A Detailed Guide to the Latest Planting Methods for Blanket Flower
Blanket flower, also known as tiger-skin chrysanthemum, tiger-stripe chrysanthemum and so on, is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Gaillardia in the Asteraceae family. It is wind-resistant, moisture-tolerant and highly resilient, and can be seen everywhere across Penghu, which is why Penghu is called Chrysanthemum Island. Its colors are gorgeous, its flowering period is long, and its cultivation and management are simple, so it is often grown in gardens for ornamental purposes. Let us take a look together at the planting methods for blanket flower!
Growth Habits of Blanket Flower
Blanket flower is native to North America and is widely cultivated in the central and southern parts of the country. It tolerates drought and heat, is not cold-hardy, likes sunlight and also tolerates partial shade, and prefers loose, well-drained soil. It is wind-resistant, moisture-tolerant and highly resilient. In acidic soil, it not only struggles to produce strong seedlings but also has its lower leaves wither in midsummer, so fertilizer should be applied early during rapid growth, with a somewhat higher proportion of phosphorus and potassium.
Propagation Methods for Blanket Flower
1. Sowing: Blanket flower is usually sown in summer. Soak the seeds in warm water for 3 to 10 hours until the seeds absorb water and swell up. After sowing, once the seedlings emerge, remove the plastic film promptly, and let the seedlings receive sunlight before 9:30 every morning or after 3:30 in the afternoon, otherwise the seedlings will grow very weak and spindly. When most of the seedlings have grown 3 or more leaves, they can be transplanted into pots.
2. Cuttings: Blanket flower propagation by cuttings is usually combined with pinching work. Take the thick, pest- and disease-free top shoots that have been pinched off as cuttings, and use the top shoots directly for rooting. The optimum temperature for cutting rooting is 18 to 25 °C. At the same time, pay attention to light management. The stronger the light, the higher the temperature inside the cutting, the more vigorous the transpiration of the cutting, and the more water it consumes, which is unfavorable for the cutting's survival.
Planting Methods for Blanket Flower
1. Potting up: When potting up blanket flower seedlings, first place broken tiles or coarse sand grains at the bottom of the flower pot as a drainage layer, then sprinkle some decomposed fertilizer as a base fertilizer, place a layer of prepared soil over the base fertilizer, and finally set the plant in place. After potting up, water the pot thoroughly once and keep it in a shaded environment for a period of care.
2. Fertilizer and water: Blanket flower, like other herbaceous flowers, has a relatively high demand for fertilizer and water, but it should follow the fertilization (watering) principle of “light fertilizer applied frequently, small amounts with more applications, and complete nutrition”, and after fertilizing, keep the leaves and flowers dry at night. Summer and autumn are its peak growing seasons. After entering the flowering stage, control fertilizer appropriately to help the seeds mature.
3. Humidity: Blanket flower likes relatively high air humidity; if the air humidity is too low, individual flowers will fade faster. It also fears rain, and the leaves need to be kept dry at night. The optimum relative air humidity is 65 to 75%. It is heat-tolerant, not frost-tolerant, likes ample sunlight and tolerates partial shade.
4. Pruning: Pruning is very important for the growth of blanket flower. When the seedlings have grown more than 6 leaves, pinch off the top shoots to promote branching of the blanket flower plant. After that, pinch once more during the growth process to shape an ideal plant form and encourage more flowering.