CHINESE LANTERN STANDARD
Light:
☀️ Full sun to partial shade. Chinese Lantern prefers full sunlight to bloom well, but it can tolerate some light shade, especially in hotter climates.Water:
💧 Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Water when the top 1–2 inches of soil are dry. Avoid letting it completely dry out during the growing season.Soil:
🌱 Well-draining, fertile soil. This plant prefers a rich, loamy soil with good drainage. Add compost to improve soil quality if needed.Temperature:
🌡️ Grows best in moderate temperatures (60°F–80°F / 16°C–27°C). Hardy in USDA zones 6–9. In cooler zones, it may die back in winter and return in spring or can be overwintered indoors.Humidity:
💦 Tolerates average humidity well. No special misting is needed unless indoor air is very dry.Fertilizer:
🌼 Use a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4–6 weeks during spring and summer. Avoid over-fertilizing, which may promote foliage over flowers.Pruning:
✂️ Prune in early spring to shape and maintain the standard form. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage continuous flowering and remove any suckers or lower shoots to maintain tree shape.Flowers:
🎐 Produces lantern-shaped blooms, often orange-red, from late spring through fall. In standard (tree) form, it’s a striking ornamental focal point.