Cultivation and Management Methods and Care Essentials for Michelia alba

Michelia alba, also known as white jade orchid, ba'er lan, or Mian gui, is an evergreen tree of the genus Michelia in the family Magnoliaceae. Its roots are fleshy and rich in water. The trunk is grayish-white with sparse branching, and the young branches are light green, covered with white glossy hairs. The leaf surface is smooth and glossy, the underside is tea-green, and the lateral veins are prominent. The leaves are simple and alternate, oblong-elliptic, 15-22 cm long, light green, leathery, and glossy. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, with short pedicels, 12 petals, and white in color. Michelia alba begins to bloom in late May and has a rich fragrance. It is a famous fragrant flower tree species. Besides being used for ornamental purposes and as a worn decoration, it is also an important raw material for scenting flower tea and extracting essence. It is also a Chinese herbal medicine that can promote the flow of qi and resolve turbidity, and relieve cough. It mainly treats prostatitis, women's leukorrhea, pediatric bronchitis, and chronic cough from consumptive disease. A related species of Michelia alba is Michelia champaca, also known as yellow Mian gui, which is orange-yellow with a sweet, moist fragrance resembling osmanthus, and is even more fragrant than Michelia alba! Its flowering period is somewhat later than that of Michelia alba. Michelia figo has smaller flowers than Michelia alba, yellow-white in color, solitary in the leaf axils, with a banana-like fragrance. Michelia alba is difficult to cultivate, prefers light, and fears coal smoke. It is neither tolerant of waterlogging nor drought. It is suited to growing in sandy soil rich in humus, slightly acidic, and well-drained. It also requires sufficient sunlight and air circulation. Potted Michelia alba must have good drainage, otherwise its fleshy roots are prone to rotting. The flowering period extends from May to October. During peak bloom, the fragrance fills the air, delighting the eye and the heart. To make Michelia alba grow vigorously with abundant, fragrant flowers, efforts should be made during cultivation to create conditions that meet its ecological habits. Michelia alba prefers sunlight and is not tolerant of shade; it requires sufficient light. If placed in a shaded area with insufficient light for cultivation, it will cause leggy growth of branches and leaves, with long branches and thin leaves, sparse flowers and weak fragrance, or no flowering at all.         When cultivated in northern regions, if exposed to strong sunlight in midsummer, plant growth will also be inhibited, and the edges of young leaves are prone to curling and turning yellow. Michelia alba is sensitive to water; it likes high air humidity and soil that is moist but not wet. When soil moisture is excessive and permeability is poor, root rot and yellow leaves will occur, and in severe cases, leaf drop and death. It prefers acidic sandy loam rich in humus with good drainage and aeration. If planted in alkaline or poorly drained soil, growth will stop and the plant may even die.          For potted Michelia alba in the north, a growing medium can be made by mixing equal parts of leaf mold or peat soil and sandy loam, with a small amount of bone meal added as base fertilizer. Starting from early May, apply a dilute cake fertilizer solution or alum fertilizer solution once every 7—10 days (preferably alternating between the two). Before flowering, apply 1-2 additional applications of quick-acting phosphorus fertilizer, which will keep Michelia alba blooming with continuous fragrance. Stop fertilizing after the end of September. The amount of watering depends on the plant's growth condition and the weather. Generally, watering in spring should not be excessive, just enough to keep the potting soil slightly moist; in summer, temperatures are high and evaporation is fast, and it is also the peak flowering period, so watering should be sufficient; in autumn, watering should be slightly more than in spring, because at this time the pot is full of roots and there is little soil, so water-holding capacity is low, but each watering should not be too much, and filling the pot is appropriate. During the growing period, avoid water shortage, otherwise it can easily cause dry leaf edges. As the weather gradually cools in late autumn, the frequency of watering should be gradually reduced. During the rainy season, standing water in the pot must be drained promptly, otherwise root rot and yellow leaves are likely. After each fertilization and watering, loosen the soil promptly to keep the potting soil well aerated.