How to plant Delphinium
Are you curious about how to plant Delphinium and the related introduction of green plant flowers, such as Delphinium planting methods and timing? Next, the editor of this site will introduce it to everyone.
Delphinium is also known as pigeon flower, dry bird grass, and thousand bird flowers, belonging to the perennial herbaceous plants of the Delphinium genus in the Ranunculaceae family. It is named for its unique flower shape resembling a swallow. The flower shape is elegant with delicate colors, offering high ornamental value. Moreover, the entire plant and seeds can be used as medicine to treat toothache, and the juice from the stems and leaves can kill insects. Let's take a look at the planting methods of Delphinium!
Delphinium seeding methods
1. Seed collection: Delphinium fruits mature at different times and split naturally after ripening, so they should be harvested in a timely manner. Generally, ripe seeds are collected 1-2 times in June, and all selected seeds are harvested, dried, and dehulled in July.
2. Sowing time: Delphinium can be sown in spring and autumn. If sown in autumn, it must be done by mid-September. However, in areas with higher temperatures in summer, sowing should be avoided during the hot season.
3. Post-sowing management: The optimal germination temperature for Delphinium is about 15°C, and the soil temperature should be below 20°C. It takes about two weeks to germinate. In the north, it is usually planted in mid-April, transplanted when there are 2-4 true leaves, and planted when there are 4-7 true leaves.
Delphinium planting methods
1. Planting: When Delphinium seeds germinate and grow 2-4 true leaves, they are transplanted into sunny plots. The seedlings are planted in March of the following year when they have 4-7 true leaves, which can bloom from May to July. When transplanting, do not plant the seedlings too deep.
2. Watering: Delphinium likes moisture and is drought-resistant. Watering should be thorough, and water should be added when the soil is dry. More water should be added during the flowering period to prevent the soil from becoming too dry.
3. Light: Delphinium needs sufficient sunlight to promote plant growth, especially in winter, which can tolerate some shade. In summer, it should be avoided from strong sunlight and placed in a semi-shaded area.
4. Temperature: Delphinium is adaptable to the climate, preferring cool weather. The optimal daytime growth temperature is between 20-25°C, and the nighttime temperature should be controlled between 3-15°C.
5. Fertilization: Delphinium is fertilized once every two weeks during the growing period, with 2-3 applications of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers before flowering. Keeping the soil moist during the flowering period can extend the viewing period. Additionally, cake fertilizer water is applied 1-3 times per month depending on the growth condition.
6. Height control: After repotting Delphinium, paclobutrazol can be used to control the height of the plant. Apply 5000PPM paclobutrazol or 1500PPM paclobutrazol once every two weeks until budding.
7. Diseases and pests: Common diseases of Delphinium include black spot disease, root neck rot disease, and chrysanthemum leaf blight nematode disease, which can damage leaves, flower buds, and stems. These can be controlled by spraying a diluted 500 times solution of 50% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder.
The above information introduces how to plant Delphinium and the specific introduction of Delphinium planting methods and timing for your reference.