How to Grow Stock (Matthiola incana)? Detailed Guide to Cultivation Methods and Precautions

Stock (Matthiola incana) can now be seen in many places in China; it is a plant with high ornamental value. Many people like to buy it and take it home to grow. However, if you want to grow it well, you still need to master some cultivation techniques, and there are many aspects to pay attention to.

How to Grow Stock

Stock prefers a cool climate and dislikes dry heat. It likes a well-ventilated environment; in winter it prefers a mild climate, but it can also tolerate a brief low temperature of -5℃. The suitable temperature for flower bud differentiation is 15℃. It is not strict about soil, but grows better in well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil, and dislikes acidic soil.

Stock is cold-tolerant but not shade-tolerant, and fears waterlogging. It is suited to growing in a higher position with access to sunlight, in a well-ventilated, well-drained environment. Avoid muggy heat; in moldy rainy weather that is hot with poor ventilation, it is prone to damage from pests and diseases. It requires fertile, moist and deep loam; it likes plenty of sunlight, but is also slightly tolerant of semi-shade; fertilization should not be excessive, otherwise it is unfavorable for flowering; if light and ventilation are insufficient, it is prone to pests and diseases.

Cultivation Methods for Stock

1. Growing medium. Stock likes loose, fertile acidic soil. For pot cultivation, you can use a growing medium made by mixing leaf mold, peat soil and sandy soil at 1/3 each.

2. Suitable light. Stock likes a semi-shaded environment. However, too much shade will cause stock to bloom too little, or not bloom at all; if the light is too strong, it will cause the leaves to turn yellow and the plant to dry out and be damaged.

3. Suitable temperature. The suitable growth temperature for stock is 18℃-24℃. When the temperature exceeds 27℃, it will cause poor growth and lack of water in stock. From late autumn to early winter, when the temperature begins to fall below 12℃, potted stock should be moved indoors for cultivation, otherwise it will be frostbitten.

4. Moderate watering. When watering stock, water thoroughly, and place it in a cool, dark place; after 3-4 days it can be placed in a well-ventilated, sunny spot. Of course, watering must not be excessive, otherwise it will cause root rot. At the same time, be careful not to splash water onto the leaves, otherwise it will cause the leaves to rot.

5. Fertilization should be light. During the growth and development period of stock, apply a thin decomposed liquid fertilizer or compound chemical fertilizer about once every 7-10 days. Nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied excessively; the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium applied is best at 1:1:1. After flower buds appear, apply appropriately more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, and the flowers will be larger and more brightly colored.

6. Pinching and seed collection for potted stock. When about 9 leaves have grown, pinching is needed to promote branching. When the plant grows to 40cm, a thin bamboo pole is needed for support. For those kept for seed, collect the seeds in time before the siliques turn yellow and split open.

Precautions for Stock

Stock can bloom in mid-April. After flowering, the flower branches need to be cut, and 1-2 topdressings should be applied; in this way it can sprout branches again, and by June-July it can bloom a second time. For seed collection, select good mother plants; stock plants kept for seed must be kept away from other species of the Brassicaceae family to prevent interspecific hybridization.

Disease Prevention and Control Methods for Stock

1. Downy mildew. Control method: avoid prolonged continuous cropping and promptly remove diseased plants. Use the new fungicide ethyl alaninate a3 at a concentration of 2-3 grams of pesticide per liter of water.

2. Stock wilt disease. Control method: soak seeds in warm water at 50-55℃ for 10 minutes; this can kill the pathogens carried by the seeds; the soil used for planting stock should be disinfected before reuse, and the agent can be a 1000-fold potassium permanganate solution.

3. Stock white rust. Control method: if stock is placed together with other Brassicaceae plants, they will infect each other, so weeds should be removed and isolation should be used; before the stock plants develop disease, spray 3-4 degrees Baume lime sulfur mixture for prevention; during the growing season, according to the incidence of disease, spray 65% mancozeb wettable powder at 500~600 times dilution.

The cultivation methods for stock can start with its growth habits. First, carry out soil blending, then control light and temperature. During the cultivation process, fertilizer and water are also very important links. Neither watering nor fertilizing should be excessive, otherwise it will cause death.