Cultivation methods and precautions for the water snowflake

SummarySeed propagation: Put the seeds into warm water at 25-30°C to promote germination, change the water every day, and after the seedlings grow young roots, move them into a small pot for cultivation, with the water depth preferably 1 cm above the young leaves. Cultivation method: Place river mud 3-4 cm thick at the bottom of a pot or vat, bury the cut rhizome with the terminal bud facing upward below the soil surface, with the covering depth such that the terminal bud is level with the soil surface, and plant 5-7 segments per pot. After flowering, promptly remove dead leaves and spent flowers, and apply fertilizer 2-3 times during the growth process.

I. Seed propagation method for the water snowflake

1. Pour the seeds of the water snowflake into a water-filled container, place them in warm water at 25-30°C to promote germination, change the water every day, and generally wait about 2 weeks for them to sprout.

2. When the seedlings grow young roots, move them into a small pot for planting. After planting, the small pot needs to be placed in a water vat, with the water depth preferably 1 cm above the young leaves.

3. When the temperature rises to 17°C in April, they can be moved outdoors for cultivation. As new leaves grow, repot 2-3 times, and finally plant them in a vat or pot with a diameter no greater than 35 cm.

II. Potted rhizome method for the water snowflake

1. For potting, choose a pot or vat with an inner diameter of about 40 cm and a depth of about 60 cm, and planting can be done from late March to early April.

2. When planting, place river mud 3-4 cm thick at the bottom of the pot or vat. Do not fill in too much soil; generally leave a water-filling space of 20-25 cm at the top. Then bury the cut rhizome with the terminal bud facing upward below the soil surface, and then cover lightly with soil, with the covering depth such that the terminal bud is level with the soil surface. Plant 5-7 segments per pot.

3. Just after planting, do not fill the water too deep; 2-3 cm is preferable, which helps raise the water temperature. After planting, place the pot or vat in a sunny, well-ventilated place for care, and later gradually deepen the water level as the plant grows.

4. In summer, the suitable irrigation depth is 25-35 cm, and this depth should be kept unchanged during this period. After flowering, promptly remove dead leaves and spent flowers to avoid consuming nutrients and to maintain cleanliness and beauty.

5. During the growth process, apply fertilizer 2-3 times according to the plant's growth condition. Before Cold Dew, pour out the water in the pot and place it in a cold room at about 3°C to overwinter, keeping the potting soil moist but not frozen. Around the Spring Equinox, repot and replace the soil, and apply an appropriate amount of decomposed soybean cake liquid as a base fertilizer.

III. Garden uses of the water snowflake

1. The water snowflake, also known as the Indian floating heart, is a relatively common aquatic flower in parks. Its leaves resemble those of the water lily, are oval to heart-shaped, leathery and smooth, blue-green in color, and generally float on the water surface.

2. It often blooms small white flowers in summer, with fringed petal edges, delicate and tender, generally blooming above the green waves and leaves. The small flowers are scattered like stars and can cover the entire water surface. When a breeze passes, they ripple with the wind and sway gracefully, bringing a beauty in which the flowers wish to be still but the wind will not stop, and the scenery is finite but the meaning is endless. Water snowflakes are generally planted in large patches on the lakes of scenic areas and parks.