How to Grow Blue Flax? Detailed Guide to Planting Methods and Precautions
Blue flax is fairly common in everyday life. Its flowers are small and delicate, with blue petals surrounding a white center, beautiful and elegant, making it especially suitable as a flowerbed ornamental plant. Although blue flax is charming and colorful, it is not delicate, and is a very easy flower to grow. Now let's learn the planting methods for blue flax together with the editor!
How to Grow Blue Flax
Wash and soak the seeds produced by blue flax, then place them in fine sand, mix the two together and spread them on the ground to dry in the sun. This practice allows the seeds to grow better in the soil. After the seeds are dried, sow them in seedling-raising soil for cultivation, cover the surface of the seeds with fine sand, and moisten them. After the seeds germinate, move the seedlings to normal potting soil for growth and development. During this process, poorly developed seedlings can be pulled out.
During the planting period, weeds usually grow alongside them. At this time, pay attention to the growth of the weeds and pull them out frequently. During this period, fertilizer should also be applied several times in small amounts.
Blue Flax Planting Methods and Precautions
1. Water management
The germination stage and seedling stage require sufficient water. Spray water 1 to 2 times a day to keep the soil layer moist. As the seedlings grow, gradually reduce the frequency of watering. Pay attention to replenishing water during dry weather, and do a good job of winter irrigation before winter to help with overwintering and greening up.
2. Fertilization management
If the sowing plot is very poor, appropriate fertilization is needed. Generally, it is done before sowing in combination with soil improvement. It is best to use organic fertilizer or low-nitrogen compound fertilizer. Be careful to avoid excessive fertilization, otherwise it will favor weed growth, cause the flowers to grow excessively, and reduce flowering.
3. Weed control, thinning, and transplanting
Weed control is the primary issue during the seedling stage and later maintenance. If there are many weeds in the sowing area, it is recommended to carry out weed control in two steps. First, water before sowing to promote weed germination, and after germination spray herbicide or remove them. Second, remove weeds after the flower seeds germinate to prevent them from spreading. During the growing period, extensive management can be used. When seedlings grow too densely, appropriate thinning is needed to help the seedlings grow. At the same time, transplant the thinned seedlings to sparse areas, thereby maintaining a better overall landscape effect.
4. Pruning
To make the blue flax plant fuller, pinching can be carried out during the growth process. Generally, when the seedlings are 6 to 10 cm tall, remove the top shoots to promote the formation of branches. 3 to 5 weeks after the first pinching, a second pinching can be done on the side branches. In addition to adjusting the plant shape, pinching can also increase the number of flowers. If you want a second bloom, after flowering in May to June, leave 15 to 20 cm of the root and stem part, and cut off the upper part to promote new branches, so that it can bloom again around October.
How to Propagate Blue Flax by Cuttings
The selected branches must not be too tender. If they are too tender, their survival cannot be guaranteed, because their ability to absorb nutrients has not yet reached the level needed to survive on their own. However, do not choose plants that are already diseased either. There is no need to explain this: they must not be in a diseased state from the very beginning. But the temperature during the cutting process must be ensured, because below 18°C they are reluctant to root. But too high is also not good. Above 25°C, the cut is very likely to become infected with bacteria, and may even rot. So this aspect must be well controlled.
Before starting, it is best to disinfect, then apply a rooting agent. After the lower part of the plant dries, cuttings can be taken. After cutting, water immediately, so that the substrate combines better with the cuttings and can also ensure the water needed for the plant's early survival.
When Does Blue Flax Bloom
Blue flax generally blooms in summer. Its flowering period is between May and July, and it is a biennial plant. When blue flax blooms, the flowers open one after another. Generally, each flower does not remain open for a very long time, but the flowering time of the whole plant is relatively long.
The flowers of blue flax are very delicate, generally terminal or axillary, with 5 petals, and the color is blue or light blue.
As mentioned above, because blue flax is especially easy to grow, many people plant blue flax. Moreover, blue flax is not only beautiful and delicate, but also edible, and its taste is especially good. The leaves are fresh and tender and delicious, with extremely high nutritional value.