What to Do If Nasturtium Doesn't Bloom? A Detailed Guide to Pruning Stems and Leaves
Nasturtium is a rare wild plant. Its leaves are shaped like bowl lotus, and when the flowers bloom, they look like a swarm of butterflies dancing, very beautiful, with high ornamental value. If you want it to bloom well, you must pay attention to temperature control, especially given the temperature differences between north and south, and take good measures during care.
Methods for Pruning Nasturtium Stems and Leaves
1. Seedling stage
Nasturtium grows fast and has strong apical dominance. If you want it to have abundant flowers and lush leaves, when it is a seedling, you should pinch off the top to encourage side branches. Adult plant stage: Adult nasturtium has many branches. If it is not trained, it will look like the thorns of a primitive jungle. At this time, pick up scissors and trim those tangled, wayward vines so your nasturtium looks shapely and colorful.
2. After pinching off the top
After pinching off the top, apply fertilizer and water again. Generally, in about 10 days, the new branches can reach several cm in length. When the plant grows 15-20 cm above the pot surface, it needs a support frame. Tie the vine stems evenly to the support frame and make the leaves face one direction. The size of the support frame should be suitable so that the vines and leaves can cover it in the later growth stage, generally about 20 cm above the pot surface. Tie them as the stems grow, and make sure the vine stems are evenly distributed on the support frame.
3. After pruning the adult plant
Pruning the adult plant is to make it branch more, so as to achieve a beautiful shape with abundant flowers and lush leaves. After pruning, pay attention to watering at the right time so the plant stays in good growing condition. The benefits of pinching nasturtium: note that pinching is also called topping.
What to Do If Nasturtium Doesn't Bloom
Too hot. In summer high temperatures, nasturtium is in a semi-dormant state. Nasturtium sown in spring basically will not bloom. You need to wait until around December. What to do if nasturtium doesn't bloom. What to do if nasturtium doesn't bloom. Too cold. Nasturtium sown in autumn should bloom in winter. January and February are when it should welcome spring, but it still does not produce flower buds, not a single bud, also very willful.
In southern winters, except for places such as Guangdong and Hainan, the average temperature will not exceed 5°C, which is not good for nasturtium blooming. What to do if nasturtium doesn't bloom. The article "What to Do If Nasturtium Doesn't Bloom" comes from the north. In heated indoor conditions, with an average temperature of about 18°C, it can bloom. But without heating, when the temperature drops to outrageous lows, nasturtium of course also delays producing flower buds.
Spray and fertilize. Spray Huaduoduo No. 2 or Bikaihua to promote flower bud growth. Applying some phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can also promote nasturtium blooming. Improve the growing environment. In hot summer, you can move nasturtium to a cool, shaded place to ensure it is not harmed by high temperatures. What to do if nasturtium doesn't bloom. In cold winter places, appropriate insulation measures can be taken, such as covering with protective film.
Nasturtium Cutting Propagation Methods
1. Choice of container and medium
For the cutting container, you can choose a smaller one, as this makes it easier to control the humidity of the medium and less likely to cause root rot. It is suggested to use a disposable plastic cup. As for the medium, it is fairly flexible: peat, vermiculite, and perlite are basically the general configuration.
2. Timing for nasturtium cuttings
For successful cuttings, choosing the time is very important. According to a survey of flower lovers' successful cuttings, it was found that the success rate of cuttings in May, October, November, and December is very high. Other months have not been tried, but based on feedback from flower lovers, as long as the temperature is above 18°C, the success rate is very high.
3. Choice of branches: cut about 5-7 cm of top bud branches for cuttings. Generally, rooting takes about 1 week. After cutting, place them in scattered light and keep the soil moist, but do not let water accumulate. A million words are not as good as one picture. Below is the process picture of nasturtium cuttings. Flower lovers can imitate it for cutting.
Uses of Nasturtium
1. Beauty and skincare
It is said that nasturtium once made Empress Dowager Xiao's skin fine and white and her appearance radiant, so it was called beauty-nourishing nasturtium and listed as a palace tribute. Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty once wrote a poem: “Far from the desert, the lone root awaits appraisal, clear fragrance enters through the railing, true color aligns with the heart, open and upright north of Anshan, uneven west of Jiuling, once escaped the summer heat in hot winds, so noble few can reach it.” There is also a folk saying: “Better to taste three flowers than drink two liang of tea.”
2. Clearing heat and detoxifying
Take 5 grams of dried nasturtium, put the nasturtium flowers into a cup, brew with boiling water, and drink as tea, 1-2 doses per day. It can clear heat and detoxify, and also treat upper respiratory tract infections, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis. It is mainly used for sore throat, chronic tonsillitis, carbuncles and sores, mouth sores, red eyes, and other symptoms. In acute cases, the amount can be increased. But do not increase the amount for long-term drinking; long-term drinking will harm the kidneys.
3. Edible
Nasturtium can be eaten. Collect nasturtium, wash it clean, blanch it thoroughly in a boiling water pot, remove and rinse with cool water, drain, chop, put into a plate, pour in minced garlic, add refined salt, add a little MSG, drizzle with sesame oil, and mix well.
4. Ornamental
Potted nasturtium can be used for indoor viewing or to decorate balconies and windowsills. Nasturtium has plump leaves and beautiful flowers, with leaves shaped like bowl lotus. When the creamy yellow flowers bloom, they are very brilliant and have a unique charm.
Nasturtium not only has high ornamental value, but also edible and medicinal effects. If you have a sore throat, brewing a cup of nasturtium water can clear heat and detoxify, reduce swelling and relieve pain. You can also mix a plate of cold dish made with nasturtium. In hot summer, it is a very good appetizer. Friends who like it should quickly make it.