How do you care for the latest potted Lysimachia?
Lysimachia is also known as Luodi Jinqian, Qianqianjin, Lianqiancao, etc. It is a perennial small herbaceous plant in the genus Lysimachia of the family Primulaceae. Its leaves are kidney-shaped to round, 4-25 mm in diameter. The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, the flower stalk is shorter than the leaf stalk, and the leaves are green. It blooms with small yellow flowers and has a certain ornamental value when grown in pots. Let us take a look below at how to grow potted Lysimachia!
Growth habits of Lysimachia
Lysimachia is distributed in all provinces south of the Yangtze River in China and in Taiwan, China, and is widely found in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres. It has strong adaptability to the pH of water, but it is best to keep it between 6.5 and 7.5. It likes warmth, dislikes high temperatures, and tolerates low temperatures. It grows well within a temperature range of 16-24°C, and the overwintering temperature should not be lower than 5°C. When the room temperature exceeds 30°C, plant growth will be inhibited. It likes moisture and is more commonly seen where there is flowing water.
Propagation methods of Lysimachia
Lysimachia can be propagated by seeds or cuttings, but because Lysimachia seeds are very small, difficult to collect, and the seedlings grow slowly, cutting propagation is mostly used. From March to April each year, cut off the creeping stems, and cut every 3-4 nodes into a section as a cutting. On a prepared seedbed, open 1 shallow furrow on each side of the bed at centimeter intervals for row planting, with a furrow depth of 6-8 cm, and plant 2 rows per bed. In the opened shallow furrows, insert cuttings at a plant spacing of 10 cm, with 2-3 nodes in the soil. After planting, cover with a thin layer of soil and press gently, then water to settle the roots.
How do you grow potted Lysimachia?
1. Soil: Lysimachia does not have strict soil requirements. Whether yellow soil, red soil, or black soil, it can even grow in poor soil, but its drought resistance is not strong. It is suitable for fertile, loose soil with high water absorption and good water retention, and can also be cultivated in moist riverbanks, swamps, grasslands, or freshwater with lower hardness. The cultivation soil can be mixed with leaf mold, river mud, and garden soil in a ratio of 5:2:2.
2. Fertilizing: Lysimachia has a relatively high demand for fertilizer. During the vigorous growth stage, apply fertilizer once every 2-3 weeks. When planted in pots or containers, only a small amount of fertilizer is needed, such as the quick-acting fertilizer Huabao No. 2, which can maintain fertilizer efficiency in water for a relatively long time. Just ensure the water quality is slightly acidic or neutral.
3. Watering: Lysimachia prefers a relatively moist growing environment. Because it has many leaves and a high transpiration rate, in summer it should be sprayed with water frequently to maintain relatively high air humidity, and the leaves should be kept clean to facilitate photosynthesis. In winter, the potting soil should be on the dry side. Watering should follow the principle of preferring moisture over dryness, and waterlogging should be avoided, otherwise the roots are prone to rot.
4. Temperature: Lysimachia likes a warm and humid environment, but it is not cold tolerant. It grows well in a temperature environment of 10-25°C. When the summer temperature rises above 32°C, it will stop growing. In winter, the temperature must not be lower than 5°C. When the room temperature exceeds 30°C, plant growth will be inhibited.
5. Light: Lysimachia tolerates shade, and partial sun or a shaded place is best. It dislikes strong direct sunlight. The more shaded the environment, the more likely the plant leaves are to rot. Lysimachia does not compete for light, but if it receives 4-6 hours of scattered light every day, or is given 8-10 hours of artificial light, it will grow better.
6. Pests and diseases: Lysimachia has very few pests and diseases. The main pests are slugs and snails biting the stems and leaves. You can use 1000 times diluted 90% trichlorfon crystal solution for irrigation, or spread 8% miewoiling granules or 10% metaldehyde granules, 1.5 grams per square meter, or 1.5 kg per mu, spread on a clear evening to kill adults or young snails.