What are the cultivation methods and precautions for marigold (Tagetes patula)?

Marigold is a herbaceous plant introduced into China from abroad. It is grown for its flowers, which are most commonly orange-yellow, and its flowering season is every summer. Many people like to grow it now, but before growing it, you need to master some cultivation techniques in advance, otherwise the marigold you grow may not grow well.

How to grow marigold

1. Marigold likes places with plenty of sunlight. The suitable growing temperature is around 20°C. When growing it, make sure to provide enough light time, which helps flowering.

2. Marigold is relatively cold-resistant. When the air temperature is not lower than 6°C, it will not be frozen to death, so there is no need to pay special attention to temperature.

3. When watering marigold, be careful not to let water accumulate. Water thoroughly each time, and keeping the soil moist but slightly dry is enough. Do not let it become too wet, otherwise it will affect the growth of marigold.

4. When growing marigold, you can add an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer to the soil. Later, during growth, if you find that the fertilizer is insufficient, just add more.

5. Marigold is relatively easy to grow and does not have too many pests and diseases. Only when it is a seedling may moth larvae chew the leaf surface. If you find them, deal with them promptly and spray pesticide.

6. Marigold is propagated by seeds. After each flower matures, it will produce many seeds. Collect them well, plant them in the soil next spring, and marigold will grow.

Cultivation methods for marigold

1. Light. Marigold is a light-loving plant and needs sufficient sunlight when being grown. Generally, spring and autumn can meet marigold's light needs, but note that in the high-temperature summer, direct sunlight should be avoided, and shading should be carried out at noon, but do not shade too much.

2. Temperature. Basically, marigold can grow well between 10°C——30°C. A few points to note are: in winter, the temperature should be kept above 5°C, so that cold damage is less likely; before flowering, the temperature is best kept between 12°C——15°C; in daily care, the temperature is best kept at 20°C or below 20°C.

3. Water and fertilizer: Water and fertilizer are very important to marigold. When watering, make sure the soil was dry before, then water fully, but note that it must not be too dry. When fertilizing, generally fertilize once every 7——10 days, but in the low-temperature season in winter, fertilization should be reduced. Generally, when planting out, apply some base fertilizer first. If the soil fertility is insufficient, additional topdressing is also needed.

Precautions for growing marigold

1. Potting. Generally, marigold seedlings need to be potted when they grow 2——3 leaves. When potting, you can use a flowerpot with a diameter between 10——15cm. After potting, basically no repotting is needed.

2. Pests and diseases. The common disease of marigold is root rot, which can be controlled by drenching the roots with thiophanate-methyl. The main pest is red spider mites. Propagation. Marigold is generally propagated by sowing and cuttings. Sowing is carried out between November——March. Cutting propagation can be carried out between June——August.

How to control the flowering period of marigold

1. Marigold flowering period is controlled by adjusting the sowing date. To regulate the flowering period of marigold, the simplest way is to control it by controlling the sowing date and cutting time. Calculate the time when you want flowers, then decide when to sow and take cuttings. If you choose seed propagation, after sowing in April in spring, it generally blooms in 70-80 days. If you need it to bloom earlier, you can place it in a greenhouse, and it can bloom before May.

2. Marigold flowering period is controlled by controlling sunlight. Marigold has extremely strong adaptability. From May 1 it blooms one after another, and it does not end until October 1. Therefore, you can also choose to sow in summer. In addition, marigold is a short-day flower, and shorter daylight conditions are conducive to flowering, so shortening daylight when it is still a seedling can make it bloom earlier.

The cultivation methods for marigold are actually not difficult. Generally, you can start with its growth habits. When growing it, you must pay attention to issues such as light, fertilizer, and water. During the growing process, you can also use some techniques to control its flowering period. The above has introduced this in detail, so everyone can pay more attention.