How to grow Orychophragmus violaceus? Planting methods and precautions

Today, the editor will lead everyone to learn about Orychophragmus violaceus! Orychophragmus violaceus, also known as Zhuge cai? As the name suggests, it is related to the famous historical figure Zhuge Liang. Legend has it that when Zhuge Liang went on a military campaign, he once gathered this plant for food. Orychophragmus violaceus is beautiful in appearance and can be seen everywhere. So, if we want to grow Orychophragmus violaceus at home, how should we grow it? What special points need attention? Let us understand it in depth together!

How to grow Orychophragmus violaceus

1. Soil: Orychophragmus violaceus is not strict about soil requirements. It is best to choose loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. Potted cultivation has higher requirements for potting soil. You can use 6 parts garden soil, 2 parts perlite, and 1 part plant ash, evenly mixed, and place sufficient base fertilizer in the pot.

2. Light: Orychophragmus violaceus is a short-day plant with strong shade tolerance. It does not need too long daily sunlight. With a certain amount of scattered light indoors, it can grow, bloom, and set seed normally.

3. Temperature: Orychophragmus violaceus has strong cold resistance, so temperature regulation can be extensive. In winter, if there are heavy frosts and snow, although some leaves may freeze, new leaves can still sprout, bloom, and set seed in early spring as usual.

4. Fertilization: Fertilize Orychophragmus violaceus 4 times a year: flower bud fertilizer in early spring, vigorous-growth fertilizer after flowers fade, fruit-strengthening fertilizer after fruit set, and seedling-strengthening fertilizer before winter. Spraying a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution once on the leaves during the bud stage and young fruit stage will make the flower colors more brilliant and the fruits fuller.

5. Pests and diseases: Common pests in Orychophragmus violaceus cultivation include aphids, cabbage caterpillars, snails, leafminers, etc. If pests are found, chemical control should be carried out promptly. For downy mildew, spray 50% Yimeijing at 500 times dilution.

6. Pruning: To maintain a good ornamental effect, Orychophragmus violaceus must be controlled so it does not set seed. Generally, during the seed-setting period, use a lawn mower to trim it to a height of 10~15 cm.

Planting methods and precautions for Orychophragmus violaceus

I. Planting methods for Orychophragmus violaceus

1. Propagation methods

Start sowing in autumn, and take good warmth measures in winter. Orychophragmus violaceus has a certain cold tolerance, but during the seedling stage, attention should still be paid to keeping warm to ensure seedling survival. Before propagation, repair and prepare the soil to ensure it is loose and fertile, and increase watering according to seedling growth. When young buds grow into seedlings, increase fertilization to provide the nutrients they need for growth, and correspondingly increase some light exposure during the growth of Orychophragmus violaceus to increase photosynthesis and promote plant growth.

2. Sowing time

Sowing can be done in summer or autumn, but August to September is most suitable. Each gram contains 300~400 seeds, and the sowing rate is about 1 kg per mu. If calculated per square meter, it should be 1~2 grams per square meter. If the spray-sowing method is used, the amount per unit area is best increased by 10~20%. Use garden soil, perlite, and plant ash mixed evenly in a ratio of 6:2:1 for potting soil. Apply sufficient base fertilizer when potting, and after the seedlings stand upright, move the pot to a sunny place for routine fertilizer and water management.

3. Fertilization

Fertilize 4 times a year. Flower bud fertilizer in early spring, vigorous-growth fertilizer after flowers fade, fruit-strengthening fertilizer after fruit set, and seedling-strengthening fertilizer before winter. If a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution is sprayed on the leaves once each during the bud stage and young fruit stage, the flower colors will be more brilliant and the fruits will be fuller. In winter, Orychophragmus violaceus has lush green leaves, and in early spring the flowers bloom in patches. If heavy frost occurs in winter, frost protection measures need to be strengthened. If it is for consumption, divide the plants frequently to promote the sprouting of tender stems and leaves.

4. Pest and disease protection

The main pest and disease problem of Orychophragmus violaceus is downy mildew. The leaf surface turns yellow-green, with polygonal spots, and a white downy mildew layer forms on the underside, causing swelling, bending, and greening of petals on stems and flowers. It mostly occurs on the lower leaves of Orychophragmus violaceus. In April, when the weather is cloudy, cold, and humid, planting too densely can lead to this disease. Treatment method: pay attention to ventilation and light transmission, and do not plant too densely; Yimeijing can also be sprayed.

5. Care

Compared with other flowers, cultivation management is relatively extensive and does not require much care. It has strong cold tolerance and shade tolerance, and with a certain amount of scattered light it can grow, bloom, and set seed normally. It is best to choose loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy soil. As long as it is watered and fertilized in time and managed slightly, it can grow vigorously.

6. Pruning

If you want Orychophragmus violaceus to look good, do not let it bear fruit. During the seed-setting period, prune it to a height of 10 ~ 15 cm. When preparing the land for autumn sowing, remove ground debris that hinders good contact between seeds and soil.

II. Precautions for planting Orychophragmus violaceus

1. Watering before sowing

Promote the germination of weed seeds in the surface soil. With moderate soil moisture, seeds will germinate within two weeks. Spraying herbicides to kill weeds can eradicate them. Note that after applying herbicides, leave the soil to rest for a period before sowing. Herbicides are harmful to any plant.

2. Pay attention to safety

When spraying chemicals, avoid chemical residues affecting the germination and growth of flower seeds. Before sowing wildflower seed mixes, reserve a 3-4 week recovery period for the soil, and then plant the wildflower mix. Excessive use of herbicides may delay seed germination or weaken the growth vigor of flower seedlings.

3. Management during the germination period

Remove weeds to prevent them from spreading. As soon as weeds are found, they should be pulled out immediately. Effective methods are using broad-spectrum herbicides or manual cutting.

Sowing techniques for Orychophragmus violaceus

1. Sowing methods

Sowing Orychophragmus violaceus can be done by broadcasting or drilling. When drilling, the row spacing needs to be 15~20 cm. When broadcasting, after sowing, the soil needs to be turned and covered with tools. If conditions permit, specialized tools or mechanical sowing can be used. However, no matter which sowing method is used, after sowing it is necessary to rake level and press down at the appropriate time.

2. Sowing period

The best sowing period for Orychophragmus violaceus is August, and at the latest it must not exceed September 10. If sown late, the seedlings will be small and may easily die during overwintering.

3. Sowing rate

2 grams per sq m. Drilling can save about 20~30% of the sowing rate compared with broadcasting. If the land preparation quality is good, fine and crumbly soil can relatively save sowing rate.

4. Strictly control sowing depth

Shallow sowing is preferable. Under the condition of ensuring seedling emergence moisture, a sowing depth of 1-2 cm is enough. For plots with poor moisture, sow at a depth of 2-3 cm.

How to propagate Orychophragmus violaceus

I. Propagation preparation for Orychophragmus violaceus

1. Seed harvesting

After the seeds mature, they need to be harvested in time. Because freshly harvested seeds are relatively fresh, and some have post-ripening physiological phenomena, sowing too early may result in a relatively low germination rate.

2. Repair and prepare the soil

Before propagation, the soil needs to be repaired and prepared to ensure it is loose and fertile, providing a good environment for seed growth.

3. Clear weeds

Completely remove all weeds and debris from the surface of the sowing plot to ensure good propagation of Orychophragmus violaceus.

II. Propagation methods for Orychophragmus violaceus

1. Sowing time

Orychophragmus violaceus is generally sown in autumn, with August being the best date. It is best not to be later than September 10, because sowing too late may cause the newly emerged seedlings to die during overwintering.

2. Sowing methods

Broadcasting and drilling are the two methods. When drilling, the row spacing is 20-25 cm. When broadcasting, after sowing, use tools such as a flat rake to turn the soil and cover it. After either sowing method, rake level and press down at the appropriate time.

3. Sowing depth

Orychophragmus violaceus is best sown shallowly. Under the condition of ensuring seedling emergence moisture, a sowing depth of 1-2 cm is fine.

III. Propagation management for Orychophragmus violaceus

After sowing, when watering, to prevent the seeds from being washed away, it is best to use a watering can to spray water. Seedlings can emerge in about a week. Before winter in November, pot them. In addition, although Orychophragmus violaceus has a certain cold tolerance, during the seedling stage it is still necessary to do good warmth work to ensure it can pass through winter smoothly. During the time when young buds grow into seedlings, fertilization should be carried out to give them the nutrients needed for growth. Also, during its growth process, light should be increased to promote photosynthesis and thus promote its growth.

According to the above methods, we know how to grow Orychophragmus violaceus. Planting requires patience, treating it with care, and being responsible to the end. We need to have a heart that loves flowers and plants. Pay special attention: be sure to plant it in an environment that Orychophragmus violaceus can adapt to.