How to grow freesia? Detailed planting methods and tips

Freesia is also known as fragrant snow orchid, has a long flowering period, and blooms at New Year's Day and Spring Festival. It comes in yellow, white, purple, red, pink and other colors, and is suitable for potted cultivation or as cut flowers. So how do you grow it?

How to grow freesia?

1. Propagation

It can usually be propagated by seed and by dividing corms, with corm division being the main method. Among these:

(1) Sowing: usually after collecting seeds in May, sow them promptly in a shallow pot. After sowing, move the pot to a sheltered, sunny spot and keep it moist. The suitable germination temperature is 20-22°C.

(2) Corm division: after entering dormancy, remove the corms. At this time the old corms have already died, and 1-3 new corms will be produced on them. Peel them off separately, store them by grade or after cold storage, and plant them in August-September. When the new corms reach more than 1 cm in diameter, they can bloom in the same year after planting.

2. Container and soil

Clay pots are best. Plant them in early September in loose, fertile, well-drained potting soil.

3. Water and fertilizer

When first potted, the water requirement is not high, so water once a week. When the flower stems are emerging, watering should be sufficient, but the potting soil must not become waterlogged, otherwise root rot is likely. Afterward, gradually increase the frequency and amount of watering as the plant grows. When it enters the flower bud differentiation stage, apply diluted soybean cake water once every 10-15 days, or other phosphorus and potassium fertilizers; after flower spikes appear, stop fertilizing.

4. Light and temperature

The suitable growing temperature is 18-20 degrees during the day and 14-16 degrees at night, with a wintering temperature of 6-7 degrees. Freesia is a light-loving plant, so it requires sufficient light. But when summer is hot, it enters dormancy, and at this time the light duration should be shortened.

5. Pest and disease control

During maintenance, pay attention to the occurrence of freesia mosaic virus, necrotic spots, and other issues. Spray pesticides in advance for prevention and control, and promptly remove stems and leaves that show disease.