Chinese Lantern Plant
Comprehensive analysis of the knowledge of growing Chinese Lantern Plant (Yuan Bao Flower) in family gardens, cultivation techniques of Chinese Lantern Plant, please correct me if there are any mistakes!
Chinese Lantern Plant is native to Mexico, Peru, and Chile, also distributed in Oceania and New Zealand. It prefers cool, humid climate and well-ventilated environment, with a suitable growth temperature of 7-15 degrees Celsius. It is not cold-resistant, nor heat-resistant, and it is not conducive to growth and flowering when the temperature is higher than 20 degrees Celsius. It thrives in soil rich in humus and good drainage. It is a long-day plant, and extending the lighting time is beneficial for the differentiation of flower buds.
Cultivation and Management of Chinese Lantern Plant
Propagation by sowing, from late August to early September. Under 20 degrees Celsius, seedlings can emerge in about 10 days. As the seeds are small, do not sow too densely and avoid thick covering soil (even no covering soil). After sowing, the temperature should be maintained at about 20 degrees Celsius, and after the seedlings emerge, the temperature should be reduced to about 15 degrees Celsius. When the seedlings grow 2-3 leaves, transplant them into small pots. Chinese Lantern Plant is sensitive to dryness and excessive moisture, so the watering should be alternated between dry and wet, and the humidity should be kept above 80%. The temperature in the growing season should not be lower than 8 degrees Celsius. Generally, apply a thin liquid fertilizer once every 10 days. The plant has difficulty in natural pollination and requires artificial pollination.
Habits of Chinese Lantern Plant: Chinese Lantern Plant has two-lipped flowers, with a small upper lip and a swollen lower lip resembling a lotus, hence the name "Lotus Purse Flower". The corolla has distinct patterns, and the flowers come in red, white, yellow, purple, with unique and beautiful shapes. Native to South American countries like Mexico, it prefers a cool and humid climate, with a growth period not exceeding ten degrees Celsius and a flowering period around 13 degrees Celsius. The leaves are tender and prefer fertile, sunny conditions. In winter, it should be placed in a sunny location to facilitate growth and flowering. The main method of propagation is by sowing, from August to September. Soak the potting mix in water, sprinkle the seeds on the surface of the soil, do not cover them thickly, but place a glass cover over the pot opening and ventilate in time. If the soil dries out, soak the pot in a semi-shaded place. Avoid sowing too early, as high temperatures can cause seedlings to rot. Sowing too late will affect flowering.
After germination, select strong seedlings and eliminate weak ones. When the seedlings have 2-3 leaves, transplant them into appropriately sized pots and place them in a shaded area to slow down growth. After a week, they can grow normally. During the growing period, pay attention to ventilation and shading. When the potting mix temperature is high, the base leaves of the plant are prone to rot. Avoid sunburn in winter, and spray a small amount of water on the leaves daily, with appropriate shading. Before flowering and during the growing period, apply a mature fertilizer once or twice a week. Stop fertilizing if the leaves are wrinkled or the stems are elongated. Apply more phosphorus fertilizer when the flower buds form. Apply potassium dihydrogen phosphate when the leaves turn yellow. When fertilizing, do not let the fertilizer splash on the leaf surface to avoid burning the tender leaves. During the full bloom period, strictly control the watering and keep the potting mix not too wet. After the flower stems emerge, aphids may appear and can be controlled with a 40% solution of 1500 times carbaryl emulsion. Chinese Lantern Plant flowers in early spring, with seeds maturing in October. It is necessary to keep the area ventilated and shaded from strong sunlight at noon to ensure the seeds mature properly.
Chinese Lantern Plant should not be overwatered during the growing and flowering period, and watering should only be done when dry. More control is needed when the temperature is high in early autumn and late autumn, as excessive moisture and heat can cause root and leaf rot. Regular misting indoors can increase humidity and promote growth. Avoid direct watering on the plant, as water accumulating on the leaves and buds can cause rot. Apply a thin liquid fertilizer every 10 days during the growing season, and if the stems and leaves are elongated, reduce the amount of fertilizer. Apply phosphorus-based fertilizer during the initial flowering period, and avoid getting fertilizer on the leaves. With proper management, it only takes 150 to 160 days from seedlings to flowering.
Chinese Lantern Plant has a low natural pollination rate and requires artificial pollination. After flowering, use a brush to collect pollen and apply it to the stigma, repeating 2 to 3 times to achieve pollination. After the seeds mature, cut the flower stems and place them in a cloth bag to dry in the sun, then store them in a dry and well-ventilated place. Chinese Lantern Plant has bright colors, and the lower lip of the petals resembles a slipper, hence the foreign name "Slipper Flower". The Latin name calceolaria comes from calceolarius, meaning "shoemaker". In China, it is also called "Purse Flower" because of its shape. There are more than 300 species of Chinese Lantern Plant, native to the South American region south of Mexico, especially abundant in the Andes Mountains at an altitude of 3000 meters. They rely on insects for pollination, but the attractant is not nectar but an oily substance that bees and other insects use to feed their larvae. Chinese Lantern Plant was introduced to Europe in 1733 and widely used in horticulture and production in the 19th century, resulting in many hybrid varieties. Now, Chinese Lantern Plant is commercially produced in Europe and America, mainly used as indoor potted plants in winter and spring, with some semi-shrub varieties also used for outdoor cultivation. Cultivated varieties have developed from large flowers to small flowers, with richer colors and many early-flowering and heat-resistant varieties. China introduced Chinese Lantern Plant from the United States in the 1930s but mainly used it for specimens and teaching. Only after liberation was it produced in small quantities, and mass production started in the 1980s. The language of Chinese Lantern Plant is "assistance". The gift-giving etiquette is usually a potted plant wrapped in yellow wrapping paper and sealed. Attach a card and place the potted plant in a colorful cellophane bag, which is very interesting.
The detailed content of the cultivation techniques of Chinese Lantern Plant (Yuan Bao Flower) has been shared above, hoping to bring you help!