Dog's Tooth Flower Planting Methods and Key Techniques

Dog's Tooth Flower, also known as White Dog's Tooth, Lion Flower, and Tofu Flower. It is a shrub of the genus Tabernaemontana in the family Apocynaceae; the branches and branchlets are grayish green, with lenticels, and have longitudinal fissures when dry; the node leaves are firm and papery, elliptical or elliptic-oblong, shortly acuminate, with a wedge-shaped base, dark green on the upper surface and light green on the underside; the corolla is white, and the corolla tube is up to 2 cm long; Dog's Tooth Flower is native to the southern coastal provinces of China, does not like strong direct sunlight, and should be placed in semi-shade during midsummer.

Propagation methods of Dog's Tooth Flower
Dog's Tooth Flower can be propagated by cuttings or air layering, mainly by cuttings. In South China, propagation can be done from spring to autumn, but spring is best. Cut 12--15 cm long, 1--2-year-old young shoots as cuttings; milky sap flows from the wound, so first wash the sap away, then insert into a wet sand bed, either shaded or in full light.
It can be done year-round in a greenhouse, and outdoors the best time for cuttings is June-July. Select healthy one-year-old branches and cut 8-12 cm long shoot tips, insert them into vermiculite, and pay attention to keeping moisture and shading; roots will form in about two weeks. Medicinal herb, the leaves are used medicinally, and have the effects of cooling and relieving summer heat, and promoting urination and reducing swelling.

Cultivation methods of Dog's Tooth Flower

Water management
During normal care of Dog's Tooth Flower, keep the soil moist; water before it dries out completely, and in summer spray water around it frequently to increase the air humidity of the environment.

Fertilization management
Dog's Tooth Flower likes fertilizer and has a long flowering period. From May to September, it is suitable to apply compound fertilizer and manure water alternately every 7-10 days. After being brought indoors at the end of October, generally water once every 5-7 days; the soil just needs to be slightly moist, and maintain good light.

Temperature management
After being brought indoors at the end of October, generally water once every 5-7 days; the soil just needs to be slightly moist, and maintain good light. The room temperature should be kept above 10°C, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow and fall off; below 0°C the branches will be damaged by cold.
Light management
Dog's Tooth Flower is a sun-loving tree, and good light must be maintained during cultivation, otherwise the leaves will turn dull yellow or even fall off.

Repotting management

Dog's Tooth Flower is moved out in April, and repotted once every 1-2 years. When repotting, add compound fertilizer or soybean cake as a base fertilizer, and prune dead and weak branches, then place it in semi-shade.