How to grow honeysuckle?

Honeysuckle, also known as double flower and honeysuckle, is a plant of the genus Lonicera in the family Caprifoliaceae. It is a commonly used Chinese medicine. Its unopened buds and vine leaves are used as medicine. It has the functions of clearing away heat and detoxifying, dispersing wind and reducing swelling. It also has a high ornamental value. So how to grow honeysuckle? Let’s take a look below.

1. Seed planting

Select mature honeysuckle fruits, dry them, take out the seeds, soak them in warm water for 24 hours, then place them in moist sand to germinate, cover with a thin layer of soil, keep the soil moist, spray water every two days, and seedlings will emerge in about 10 days. Transplant the seedlings into soft and fertile soil with a row spacing of 150 cm and a plant spacing of 120 cm. Water thoroughly and cover with black mulch.

2. Branch cuttings

Choose healthy honeysuckle branches, cut them into 15 cm long cuttings, remove the lower leaves, and leave the upper 2-3 leaves. Insert the cuttings into a substrate mixed with peat soil and vermiculite at a depth of 5-6 cm, keep the substrate moist, shaded and ventilated. It will take about 30 days for the roots to grow and then be transplanted into suitable soil.

3. Lighting management

Honeysuckle likes plenty of sunlight, but also needs to avoid strong direct sunlight. During the high temperature period in summer, you can provide appropriate shade to reduce the temperature and prevent the leaves from drying out. During the low temperature period in winter, the light time can be appropriately increased to promote plant growth.

4. Water and fertilizer management

Honeysuckle likes a humid environment, but is not tolerant to waterlogging. During the growing period, water every 3-5 days to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. In the three months before flowering, apply diluted liquid fertilizer every 10 days, mainly phosphorus and potassium. After flowering and during dormancy, reduce the supply of water and fertilizer.

5. Pruning and shaping

Honeysuckle is a climbing plant that needs support to guide its growth direction. Honeysuckle should be pruned and shaped every spring and autumn, removing dead, diseased, and weak branches, and retaining strong main branches and side branches. Secure the main branches to the support and spread out the side branches to create an umbrella shape.

6. Pest and disease control

Common diseases and pests of honeysuckle include powdery mildew, brown spot disease, aphids, red spiders, etc. Powdery mildew can be controlled with 1% osthole or Bacillus. Brown spot disease can be controlled with Bordeaux mixture or amino oligosaccharides. Aphids and red spiders can be controlled with laundry detergent water or pesticides .

That’s it