How to grow potted marigolds? A detailed guide to the latest care methods
Marigold, also known as stink hibiscus, marigold lantern, honeycomb chrysanthemum and so on, is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Tagetes in the Asteraceae family. Its flowers are large and its flowering period is long, giving it extremely high ornamental value. Medium and dwarf varieties are suitable as materials for flower beds, flower borders and flower clusters, and can also be grown in pots. Taller varieties can be used as background material or cut flowers. Now let us take a look at how to grow potted marigolds!
Growth habits of marigolds
The suitable temperature for marigold growth is 15-25°C, and the suitable temperature during the flowering period is 18-20°C. The relative air humidity of the growing environment is required to be 60-70%, and the winter temperature should not be lower than 5°C. In summer, when the high temperature is above 30°C, the plants grow leggy, the stems and leaves become loose, and there are few flowers. Below 10°C, growth slows down. Marigold is a light-loving plant, and sufficient sunlight is very beneficial to its growth, making the plants short and sturdy and the flower colors vivid. With insufficient sunlight, the stems and leaves become soft and slender, and the flowers are few and small. It has low requirements for soil, and fertile, well-drained sandy loam is best.
Propagation methods of marigolds
1. Sowing: For spring sowing of marigolds, sow in an open-field seedbed from late March to early April. Because the seeds are photoblastic, cover with soil and water after sowing. The suitable temperature for seed germination is 20-25°C. Seedlings emerge 1 week after sowing, and the germination rate is about 50%. When cultivating marigolds, in order to control plant height, they can also be sown in summer, and after emergence from summer sowing they can bloom 60 days later.
2. Cuttings: Marigolds can be propagated by cuttings in summer, which root easily and form seedlings quickly. Cut 8-12 cm tender shoots from the mother plant as cuttings, remove the lower leaves, insert them into the potting soil, with 3 plants per pot. After inserting, water thoroughly and provide slight shade, and they can root after 2 weeks. Then gradually move them to a sunny place for routine management, and they can bloom after about 1 month.
How to grow potted marigolds?
1. Soil: Marigolds have low requirements for soil and broad adaptability to soil acidity and alkalinity. They can grow in soil from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, with a suitable pH value between 5.5 and 7.0. When potting, choose suitable potting soil, and fertile, well-drained sandy loam is best.
2. Temperature: The suitable temperature for marigold growth is 15-25°C, and the suitable temperature during the flowering period is 18-20°C. When potted, the suitable growing temperature is around 21°C. It can also tolerate cold and can overwinter safely at around 5°C. However, it is not tolerant of intense heat, and growth slows when the temperature is above 32°C.
3. Light: Marigold is a typical short-day flower. Only when the daily sunshine is relatively short does it form flower buds and bloom. Under longer sunshine, it only grows stems and leaves and cannot form flower buds. Generally, during the vegetative growth period it needs 14.5 hours of sunshine per day, and during the flower bud differentiation period it needs 12 hours of sunshine per day.
4. Watering: Marigolds like a warm and moist soil environment, are tolerant of drought, and dislike excessive moisture and waterlogging. When the potting soil is too wet, the roots rot easily. Watering should follow the principle of “alternating dry and wet”. During the vegetative growth period, growth is fast and water demand is high, so it is very easy for them to become short of water. Water frequently, but be careful not to let water accumulate.
5. Fertilizing: Marigolds have a relatively long flowering period and need topdressing to supply nutrients, but they must not be fertilized too much. Nitrogen fertilizer must be controlled, otherwise the branches and leaves will grow vigorously and fail to bloom. Generally, apply 1 time per month of fully decomposed dilute organic liquid fertilizer or a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound liquid fertilizer. When fertilizing, be sure to first spread the fertilizer on top, then water thoroughly, so that the fertilizer can fully seep into the chrysanthemum roots with the water, and only then can it be absorbed by the marigolds.
6. Pruning: During the care and management of marigolds, after the seedlings planted in the ground or potted have survived, promptly pinch off the growing tips to promote branching and more flowers. To make the flowers larger, promptly thin out or heavily pinch the leggy branches, dead branches, weak branches and post-bloom branches. For overly dense branches, thin them out to improve light exposure and retain strong branches, but do not pinch them, so that the flower buds at the top develop fully. In windy seasons, plant height should also be controlled through pruning and pinching to prevent lodging. Otherwise, set up stakes to prevent them from being blown over by the wind.