaf mold, 5 parts river sand, and 1 part cake fertilizer powder.

(2) Do not water too much; ordinarily it is best to keep the potting soil moist. Pay special attention to watering during the flowering period: do not let the amount of water fluctuate between too much and too little, or let the potting soil alternate between dry and wet, otherwise it easily causes flower and fruit drop. At this time, artificial supplementary pollination is also needed to increase the fertilization rate and thereby increase the number of fruits.

In winter the plant is in a semi-dormant state, so watering should be on the sparse side; too much water easily causes leggy growth, hinders dormancy, and affects flowering and fruiting the following year. During the seedling stage of Nandina domestica, apply light fertilizer frequently; during the growing period, apply a 15% decomposed cake fertilizer solution about every 10-15 days, and at the same time water with 0.2% ferrous sulfate solution once a month. Mature plants need only 2 applications of dilute liquid fertilizer each spring and autumn.

(3) Shading and cooling. Both seedlings and mature plants should be kept in a cool place during summer. If exposed to scorching sun, the tender leaves easily scorch and wither. In summer, water generously, and at the same time sprinkle water on the ground around the flower pot, which can increase air humidity and lower the temperature.

(4) Nandina domestica needs repotting once every 2-3 years, and repotting is best done in early spring. When repotting, cut away some of the old roots, add fresh culture soil, and at the same time carry out pruning and shaping: thin out weak twigs, dead branches, and diseased or pest-infested branches from the base to encourage new shoots, keep the height basically uniform, and the branches evenly spaced. Generally it is best to retain 3-5 branches.

The growth habits of Nandina domestica

Nandina domestica likes a warm and humid environment, is fairly shade-tolerant and also cold-tolerant, and is easy to care for. The growing soil should be a fertile, well-drained sandy loam. It is not very strict about water, tolerating both moisture and drought. It fairly likes fertilizer, so more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied. During the growing season, apply liquid fertilizer 1-2 times a month. After a potted plant has been enjoyed for several years, its branches and leaves age and fall off, so it can be pruned and shaped; generally it is enough to leave the main stem about 15 cm, and after pruning in April it can recover to a height of 1 m by autumn, with a full crown.

Propagation methods of Nandina domestica

1. Sowing: collect seeds in autumn and sow immediately after collection. On a prepared seedbed, open furrows 33 cm apart and about 10 cm deep, sow the seeds evenly, with a seeding rate of 90-120 kg per hectare. After sowing, cover with plant ash and fine soil, and press firm. In the second year the seedlings grow slowly, so weed frequently, loosen the soil, and apply dilute human and livestock manure and urine. Thereafter, carry out intertillage and weeding and topdressing every year, and after 3 years of cultivation they can be lifted from the nursery for planting out.

2. Division: in spring and autumn, dig up the clump-forming plants, shake off the old soil, and cut apart from the weak points where the base joins, with each division carrying 2 to 3 stems and needing to carry part of the root system; at the same time cut off some of the larger pinnately compound leaves, then plant in the ground or pot; after one or two years of cultivation they can flower and fruit.

How to grow Nandina domestica

1. Soil: Nandina domestica is suited to slightly acidic soil, which can be mixed in a ratio of 5 parts sandy soil, 4 parts leaf mold, and 1 part manure soil. Before planting Nandina domestica, first cover the small drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with broken tile pieces; adding a layer of charcoal is even better, as it helps drainage and sterilization.

2. Temperature: Nandina domestica is best kept in a semi-shaded, cool, humid place; the suitable growing temperature is about 20°C, and the suitable temperature for flowering and fruiting is 24-25°C. In winter, move it into a greenhouse, generally not below 0°C. After Qingming Festival the following year, move it back outdoors.

3. Water: water Nandina domestica by the rule of drying out then watering thoroughly; in dry seasons water frequently to keep the soil moist. In summer, water once a day and spray the leaf surface 2-3 times to keep the leaves moist and prevent the leaf tips from scorching and spoiling the appearance. When flowering, pay special attention to watering so the potting soil does not dry out, and sprinkle water on the ground to raise air humidity to help increase the pollination rate. As for watering time, in summer it is best done in the morning and evening, and in winter at noon.

4. Fertilizer: during the growing period, apply a thin fertilizer to young seedlings about once every half month. Mature Nandina domestica plants are given dry fertilizer 3 times a year, in May, August and October respectively; the third application should be given when they are moved indoors for overwintering. Fertilizers such as fully fermented cake fertilizer and sesame paste residue can be used. As for the amount, the first and second applications should generally be small, and the third can be increased.

5. Humidity: Nandina domestica likes a humid or semi-dry climate environment, and requires the relative air humidity of the growing environment to be 50-70%; when the relative air humidity is too low, the lower leaves turn yellow and fall off, and the upper leaves lose their luster. Because Nandina domestica originates from subtropical regions, it has very strict requirements for winter temperature, and stops growing when the ambient temperature is below 8°C.

6. Light: Nandina domestica has a fairly strong adaptability to light. When keeping it indoors, place it in a place with bright light as much as possible, such as a well-lit living room, bedroom, or study. After keeping Nandina domestica indoors for a period (about one month), it should be moved to an outdoor place with shade (with insulation conditions in winter) for a period (about one month), and alternated back and forth in this way.

Precautions for growing Nandina domestica

1. Potted plants are best repotted once every early spring; when repotting, remove part of the old soil and old roots, apply base fertilizer, and fill in fresh culture soil. For the seedling stage, it is best to use a mix of 5 parts sandy soil, 4 parts leaf mold, and 1 part decomposed cake fertilizer powder; for the mature stage, the decomposed cake fertilizer powder can be increased to 2 parts.

2. In summer, keep Nandina domestica in a well-ventilated, shaded spot among flowers; when watering each day, spray water on the leaves and nearby ground 1-2 times to increase air humidity and lower the temperature.

3. Nandina domestica likes moisture but fears waterlogging. During the growth and development period, the number of waterings should increase or decrease with changes in the weather, and each watering should not be too much. Generally, in spring and autumn water once a day, and in summer water twice a day, keeping the potting soil moist. When flowering, the timing and amount of watering need to be kept stable, to prevent too much and too little, or alternating wet and dry, otherwise it easily causes flower and fruit drop. In winter the plant is in a semi-dormant state, so watering should be controlled. Too much water easily causes leggy growth, hinders dormancy, and affects flowering and fruiting the coming year.

4. Nandina domestica likes fertilizer; from May to September, apply a dilute cake fertilizer solution once every 15-20 days, and water with 0.2% ferrous sulfate solution about once every two months. In the seedling stage, liquid fertilizer should be applied weak rather than strong (liquid fertilizer to water at 1:10); in the mature stage it can be a little stronger (liquid fertilizer to water at 1:8). In the rainy season, switch to dry fertilizer, once a month, about 20-40 g per pot.

5. Move potted Nandina domestica indoors in early to mid-October; after bringing it indoors, place it where it can receive direct sunlight in the morning and evening; the room temperature need only be above freezing. Spray and wash the branches and leaves once a week with warm water to keep the leaves fresh.

6. Nandina domestica should be pruned and shaped in conjunction with repotting, thinning out dead branches and weak twigs from the base to encourage new shoots; generally it is best to retain 4-5 branches.