Many want to have something exotic on the windowsill of their apartment. Unusual "guests" from the tropics and deserts, from the shores of the Amazon or Alpine meadows always delight the eye and cheer you up. Why not start a house not only a beautiful and rare plant, but also useful? One of these is osmanthus. What is it, few know in our country, since it is rarely possible to meet it in shops or houses.
Gender Description
Under the name "osmanthus" a whole genus of deciduous evergreen plants is combined. All of them belong to the Maslinov family. The homeland of the plant is tropical forests from Asia to the Caucasus. Osmanthus is not yet as popular and widespread in Russia as, for example, in China. It has been grown there for more than one millennium, and not only as an ornamental, but also as a medicinal plant. Many legends and beliefs are associated with osmanthus; it is traditionally considered a symbol of love and fidelity. Plants of this genus are shrubs or trees that have hard dark green leaves with smooth or jagged edges. Osmanthus flowers can be snow-white or yellow, they exude a strong aroma, which is sometimes compared with the smell of magnolia and jasmine.
Osmanthus fragrant
Very often it can be found under the name of tea or fragrant olive. The birthplace of the plant is South Japan, the Himalayas and China. Under natural conditions, it is a tree or shrub up to three meters high. Flowers can be white or yellow, depending on the variety, have a pronounced sweetish aroma. Fragrant osmanthus is a very spectacular plant with leathery leaves that have jagged edges. In nature, it begins to bloom in September, and this continues until spring.
Osmanthus grows rather slowly, but it is unpretentious and drought tolerant. It will grow on almost any soil. In our soil in our climatic conditions, osmanthus does not take root, as it does not withstand prolonged temperature drops below zero. But he will feel quite comfortable in a room environment. If you want to grow a tree in the form of a bonsai, then in this case, osmanthus is perfect (photo below).
Which soil to choose
The osmanthus plant is not capricious, but nevertheless, for the best growth and development, some nuances must be taken into account. It is better to choose a place in the apartment with bright lighting, for example, on the south window, and in spring and summer take it out onto a loggia, balcony or terrace. It is best to choose a soil with a slightly acidic or neutral environment. An ideal ratio would be 2: 1 (fertile light land and peat). Good drainage is necessary, therefore, claydite should be put at the bottom of the pot, and coarse river sand should be added to the soil. The plant does not require pruning, as this will reduce its flowering.
Propagation by seeds and cuttings
The first method is very long, since the seedlings will have to wait at least six months, or even more. In addition, it all depends on the freshness of the seeds. If they are old, then it is necessary to carry out stratification so that osmanthus is healthy and strong. What every grower knows is keeping the seeds at certain temperatures for better germination (for osmanthus - three months in heat and as much in cold). It is very easy to propagate the plant with semi-lignified cuttings. You need to cut them in July. Then, for several hours, dry the slice, soak it in a growth stimulant and root it in a mixture of peat and sand. When the roots appear, it is necessary to plant the young osmanthus in separate pots.
Watering and replanting
Watering during a period of intensive growth (in winter) should be plentiful, at other times - moderate, water stagnation in the soil should not be allowed, but land should not be too dry. Osmanthus is very fond of humid air, so daily spraying will only benefit him. Sometimes it is possible to arrange a tropical rain for the plant in the shower, and the leaves should be wiped with a damp cloth from accumulating dust. Once a month during the growing season, osmanthus should be watered with a complex mineral or organic fertilizer.
Transplant the plant only as necessary. Osmanthus prefers to grow in a tight pot until the roots fill it whole. Young plants should be replanted as they grow, while in large plants only the topsoil will be enough to change.
Gui Hua Hong Cha (red tea and osmanthus): what is it?
This is a unique product made in China. The authentic Gui Hua Hun Cha is made from an elite variety of red tea, which has a very rich tart aroma, which is the result of a high degree of fermentation. It grows in only three Chinese provinces. An ancient recipe is used to flavor the drink, its main ingredient is osmanthus. Perhaps every resident of Guangxi province in China knows what it is and how to use it, because it is their signature drink. Only two varieties of osmanthus are used, the flowering period of which is only 10-15 days, so this product is unique, and the amount of genuine tea is limited.
If you are a happy owner of this plant, the drink can be prepared at home. To do this, osmanthus flowers must first be dried at room temperature (not in direct sunlight), and then brewed. Infusion is used as a standalone drink or added to black tea. It has an amazing aroma and a light soothing, relaxing effect. The essential oils contained in the flowers have a beneficial effect on the body and help to cope with cough.
If you plant osmanthus at home, you will never regret it. The plant will give you a wonderful mood and will delight you with its decorativeness, and in addition, you can enjoy treating yourself to a mug of tea with fragrant flowers on cold winter nights.