Never forget how to raise me
Today, the editor will explain how to raise forget-me-nots and the knowledge of green plants and flowers related to the cultivation skills of forget-me-nots. Keep reading!
Forget-me-not is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Boraginaceae family, also known as starflower, immortal flower, undying flower, and forget-me-not, among others. The plant is small and elegant, often used to decorate flower beds and gardens in spring or early summer, and can be planted with bulbous flowers to enhance ornamental effects. It can also be potted for display.
Forget-me-not is native to Yunnan, Sichuan, Jiangsu, North China, Northwest China, and Northeast China. It is highly adaptable, prefers dry and cool climates, dislikes humidity, and is drought-resistant. The optimal growth temperature is between 20°C to 25°C, and it thrives in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly alkaline soil.
I. Seedling Raising:
The propagation of forget-me-nots is very simple. In addition to sowing in autumn, it can also be sown in spring, but the flowers from spring sowing are less ornamental than those from autumn sowing. Sowing generally takes place from September to the following January. First, prepare a seedbed with a mixture of decomposed leaf soil, matured compost, garden soil, and sand. Before sowing, the seeds should be treated to improve germination rates. Soak the seeds in water at 30°C for three consecutive days, changing the water each day, then wrap them in damp gauze to germinate. Keep the gauze moist. When the seeds start to germinate, they can be sown. After sowing, cover with soil and keep the seedbed moist. The temperature should not exceed 25°C. After the seeds have germinated, ensure proper ventilation, maintaining a temperature of 15-25°C. Germination usually occurs within about 10 days.
II. Potting Soil Preparation: Forget-me-nots can be planted outdoors or in pots. Most people cultivate forget-me-nots in pots. It thrives in soil rich in organic matter and good drainage. Therefore, the preparation of the potting soil is crucial. There are limitations to using pots for planting. Pots are a special small environment, and using any single type of soil cannot meet the needs of potted flowers. Thus, artificial soil preparation is necessary for potted forget-me-nots to replace natural soil and ensure the plant is fixed in the pot with good water retention, drainage, and aeration, rich in humus, and not overly alkaline. The potting soil for forget-me-nots is generally prepared with humus soil, garden soil, yellow sand, and household waste. Alternatively, a mixture of 75% humus soil or garden soil and 25% coarse sand, or 50% pond mud, 25% compost, and 25% sand can be used. It's best to use the soil after high-temperature sterilization or sun-drying to kill germs.
III. Potting: Transplant the seedlings when they have more than 5 true leaves. Cut off the broken, cracked, damaged, and overly long roots of the forget-me-not plants before transplanting them into pots. Place broken tiles at the bottom of the pot, add some cake fertilizer, bones, fish bones, chicken feathers, etc., then fill with potting soil. Place the forget-me-not plant in the center of the pot, ensuring the roots are spread out. Fill the soil to half the pot, gently shake the plant to settle the soil, and compact it. The planting depth should not be too deep, keeping the rootstock level with the pot opening. Too shallow will affect survival, and too deep will affect the growth after transplanting. Water the plant thoroughly after planting. Initially, care for the plant in a shaded environment for about a week before moving it to a sunny location.
IV. Management: After the seeds germinate, when the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, they should be transplanted for the first time. When they have 5-6 true leaves, they can be planted in the garden. The spacing between plants should be 30-40 centimeters. After the first transplant, when the seedlings have 7-8 leaves, they can be planted in pots. Forget-me-nots prefer dry conditions, deep, loose, and well-drained slightly alkaline sandy loam. Fertilize with decomposed organic fertilizer and slow-release compound fertilizer, mixed into the soil evenly. Fertilize frequently, applying decomposed thin human waste every week, and top-dress with potassium and boron fertilizers during the flowering period to improve the quality and yield of cut flowers. Forget-me-nots prefer a dry and well-drained environment and dislike waterlogging. Watering should be controlled during the entire growth period to avoid reducing the quality and yield of flowers. Keeping the soil moist is sufficient. In winter, protect from direct sunlight and keep potted plants in a warm bed or buried in soil. For outdoor cultivation, cover the roots with straw to protect from the sun, removing the straw in March of the following year, then perform a single tillage and apply a dilute solution of human waste once, after which fertilizing can be stopped.
The above () introduces how to raise forget-me-nots and all the related cultivation skills, providing you with comprehensive understanding and reference!