The Latest Planting Methods and Key Techniques for Moluccella laevis

Moluccella laevis is also known as the collar flower, elephant's ear and so on. It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant of the genus Moluccella in the Lamiaceae family. Its flower shape is unusual, with a labiate corolla, simple, elegant and beautiful, and the flowers resemble seashells. Various horticultural cultivars now exist. It is commonly used as a filler flower in cut-flower arrangements, can also be made into dried flowers, and is also a good choice for pot cultivation. Now let us take a look together at how to grow Moluccella laevis well!

Growth Habits of Moluccella laevis

Moluccella laevis is a foliage and flowering plant, distributed in western Asia and Syria and other places. It likes sunlight and well-drained soil, with fertile, loose, well-drained loam being best. The suitable temperature for sowing is 15-25°C.

Propagation Methods for Moluccella laevis

Moluccella laevis is propagated by sowing, which can be done in spring, summer or autumn. The suitable temperature for sowing is 15-25°C, and germination takes about one week. It can be transplanted once it has 5-6 true leaves. For ornamental purposes, sowing can be done in stages and in different proportions.

How to Grow Moluccella laevis Well?

1. Flower pot: When planting Moluccella laevis, the size of the pot needs to be determined according to the condition of the plant. Generally, for sowing, 10 to 15 seeds can be planted in a flower pot with a diameter of 15 cm.

2. Soil: Planting Moluccella laevis requires fertile, well-drained soil. It should not be too clayey, otherwise it will affect the growth of the plant. Garden soil with good drainage is enough.

3. Light: Moluccella laevis likes sunlight and prefers a relatively warm living environment. During care, it needs to maintain sufficient light, but in summer it should not be exposed to blazing sun to avoid scorching.

4. Temperature: The suitable temperature for sowing Moluccella laevis is 15-25°C. Generally, Moluccella laevis will germinate in about one week to half a month, and the suitable temperature for growth is 15-30°C.

5. Fertilizing: Moluccella laevis can begin to be fertilized after transplanting and surviving. Usually it can be fertilized once or twice a month, but fertilizing should stop after flowering. To promote branching, pinching can be carried out.

6. Watering: During the seed germination period of Moluccella laevis, it can be watered once a day. After the seeds germinate and sprout, the watering time should be adjusted according to soil moisture. Do not water when the soil is not dry; when watering, water thoroughly.

7. Pests and diseases: Moluccella laevis grows vigorously and rarely suffers from pests and diseases, but attention should be paid to leafminer damage. Grasp the peak emergence period of adults, spray pesticide in time to control the adults, and prevent the adults from laying eggs.