A Detailed Guide to When to Plant Schizanthus and How to Propagate It

Schizanthus likes a sunny, cool growing environment and usually opens gorgeous flowers in spring. It is very exotic and is often used as a cut flower material. If you want to have more of this beautiful flower, besides mastering its planting methods, you also need to be familiar with its propagation methods. Only by combining the two can you have more beautiful flowers.

When to plant Schizanthus

Schizanthus is generally sown in autumn. Using soil mixed from leaf mold, garden soil and bran ash, sowing is concentrated from late August to early October.

Schizanthus propagation methods

I. Key points of propagation

1. Sowing time

The sowing propagation of Schizanthus is mainly carried out in autumn, from late August to early October.

2. Soil for sowing

For the sowing propagation of Schizanthus, you can choose soil mixed from leaf mold, garden soil and bran ash as the medium for the seedbed for sowing. Before sowing Schizanthus, the seedbed needs to be watered thoroughly, and sowing is done after the water has seeped through. II. Propagation methods

3. How to sow

Evenly scatter the prepared Schizanthus seeds on the prepared soil. On top of the seeds, a layer of soil needs to be scattered. Because Schizanthus seeds are relatively large, the final covering soil should also be thicker, not less than 3mm.

4. Management after sowing

For Schizanthus sowing propagation, seedlings generally emerge about one week after sowing. Before emergence, a shade net needs to be set up over the seedbed for shading, which can lower the temperature and retain moisture. After emergence, the shade net should be removed so that the Schizanthus seedlings get sufficient light. In the early stage of seedling growth, watering needs to be controlled. Thin out the seedlings in time, and control the growth height of the Schizanthus plants.

5. Transplanting and planting out

Basically, when the Schizanthus seedlings have grown 3-4 leaves, they can be thinned and transplanted. First use smaller pots for raising seedlings, provide shade for care at first, and give normal light after the seedlings recover.

When the Schizanthus seedlings have grown to 6-7 leaves, they can be potted up. Generally choose a flower pot with a diameter of about 15cm, and it is best to keep the original soil when transplanting.

How to control the plant shape of Schizanthus

1. Spacing out the pots

When planting Schizanthus, pay attention to controlling the distance between Schizanthus pots according to their growth condition. Having a certain distance between Schizanthus pots can increase the air permeability between plants, relatively reduce humidity, and give Schizanthus sufficient growing space. The growth condition of the Schizanthus plants will then be relatively better, and the incidence of various pests and diseases will also be reduced.

2. Use of dwarfing agents

When planting Schizanthus, if it happens to be in the season when Schizanthus grows very vigorously and there is also continuous rainy weather, then under conditions of high humidity and very low light, the branches and leaves of Schizanthus will grow leggy, which will damage the plant shape of Schizanthus. In this case, we should appropriately use a dwarfing agent. The use of a dwarfing agent can control the leggy trend of Schizanthus and maintain a better plant shape.

3. Ventilation and air exchange

If Schizanthus grows in a place with strong airtightness and insufficient ventilation and air permeability, Schizanthus is also very prone to leggy growth, which will likewise damage the plant shape of Schizanthus, and the plant form will appear chaotic. To prevent this from happening, we should ventilate and aerate at all times. Because the suitable growth temperature for Schizanthus is relatively lower, ventilation for the Schizanthus growing environment should also be carried out slightly earlier.

Brief introduction to Schizanthus

1. Other names

Schizanthus is also called Schizanthus grass, poor man's orchid, butterfly grass, butterfly flower, shepherd's purse flower, etc.

2. Growth habits

Schizanthus likes sunlight and a cool growing environment. Its cold resistance is not strong, and it also dislikes high temperature and excessive moisture. In the hot and rainy summer season, ventilation and cooling are needed. It likes loose and fertile soil and requires good drainage.

3. Place of origin and distribution

Schizanthus is native to Chile and is grown in places such as Japan and Korea. In China it is mainly concentrated in the southwest and south China regions, and can be cultivated in greenhouses.

4. Propagation methods

Schizanthus is mostly propagated by sowing. Schizanthus sown in spring can bloom in summer.

When Schizanthus is in full bloom, it looks like butterflies dancing gracefully, very endearing. Schizanthus is suitable both for being placed in parks and along roadsides for people to admire, and is actually also a very good choice for growing at home as an indoor potted plant.