Narcissus Sculpture Cultivation Methods After Carving
Let me tell you about the experience of bulb flowers, Narcissus, the cultivation methods after sculpture, and the following is a comprehensive introduction.
The art of Narcissus sculpture has been mentioned before, and experienced sculptors always say, "Three parts sculpture, seven parts cultivation." The seven parts cultivation refers to the water cultivation of Narcissus, also known as immersion cultivation. After the Narcissus is immersed, it is potted, and some are directly potted in water. The details are as follows:
Immersion and washing of the Narcissus head after carving
After the Narcissus head is carved, it should be immersed and floated in water. Use clear water, and if the water contains bleaching powder, let the water stand for a day before using the clear water on top. Soak and wash for two days. During soaking, make sure the head is fully immersed in water with the wounded side down. If the head floats, you can use a piece of wood to gently press it down. After one day of soaking, take out the head and wash off the sticky liquid one by one. Wash by holding the head with your hand and gently tapping the carved side against the water until the sticky liquid is removed, and also clean any remaining mud and dead skin from the head; then immerse the head in clean water again. On the second day of immersion, there is still sticky liquid coming out of the head, which needs to be cleaned again with this method. The purpose of immersion and washing is to prevent the head from rotting and discoloring. The transparent sticky liquid inside the Narcissus bulb is a nutrient, and it is prone to fungal invasion and rotting when it flows out of the wound; if the sticky liquid is not cleaned, it will stick to the carved head and cause it to turn brown or black when exposed to sunlight and fungal invasion.
After the head is lifted out, it is best to rinse it with clear water again and use your fingers to touch the wounded area (since the sticky liquid is transparent and not easily noticeable). If there is still sticky liquid, you can wash it off with your hands. After the head is clean, it has absorbed enough water after being immersed in water for two days, which also stimulates the root points to sprout. To protect the roots of the head from turning yellow in the sun and to promote rapid root growth and root development, use cotton (degreased cotton, commonly known as medical cotton) or gauze (degreased gauze) to cover the bulb cut below the stem plate; and let the cotton or gauze hang in the water to absorb water for the roots and keep warm.
For some shapes like "Jade Elephant Carrying Treasure," the head needs to be placed upside down in water, with the cotton covering the sunken stem plate on the top of the bulb, wrapping the roots and placing them in the water; if the shape is mainly for viewing the bulb, such as "Peach and Plum Competing for Spring," you can use thin cotton or gauze to cover the top to avoid yellowing from sun exposure.
Water cultivation of Narcissus head after carving
After the Narcissus head is carved, soaked, washed, and wrapped in cotton, it is ready for potting and water cultivation. For a large number of carved heads, you can first use a coarse pot for water cultivation, or a larger area pot or tray. When the Narcissus is about to bloom, move it to a fine pot. A smaller number can be directly placed in a fine pot for water cultivation. The choice of pot should be harmonious with the shape, achieving the requirement of "matching the pot harmoniously." For example, a "flower basket" shape should use a round or flower-shaped Narcissus pot; "Double Phoenix Facing the Sun" is better with a square or oval pot; for mainly observing the roots, transparent long cylinders or placed on a fake mountain are suitable. In short, the choice of pot should be coordinated with the shape.
Generally, the method of placing the Narcissus head in the pot is to use the "upright" and "vertical" positions. The "upright" position is with the wounded side facing up and the roots facing forward, and the "vertical" position is with the wounded side facing forward and the roots facing down, which is also the "correct position." The upright position is suitable for "Crab Narcissus" and the vertical position is suitable for "Jade Pot Spring Color."
Special shapes can be placed using the "upside down" and "reverse" methods. "Upside down" is with the leaf body on the bottom and the roots facing down, such as the "Jade Elephant Carrying Treasure" shape, which mainly highlights the bulb and lateral bulb with a realistic upside-down shape. "Reverse" is with the wounded side down and the unwounded side of the bulb facing up, such as "Crab Lateral Movement," with the intact round bulb surface facing up symbolizing the crab's "iron armor," while the flower stem and leaves curl and sprawl like crab claws.
However, for any heads with the wounded side immersed in water, care should be taken to prevent the flower stem and bulb from rotting. One method is to raise the head above the water level, allowing only the roots to hang down to absorb water. Optionally, the head can be disinfected with a fungicide after carving. Most upright and downward pots for cultivating Narcissus do not change position from start to finish. However, some shapes require rotation during cultivation, such as elephant and crab shapes, which are usually placed upright for 5-7 days before the bud freely curls upward, avoiding early rotting after the initial carving.
Management of Narcissus after potting
Management of Narcissus after potting is very important. Since the bulb has been carved, the leaves, flower stems, and bulb are all injured, the wound has a high evaporation rate and is easily infected, plus the new roots need to grow, initially, it can be placed in a cool place for 2-3 days, and the plant should be frequently sprayed with water. After the wound gradually heals and new roots grow, move it to a sunny area to fully photosynthesize, making the leaves green and preventing overgrowth, which is beneficial for shaping.
Water management should involve emptying and changing the water every day, immersing it to the level of the wound. In the climate conditions of Fuzhou Pingtan area, it usually takes about 4 weeks from carving to blooming (other regions can refer to the Narcissus flowering prediction time). In the first two weeks, change the water once a day and spray water 1-2 times; in the last two weeks, change the water every two days. When the temperature is higher, spray water once. In full sun, water cultivation until the day before the festival can be moved into the hall for display or exhibition. After moving into the hall, it should still be moved out to expose to the sun and water changed frequently. In rooms with heating in the north, where the room temperature is high, above 20 degrees, special attention should be paid to preventing "dumb flowers" (the whole spathe of the Narcissus flower bud turns yellow and withers).
Narcissus is not afraid of the cold, but after carving, the head is damaged by half or even more, with insufficient nutrition and weak healing tissue, and it cannot withstand freezing. In the north, it is important to prevent outdoor freezing. The growth temperature of Narcissus is between 4-25 degrees Celsius, with the most suitable temperature being 10-18 degrees Celsius; the relative humidity should be between 85-95%. When cultivating Narcissus in water in different regions, attention should be paid to adjusting the conditions to avoid failing due to improper water cultivation.
How to Extend the Bloom Time of Narcissus
Narcissus generally blooms for about 14-15 days from initial bloom to full bloom to wilting. If the conditions are poor and the temperature is high, the blooming period can be shorter, affecting the value of the观赏. How to extend the blooming period and make the flowers more flourish? Records in "Flower Mirror" and "Extensive Collection of Flowers" mention, "Every year, I ask friends for 3-4 stems and place them in the study, and the fragrance can last for 10 days." It also says, "The gardeners in Hangzhou grow it into a forest because the soil is close to salt water, so the flowers are lush," and "It is suitable to immerse in salt water in a vase." The specific method is: before the flower bud opens, put a little salt in the flower pot, and the blooming period can be extended by 2-3 days.
The above sharing of the Narcissus sculpture cultivation methods after carving is a comprehensive introduction for everyone to learn and understand!