Dragonflower Cultivation Methods and Precautions
The blue-purple dragonflower is favored by gardening enthusiasts for its unique tubular flower shape. To cultivate healthy and flowering plants in your garden, you need to master three core maintenance points.
Dragonflower Cultivation Environment Setup
Soil Matrix Mixing Scheme
It is recommended to use a mixture of decomposed leaf soil, perlite, and fermented sheep manure in a ratio of 6:3:1. The soil layer should be kept at a thickness of over 30cm. Each spring, it is necessary to renew the matrix, adding 5% pine bark chips to improve aeration.
Precise Light and Temperature Control
In spring and autumn, ensure 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. In summer, use a 50% shade net for protection. When the temperature drops below 5°C in winter, the plant needs to be moved indoors to maintain an optimal growth range of 15-22°C.
Dragonflower Daily Maintenance Norms
Scientific Water and Fertilizer Management
Adopt the "moisture on dry" watering method, maintaining a matrix humidity of 40%-60% in spring and summer. During the bud differentiation period (mid-June), apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizer and dilute seaweed fertilizer at a ratio of 1:800 every half month.
Plant Pruning Techniques
After flowering, promptly remove the withered flowers, leaving 2 pairs of leaves at the base. Each early spring, perform a whole-plant shrinkage pruning, removing weak branches and retaining 3-5 main stems.
Disease and Pest Control System
Preventive Management
Monthly alternate spraying 1% baking soda solution and neem oil. Before the rainy season, lay a 5cm thick layer of pine needles to prevent the spread of pathogens.
Emergency Response Plan
If leaf spot disease is found, immediately remove the diseased leaves and spray 80% mancozeb 600 times solution, treating continuously for 3 times at 7-day intervals.
Dragonflower Blossom Regulation
The natural blooming period starts in early August, and annual blooming can be achieved through temperature control. During the bud formation period (early July), maintain a day-night temperature difference of over 10°C, and combined with foliar application of 0.1% boric acid solution, the blooming period can be extended to 70 days.
Mastering the key points of light control and nutrient management, along with proper matrix maintenance, can make the dragonflower bloom continuously in the garden. It is recommended to establish a maintenance log, recording each pruning and fertilization time, to gradually optimize a personalized cultivation plan.