How to grow Dragon Bone Flower? Water reasonably, avoid applying concentrated fertilizer, repot every 2 years and prune properly
SummaryChoosing soil: preferably choose fertile, loose potting soil. Light and temperature: shade in summer, face the sun in winter and rotate the pot, overwintering temperature needs to reach 10°C. Water and fertilizer management: in spring and autumn water once every 10-15 days, in summer water every day, in winter keep dry, use granular compound fertilizer or homemade alum fertilizer water, avoid concentrated fertilizer. Pruning: timely pruning can prevent the base from ageing; the weak young shoots and old branches can be pruned appropriately, and when the whole plant grows to 2-3m, tie it to a stick for stability.
I. Cultivation methods for Dragon Bone Flower
Dragon Bone Flower comes from Namibia, also known as Triangle Crown-of-Thorns, Colorful Cloud Pavilion, and Dragon Bone Column; it is a very easy-to-grow lazy person's flower. A mature Dragon Bone Flower grows to a height of 2-3 m, with leaves 2-4cm long. The whole plant is shrub-like, with fleshy tender growth and many dense branches. The base grows in a ring around the main stem, with 3-4 serrated ridges, growing vertically upward, and bearing spines.
1. Choosing soil
Dragon Bone Flower grows in fertile, loose soil rich in humus, and has no very strict requirements for soil selection; ordinary potting soil allows normal growth. For potted Dragon Bone Flower, you can make your own potting soil by thoroughly mixing humus soil and coarse sand at a 1:1 ratio, then adding decomposed chicken manure or cow manure.
2. Light and temperature
Summer: Dragon Bone Flower is mainly grown for its results; in summer high temperatures, to better care for the Dragon Bone Flower, shade it, preferably placing it in a half-shade, half-sun location, such as by a window near sunlight. On one hand this controls excessive light, and on the other it also prevents the temperature from being too high.
Winter: Dragon Bone Flower likes sun and fears cold; during overwintering the temperature is best controlled at around 10°C to prevent cold damage. When it is cold in winter, Dragon Bone Flower kept indoors for ornamental viewing needs sufficient light, and should be placed in a sunny indoor spot and the pot rotated at fixed intervals, which can effectively prevent rot.
3. Water and fertilizer management
Watering: Dragon Bone Flower is a crop that can tolerate drought and sun but not moisture, so proper watering is crucial for Dragon Bone Flower, and the watering method can be adjusted according to each season.
(1) In spring and autumn, water once every 10-15 days, and it is best to spray the leaves of the Dragon Bone Flower every day.
(2) In summer high temperatures water evaporates easily, so water the Dragon Bone Flower once every morning or evening.
(3) In winter, Dragon Bone Flower is in its dormant period, so keep the soil dry; do not water too much to prevent root rot. If necessary for overwintering, you can cover the whole pot with plastic film and wrap the whole plant, which can both maintain a suitable ambient temperature and ensure air humidity.
Fertilizing: Dragon Bone Flower's demand for fertilizer is fairly flexible; applying a light fertilizer once about every half month is enough to meet the basic growth of the Dragon Bone Flower. It is best to use granular compound fertilizer or homemade alum fertilizer water, and avoid concentrated fertilizer, to prevent excessive nutrients causing root rot.
II. Pruning methods for Dragon Bone Flower
Dragon Bone Flower's flowering period is from May to November, growing repeatedly for 7-8 cycles, with each cycle about 20 days apart. Pruning the plant in time can keep the base of the Dragon Bone Flower vigorous and prevent ageing. Reasonable pruning of the Dragon Bone Flower's old branches and weak young shoots allows the new shoots to have sufficient nutrients, promotes root development, and brings abundant flowering.
1. When the first tier is 20-30cm: cut off the top, then immediately seal it with plant ash, keep three branches, and discard the rest.
2. When the second tier is 25-30cm: cut off the top again, and likewise still choose three branches.
3. When the whole plant is 2-3m tall: the branches will grow many tips, and the weight of the tips will far exceed the weight of the whole plant, so at this time it should be tied to a stick for stability.
III. Precautions for Dragon Bone Flower
1. Dragon Bone Flower needs repotting, once every two years.
2. The stems and leaves of Dragon Bone Flower have small spines, so be careful not to get your hands pricked.
3. If the stems and roots are torn open there is a milky white sap inside, which is toxic; be careful not to eat it or get it into your eyes.
4. The placement location should be far from the elderly and children at home, to avoid accidental ingestion or prick injuries.