What are the characteristics of narcissus?
Abstract: This article discusses the characteristics of narcissus and detailed content on the planting process of green plants and flowers, such as the changes of narcissus. Let's share the detailed content below.
Characteristics and Hydroponic Techniques of Narcissus
Abstract: Chinese narcissus is an indoor ornamental flower. In the Suzhou area, it is usually hydroponically cultivated in early winter indoors. When in bloom, it fills the room with a refreshing fragrance, highly favored by residents and possesses great ornamental value. In recent years, Suzhou City imports over 200,000 narcissus bulbs annually, with a promising market prospect. To promote the popularization of hydroponic techniques for narcissus, the author introduces its characteristics and hydroponic techniques as follows.
1 Characteristics
1.1 Characteristics Narcissus belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, narcissus genus, is a perennial herb, also known as雅蒜 (Yǎ suàn), Tiān cōng (heavenly scallion), Líng bō xiān zǐ (fairy of the rippling water), nǚ shǐ huā (female envoy flower), Xiāng fū rén (consort of Xiang River), and is native to the southeastern coastal areas of China. It is also distributed in Japan and Korea. The bulb is a layered鳞茎 (bulb), large and ovoid, with a dark brown outer membrane; internally, it has a main bud and several axillary buds arranged in a row. The roots are white, fleshy, delicate, and usually unbranched. The leaves are basal, in two rows, 4-6 leaves, narrow, flat, linear, with a pointed tip, entire margin, green, about 30cm long, and the base has a white leaf sheath. The scape emerges from the leaf cluster, similar in height to the leaves, with flowers at the top in an umbel-like inflorescence, with 3-10 small flowers, each flower bud covered with a membranous spathe. There are 6 petals, basally fused, with a three-angled floral tube, white, with a central cup-shaped corona, yellow, unfolded, much shorter than the perianth. There are 6 stamens and 1 pistil, with 3 carpels, an inferior ovary. The flowers are fragrant and bloom in early spring. The fruit is a capsule, dry and seedless inside.
1.2 Properties Narcissus prefers a warm and humid climate, with an optimal temperature of 12-20°C in the early stage and 20-24°C in the later stage. High temperatures will cause the leaves to wither prematurely, and when the temperature exceeds 25°C, it enters dormancy. Narcissus enjoys sunlight and requires over 10 hours of sunlight per day for healthy growth. When grown in soil, narcissus requires less water in the early stage, more water in the mid-stage of vigorous growth. Narcissus likes fertile soil, deep, loose, with good water retention and drainage.
2 Propagation Methods and Cultivation Management
2.1 Propagation of Narcissus Chinese narcissus is triploid and sterile, unable to reproduce sexually, so it is usually propagated by bulb division, double-scale propagation, and tissue culture.
What are the characteristics of narcissus?
2.1.1 Bulb Division. Select the upper and lower side bulbs (offsets) of 3-year-old bulbs, plant in early November using broadcast sowing, with a spacing of about 5cm×5cm, and cover with 3-5cm of soil. After sowing, water thoroughly, cover with straw, and seedlings will emerge after 7-10 days. Apply fast-acting nitrogenous fertilizer twice. After the beginning of summer, when the above-ground part withers, dig out the bulbs and dry them. The dried bulbs are planted again in November, with a spacing of 10cm×30cm, covered with 5-6cm of soil, mulched with straw, and fertilized once after seedlings emerge, using fast-acting nitrogenous fertilizer or decomposed human manure. In early February of the following year, apply nitrogen fertilizer once more, and after the Spring Equinox, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote bulb growth. After the above-ground parts wither completely in summer, dig out the bulbs, dry them in a cool place, pack them in large bamboo baskets, and store them in a dark and cool place. These bulbs, after two years of cultivation, are commonly known as "seeds." After the seeds break dormancy, plant them at the time of frost. Two to three days before planting, remove the side bulbs (offsets) from the main bulbs, disinfect the wounds with a 40% formaldehyde solution diluted 120 times, and then remove some of the side buds from the main bulbs. Since narcissus has a strong ability to regenerate, the bulbs can differentiate into many side buds, which are arranged in a certain pattern. Most side buds are arranged linearly on both sides of the main bud, usually every 2-4 layers of scales. To ensure the nutrients of the main bulb, it is necessary to remove some side buds with a spoon-shaped knife, taking care not to damage the main stem and bulb plate. After treatment, the new bulbs will have a correct shape, presenting a beautiful "mountain" shape. Choose a loose, fertile soil with a sunny, windward position, prepare the land into ridges, apply human manure, superphosphate, soybean cake, and wood ash as base fertilizer, and plant the seeds at a spacing of 20cm×40cm, covered with 2-3cm of soil, mulched with straw, and watered thoroughly. Apply a fast-acting nitrogenous fertilizer before the Spring Festival and another fast-acting N, P, K fertilizer after the Spring Festival. Around the time of the beginning of summer, when the narcissus leaves start to wither and nutrients gradually move to the bulbs, the watering amount should be gradually reduced until completely stopped. After complete drying, dig out the bulbs, apply field mud to the stem plate depression to protect the roots and side bulbs, and when the field mud is dry, store the bulbs. These bulbs are the commercial bulbs that can bloom.
2.1.2 Double-scale Propagation. Select 2-year-old or 3-year-old bulbs, disinfect them, cut them lengthwise into 8-16 pieces, then cut every two scales lengthwise to form two-scale pieces with a bulb plate. Put them in a plastic bag, add saturated water-absorbing vermiculite, seal the plastic bag, and place it in a cool place with a temperature controlled at 20-28°C. After 2-4 months, small bulbs will grow. Before frost, open the plastic bag, remove the double-scale pieces, discard the withered scales, pick the small bulbs, and transfer them to pots or fields with vermiculite, sand, or loose soil for cultivation.
2.2 Hydroponic Techniques for Narcissus
2.2.1 Selection of Bulbs. Choose 3-year-old strong, plump bulbs with 2-4 small bulbs around the main bulb. The outer shell of the narcissus bulb should have a bright color, with the outer layer membrane deep brown, and the longitudinal lines on the bulb skin should be wide.
2.2.2 Hydroponic Date. Generally determined based on the expected blooming period. Under normal weather conditions, if you want the flowers to bloom for New Year's Day, start hydroponic cultivation in mid-to-late November in the north and in mid-November in the south. If you want the flowers to bloom for the Spring Festival, start hydroponic cultivation 35-40 days before the festival in the north and 30-35 days before the festival in the south.
2.2.3 Potting and Hydroponic Cultivation. Place the bulbs, with the brown bulb skin and remaining dried roots removed, into a shallow pot. If the bulb has been carved, cover the injured area with absorbent cotton. Place colored glass or small stones around the narcissus bulb to secure the bulb, preventing it from tilting. Add about 4cm of clear water to the pot, making sure the water level does not exceed the carved surface.