When is the latest planting time for freesia?
Freesia is native to the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa, with about 20 species. According to flower color, it is divided into cultivated lines such as the red series, yellow series, white series, and blue series. Because of its early flowering period, bright colors, fragrant flowers, and long vase life, it can be supplied to the market in early spring and during the Spring Festival. It can be grown both for cut flowers and as potted plants in greenhouses, and is deeply favored by flower lovers. Now let us take a look at when freesia should be planted!
When is freesia planted?
Freesia is propagated by planting underground corms separately. The planting period is early to mid-September. In a “three-gallon” pot, 3 to 4 corms can be planted. When planting freesia, fertilized growing soil should be used. After planting, water thoroughly, and first place it outdoors in a wind-sheltered, sunny spot. After leaves unfold in early October, move it back indoors. In early June, the temperature rises, and by mid-June the leaves begin to turn yellow. At this time, the bulbs should be taken out of the pot, dried, put into a cloth bag, and hung in a cool indoor place for dry storage through the summer, then replanted after the Beginning of Autumn.
Flowering time of freesia
During the growth process of freesia, corms at 13.5 to 15°C can promote rooting and sprouting. Flower bud differentiation requires a low temperature of 8 to 13°C. During the flower bud development stage, the suitable temperature is 13 to 18°C. Below 18°C, flowering will be delayed and the flower stems will be shortened. Higher temperatures can promote earlier flowering, but the plants grow weakly. Under short-day conditions, flower bud differentiation is favorably promoted, while after flower bud differentiation, long-day conditions can promote earlier flowering. Usually, corms are sown in September, flower buds begin to differentiate in early November, differentiation is completed in late November, and flowering occurs in April to May of the following year.
How to grow freesia
1. Soil: Freesia prefers well-drained, loose, fertile sandy loam or growing soil mixed with 20% to 50% humus soil. Before planting, the soil should be disinfected, and methyl bromide at 50 to 70 grams per sq m can be used for treatment. After application, turn and rake the soil level, and sowing can be done after 5 to 7 days. For potted growing soil, leaf mold, garden soil, fine river sand, and decomposed organic fertilizer can be mixed in equal parts.
2. Planting: The planting time of freesia varies with the production type and the market requirements for fresh flowers. The ordinary planting period is September to October, and the main flowering period is March to April. For forcing cultivation, it is early to mid-September to mid-to-late November; for retarding cultivation, it is January to March. Generally, the plant and row spacing is 8*12 cm, and the planting density per sq m is 80 to 110 plants. The planting depth should be such that the top of the bulb is 1 to 2 cm below the soil surface, with 2 to 3 cm of soil covering it.
3. Fertilizing: Freesia bulbs are relatively small and have limited stored nutrients, so phosphorus and potassium liquid fertilizer should be applied when there are 2 to 4 leaves. Before planting, organic compost or coarse granular organic fertilizer should be applied early to improve soil fertility, soil looseness, and aeration. Base fertilizer is mainly organic fertilizer, and some chemical fertilizer may also be applied appropriately, but the amount should not be too much, to prevent an increase in salt concentration in the soil that may cause physiological disorders. Topdressing is mainly liquid fertilizer.
4. Watering: In the early stage after potting, freesia does not need much water. The potting soil should alternate between dry and moist, and watering thoroughly once a week is sufficient. By early February, when buds appear and stems are bolting, the plants grow rapidly and consume more water, so the pot should be kept constantly moist. One month after flowering, water supply should be gradually reduced, and watering once every 2 days can prevent bulb rot. By the end of February, when the leaves turn yellow, watering can be stopped.
5. Temperature: Both root formation and flower bud differentiation in freesia require a relatively cool environment. Roots grow best at 15 to 18°C, flower bud differentiation is best at 12 to 15°C, and inflorescence growth is fastest at 18 to 20°C. Therefore, in the early planting stage, maintain a room temperature of 15 to 18°C. At the 5 to 7 leaf stage, induce flower primordia at 12 to 15°C. Keeping this temperature for 4 to 6 weeks will prevent the inflorescence development from reversing. Then raise the temperature to 16 to 17°C to make the inflorescence elongate rapidly and enter the flowering period.
6. Light: During freesia cultivation, appropriate shading is beneficial during the seedling stage and flowering stage. During the first leaf growth period, appropriate shading can lower soil temperature and promote root development. Before flower bud differentiation, giving a short-day treatment of about 10 hours is beneficial for promoting flower bud differentiation and increasing flower stem length as well as the number of flowers and side spikes on the inflorescence. After flower bud differentiation is completed, appropriately extending the photoperiod is beneficial for promoting good inflorescence development and earlier flowering.
7. Pests and diseases: Freesia is prone to mosaic disease, bulb rot, and so on. During planting, the soil and seed bulbs should be thoroughly disinfected, and the potting soil should be completely replaced every year. At the same time, attention should be paid to controlling aphids. In the early stage of aphid occurrence, spraying 40% omethoate 1500-fold solution or 90% trichlorfon solution can be used for control.