Key Technical Points for Overwintering and Spring Management of White Orchid Tree
The white orchid tree (Michelia alba) has soft, thick, verdant leaves and pure white flowers with a fragrance like orchid. It is one of the fragrant flowers deeply loved by people and worn on their person; it prefers warmth and fears cold, so overwintering and early spring management are the keys to cultivating the white orchid tree. The key points are as follows:
1. It is naturally afraid of cold. When the temperature drops to 10°C, it should be brought indoors, placed in a sunny spot, kept at 10°C to 15°C, and note that the maximum temperature must not exceed 20°C.
2. Stop fertilizing and control watering. The potting soil should preferably be on the dry side, not too wet. Check the soil moisture about once every ten days.
3. If there is a stove indoors or the temperature is unstable, you can cover the canopy with plastic film to prevent smoke damage and dust contamination, and to stabilize temperature and humidity. However, be sure to leave ventilation openings to avoid excessive humidity and poor air circulation, which would promote mold growth.
4. The flower pot should ideally have a fixed position and not be moved frequently, because the white orchid tree is quite sensitive to environmental changes, especially after budding, which can easily cause flower buds to drop.
5. During overwintering, keeping the leathery, emerald-green leaves from dropping is the key to how well it will bloom the following year. Observe at all times: reddening leaves, leaf drop, and shrinking new buds are caused by overwatering leading to root rot; dry leaf edges indicate lack of water; wrinkled leaves indicate cold damage, and temperature should be gradually increased; brown spots, dry tips, and leaf drop are caused by excessively high room temperature. Timely remedial measures should be taken according to the symptoms.
6. When the temperature is relatively high at noon, open the windows to allow air circulation, but be careful not to let the flowers be directly hit by cold wind.
7. Around the Beginning of Spring, thoroughly remove old leaves once to promote new branch growth, keeping only the top leaves for observation. Diseased plants should not have their leaves removed.
8. After Qingming and before Guyu, when the temperature stabilizes above 10°C, choose a sunny day to move it outdoors. It can first be placed in a sheltered, sunny spot. Note: moving it out too early can easily freeze tender shoot tips and young leaves; too late, and the branches and leaves will be larger, with thin leaves and weak branches, reducing resistance to disease.