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A Detailed Guide to the Planting Methods and Technical Points of Hypericum patulum

Growing Techniques By Emily Carter 0 views
Flowering Plants

Hypericum patulum (Latin scientific name: Hypericum patulum Thunb. ex Murray) is a semi-evergreen or evergreen small shrub of the genus Hypericum in the family Clusiaceae, with red or dark brown branchlets. The leaves are opposite, ovate, long-ovate, or ovate-lanceolate. The inflorescence is corymbose, the petals are golden yellow, oblong-obovate to broadly obovate, the flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from August to October. It grows on hillsides or in sparse forests in valleys, along roadsides, or in thickets, and is mainly distributed in China and Japan.

Cultivation and Management


Digging

From early February to mid-March each year, after the soil thaws and before sprouting, or from late October to mid-November after most leaves have fallen and before the soil freezes. 
Use bare-root digging, trying not to damage the root system; when roots are broken, the cuts should be smooth and must not be split. After digging, it is best to wrap the roots in plastic bags, or treat them by soaking the roots in a moisturizing agent, dipping the roots in mud slurry, and other methods, which helps improve the survival rate. For long-distance transport, it is best to keep the soil ball; the soil ball should be complete, the packaging should be tight, and it should be watered thoroughly; the crown should be wrapped and tied up with straw rope to reduce friction damage and improve the survival rate.
The planting pit must be dug in advance. If the seedlings arrive, they should be planted immediately. The pit diameter should be 20-30 cm larger than the diameter of the root system or soil ball, to facilitate the extension of old roots and the development of new roots. The topsoil and subsoil in the pit should be placed separately; the bottom of the pit should be large and flat. When conditions permit, some organic fertilizer can be applied, and then covered with topsoil.
Before planting, prune the roots, and the cuts should be flat to facilitate healing. When planting, the root system must be spread out; first put in the topsoil, then firm it in layers, so that the root system and soil are tightly combined. Form an earth ridge around it, water thoroughly immediately after planting, water thoroughly a second time after 3 days, and water thoroughly once more after 1 week to ensure survival. 

Watering: After the branches and buds begin to grow and until the flowering period, water 2-3 times as needed; in summer drought, water another 2-3 times; in the rainy season, pay attention to drainage and prevent waterlogging; avoid standing water. Water once before winter to prevent freezing. 

Fertilizing: Apply sufficient decomposed organic fertilizer before planting. After that, each year after the leaves fall in autumn, open a trench around the root zone and apply decomposed compost. During the growing season, generally no additional fertilizing is needed, so as to avoid excessive growth and drooping branches, which would affect the ornamental effect.

Weeding: In order to make the flowers abundant and the leaves lush, cultivation and weeding need to be strengthened. In dry seasons and midsummer, loosen the soil and weed once every 2-3 weeks; after each watering, loosen the soil in time to prevent soil compaction and improve soil aeration, so as to benefit root growth and development. In the rainy season, weed once every 2 weeks. 

Shaping and pruning: Carry out shaping and pruning every summer or winter, cutting off excessive-growth branches, weak branches, and diseased or pest-infested branches, and shorten long branches according to shaping needs. Through pruning, keep the plant in a good tree shape and with vigorous tree vigor, so that the plant grows robustly with abundant flowers and lush leaves, thereby improving its ornamental value.

Pest and Disease Control

Hypericum patulum has few pests and diseases, mainly aphids. Control methods include: during winter pruning and summer pruning, cut off damaged branch tips or dried curled leaves to eliminate some overwintering eggs and insect sources; in winter or before sprouting in early spring, spray 5% machine oil emulsion or 5% diesel emulsion to kill overwintering eggs; in the early stage of occurrence from April to May, spray 40% omethoate EC at 1000-1500 times dilution, 20% fenvalerate EC at 2000 times dilution, 50% methamidophos EC at 1500 times dilution, or 2.5% deltamethrin EC at 3000 times dilution; 2-3 times can control it; from May to June, during the peak damage period, use 40% omethoate, monocrotophos, and other systemic insecticides at 10-20 times dilution to paint a ring on the trunk or soak the roots for control, with good results.


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