How to grow Starflowers
Starflowers are deeply loved by gardening enthusiasts for their unique star-shaped flowers and vibrant colors, but many people often encounter problems such as few flowers and withered plants during the maintenance process. This article will systematically analyze the key points of scientific maintenance for starflowers, guiding planting techniques comprehensively through six dimensions including temperature, lighting, water, and fertilizer, to help you easily create a visual focus in your balcony garden.
1. Key Points of Environmental Control
Temperature and Light Management
As a typical tropical plant, the optimal growth temperature for starflowers is between 20-28°C. It is necessary to maintain a wintering temperature above 10°C in winter, and it is recommended to move the plants indoors by the end of October in the north. During the high-temperature periods of summer, appropriate shading is required to avoid leaf scorching from direct sunlight above 35°C.
Optimizing Light Requirements
A daily scatter light of 4-6 hours is required, and full sunlight can be accepted in spring and autumn. It is recommended to place the plants on a southeast-facing balcony and rotate the pot by 180° weekly to ensure even lighting. Insufficient lighting can cause etiolation, which can be supplemented by adding 2 hours of blue-purple light daily through grow lights.
2. Water and Fertilizer Management Techniques
Scientific Watering Plan
Adopt the principle of "watering when dry and keeping moist but not waterlogged" during the spring and summer growing seasons. Specific operation: water thoroughly when the top 2cm of soil is dry, and mist in the morning and evening during summer. It is recommended to use the immersion method, placing the pot in a water tray for 15 minutes to avoid half-watering.
Accurate Fertilization Strategy
How to grow Starflowers
During the growing season (March-September), apply a balanced liquid fertilizer (20-20-20) every half month, and switch to a high-phosphorus fertilizer (10-30-20) during the budding stage. Pay attention to applying thin fertilizers frequently, with the concentration controlled at 0.1%-0.2%. Stop fertilizing during the winter dormancy period to avoid root burning.
3. Propagation and Plant Management
Efficient Propagation Method
In spring, select semi-woody branches for cutting, retain 2-3 buds, and use a matrix of perlite:vermiculite=1:1 to cultivate, maintaining 85% humidity. Under a temperature of 20-25°C, roots will form in 15 days. When sowing, soak the seeds in 40°C warm water for 6 hours, and cover the soil with a thickness twice the diameter of the seeds.
Key Points of Shaping and Pruning
After flowering, promptly cut off the 3 nodes below the remaining flowers to promote secondary flowering. Every spring, cut the main stem to 15cm and combine with pinching to create a spherical plant shape. Pruning tools should be disinfected with 75% alcohol, and the cut surfaces should be coated with wood ash to prevent infection.