Cultivation methods and precautions for longevity flowers
As a deeply loved fleshy ornamental plant, longevity flowers have become a popular choice for family cultivation due to their gorgeous colors and long flowering period. If you want to keep longevity flowers strong vitality throughout the year, you need to master scientific maintenance methods. This article systematically analyzes the key points of maintenance from five dimensions to help you create a beautiful balcony landscape. Analysis of core maintenance elements, light control strategies, adequate scattering of light is the key to longevity flowers blooming. Maintain soft light for 6-8 hours a day in spring and autumn to make the leaves appear healthy dark green. Special attention should be paid in summer: When the temperature exceeds 30 ° C, it is recommended to use a sunshade net to filter 50% of the strong light to avoid sunburn spots on the leaves. Full sunshine maintenance can be carried out in winter, and regular basin rotation ensures even light reception. The water and fertilizer management plan adopts the "dipping basin method" for watering, which can effectively prevent root rot: place the flower pot in a water container and remove it immediately when the surface soil is moist. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium balanced fertilizer (diluted to 1500 times) is applied every half a month during the growing period, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate (800 times solution) is applied during the bud appearing period. Note that the "backwater" operation needs to be carried out the next day after fertilization, that is, the residual fertilizer solution on the leaves is washed with clean water. Optimization of substrate ratio An ideal cultivation substrate should meet the three factors of air permeability, water retention and slightly acidity. Recommended formula: peat soil: perlite: vermiculite =5:3:2, add 5g of decomposed sheep manure per liter of substrate as base fertilizer. Pay attention to retaining 1/3 of the core soil when changing pots every year, and the new soil needs to be disinfected at high temperature. Advanced maintenance skills Temperature control Points Maintaining the temperature difference between day and night can effectively extend the flowering period. Maintain it at 22-25℃ during the day and drop it to 15-18℃ at night. When cooling down by spraying in summer, it is necessary to ensure environmental ventilation to avoid stagnant water in the leaf center. Winter maintenance temperatures should not be lower than 8℃. In northern regions, it is recommended to use insulation films to build miniature greenhouses. Two pickings were performed during the seedling stage: the first time, 4 pairs of true leaves were retained when the plant height was 10cm, and the second time, when the new lateral branches reached 5 cm. Post-flowering pruning requires oblique cutting at the 2 pairs of leaves under the residual flowers, and at the same time, thinning the branches that are too dense. Regularly removing old leaves from the bottom layer can enhance plant ventilation.
By systematically mastering key technologies such as light control, scientific water and fertilizer, and substrate optimization, as well as temperature management and shaping pruning, longevity flowers can realize their ornamental value throughout the year. It is recommended to conduct a quarterly assessment of the maintenance effect and dynamically adjust the management plan according to the plant status, so that this "longevity" will be around.