Bell Flower Blooming Time
The editor will explain the blooming time of the Bell Flower and share some experience on plant care for the most suitable houseplants. Below, the editor will provide a detailed answer.
Many flower enthusiasts may not be familiar with the Bell Flower, which is very beginner-friendly and can bloom throughout the four seasons. It is heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, humidity-tolerant, and pruning-tolerant, with fast growth, making it ideal for beginner flower enthusiasts to care for in pots.
Brief Introduction to Bell Flower
The Bell Flower belongs to the Malvaceae family, Bell Flower genus, and is an evergreen small shrub, with a plant height of 30-60cm. It resembles the hibiscus in appearance. The flower shape of the Bell Flower is unique, resembling a wind chime, with semi-open flowers hanging from the branches. When in bloom, they look like little wind chimes hanging on the branches, yellow ones are adorable, and red ones are festive. They produce a large number of flowers and can bloom continuously throughout the year in warm regions.
The Bell Flower is commonly planted in gardens in South China, requiring temperatures not lower than 5 degrees Celsius in winter. In areas with frost in winter, it is recommended to care for it in pots and move it indoors for overwintering.
Bell Flower Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Caring for the Bell Flower is relatively simple, and as long as you follow these four points when potting, you can easily care for it well.
1. Loose and fertile soil
Since the root growth space is small in potted flowers and the watering frequency is high, the potting soil generally needs to be loose, breathable, and fertile. The Bell Flower has a vigorous growth and a long blooming period, so it requires more fertilizer and water. It is recommended to use a general nutrient-rich soil and mix it with 1/5 of fermented organic fertilizer before planting.
When transplanting seedlings with pots, try to keep the original soil clump as intact as possible to avoid root damage, and add fermented organic fertilizer and bone meal to the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer. For plants that produce many flowers and fruits, it is recommended to add some bone meal to the base fertilizer.
2. Sufficient light and fertilizer
The Bell Flower enjoys plenty of sunlight and can tolerate some shade. When cared for on a south-facing balcony, there is enough light. The Bell Flower is not afraid of direct sunlight and does not need to be shaded in summer, but it is important to keep the soil moist and avoid drought.
In the regular care process, watering should be done when the soil surface dries out. In summer, the soil can be kept moist. It is recommended to apply a water-soluble fertilizer every 10 days or so, using a lot of No. 1 or a ternary compound fertilizer during the growth of branches. During the blooming period, additional phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be applied, and a slow-release fertilizer can be scattered every 3 months, or fermented organic fertilizer can be buried shallowly around the pot to supplement soil fertility.
3. Controlling the plant shape
The Bell Flower grows quickly. If you want to create a common pot shape, it is recommended to pinch the tips of the young branches frequently to promote branching and make the plant more full. If not pinched in time, the branches tend to grow longer with fewer branches.
The Bell Flower is very suitable for a "lollipop" shape, as it naturally droops when in bloom. The "lollipop" shaped Bell Flower has a better ornamental effect when in bloom. When caring for it in a "lollipop" shape, if it is a young plant, you can first strengthen the fertilization and watering to let it grow taller. Once it reaches the desired height, pinch the top to promote side branch growth. After the side branches grow, continue to pinch them to encourage the Bell Flower to grow more branches, quickly forming the "lollipop" shape.
For larger plants, after each main blooming period, you can lightly prune to maintain the shape, and before spring sprouting, you can do a heavy pruning. The pruning mainly focuses on maintaining the plant shape and cutting off weak branches.
4. Keeping warm in winter
The Bell Flower prefers a warm environment and is not afraid of heat or direct sunlight in summer, but it is sensitive to cold in winter. The overwintering temperature should be kept above 0 degrees Celsius, preferably above 5 degrees Celsius. In the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions, it often freezes to death when left outdoors in winter, so except for warm southern regions, most areas need to bring the plant indoors for overwintering. Keeping the indoor temperature above 10 degrees Celsius allows the Bell Flower to continue blooming in winter.
The above sharing of the Bell Flower blooming time and comprehensive knowledge about the most suitable houseplants for home care may help you.