How to cultivate calla lilies without soil
This article brings you the knowledge about hydroponic calla lilies, on how to cultivate calla lilies without soil. Let's follow the editor to see the specific content!
I. Variety Selection
Common horticultural varieties of calla lilies include white petiole, green petiole, and red petiole types. White petiole types have smaller corms, white-green petiole bases, slow growth, white spathe, early flowering, and numerous flowers, with corms 1-2 centimeters in diameter capable of flowering. Green petiole types have larger corms, green petiole bases, vigorous growth, tall plants, yellow-white flowers, late flowering, and corms need to be 5-6 centimeters or more in diameter to flower. Red petiole types have moderate growth, red petiole bases, white spathe, and flowering between white and green petiole types.
In addition, there are some common horticultural cultivation species in the same genus as calla lilies, such as silver flower calla lily, red flower calla lily, and yellow flower calla lily.
The main forms of soilless cultivation of calla lilies are pot cultivation and trough cultivation. Pot cultivation usually selects the compact white petiole type, red flower calla lily, and silver flower calla lily, while for large plants, the tall green petiole type or yellow flower calla lily can be chosen. For calla lilies intended for cut flowers, trough cultivation is suitable.
II. Soilless Cultivation System
The soilless cultivation system of calla lilies mainly consists of planting troughs, drip irrigation systems, nutrient solution pools, water pumps, and liquid supply timers. Planting troughs can be made of bricks, with a frame width of 80 centimeters and a height of 20 centimeters. The length of the planting trough is determined by the actual length of the greenhouse, generally not exceeding 30-40 centimeters. A layer of plastic film is first laid in the trough to isolate the soil, then a 15-18 centimeters thick substrate is placed inside. Suitable substrates for cut flower calla lilies in soilless cultivation include rice husk ash and sawdust mixed in a 3:1 volume ratio or perlite and sawdust mixed in a 2:1 volume ratio. The drip irrigation system can use embedded drip irrigation tape, with water outlet spacing of 10 centimeters or 20 centimeters, and 2 strips laid in each planting trough. The volume of the nutrient solution pool is generally 1-2 cubic meters. The selection of water pumps is based on the working pressure and quantity of the drip irrigation tape, with generally 1 submersible pump with a power of 450 watts used for liquid supply in 3 greenhouses.
III. Planting
Calla lilies can be planted in late August for soilless cultivation. Select healthy and disease-free bulbs of uniform size and plant them in the planting troughs at a distance of 15 centimeters. Uniform bulbs should have a row spacing of 40 centimeters, and the bulbs should be inserted to a depth of 3-4 centimeters. After planting, lay 2 strips of drip irrigation tape on the side of the bulbs for liquid supply.
IV. Nutrient Solution Management
The nutrient solution for soilless cultivation of calla lilies can use the following formula: calcium nitrate 800 grams, monopotassium phosphate 210 grams, magnesium sulfate 250 grams, potassium nitrate 500 grams, ammonium nitrate 30 grams, EDTA iron salt 10 grams, manganese sulfate 2 grams, zinc sulfate 1 gram, boric acid 1.3 grams, copper sulfate 0.15 grams, and ammonium molybdate 0.1 gram. In the early growth stage of calla lilies, the nutrient solution concentration can be controlled at 1.2 ms/cm; in the middle and late stages, it can be appropriately increased to 1.5 ms/cm. Throughout the growth period, the pH value of the nutrient solution should be adjusted to 5.6-6.5. The amount of nutrient solution (G-Y) mainly depends on the weather conditions and the size of the plants, generally supplied 2-3 times a day to ensure the cultivation substrate layer is moist, with a shallow water layer at the bottom of the trough.
V. Plant Management and Pest and Disease Control
The plant management of calla lilies is relatively simple, mainly involving removing yellow leaves and some outer leaves. The purpose of removing outer leaves is to avoid leaf congestion affecting light and ventilation and to allow flower stems to extend. The main pests and diseases of calla lilies are bacterial soft rot, aphids, and red spiders. Bacterial soft rot can damage leaves, petioles, and corms, mainly transmitted through infected corms. When initially infected, it can be controlled by spraying with a 500-fold Bordeaux mixture.
The above is a detailed introduction to how to cultivate calla lilies without soil, have you learned it?