Key Points for Continuous Blooming Care of Veronica spicata
For most women, the introduction to the planting of the green plant flowers Veronica spicata, the editor will introduce next.
Many flower enthusiasts ask, "Is there a plant that is cold and heat resistant, has beautiful flowers, and a long blooming period?" We recommend growing Veronica spicata, which is truly a magical plant in the garden. It is not only cold-resistant but also heat-resistant. The blooming period starts from early summer and continues to autumn, filling the gap in the summer garden. The blue-purple flower spikes, blooming in clusters, are perfect when paired with hydrangeas. Moreover, it is very tough, easy to manage, and friendly to新手 flower enthusiasts.
Brief Introduction to Veronica spicata
Veronica spicata, also known as spike flower, has a clumping nature, grows upright, and the inflorescence is in the form of a long spike. The blooming period is similar to that of hydrangeas, usually from June to autumn.
Veronica spicata is distributed in the northwest of China (X-J), Europe, Russia, and Central Asia. It originally grows in grasslands and coniferous forest belts, prefers warm temperatures, and has strong cold resistance. It overwinters in the form of rhizomes and grows new buds in the spring. Veronica spicata prefers a well-lit environment but can also tolerate semi-shade, has strong resistance to adversity, and is highly adaptable to the environment, making it widely used in landscaping.
Key Points for Continuous Blooming Care of Veronica spicata
Overall, Veronica spicata is relatively tough and easy to grow. To make it bloom continuously in summer, it is recommended to focus on the following points during maintenance.
Veronica spicata has strong adaptability to the environment and can be planted in the ground or in pots. When planting for ornamental purposes, it should be planted in a sunny and wind-protected position, not in low-lying areas to avoid waterlogging that can cause the plant to wither. Ground planting management is very relaxed. When planting Veronica spicata in pots, the following points should be emphasized.
1. Use an appropriate pot and potting soil for planting
Veronica spicata is not very picky about soil but prefers a deep, fertile, and well-draining soil. For potted plants, it is recommended to use a slightly deeper pot or a conventionally sized pot, avoiding矮胖 pots. The potting soil should be a general formula nutrient soil or a mixture of 2 parts peat soil, 1 part coconut bran, 1 part fermented organic fertilizer, and 1 part pearl rock.
When potting, keep the original soil ball, water thoroughly after planting, place in a softly lit area, maintain good ventilation, and allow the plant to acclimate for 2-3 days.
2. Provide relatively sufficient light
Veronica spicata prefers a well-lit environment and can tolerate semi-shade. The amount of light for potted plants can be adjusted according to the season, for example, in the mild light of spring and autumn, they can be given full sun, and in summer, they can be given half-day sun in the morning or be kept in a bright area with scattered light.
3. Reasonable watering and fertilizing
In the vegetative growth period, Veronica spicata does not require high demands for fertilizer and water. Regular watering should be done to keep the soil moist. During the vigorous growth period in spring, a balanced compound fertilizer solution or a general water-soluble fertilizer can be applied every 10 days to promote growth.
In late April and May, when Veronica spicata starts to produce flower spikes, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be increased, applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizer or "Flower More No. 2" fertilizer every 5-7 days to promote bud growth.
Note that during the bud formation period and the blooming period, Veronica spicata should be kept well-watered and should not be allowed to dry out. Once water deficiency occurs, it can easily lead to the withering of flower buds and shorten the blooming period. During the flowering period, water should be applied when the surface of the potting soil becomes dry.
4. Timely pruning to promote reblooming
The inflorescence of Veronica spicata is long, with flowers opening from the bottom of the spike upwards. The full blooming period can last about 25 days. When the flowers at the top of the spike are open, there will be some withered flowers at the bottom, affecting the appearance. Therefore, during the blooming process, the withered flowers at the bottom can be regularly removed, and it is recommended to prune early at the end.
After pruning the withered flower spikes, strengthen the fertilization and watering management, and Veronica spicata will grow new inflorescences and bloom again. This process can repeat, allowing the blooming period to last from early summer to November.
5. Overwintering management considerations
In the late autumn, after the blooming period of Veronica spicata ends, the above-ground part will gradually turn yellow and wither, and the underground part will enter a dormant period. The underground part of Veronica spicata can tolerate -25 degrees Celsius and can naturally overwinter in most regions.
It should be noted that during the dormant period in winter, Veronica spicata dislikes the potting soil being consistently moist. Therefore, watering should be reduced in autumn and winter to prevent waterlogging. In the northern regions, just before freezing,浇一次封冻水 is sufficient, and in the spring, when it warms up, watering can resume to wake the plant up, and Veronica spicata will grow new buds from the soil.
The above is a complete introduction to the brief introduction of Veronica spicata and the key points for continuous blooming care, for everyone to learn and understand!