Daisy Planting Steps in Detail
This article introduces some knowledge about home gardening with daisies, providing a detailed explanation of daisy planting steps, and will take everyone to understand together.
Daisies are biennial herbaceous plants, about 10 to 15 centimeters tall. The leaves are basally born, spatulate, with rounded apices and bases narrowing into petioles. The capitulum is solitary, with pubescent scape. Ray florets are ligulate, female, and spreading; tubular florets are bisexual. Achene is obovate, flat, with marginal veins, pubescent, and without pappus. Daisies are cold-resistant, thrive in sunny and cool climates, and are not tolerant to shade, high temperatures, or severe frosts. They bloom poorly under hot conditions and are prone to wither.
Planting Methods:
Stage One: Seedling Stage One: The germination stage starts from the radicle breaking through the seed coat, the young roots come into contact with the soil, and the first true leaves appear as the first stage. The temperature should be maintained at 18°C. The seeds germinate with phototropism, so there is no need to cover the seeds with soil during sowing, but the growing medium must be kept moist, and dryness should be avoided at this stage. The pH value should be kept between 5.5 and 6.2, with a relative humidity of 100%. Direct sunlight should be avoided, and the seeds should be shaded after sowing.
Stage Two: Cotyledon Appearance and Growth Stage From the appearance of cotyledons to the growth of true leaves is the second stage. The temperature is still maintained at 18°C. Reduce the moisture of the growing medium slightly but avoid excessive dryness, keeping the humidity around 70% to 80%, allowing the roots to penetrate the medium and absorb nutrients for the extension of the cotyledons. The first and second stages take 14 to 21 days.
Stage Three: True Leaf Growth and Development Stage From the appearance of true leaves to 80% of the seedlings being able to (C-S) is the third stage. The temperature is reduced to about 15°C. The air humidity should also be gradually reduced, allowing the medium to dry out between waterings to form a wet-dry cycle, which is beneficial for root development.
Stage Four: Hardening Off Stage In this stage, the root system has formed well, and the seedlings are basically able to (C-S) and become cold-resistant through hardening off, lasting for about 7 days. The temperature, humidity, and fertilizer concentration are basically the same as in the third stage. Attention should be paid to timely transplanting into pots. The third and fourth stages take 7 to 14 days.
Cultivation Management
1. Transplanting After hardening off, the seedlings can be transplanted using 12 cm diameter seedling trays or flower pots. Water the plants thoroughly after transplanting. For potted products, it is better to transplant in early October than in late October, as if transplanted in early October, the plant roots can become firmly established in the container before frost arrives.
2. Growing Medium Use a loose, well-draining, and breathable growing medium with a clay content of 15% to 30%, and add about 15% organic fertilizer (such as compost), applying 1 kilogram of complete balanced fertilizer and 2 kilograms of slow-release fertilizer per cubic meter of medium.
3. Watering Water the plants thoroughly after transplanting, then allow the medium to dry slightly between waterings before watering again, following the principle of wetting and drying, which is beneficial for root growth and development. Keep the medium moist but not saturated. Water control should be exercised during the budding stage to prevent the flower stems from becoming too long.
4. Temperature The optimal growing temperature is between 10°C and 12°C. Outdoor cultivation requires covering. To achieve good plant quality, try to grow daisies in a cool environment, but avoid frost to prevent plant frostbite. Daisies can safely overwinter at temperatures above 5°C. Below 6°C, growth is relatively slow, and the formation of flower buds is delayed; above 12°C, the plant leaves become larger, the flower stems weak, the number of flowers decreases, and the growth vigor diminishes. When the outdoor temperature gradually warms up, pay attention to timely ventilation.
5. Light Both the growing and flowering periods require high light intensity. For newly transplanted plants, the light should not be too high. Sufficient light can promote plant growth, make the leaves tender and green, and increase the number of flowers. However, partial shading is needed during frost to avoid direct sunlight.
6. Fertilization Alternate application of water-soluble fertilizers every 7 to 10 days at a concentration of 150ppm to 200ppm. The daisy roots are sensitive to high salt content in the medium, so avoid high salt content and excessive ammonium and nitrogen concentrations. Do not fertilize the plants in early October; reduce fertilizer application in winter; and apply balanced nitrogen-potassium fertilizers in spring. Allow the medium to dry slightly before fertilizing, keeping it moist but not wet. Sufficient water and fertilizer during the growing season can make the plants grow lush and extend the flowering period.
Disease and Pest Management
The main diseases of daisies include damping-off disease, gray mold, leaf spot disease, (T-J) disease, and downy mildew; the main pests are aphids, etc. Preventive measures for diseases and pests should be strengthened during cultivation. Avoid dense planting and maintain a cool environment with good ventilation, otherwise, it will cause the plants to become weak and elongated. Keep the area clean and promptly remove and dispose of any infected plants or leaves. When diseases occur, take immediate chemical control measures. Notes: 1. Try to grow the plants in a cool cultivation environment to keep the plant shape compact. 2. High relative humidity in winter and excessively moist plant leaves can easily cause gray mold. You can choose a slightly moist environment for cultivation, but not too wet. 3. Daisies have clustering basal leaves, and without adequate ventilation, the base is prone to rot, leading to infection.
The above () provides you with a comprehensive explanation of the detailed steps for daisy planting, hoping it can help you.