The Propagation and Care of Starflowers
The editor will share with everyone the knowledge about the propagation of starflowers, including the propagation and care methods. Let's learn about them together.
(I) Seedling Raising
① Seedling Facilities: Cell trays.
② Medium: Use a seedling medium rich in humus, well-drained, and sterile, such as the "Strong Seedling No. 3" by Nongyou Seedling Company.
③ pH Value: 6.5-6.8.
④ EC Value: 0.75 ms/cm.
⑤ Light: Seeds need light to germinate, so do not cover with soil. During the germination period, a light intensity of 1000 lux can ensure uniform germination and improve seedling quality. Starflowers enjoy bright light, so after germination, let the seedlings quickly receive sunlight to prevent leggy growth and promote rapid plant growth. After germination, maintain a light intensity of 10,000-25,000 lux. As the seedlings grow, the light intensity must be increased to 50,000 lux and the temperature controlled.
⑥ Temperature: The optimal germination temperature is 20-30°C.
⑦ Humidity: Maintain the relative humidity in the air at 100% until the cotyledons emerge, avoiding excessively wet seedling media. During the growth stage of the cell tray seedlings, it is advisable to reduce the relative humidity to 50% to prevent leaf diseases.
(II) Seedling Management
1. Germination
At an optimal temperature of 23°C, maintaining higher humidity, the seeds can germinate in 6-9 days after sowing.
2. Light
During the germination period, a light intensity of 1000 lux is beneficial for uniform seed germination. After the seeds germinate, let them gradually be exposed to light, eventually to full sunlight. At the same time, reduce the moisture in the medium to prevent leggy growth. After germination, the light intensity needs to be 10,000-30,000 lux. As the seedlings grow, the true leaves need to be exposed to increased light up to 54,000 lux, and the temperature controlled.
3. Temperature
After germination, the temperature can be lowered to 20-22°C until the true leaves start to grow. Then, the temperature can be reduced to 18-20°C in the early stage and to 15-18°C in the middle and late stages until transplanting, which will help the seedlings grow robustly.
4. pH Value
The suitable pH value is 6.5-6.8. The pH value of the medium should not be lower than 6.0, as otherwise, the seedlings may suffer from iron toxicity, leading to leaf margin necrosis and slow plant growth. Applying calcium nitrate Ca(NO3)2 can reduce the adverse effects of low pH.
5. Fertilization
After the cotyledons of the seedlings spread out, start applying a "Green Power" solution at 2000 times dilution once a week. About 5 weeks after sowing, when the seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, apply a "Green Power" solution at a concentration of 1000-1500 times, maintaining the EC value between 1.0-1.5 ms/cm.
6. Water
Starflower seedlings grow well in a moist environment, so keep the medium moist during the seedling stage. Since starflowers are covered with hair, to avoid high humidity, water the seedlings mostly through the immersion method. The relative humidity of the air should be around 50%. Water management should follow the principle of moistening when dry, but not too dry. After the radicle emerges, apply a "Green Power" solution at 3000 times dilution with a formula of 15-10-15 (N:P:K) once a week. After the cotyledons spread out, the concentration can be increased to 2000 times. During the seedling stage (4-5 weeks after sowing), the optimal temperature is 17-20°C. The fertilizer concentration is 1000-1500 times, once a week, to promote rapid seedling growth. Pay attention to maintaining the EC value between 1.0-1.5 ms/cm. If the pH of the growing medium is below 6.0, the plants may suffer severe iron toxicity, leading to slow or halted growth. Regular application of calcium nitrate can prevent the pH from decreasing.
The above introduction to the propagation and care of starflowers is provided for netizens to refer to and learn from.