Does the滴水观音 bloom?
Are you curious about whether滴水观音 blooms and want to learn more about the meaning and symbolism of滴水观音 as a flower? It's some great knowledge worth keeping in mind, so I recommend saving this for later!
滴水观音 is a large, evergreen herbaceous plant of the Araceae family, Alocasia genus, also known as wolf poison, sky taro,观音莲, shy sky grass, and 姑婆芋. In warm, humid conditions with ample soil moisture, it will drip water from the tip or edge of the leaves, and the flowers resemble the观音, hence the name滴水观音. Let's take a look at when滴水观音 blooms!
Does滴水观音 bloom?
滴水观音 does bloom. It is a moisture-loving, ornamental foliage plant that blooms when temperature and humidity are adequate. It is less likely to bloom in the north. Some plant enthusiasts ask how often滴水观音 blooms, and based on their experience,滴水观音 can bloom in the second year. However, the blooming time largely depends on the fertility of the soil.
When does滴水观音 bloom?
滴水观音 prefers to grow in a humid and warm environment, usually blooming from October to the spring season. The peak blooming period is from February to April, and the dormant period is from November to May or June of the following year. In the north, due to the difficulty in achieving the required temperature and humidity for滴水观音 to bloom, it generally does not bloom. However, if the temperature and humidity at home meet the blooming requirements of滴水观音, it may bloom occasionally.
How to pot-grow滴水观音?
1. Substrate: Use a mixture of loose, well-draining, and well-aerated domestic peat, 2:2:1 pond mud, peat soil, coarse sand, and a small amount of decomposed cake fertilizer to create a nutrient-rich soil. Mix the peat with water until, when tightly gripping a handful of peat, water seeps out from between the fingers.
2. Potting: For previously used pots, soak them in a 2000 times solution of potassium permanganate for more than half an hour, then rinse with clean water and let them dry before use. Large pots usually use 20 cm pots, with a 4 cm layer of substrate at the bottom, then transplanting the seedlings into the pot. Small seedlings should not be planted too deep, just level with the base of the plant. The substrate should be moderately loose and filled to 8/10 of the pot, with 2-3 seedlings per pot.
3. Spraying Water:滴水观音 particularly enjoys humidity. During the growing season, not only does the potting soil need to be moist, but the air humidity should also be at least 60%. In the hot summer, it is necessary to increase the watering to create a relatively cool and humid environment. For those placed in indoor air-conditioned halls, it is important to keep the potting soil moist and to spray water on the leaves from time to time. If the indoor temperature in winter cannot reach 15°C, it is advisable to control watering to avoid root rot. Generally, spraying warm water once a week can keep the leaves lush and green.
4. Fertilizing:滴水观音 is fond of fertilizer. From March to October, it should be fertilized with liquid fertilizer every half month, with a higher proportion of nitrogen. Adding a bit of ferrous sulfate can make the leaves grow as large as lotus leaves, glossy and attractive. Fertilization should be stopped when the temperature is below 15°C.
5. Pruning:滴水观音 is an ornamental foliage plant. If the cultivation is not proper, the largest leaves may turn yellow and dry. In such cases, the leaves and stems should be cut off with a knife to avoid affecting the growth and appearance of other leaves.
6. Repotting:滴水观音 is usually repotted once every spring, and the soil should be loosened once a month to keep the potting soil in a well-ventilated state.
The above information on whether滴水观音 blooms and the detailed explanation of the meaning and symbolism of滴水观音 flowers is provided to help you in your daily life!