A Detailed Guide to the Planting Methods and Key Technical Points for Lantana

Lantana, scientific Latin name: (Lantana camara L.), also known as: Seven Sisters, five-color plum, five-dragon orchid, ruyi grass, five-color flower, stinking grass, stinking golden phoenix, five-thunder pill, five-color hydrangea, color-changing grass, etc.; the Hakka people call it cotton-nose flower. It is a plant of the class Dicotyledoneae and the genus Lantana. Its flowers are beautiful, and it is often cultivated for ornamental purposes in gardens across China.

How to grow lantana

Light: Lantana prefers a sunny, well-lit environment. During the growing season, it can be placed outdoors in a sunny spot for care. Even in midsummer, shading is not necessary, but good ventilation is required. If light is insufficient, the plant will become leggy, with thin, long stems and branches, and it will bloom sparsely, seriously affecting its ornamental value.

Temperature: Lantana prefers high temperatures and high humidity, and it also tolerates dry heat, but it has poor cold resistance. Keep the temperature above 10°C, and the leaves will not drop. It dislikes ice and snow.

Soil: Lantana is highly adaptable and not demanding about soil. It can grow in sandy soil, heavy clay soil, acidic soil, or calcareous soil, but it grows best in fertile, loose sandy soil.

Humidity: Lantana prefers a warm, humid climate. It is highly adaptable and tolerates drought and poor, thin soil.

Fertilizing: Lantana has a relatively long flowering period. In spring, summer, and autumn, it needs topdressing 2-3 times each month, and fertilizer should be applied promptly after flowering. During the growing period, apply a dilute fertilizer mainly of phosphorus and potassium about once every 15 days to provide sufficient nutrients, and combine this with watering so the plant produces more flowers. Spraying 3% urea twice every 10 days can make the leaves thicker and greener. After bringing it indoors in winter, stop fertilizing.

Watering: Lantana prefers a humid environment. During the growing period, keep the potting soil moist and avoid excessive dryness, and also mist the leaves to increase air humidity.

Pruning: Because lantana is naturally vigorous and grows quickly, care mainly involves preventing overly fast growth or legginess. Therefore, during the peak growing season, prune regularly. In principle, prune heavily after flowering, but generally, when the branches and leaves are too dense and too long (more than 40cm above the ground), and the flowers and leaves cover each other and the stems are exposed, prune promptly. 20-25 days after pruning is the full-bloom period, so that groundcover flowers reach the best ornamental effect during festivals, with a flat, even surface and pure, vivid flower colors.

Pest and disease control: The main pests and diseases of lantana are gray mold and leaf-knot nematodes.

Notes on growing lantana

1. For potted lantana, repot before taking it outdoors in spring. It is best to apply sufficient base fertilizer and prune the branches appropriately. If it is a small seedling, pinch the top to encourage side branches.

2. If you do not want lantana to set seed after flowering, remove the spent flowers to help new flower spikes emerge from the leaf axils below. During the growing period, maintain sufficient sunlight and moist soil, and do not let it get too dry, especially during flowering. If it is too dry, it is prone to wilting, which affects flowering.

3. At the end of October, lantana should be moved indoors. In East China, it can be placed in a cold room to overwinter. If the indoor sunlight is sufficient and the temperature is above 10°C, it can still bloom. After bringing it indoors, control watering and stop fertilizing.