What are the cultivation methods and precautions for garden balsam?

Garden balsam, also known as henna and "impatiens" (Chinese: jixingzi), gets its other name "golden phoenix flower" because its flower head, wings, tail and feet all curl upward like a phoenix. It is one of the more common flowering plants in China, with flowers in a variety of colors. Its flowers and leaves can be crushed and applied to the nails for dyeing, and the plant itself also has certain medicinal value. So how do you grow garden balsam well? What should you pay attention to when cultivating it? Follow the editor and take a look.

I. Cultivation Methods for Garden Balsam

1. Light requirements

Garden balsam loves light and can grow in full-sun conditions. July to October is its flowering period, which coincides with the season of abundant sunlight. The more sunlight it gets, the better it blooms, so when cultivating it, grow it outdoors. Growing it indoors may result in no flowering due to insufficient light.

2. Temperature requirements

Garden balsam tolerates high temperatures but not severe cold. It can grow rapidly in high-temperature environments. Generally, under normal cultivation, garden balsam can grow very thick and sturdy in less than a month from sowing to flowering. Therefore, when caring for it, it is best to place it on a balcony with ample sunlight. Never keep it in a shady environment, lest its growth be inhibited, causing the stems, branches and leaves to become thin and weak.

3. Suitable soil

Garden balsam is not strict about soil and can grow normally even in slightly poor soil. It can also grow luxuriantly in soil lacking certain elements, but the plant as a whole will be rather weak, and the flowers will be paler in color and smaller. However, growing it in loose, fertile soil allows it to grow robustly and luxuriantly, and the flowers it produces will be larger and more vivid.

4. Watering and fertilizing

Garden balsam is highly adaptable to its environment and can grow in any soil, but if you want it to bloom vividly, you need to fertilize it. You can use some farmyard manure or homemade fertilizer cake water or chemical fertilizer, but chemical fertilizer should be spread after rain or diluted with water for irrigation, and it is best to fertilize in small amounts but frequently. Garden balsam is afraid of waterlogging, so when caring for it you must choose potting soil with good drainage, to avoid water accumulating and soaking the roots when watering. Supply water according to the principle of "water when dry, stop when wet," which is enough to meet its normal growth needs. If there is no rain for a long time, water generally once every half month.

II. Precautions

Garden balsam rarely suffers from pests and diseases during cultivation, because it grows quickly and its cycle of renewal and replacement is relatively short. But that is not to say there are no pests or diseases. In extreme environments of high temperature and high humidity, powdery mildew and leaf spot disease can appear, and at that time carbendazim fungicide is needed for control. In addition, the red hawk moth may appear, and its larvae will gnaw on the leaves; they can be caught and killed by hand.

  The above is an introduction to the cultivation methods and precautions for garden balsam. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.