Coral berry care guide

Pets and children

How often to water Coral berry

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep)

Every 2 days

It dislikes drying out, so as a guide water thoroughly once the topsoil is dry, and mist the leaves in summer.

Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Every 3 days

The berries are coloring; as a guide, water about a day after the surface dries.

Winter (Dec–Feb)

Every 5 days

Growth stops, so water sparingly about two or three days after the soil dries.

Light and placement for Coral berry

A woodland understory plant, it generally does best in bright to partial shade; direct summer sun scorches the leaves, and indoors it grows in the filtered light of a bright window.

Overwintering Coral berry

Overwintering guide: −5°C (23°F) or above

On the Kanto and Kansai plains it usually overwinters outdoors in shade; dry north wind and hard frost damage the leaves, so pots go under eaves or to a cool spot indoors.

Fertilizing and repotting Coral berry

Fertilizer

It needs little: as a guide, a little slow-release fertilizer in spring and around September; excess makes it tall and leggy with fewer berries.

When to repot

Spring–Summer (Mar–Sep), Autumn (Oct–Nov)

Common problems with Coral berry

• Direct summer sun scorches the leaves brown.
• Dry winter wind damages the leaves and they drop.
• It grows tall and loses its lower leaves, leaving a bare base.

Tips for growing Coral berry

• Cut back an overgrown plant in April or May and new shoots come from lower down.
• The berries stay on through winter and are a traditional New Year good-luck decoration.
• Fallen berries sown in soil germinate readily, so it is easy to propagate.

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