Gloxinia blooms with just a little light, and lemon balm grows more lush the more you prune it

Gloxinia, whose flowers are especially large and incomparably vivid, can become an extremely eye-catching plant even when placed in a corner.

1. Care environment

Gloxinia is also called "falling snow mud," and its flowering period is very long, visible from spring all the way to late autumn, so it can be considered a plant that blooms in all four seasons. Its flower quantity is also quite large, with rich varieties, numerous flower colors and diverse forms.

Gloxinia's growth requires a warm and humid environment, and just a little scattered light is enough for its care. Direct sunlight must be avoided, and in summer it is enough to keep the environment ventilated and cool.

2. Temperature and water

Gloxinia has a certain degree of heat tolerance. When the summer temperature exceeds 33°C, appropriately spray water on the ground to cool it down. The most suitable temperature is maintained between 18~25°C, as such temperatures favor its blooming. In autumn and winter, keeping the temperature at around 10°C is optimal, so that it can enter dormancy, conserve nutrients, and grow more vigorously the following year.

Gloxinia likes relatively high air humidity, but does not like long-term watering. During care, it is all the more important to shelter it from rain appropriately, and in summer avoid excessive rain. Water thoroughly once the potting soil dries out, and in summer, when there is ventilation, you can spray water around it to increase humidity.

Note that in winter humidity must be maintained, with watering and spraying controlled, to avoid the temperature being too low or the humidity too high.

3. Potting soil selection

The soil for planting gloxinia should be a loose, fertile, slightly acidic soil rich in humus. Maintain the soil's air permeability and drainage, and you can place some granular organic fertilizer at the bottom of the pot so that it has sufficient fertility during the growing period.

4. Light:

Gloxinia is a semi-positive plant and likes a semi-shaded environment. During care, be careful not to let it be exposed to blazing sun; in summer especially it must be shaded, avoiding direct sunlight, as it easily gets sunburned. Just a little weak scattered light is enough.

5. Appropriate fertilizing:

Gloxinia likes light fertilizer, especially during the growing period. A balanced fertilizer and a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer can be used alternately to ensure lush branches and leaves, and it can also keep blooming continuously.

During the growing period, generally give a dilute organic liquid fertilizer once a week. After flower buds appear, increase the application of phosphorus-potassium fertilizer. Avoid fertilizer touching the flowers and leaves, as it easily causes fertilizer burn. Remember also not to give concentrated fertilizer.

6. Propagation introduction

For gloxinia, you can directly cut off healthy leaves, leaving 1 cm of petiole, and insert them obliquely into clean river sand, with 1/3 of the leaf surface inserted into the river sand and 2/3 left on the surface. Shade appropriately and maintain a certain humidity. At a temperature of around 22°C, they can take root in 15 days, and after becoming small seedlings they can be transplanted into small pots.

2 Lemon balm grows more lush the more you prune it; casually pinch off a section and toss it into soil and it will live

Lemon balm removes formaldehyde, radon, benzene, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, as well as smoke odor, peculiar odors and carbon dioxide from the air, and can also sterilize.

1. Care environment

Lemon balm is actually curly-leaf mint, a mutant variety of mint, but it is more drought-tolerant and cold-tolerant than mint, and also very shade-tolerant. You can prune and pinch off buds at will, and it will still grow more lush.

It likes an environment with scattered light that is warm and slightly humid. During the growing period, you can keep the potting soil watered thoroughly once it dries out.

In winter, keep it appropriately warm during care. As long as the temperature stays above 0°C, lemon balm will not freeze to death. In summer, after the temperature rises above 30°C, you can often spray water on the leaves and surroundings to cool it down and maintain a warm and moist environment, and it will maintain vigorous growth.

2. Appropriate water

When summer temperatures are high, water is consumed especially quickly, so you can water once a day. In other seasons, generally water once about every 3 days, and water thoroughly each time. If you notice the leaves looking a little wilted, then you need to replenish water in time.

3. Appropriate pruning

The more lemon balm is pruned, the more lush its branches and leaves grow. During the growing period, you can prune once a week, or you can continuously pinch off the tops.

When diseased leaves and dead branches are found, they should also be cut off in time, and carbendazim should be sprayed promptly for prevention and control. After the weather turns cool in autumn, do not prune frequently.

4. Propagation introduction

Lemon balm is generally propagated by cuttings, or directly by layering. Press a longer section of stem directly into the soil, and after it grows roots, cut it off and transplant it. The survival rate is basically 100%.

Cutting propagation is also very simple: directly cut a section of stem about 7~10 cm long, remove the lower leaves, and directly place it in water for hydroponic cutting. Change the water once every 2~3 days; it can grow roots in one week and be potted up in two weeks.

For soil cutting propagation, keep the soil slightly moist and grow it in a ventilated, shaded place, and it can resume growth in 2 weeks.