Japanese myrtle can take its place both in the pot and in the bed. This is only minimally important for care. In both cases, the owner must take time for them. Because it needs to be cared for regularly, especially during the growing season.
How do I properly care for a Japanese myrtle?
Japanese myrtle care includes regular fertilizing, watering, overwintering, repotting and cutting. Particularly important are low-lime water, protection from frost, a bright winter quarters, annual repotting and vigorous pruning in spring.
Fertilize
Provide planted specimens with compost or horn shavings every 2-3 weeks from April to September. Diluted nettle manure is also suitable as fertilizer.
Myrtles in the pot are fertilized with a liquid fertilizer (€9.00 on Amazon), which is administered via the irrigation water every two weeks. Alternatively, fertilizer sticks can be used.
Pouring
As soon as the top layer of soil has dried, the soil must be replenished with moisture. The rain helps in the bed. If he takes a longer break and with potted plants, the gardener has to take over the watering work.
- water daily on hot days
- otherwise once a week is enough
- water directly in the root area
- Do not wet leaves and flowers with water
- rainwater with little lime is ideal
Tip
Empty the pot saucer about 20 minutes after watering so that the Japanese myrtle does not suffer from waterlogging.
Wintering
Below 2 °C it becomes uncomfortable for the myrtle outside because it is not hardy. If you want it to bloom next year, you have to overwinter it. This only works if the myrtle is in the pot.
- bring it into the house before the frost
- the winter quarters must be bright
- optimal temperature range is 5 to 10 °C
- water sparingly every now and then
- fertilize every two months
The myrtle can be cut back a little for reasons of space.
Repotting
Potted plants are repotted annually. Spring is the best time to do this, right before the plant goes back outside. Use quality soil that you enhance with a little sand and clay. At the bottom of the pot there should be a drainage layer made of coarse material several centimeters high.
After repotting, there is no need to fertilize for several weeks as the fresh substrate is already well enriched with nutrients.
Cutting
Japanese myrtle is cut back in spring. This step can easily be carried out at the same time as repotting.
- Cut back the plant vigorously
- but do not cut off more than two thirds
- It will soon sprout again and branch out
- this prevents lignification or baldness
- Clean out wilted shoots promptly
- that encourages new flowers
