How to Grow Sweet Alyssum (Yudie Qiu)? A Detailed Guide to Growing Methods

Sweet alyssum, also called little white flower or yudie qiu, originated along the Mediterranean coast and has now been introduced into our country as an ornamental garden plant with extremely high ornamental value. Today, the editor will introduce the growing methods of sweet alyssum.

1. Growth habits of sweet alyssum

Sweet alyssum is native to Europe and West Asia. It requires full sunlight and tolerates slight shade. It prefers loose soil and dislikes waterlogging. It is relatively tolerant of drought and poor soil. Sweet alyssum likes cool climates, dislikes extreme heat, and tolerates frost and cold. It prefers a relatively dry air environment. If rainy days last too long, it is easily infected by pathogens. It is afraid of rain, and the leaves should be kept dry at night. It grows best where the optimal relative air humidity is 40-60%.

2. Propagation methods of sweet alyssum

Sweet alyssum can be propagated by seeds or cuttings, but seed propagation is generally more common. In northern regions, spring sowing is mostly used. Generally, seeds are sown in greenhouses in March to raise seedlings. Sweet alyssum seeds germinate faster than ordinary flower seeds and emerge uniformly. The optimal germination temperature is 20 degrees, and seedlings emerge in about 5 days. When there are 3-4 true leaves, they are transplanted into pots. They bloom in June. When summer heat arrives, growth becomes poor and there are very few flowers. At this time, the spent flowering branches should be pruned off and fertilizer and water management should be strengthened. In autumn, they can bloom again in full. In North China and southern regions, autumn sowing is mostly used, overwintering in cold frames or protected areas. In March of the following year, they are potted or planted out, and they bloom in April.

3. Growing methods of sweet alyssum

1. Substrate

For potting sweet alyssum, one of the following substrates can be used: garden soil and furnace slag at a ratio of about 3:1, or garden soil, medium-coarse river sand, and sawdust (mushroom residue) mixed at a ratio of 4:1:2, or one of paddy soil, pond mud, or leaf mold, or peat, perlite, and ceramsite at a ratio of 2:2:1, or peat, furnace slag, and ceramsite at a ratio of 2:2:1, or sawdust, vermiculite, and medium-coarse river sand also at a ratio of 2:2:1. After potting, water thoroughly once and keep in a slightly shaded environment for one week of care.

2. Potting

When potting sweet alyssum seedlings, first place coarse-grained substrate or ceramsite about 2 cm thick at the bottom of the pot as a drainage layer, then sprinkle a layer of fully decomposed organic fertilizer on top as base fertilizer, about 1-2 cm thick, then cover with another layer of substrate about 1-2 cm thick, and then place the plant in so as to separate the fertilizer from the roots and avoid burning the roots.

3. Transplanting

When transplanting sweet alyssum seedlings, first dig the planting hole, sprinkle a layer of organic fertilizer at the bottom of the planting hole as bottom fertilizer (base fertilizer), about 4-6 cm thick, then cover with a layer of soil and place the seedling in so as to separate the fertilizer from the roots and avoid burning the roots. After placing the seedling in, backfill the soil to cover the roots, firm the soil with your foot, and water thoroughly once.

The above is the growing methods of sweet alyssum introduced by the editor of Tuliu.com. Friends who want to grow it should hurry and buy a pot to plant. I hope this can help you!