How to plant Lobularia maritima
Do you know this? The introduction of how to plant Lobularia maritima and the related introduction of the sowing time and method of green plants and flowers. Next, the site editor will introduce to the netizens.
Lobularia maritima, also known as garden cress, little white flower, and jade butterfly ball, belongs to the genus Lobularia of the Cruciferae family, and is a perennial herbaceous plant with a woody base, but whether it is annual or biennial, it does not lignify. It grows creeping, has a pleasant fragrance, and is also suitable for planting on the edges of rock gardens and walls. It can also be potted and used as ground cover. Let's take a look at the planting methods of Lobularia maritima together!
Growth habits of Lobularia maritima
Lobularia maritima is native to Europe and West Asia, prefers cool climates, dislikes heat, requires abundant sunlight, slightly shade-tolerant, loose soil, dislikes waterlogging, and is drought and thin-soil tolerant. It likes cool climates, dislikes extreme heat, and is frost-resistant. It prefers a relatively dry air environment and is prone to pathogen infection if it rains for too long. It is afraid of rain and should keep the leaves dry at night. The optimal relative humidity of the air is 40-60%.
Planting methods of Lobularia maritima
1. Substrate: The substrate used for potting Lobularia maritima can be one of the following: vegetable garden soil: slag = 3:1, or garden soil: coarse river sand: sawdust ( slag) = 4:1:2, or one of rice field soil, pond mud, decomposed leaf soil, or peat: perlite: ceramsite = 2:2:1, or peat: slag: ceramsite = 2:2:1, or sawdust: vermiculite: coarse river sand = 2:2:1. After potting, water thoroughly and place it in a slightly shaded environment for one week.
2. Potting: When potting young Lobularia maritima plants, first place a 2-2 cm thick layer of coarse-grained substrate or ceramsite at the bottom of the pot as a filter layer, then sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer, about 1-2 cm thick, followed by a layer of substrate, about 1-2 cm thick, then place the plant in the pot, separating the fertilizer from the roots to avoid root burn.
3. Transplanting: When transplanting young Lobularia maritima plants, dig a planting hole first, sprinkle a layer of organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer at the bottom of the planting hole (about 4-6 cm thick), then cover it with a layer of soil and place the seedlings, separating the fertilizer from the roots to avoid root burn. After placing the seedlings, fill in the soil, cover the roots, and press the soil with your feet, then water thoroughly.
Planting management of Lobularia maritima
1. Temperature: Lobularia maritima is not very strict with winter temperatures, as long as it is not frostbitten, it can survive the winter safely. It dies when the temperature reaches over 30°C at the end of spring and the beginning of summer. The most suitable growth temperature is 15-25°C. In late autumn, winter, and early spring, since the temperature is not very high, it should be given direct sunlight to facilitate photosynthesis and the formation of flower buds, flowering, and fruiting. In summer, if there is high temperatures, about 50% of the sunlight should be shaded.
2. Fertilization and watering: Like other herbaceous flowers, Lobularia maritima requires more fertilization and watering, but it is most afraid of irregular fertilization, heavy fertilization, and unbalanced application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers. It is necessary to follow the principles of applying light fertilizer frequently, less and more frequent applications, complete nutrition, and moist and dry cycles. After fertilizing, the leaves and flowers should be kept dry at night.
3. Autumn: After a period of recovery from potting, the management of fertilization and watering should be quickly followed up. The management should follow the cycle of flower fertilizer → flower fertilizer → water → flower fertilizer → flower fertilizer → water, with an interval of about 1-3 days. The interval is shorter on sunny or hot days and longer on rainy or cold days or not watered at all.
4. Winter: Although Lobularia maritima continues to grow in winter, the low temperature will slow down its growth rate, and it does not require much fertilization and watering, or even needs to be controlled. The management should follow the cycle of flower fertilizer → water → water → flower fertilizer → water → water, with an interval of about 4-7 days. Watering should be scheduled during the sunny midday when the temperature is higher.
5. Spring: Lobularia maritima recovers its growth rapidly with the warming of spring temperatures and gradually enters the bud differentiation and flowering periods, requiring a lot of fertilization and watering. The management should follow the cycle of flower fertilizer → water → flower fertilizer → water, with an interval of about 2-4 days. Fertilizer supply should be stopped after entering the fruiting stage.
6. Pinching: Lobularia maritima generally undergoes two pinching before flowering to promote the growth of more flowering branches. One to two weeks after potting or when the seedlings are 6-10 cm tall with more than six leaves, the top should be pinched off, leaving 3-4 leaves at the bottom to promote branching. Three to five weeks after the first pinching, or when the lateral branches are 6-8 cm long, the second pinching is performed, i.e., the top of the lateral branches is pinched off, leaving 4 leaves on the lateral branches.
Propagation methods of Lobularia maritima
Lobularia maritima can be propagated by seeds or cuttings, but seeds are generally used more often. In the northern regions, it is mostly sown in spring, usually in March in greenhouses. Lobularia maritima seeds germinate faster than those of most other flowers, with uniform seedlings and an optimal germination temperature of 20°C, taking about 5 days to germinate. When the seedlings have 3-4 true leaves, they are transplanted into pots and bloom in June. In summer, when it is hot, growth is poor, and flowering is rare. At this time, the flowers that have already bloomed should be cut off, and fertilization and watering management should be strengthened, so that it can bloom again in autumn. In North China and the southern regions, it is mostly sown in autumn, protected in a cold frame during winter, and potted or transplanted in early March, blooming in April.
The above-sharing experience on how to plant Lobularia maritima, sowing time, and methods of green plants and flowers may help you in your life!