A Detailed Guide to the Latest Cultivation Methods for the Telegraph Plant
The telegraph plant (Codariocalyx motorius) is the only plant in nature capable of reacting to sound. Also known as the love plant, the passionate plant, and the courtship plant, it is an upright small shrub of the genus Codariocalyx in the legume family (Fabaceae). Its dancing is mainly related to temperature, sunlight, and sound wave induction under a certain rhythm, cadence, and intensity. It has extremely high ornamental value and has been widely used in the horticultural ornamental industry. Let us take a look at the cultivation methods for the telegraph plant below!
Growth Habits of the Telegraph Plant
The telegraph plant prefers sunlight and a warm, humid environment, and is drought-tolerant and tolerant of poor, thin soil. It is a plant highly sensitive to sound waves of a certain frequency and intensity, and it is also related to temperature and sunlight. When the temperature is above 24°C on a sunny, breezy day, the leaflets will cross, rotate, kiss, and bounce on their own, with the two leaves rotating up to 180 degrees before bouncing back to their original position. When the temperature is 28-34°C, or on a muggy sunny day or after rain clears, looking at the whole plant, dozens of pairs of leaves sometimes embrace like lovers entwined, and sometimes dance gracefully, dazzling the eye and giving a fresh, wonderful, and mysterious feeling. When night falls, the leaves press close against the branches and stems, snuggling tightly together - truly a rare flower.
Propagation Methods for the Telegraph Plant
1. Sowing: The telegraph plant is usually grown from seed. When sowing, because the seed surface has a layer of wax, water is difficult to penetrate, and the seed coat surface also contains substances that inhibit germination, so germination must be promoted first. To promote germination, first rub off the wax with dry fine sand, then soak in warm water at 38-40°C, and gradually pick out the swollen, sprouting seeds for sowing. Sowing from March to May can produce flowers in the same year, while sowing at the end of May can produce flowers in the first half of the following year.
2. Cuttings: Telegraph plant propagation by cuttings can be carried out in spring, summer, and autumn, and can also be done indoors or in a greenhouse in winter. Cut sturdy current-year branches as cuttings, cut them into 5 cm segments, insert them into a fine sand pot, with the insertion depth at 2/3 of the cutting length, and water thoroughly after insertion. Place the cutting pot in a cool, ventilated place, cover with a glass sheet, and spray water frequently to maintain moisture. Roots can form after 10 days. After a few more days, remove the cover, stop watering, and harden the seedlings for 3 days, then they can be potted and planted.
Cultivation Methods for the Telegraph Plant
1. Repotting: When the telegraph plant seedlings grow to nearly one cun (about 3.3 cm), they need to be repotted. When repotting, be careful not to damage the fibrous roots of the telegraph plant. When removing the seedling, dig a pit of appropriate width and depth in the center of the flower pot, let its root system spread out fully, cover with the growing medium and press lightly, then water an appropriate amount.
2. Light: The telegraph plant often develops yellow rust disease when lacking light. The symptoms are yellow streaks appearing on the leaves and stems, making the plant slender, weak, and prone to lodging. The light duration should be increased. Rotate the flower pot as often as possible so that all angles of the branches and leaves receive sunlight.
3. Watering: For the telegraph plant, it is best to water when the surface growing medium is dry while the interior remains moist. Water as much as possible in the morning, avoiding sunlight. The water should preferably be left to sit for 4-6 minutes to dissipate the chlorine in tap water. When watering, it is best to use a fine-spout pot, starting from a distance away from the plant and gradually moving closer to it.
4. Fertilizing: When the telegraph plant has grown for more than one month, the first fertilization should be carried out. When the plant has grown for 2-3 months, it reaches the flowering period of the telegraph plant, and a second fertilization is needed. When the temperature rises back to 7-10°C, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened, with additional quick-acting nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium applied as a top dressing.
5. Pests and Diseases: The telegraph plant has few insect pests, but more diseases, especially when planted in multiple cropping stubble such as vegetable stubble, where it is more serious. Diseases include powdery mildew, anthracnose, leaf spot, root rot, and blight, while insect pests include cutworms, mealybugs, thrips, mites, and armyworms. Corresponding pesticides can be selected for control.