Detailed Guide to Nandina Planting Methods and Care Management
Nandina (Nandina domestica) is a common woody flowering plant species in southern China, also known as red loquat, heavenly candle fruit, red wolfberry, diamond yellow, heavenly bamboo, orchid bamboo, etc. It is an evergreen small shrub of the genus Nandina in the family Berberidaceae. Because of its graceful plant form, bright fruits, and strong adaptability to the environment, it often appears in landscaping applications.
Nandina Cultivation Methods
1. Soil: Nandina is suitable for slightly acidic soil, which can be prepared in a ratio of 5 parts sandy soil, 4 parts leaf mold, and 1 part manure soil. Before planting Nandina, first cover the small drainage hole at the bottom of the pot with broken tile pieces; adding a layer of charcoal is even better, as it helps with drainage and sterilization.
2. Temperature: Nandina is best cared for in semi-shaded, cool, and humid places. The suitable growing temperature is around 20°C, and the suitable temperature for flowering and fruiting is 24-25°C. In winter, move it into a greenhouse, generally not below 0°C. After Qingming Festival the following year, move it back outdoors.
3. Water: Water Nandina by the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet. In dry seasons, water frequently to keep the soil moist. In summer, water once a day and spray the leaf surface 2-3 times to keep the leaves moist and prevent the leaf tips from withering and burning, which would harm its appearance. During flowering, special attention should be paid to watering so that the potting soil does not dry out, and water should be sprinkled on the ground to increase air humidity to help improve the pollination rate. As for watering time, in summer it is best done in the morning and evening, and in winter it is best done at noon.
4. Fertilizer: During the growing period, apply a light fertilizer to Nandina seedlings about once every half a month. Adult Nandina plants are given dry fertilizer three times a year, in May, August, and October respectively. The third application should be made when moving them indoors for winter. Fertilizers such as fully fermented cake fertilizer and sesame paste residue can be used. As for the amount, the first and second applications should generally be less, and the third application can be increased.
5. Humidity: It prefers a humid or semi-dry climate environment and requires the relative air humidity of the growing environment to be 50-70%. When the relative air humidity is too low, the lower leaves turn yellow and fall off, and the upper leaves lose their luster. Because it is native to subtropical regions, it has strict requirements for winter temperature, and stops growing when the environmental temperature is below 8°C.
6. Light: When caring for it indoors, place it in a place with bright light as much as possible, such as a well-lit living room, bedroom, study, and other locations. After caring for it indoors for a period (about one month), move it to an outdoor place with shade (and insulation conditions in winter) for a period (about one month), and alternate back and forth in this way.
Precautions for Nandina Cultivation
1. Potted plants should be repotted once every early spring. When repotting, remove part of the old soil and old roots, apply base fertilizer, and fill in new culture soil. During the seedling stage, it is suitable to use a mixture of 5 parts sandy soil, 4 parts leaf mold, and 1 part decomposed cake fertilizer powder; during the mature plant stage, the decomposed cake fertilizer powder can be increased to 2 parts.
2. In summer, place Nandina in a well-ventilated, shaded, and cool place. When watering every day, spray water on the leaf surface and nearby ground 1-2 times to increase air humidity and lower the temperature.
3. Nandina likes moisture but fears waterlogging. During the growth and development period, the frequency of watering should increase or decrease with weather changes, and each watering should not be too much. Generally, in spring and autumn, water once a day, and in summer, water twice a day, keeping the potting soil moist. During flowering, the timing and amount of watering need to remain stable to prevent too much or too little, or alternating wet and dry, otherwise it is easy to cause flower and fruit drop. In winter, the plant is in a semi-dormant state, so watering should be controlled. If watered too much, it is prone to excessive growth, hindering dormancy and affecting flowering and fruiting the next year.
4. Nandina likes fertilizer. From May to September, apply a thin cake fertilizer solution once every 15-20 days, and water with 0.2% ferrous sulfate solution about once every two months. During the seedling stage, liquid fertilizer should be applied lightly rather than concentrated (liquid fertilizer to water at 1:10); during the mature plant stage, it can be slightly more concentrated (liquid fertilizer to water at 1:8). In the rainy season, switch to dry fertilizer, once a month, about 20-40 grams per pot.
5. Potted Nandina should be moved indoors in early to mid-October. After moving indoors, place it in a place where it can receive direct sunlight in the morning and evening. The room temperature only needs to be above freezing. Spray and wash the branches and leaves once a week with warm water to keep the leaves fresh.
6. Nandina should be pruned and shaped in conjunction with repotting, thinning out dead branches and weak branches from the base to encourage the sprouting of new branches. Generally, it is advisable to retain 4-5 branches.
