Is Freesia easy to care for?
A small tip for life, introducing whether Freesia is easy to care for and the cultivation methods of potted Freesia, a topic related to flower cultivation. Let's learn about it together.
Freesia, also known as small narcissus or fragrant snowland, has bright flowers and strong fragrance, often planted on balconies. When in bloom, the whole room is filled with fragrance. Freesia is native to South Africa and belongs to bulbous flowering plants. It prefers a warm and well-lit environment and is not cold-resistant. The most common problem during the care of Freesia is leggy growth, and the plant is prone to falling over. How to grow a good pot of Freesia is a concern for many Freesia lovers. Let's talk about the care of Freesia and the issues that need attention during the care process, hoping to be helpful to those in need.
Requirements for the Growing Environment of Freesia
I. Soil requirements for planting. Freesia prefers loose and fertile sandy soil, with high requirements for soil drainage. Poor soil drainage can easily cause waterlogging, rotting roots, and bulbs. The soil can be mixed with three parts of decomposed leaf soil and two parts of coarse river sand. Decomposed leaf soil is loose and fertile, rich in nutrients, and river sand has good water permeability, effectively preventing waterlogging in the pot. When planting Freesia bulbs, it is best to add a moderate amount of base fertilizer to the soil, such as organic fertilizer or slow-release compound fertilizer, but the amount should not exceed 5% of the total soil volume.
II. Requirements for environmental temperature. Freesia is not heat-resistant nor cold-resistant. Both high temperatures in summer and low temperatures in winter will cause dormancy. The most suitable growth temperature is between 15°C and 25°C. High light and high humidity can easily cause leggy growth (this point is very important). High temperature during the flowering period will shorten the flowering period, usually needing to be controlled at around 15°C.
III. Requirements for environmental lighting. Freesia likes sunlight but avoids strong light. High light and high temperature can easily cause leggy growth. The formation of flower buds in Freesia is completed under short-day conditions, and long-day conditions after flower bud formation promote flowering.
Issues to Note During the Care of Freesia
I. Planting should be deep, not shallow
When planting Freesia, the bulbs should be buried deeper in the soil, at least more than 5 centimeters deep. The internode between the leaves and bulbs of Freesia is relatively long. If the bulbs are planted too shallow, the plant is prone to fall over.
II. Watering should be dry, not wet
Freesia prefers a moist growing environment and a relatively moist soil environment. However, excessive watering during the care process has two disadvantages: one is that the soil has a high water content for a long time, which can easily cause bulb rot, and the other is that excessive watering can cause leggy growth, long and thin leaves, and the plant to fall over. During the growing period of Freesia, maintain the soil to be dry and then wet, and when the topsoil is dry, water promptly. After flowering, moderate control of watering is needed, and when the potting soil is slightly dry, water again. Then gradually reduce the amount of watering until summer comes, and the plant enters dormancy, stopping watering.
III. Fertilization should be light, not heavy
During the growing period of Freesia, at least one application of a multi-element compound fertilizer should be applied each month. After autumn germination, when the environmental temperature drops to 15°C, two applications of high-phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer should be supplemented each month until flowering. Reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizer during this period, and after flowering, increase the application of nitrogen fertilizer to promote rapid plant growth. During the growing period, avoid heavy fertilization and follow the principle of "frequent application of light fertilizer."
IV. Disease prevention is better than treatment
The common disease of Freesia is mosaic virus, which is difficult to cure once it occurs. Prevention is the main strategy. After planting, it is recommended to use a carbendazim solution to water the roots once a month. Carbendazim is an internal absorbent fungicide that can effectively prevent the occurrence of various diseases. Also, maintaining good ventilation in the care environment can effectively prevent the occurrence of various diseases.
Conclusion: Freesia is a very easy-to-care-for flowering plant. Light has a significant impact on the plant during the care process. Sufficient light can effectively prevent leggy growth and promote flower bud differentiation. However, excessive light, combined with sufficient water supply, can easily cause leggy growth. Therefore, the combination of water and light during the care of Freesia is very important.
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