If you want to know whether catalpa can be trained into an old stem, the following gardening tips will definitely help you. Let's learn about it together!
Can catalpa be trained into an old stem?
Catalpa can be trained into an old stem. To maintain catalpa as an old stem, it is necessary to provide suitable growing medium and change the pot with fresh soil every 2 to 3 years. Once the growing medium becomes compacted or has poor breathability, it will affect the root growth of the catalpa, leading to root rot or waterlogging and decay. For the growing soil, it is recommended to mix one-third of field soil, humus soil, and river sand.
Catalpa is a small sun-resistant flower that is often found in green belts and flower beds. It blooms for more than half a year and does not rest until winter, which is truly impressive!
To train catalpa into an old stem, it is best to shape it into a tree form, making the leaves full and the flowers resembling an umbrella, which requires certain skills.
First, soil preparation:
When maintaining catalpa as an old stem, it is necessary to provide suitable growing medium and change the pot with fresh soil every 2 to 3 years.
If the growing medium becomes compacted or has poor breathability, it will affect the root growth of the catalpa, leading to root rot or waterlogging and decay.
For the growing soil, it is recommended to mix one-third of field soil, humus soil, and river sand. This mixed soil can be used for repotting or new planting.
Second, suitable growing environment:
Catalpa has a strong adaptability to the environment. As long as the summer temperature does not exceed 35 degrees Celsius, catalpa can be placed in a location with sufficient sunlight. Even if the sunlight is not long, it will only affect flowering and not growth.
The only drawback of catalpa is its intolerance to cold. Tender branches will freeze when the temperature drops to zero, and old stems will die if the temperature remains below zero for a long time. In winter, it can be brought indoors when the temperature approaches 10 degrees Celsius.
When bringing it indoors, make sure it gets 3 hours of sunlight every day and maintains fresh air circulation.
Third, watering:
Improper watering of catalpa can lead to root rot from too much water or dried roots from too little water. The watering method for catalpa is simple; if we ensure good drainage for the soil, we can water it when the leaves start to slightly droop.
Keeping the growing medium slightly dry helps it bloom, while too much water can cause root rot and闷root. In hot and dry seasons, you can spray the leaves with water at noon to cool them down.
Fourth, fertilizing:
Fertilizing is essential for growing flowers and grass. Catalpa has a strong tolerance for poor soil, so fertilizing should be done with a light application. Even if the proportion is not well controlled, diluting it with more water is fine, and fertilizing once a month is usually sufficient.
The recommended fertilizer is organic, and supplementing with "nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium" elements is also beneficial. You can mix matured sheep manure into the surface soil by lightly burying it during the loosening process.
Fifth, pruning:
If you want to maintain a more attractive catalpa old stem, you need to prune it severely. In spring and autumn, when the temperature is between 16 to 30 degrees Celsius, you can perform a topping operation on the catalpa.
Leave the main stem about 15 to 20 centimeters long and cut it off. After cutting, allow new branches to grow, keeping 3 to 5 branches for growing, and when the branches reach 15 centimeters long, perform another reduction and then let the branches grow again. Soon, a full semi-circular canopy will form.
The above is a detailed explanation of whether catalpa can be trained into an old stem. I hope this article can bring you help in green plant management!