How to grow potted bellflowers? Introduction to the latest cultivation methods
Bellflower (Campanula) is an annual or perennial herb, named for its flowers that open like a bell or chime. It has many varieties and rich flower colors, and whether grown as a potted plant or in the garden, it has great ornamental value. So how should we grow it as a potted plant? Let's take a look together below.
Growth Habits
Bellflower is a temperate plant that prefers a environment with ample light and has fairly strict temperature requirements. The suitable growing temperature is 13-18 degrees, and the suitable germination temperature is around 20 degrees. It is not tolerant of high temperatures and prefers a cool climate in summer. When the summer temperature is above 28 degrees, the plant grows poorly, begins to wither, and its leaves turn yellow and fall off; it is not cold-tolerant and prefers a mild climate in winter. Below 2 degrees, growth stops and the stems and leaves begin to turn yellow; it prefers a dry environment, is relatively drought-tolerant, and dislikes waterlogging. Long periods of rainy weather or too much water accumulation in the pot soil will cause the plant to become spindly and the flowers to be smaller. It is not strict about soil requirements, and a loose, breathable, well-drained sandy, slightly acidic soil is suitable.
Propagation Methods
The main propagation method is seed sowing. It takes six months from sowing to flowering, so the sowing time can be chosen by working backward from the desired flowering time. Bellflower seeds are relatively small. Before sowing, soak the seeds for about 12 hours, then mix the seeds with sandy soil at a ratio of 1:5 for sowing. The sowing seedbed should have ample light and good drainage. Before sowing, disinfect the soil, water the soil thoroughly, then evenly scatter the seeds on the seedbed, keeping the seedbed slightly moist but not too wet, and control the temperature at 20-24 degrees. Seedlings will emerge after half a month.
Potted Plant Management
When the seedlings have grown 5-6 leaves, they can be transplanted into pots. Choose a time when the sunlight is not intense but there is still ample light. After potting, water thoroughly immediately so that the seedlings make full contact with the soil medium.
Light: Bellflower likes light. In an environment with ample light, it grows uniformly and its flowers are brightly colored. With 14 hours of light per day, it can bloom naturally. If there is insufficient light, the plant will become leggy and the flower color will be dull.
Temperature: It is relatively sensitive to temperature requirements. In summer, do not exceed 30 degrees, and in winter, do not go below 0 degrees.
Watering: Water according to the principle of watering when dry and keeping it moist, and water thoroughly when watering, but do not water too much, as excessive water accumulation in the pot soil should be avoided. Water according to seasonal changes. In summer, with high temperatures and high evaporation, water frequently; in winter, with low temperatures, water less or not at all.
Fertilizing: It has a moderate demand for nutrients. The main fertilizing should be done during the peak growing season, the bud stage, and the flowering stage. Fertilizing should be stopped in summer and winter.
Pruning: After potting, the plant looks rather messy when it begins to grow, and later it will naturally grow neatly. If you want to control the plant's growth height and increase the number of flowers, you can pinch the growing tips when the seedlings are 6-8 cm tall.
The above are the potted bellflower cultivation methods introduced by the editor. Have you all mastered them? For more related information, please follow this site.