Orchid and Michelia alba (white champaca) care and management tips

Michelia alba (white champaca) is a well-known fragrant flowering tree species and is evergreen year-round. Besides being grown in pots for ornamental display, its flowers can be used to scent flower tea and can also be worn as a corsage, which is why it has always been loved by people. Michelia alba prefers warmth and fears cold, and likes a sunny and humid climate. For potting soil, choose a slightly acidic sandy soil rich in humus and with good drainage.

When winter arrives, move it indoors to a sunny spot to protect it from freezing and keep it warm. The room temperature can be kept at 3-5 degrees Celsius, and the potting soil should also be kept on the dry side; do not water if it is not dry, and stop fertilizing at the same time to prevent the fleshy roots from rotting. Wait until Qingming next year before moving it back outdoors. Repotting and changing the soil are best done after flowering, once every 2-3 years.

Post-flowering management: (1) Fertilizing. Apply a decomposed liquid fertilizer mainly based on nitrogen once every week, for 2-3 applications, to replenish the nutrients consumed during the flowering period; (2) Pruning. Prune the plants appropriately after flowering, cutting out weak branches, dead branches and leggy branches, and other branches should also be appropriately shortened as the situation requires, to encourage more budding, more branch growth and more flowering.

Michelia alba has a relatively long flowering period, generally flowering in mid-to-late May and continuing to bloom until November. While growing and flowering, Michelia alba should be placed outdoors in a sunny, ventilated spot.

Fertilizer and water: Apply a dilute liquid fertilizer combining nitrogen and phosphorus once every 10 days; there is no need to stop fertilizing during the flowering period. At this time of care, the potting soil should be kept moist, but avoid excessive moisture.