Is the pocketbook plant easy to grow? Detailed guide to cultivation methods and precautions

The pocketbook plant (Calceolaria) has a very novel appearance. According to what this editor has learned, the pocketbook plant was not well liked by everyone a long time ago, but in recent years, the pocketbook plant has swept the European and American markets. So is this popular pocketbook plant very “delicate”? How should the pocketbook plant be grown? Today, let this editor take everyone to learn about it together.

Is the pocketbook plant easy to grow

1. It depends on personal preference. This editor thinks it is easy to grow; just water it when the air is dry. The pocketbook plant likes a cool, moist, and ventilated climate environment. It fears high heat, avoids cold, and likes light, but during cultivation it is necessary to avoid exposure to the scorching summer sun. It grows well at 7~15℃, and attention should be paid to shading.

2. It needs strict soil; it is best to use sand rich in humus. It avoids wet soil and requires good aeration and drainage conditions, with slightly acidic soil being best. Vegetative growth occurs above 15℃, and flower bud differentiation can occur after 4~6 weeks below 10℃. It requires loose, well-aerated sandy loam with good drainage and much humus, plus a small amount of bone meal as base fertilizer; before use, it should be sterilized at high temperature. Watering should follow the principle of alternating dry and wet to prevent damage from moisture.

Cultivation methods and precautions for the pocketbook plant

I. Cultivation methods:

1. The optimum growth temperature for the pocketbook plant is around 15°C. Above 20°C, it affects growth, bud formation, and flowering. If the temperature can be lowered to around 10℃ during flowering, the flowering period can be extended. However, nighttime temperatures during the growing season and winter temperatures should not be lower than 10°C.

2. It likes light but avoids direct sunlight. When the light is too strong at noon, it should be shaded appropriately, and good ventilation should be maintained, otherwise it is prone to damping-off disease; increasing the light duration can make it bloom earlier. For example, if light is increased by 3 hours per day starting in November, it will bloom at the end of next year.

3. Drought will cause poor plant growth, so attention must be paid to drainage. Being too moist can easily cause root rot. When watering, do not splash the leaves, because the leaf surface is hairy and the leaves rot easily. Watering should follow the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet. Water can often be sprinkled around the flower pot to keep air humidity above 80%.

II. Precautions:

The pocketbook plant is a long-day plant. Ensure sufficient light. After the flower stems are drawn out, aphid damage is likely to occur, so attention should be paid to prevention and control. Before flowering, apply once every 10 days with decomposed cake fertilizer water. Do not let the temperature be high during the flowering period; maintaining 5-7℃ is sufficient. During the flowering period, do not pour water onto the flowers, otherwise it will be difficult to achieve good results.

Key points for sowing and propagation of the pocketbook plant

1. The shape of the pocketbook plant is very unique. It is also a more common and popular flower in winter and spring, but because the pocketbook plant is native to Chile, it likes a cool environment, and pocketbook plants in high-temperature areas are often more difficult to cultivate. Friends who like pocketbook plants and want to propagate them themselves can use the sowing method for propagation.

2. To propagate the pocketbook plant, from late August to September when the weather is cool, beneficial sowing can be carried out. It should not be too early, as high temperature and stuffy heat easily cause seedlings to rot; if sown too late, the plants will be smaller. Pocketbook plant seeds are tiny, so sowing should not be too dense. After sowing, cover with a thin layer of sifted fine soil. After sowing is complete, soak the pot in a tray of water. After the pot soil is soaked, cover with a glass slide and move it to a shaded place. Seedlings can emerge in about a week. Management during the seedling stage of the pocketbook plant must be careful; excessively high temperatures and overly wet soil can cause seedling death.

The above is all the detailed introduction about the pocketbook plant today. Because the pocketbook plant is a very difficult flower to grow, everyone should still pay a lot of attention to its various indicators when cultivating it, and add one hundred percent careful care. Wishing everyone success, and hoping today's introduction by this editor can help you.