What are the cultivation methods and precautions for cineraria?

Cineraria is surely familiar to many people; it is now distributed across most regions of our country and is a fairly common flower. Many people buy it to grow because of its high ornamental value, but before growing it, what everyone cares about most is surely its cultivation techniques.

How to grow cineraria

1. Propagation. Sowing can be used; sow in July-August, provide a temperature of 20-25°C, and after about 10-20 days, sprouts gradually emerge, then repot.

2. Soil. It can be made by mixing ordinary leaf mold and marl with a small amount of sandy soil and a little base fertilizer, keeping it loose; water must not accumulate.

3. Temperature. Prevent the temperature from getting too high during hot periods; keep it controlled at 10-20°C as much as possible. Its seedlings can survive at a room temperature of 1°C. When flowering, take appropriate cooling measures to lengthen the flowering period.

4. Light. During the vigorous growth period, it should receive sufficient sunlight, with moisture and warmth retained. Once flowers appear, it can be placed indoors. Make sure the other three orientations besides the north window receive 4 hours of sunlight, and keep rotating the direction of the plant so it grows evenly.

Cineraria cultivation methods

1. Light and temperature. It needs sunlight while growing and should not be shaded; the best range is 15 to 20°C. If it is above 20°C, it may become leggy; if it is below 5°C, it will stop growing; below zero, frost damage is very likely. Although it likes warmth, it cannot tolerate high temperatures. Turn the pot from time to time to prevent uneven light exposure, so that the plant shape stays upright. After the flowers fade, it still needs a certain amount of light for the seeds to develop.

2. Fertilization. It should be given cake fertilizer once every 7-10 days, in a dilute dose; chemical fertilizer can also be used. Once flower buds appear, potassium dihydrogen phosphate can be added, and this continues until the flowers form and then stops.

3. Watering. Its leaves are large and thin and need enough water, but it must not be too wet; it is enough as long as the leaves maintain normal growth. Normally, water only when the soil is dry, about once every two or three days; you can also spray water on the leaves, and during high temperatures you can increase the watering frequency.

4. Diseases. The plant is susceptible to red spider mites and aphids, so environmental conditions must be well controlled, diseased branches discovered early and removed immediately, and a small amount of pesticide can also be sprayed. If the disease is severe, focus on spraying the undersides of the leaves and the top of the cineraria with a 2000-fold dimethoate dilution, and also spray a little on other parts.

5. Pests. The common pests and diseases of cineraria are aphids and red spider mites. For serious aphid and red spider mite damage, a 2000-fold dimethoate dilution can be sprayed to kill them. Because red spider mites generally occur on the undersides of the leaves, while aphids generally occur on the tender top of the cineraria, when spraying pesticide, focus on the undersides of the leaves and the top of the plant, and also spray the upper surface of the leaves appropriately.

Precautions for cineraria

When adding fertilizer, do not sprinkle it directly on the leaves; if it gets on them, wash it off. Do not fertilize during the flowering period. During the growth period, place it in an area with good light; after it flowers, it can be placed indoors for viewing, but it needs at least 4 hours of light every day for the flowers to be more vivid.

What to do if cineraria leaves wilt

1. Water problem. Solution: therefore, control the amount of watering well; do not let the potting soil become too dry or waterlogged, so as not to affect normal leaf growth.

2. Temperature problem. Solution: be sure to control the temperature well. In spring, summer and autumn, place it in a cool, ventilated place for care, and in summer pay attention to shading.

3. Light problem. Solution: it is best to have 8 hours of sunlight per day, and place it in a well-ventilated spot with scattered light for care. In winter, with many rainy and snowy days, even more care should be taken to prevent insufficient light.

4. Fertilizer problem. Solution: adjust the amount of fertilizer applied; usually a thin fertilizer can be applied once every two weeks, mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, with a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer.

When growing cineraria, you must first understand its growth habits, and then start growing it. When growing it, be sure to pay attention to the control of temperature and light. If summer temperatures are high, protective measures must be taken so as not to affect growth. In the later stage of cultivation, the control of water and fertilizer needs to be strengthened to avoid causing leaf wilting.