How to sow and propagate Globe Amaranth? Master these key points
Globe Amaranth has brilliant flower colors, and the flowers do not wither after drying, remaining unchanged for a long time, so it is deeply loved by people, and it also symbolizes eternal love and undying romance. Nowadays people use it to decorate flower beds and flower borders, and it is also a natural dried flower with relatively high economic value.
Globe Amaranth
Globe Amaranth sowing generally chooses spring sowing. From March to April, sow in an open-field seedbed. Before sowing, the seeds must first be soaked: soak the seeds in cold water for 1-2 days, remove them and squeeze the water out, mix with plant ash or fine sand, then rub the seeds apart before sowing. At a temperature of 20°C to 25°C, seedlings emerge about 10-14 days after sowing. Dwarf varieties have a low germination rate. The suitable growth temperature is 15-30°C, and flowering occurs 9-10 weeks after seedling emergence. When the seedlings have 2 to 3 true leaves, transplant once; in early to mid-June they can be planted out in flower beds at a spacing of 30 cm; if grown in pots, they can be potted in the early bud stage. Globe Amaranth has strong growth vigor, is not demanding about fertilizer, water, or soil, and is simple to manage. Generally, apply 1 to 2 times of dilute liquid fertilizer during the seedling stage, and then apply 2 to 3 more times of liquid fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium during the flowering period, so that the flowers are abundant and the leaves lush, bright and colorful. During the seedling stage, carry out several rounds of "tip pinching" pruning, that is, each time keep two pairs of new leaves and pinch off the growing tip, but when pinching the tip, take care to keep the plant shape neat and attractive. After the spent flowers fade, do not let it set seed; shaping and pruning can be carried out, and it will still sprout new branches and bloom again in late autumn, but more dilute fertilizer is needed.
Globe Amaranth propagation mainly uses sowing: sow in an open-field seedbed from April to May. If sown from March to early April, because the temperature is not high, germination is poor and growth is slower. The germination temperature is 16°C-25°C, and germination occurs 7-10 days after sowing. Seedlings grow slowly at first, then growth speeds up after June. Transplant when the seedlings have 3 pairs of true leaves, and plant out in the open field after mid-June, generally at a spacing of 30 cm. For pot cultivation, they can be planted into pots with a diameter of 10 cm when 3 pairs of true leaves have grown, and later repotted into pots with a diameter of 16 cm-20 cm.
Globe Amaranth seeds are relatively difficult to germinate. Soak the seeds in warm water for half a day, then sow, and keep the growing medium moist, which can bring about earlier germination.
Key points for the propagation and management of Globe Amaranth
Globe Amaranth, also known as Qiannian Hong and Fireball Flower, is an annual herbaceous ornamental in the Amaranthaceae family. Because the flower color and flower shape of Globe Amaranth remain unchanged for a long time, its ornamental period is relatively long. So what should be noted in the propagation and management of Globe Amaranth?
Globe Amaranth
Globe Amaranth originated in China and India. It is not demanding about the environment, but by nature likes sunlight, hot and dry climates, and is suitable for growing in loose, fertile, well-drained soil.
Globe Amaranth is propagated by seeds, with seeds collected from September to October, sown from April to May, and planted out in June. The seed is a brittle fruit with the floral envelope attached, and the surface is hairy. Soaking the seeds in cold water for 1-2 days before sowing can increase the emergence rate. Dry the soaked seeds slightly, mix with plant ash, and then sow. After the seeds germinate, carry out several rounds of tip pinching and pruning during the seedling stage, which can promote more branching and more flowering, and make the plant more compact. Then select plants with short, dense internodes for cultivation to maintain the superior variety. During the growing period, apply appropriate amounts of fertilizer and water, and pay attention to cultivating and weeding and draining waterlogging in the rainy season.
After potting, Globe Amaranth should be kept moist, and attention should be paid to shading. During the growing period, apply topdressing together with watering. This flower is not demanding about fertilizer, water, or soil, and can be managed relatively extensively. After the spent flowers fade, carry out pruning and trimming, and it will still sprout new branches and bloom again in late autumn, but more dilute fertilizer must be applied.
Key points for home flower growing in August
Flowers suitable for courtyard display in August. August has high temperatures, strong light, and low humidity, and is the second-highest hot, dry period of the year after July. The monthly average temperature in most parts of the country is between 24°C and 28°C.
Potted ornamental plants suitable for display in the courtyard are some species that like light or tolerate high temperatures.
Among the woody flowers are mainly: Norfolk Island pine, Japanese black pine, Japanese five-needle pine, Chinese golden larch, Japanese umbrella pine, lacebark pine, Japanese fir, Armadillo pine, Buddhist pine, Chinese juniper, sago palm, Canary Island date palm, Chinese Fagraea, Lan Yu cinnamon, Milan tree, pomegranate, rubber tree, variegated weeping fig, Chinese hibiscus, lantana, coral tree (Erythrina), Dutch iron plant, croton, Brazilian wood, bamboo palm, money tree, large-leaf schefflera, frangipani, four-season osmanthus, oleander, Washington palm, windmill palm, bottle palm, leatherleaf mahonia, Japanese fatsia, Rosa chinensis, etc.
Herbaceous flowers include: garden balsam, large-flowered canna, shell ginger, scarlet sage, dahlia, China aster, bamboo begonia, snapdragon, marigold, French marigold, phlox, ornamental pepper, California poppy, cockscomb, pot marigold, red spider lily, periwinkle, Globe Amaranth, sulfur cosmos, four o'clock flower, zinnia, etc. In addition, there are also Aspidistra, Guangdong evergreen, Philodendron, Monstera, pothos, silver queen aglaonema, etc.
Propagation of courtyard flowers
1. Sowing in August, woody flowers that can be sown include: tree peony, elm-leaved spirea, red camellia, summer sweet shrub, American summer sweet shrub, Buddhist pine, etc. They can be sown as collected, or the seeds can be stored in wet sand until they crack and show white, then sown in the ground. Canary Island date palm can be sand-stored to promote germination and then sown in bags. Ornamental pomegranate is harvested after the fruit ripens and cracks, the fleshy layer outside the seeds is rubbed and washed off, and the seeds are sand-stored until germination before sowing. Herbaceous flowers that can be sown include: baby's breath, fan columbine, petunia, snapdragon, coneflower, oxalis species, yarrow, nasturtium, pyrethrum, etc. Greenhouse flowers that can be sown include: calceolaria, cyclamen, cineraria, wax begonia, fairy primrose, coleus, pot marigold, etc.
2. Cuttings. Using a mixed medium prepared from alkaline-leached rice chaff ash and wet fine sand at a ratio of 2:1, carry out moisture-retaining bed cuttings or pot cuttings to propagate the following flower and tree species: firethorn, mahonia species, wintersweet, banana shrub, bougainvillea, coral tree, Milan tree, spotted aucuba, Chinese snowball, snowball viburnum, Chinese hibiscus, jasmine, Chloranthus, rubber tree, sweet osmanthus, Buddhist pine, schefflera species, ti plant, hydrangea, purple magnolia, etc. Using yellow subsoil, sandy loam, etc. as the medium, you can root cuttings of boxwood species, pomegranate, rose of Sharon, French holly, golden privet, red-leaf barberry, heavenly bamboo, fig, oleander, crape myrtle, serissa, spiraea, bridal wreath spiraea, gardenia, etc. In addition, herbaceous flowers such as scarlet sage, Globe Amaranth, marigold, and sulfur cosmos can also be propagated by cuttings this month.
3. Grafting in August, the following flowers and trees can be grafted: in northern regions, use fringe tree as rootstock and approach-graft osmanthus; use purple magnolia and white magnolia as rootstocks and bud-graft to propagate saucer magnolia; use potted purple magnolia as rootstock and approach-graft white orchid; use the current-year seedlings of wild peach as rootstock and bud-graft plum blossom, ornamental peach, longevity peach, purple-leaf peach, double-flowered dwarf cherry plum, elm-leaved spirea, etc.; use cherry seedlings as rootstock and bud-graft Japanese cherry; use wild rose, multiflora rose, etc. as rootstocks and bud-graft superior rose varieties; use seedlings of Siberian crabapple, Chinese pearleaf crabapple, Hupeh crabapple, etc. as rootstocks and bud-graft Midget crabapple and Hall crabapple; use green maple as rootstock and top-graft red maple and laceleaf maple; use single-trunk rubber tree as rootstock and cleft-graft variegated weeping fig; use single-petal camellia as rootstock and cleft-graft superior camellia varieties; use seedling wintersweet as rootstock and cleft-graft or approach-graft superior wintersweet flowers. In addition, cleft grafting can be used to propagate large-flowered wisteria.
4. Layering in August, ornamental plants that can be propagated by layering include: Japanese honeysuckle, Chinese trumpet creeper, banksia rose, climbing rose, weigela, hydrangea, Chinese snowball, snowball viburnum, oleander, gardenia, Scotch broom, winter jasmine, forsythia, Chaenomeles speciosa, Hall crabapple, Midget crabapple, osmanthus species, purple magnolia, jasmine, Chloranthus, banana shrub, Chinese hibiscus, Buddhist pine, coral tree, rubber tree (air layering), Milan tree (air layering), red maple (air layering), etc.
5. Division in August, ornamental plant species that can be propagated by division include: ribbon grass, hosta, purple hosta, dwarf umbrella plant, multi-headed green Dracaena, bromeliads, Solomon's seal, Aspidistra, umbrella plant, Adina, red (green) gem, iris, blackberry lily, purple triangular oxalis, Guangdong evergreen, Michaelmas daisy, narrow-leaved sweet flag, sword fern, silver queen aglaonema, maranta species, arrowhead plant, Haworthia, etc. In addition, red spider lily, calla lily, freesia, etc. can also be divided and planted as small bulbs this month. Management of courtyard ground-planted flowers
1. Transplanting in August, for some flowering shrubs when transplanted with large soil balls and supplemented with heavy pruning, shading, watering, misting and other management should be strengthened after transplanting to achieve a relatively high survival rate, such as golden-leaf privet, red-leaf barberry, golden-edged arborvitae, golden-hearted (golden-edged) boxwood, St. John's wort, mahonia, Japanese fatsia, rose, azalea, gardenia, Buddhist pine, banana shrub, dragon juniper ball, Chinese juniper ball, boxwood ball, pomegranate, rose of Sharon, aucuba, French holly, etc. In the courtyard, herbaceous flowers can also be transplanted and planted out, such as scarlet sage, Globe Amaranth, marigold, cockscomb, French marigold, snapdragon, etc., which can be expected to bloom between September and October.
2. Pruning in August, for courtyard hedges such as boxwood, small-leaf privet, privet, golden-leaf privet, French holly, and photinia, pruning should continue to be given. For ground-planted ball-shaped plants, such as photinia, dragon juniper, Chinese juniper, bayberry, firethorn, pittosporum, holly, and Chinese holly, pruning must also be done again. For ground-planted flowers and trees that bloom continuously for a long time, such as rose, pomegranate, rose of Sharon, crape myrtle, Chinese hibiscus, bougainvillea, and lantana, spent flowers should be removed promptly, and the branch tips should be appropriately shortened. For ground-planted herbaceous flowers, such as scarlet sage, Globe Amaranth, early chrysanthemum, French marigold, and marigold, tip pinching and heart removal should be carried out.
3. Watering in August, for flowering shrubs transplanted in spring and herbaceous flowers planted out, watering and misting management should be strengthened. For plants whose trunks are tied with straw rope, the straw rope should be sprayed wet to ensure that the plants do not show wilting of new shoots and tender leaves. Mist more and water cautiously to ensure that the roots do not accumulate water.
4. Fertilizing in August, for ground-planted red flower wood, golden-edged (golden-hearted) boxwood, red-leaf barberry, golden-leaf privet, purple-leaf dwarf cherry, croton, red mulberry, spotted aucuba, shell ginger, etc., in order to keep the leaf color bright for a long time, quick-acting fertilizer with a relatively balanced three elements of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium should be applied as topdressing. For species that continue to bloom, such as rose, fragrant osmanthus, four-season osmanthus, ornamental pomegranate, rose of Sharon, crape myrtle, bougainvillea, dahlia, lantana, etc., as well as species about to bloom, such as osmanthus, chrysanthemum, cotton rose, autumn anemone, etc., an appropriate amount of quick-acting phosphorus and potassium fertilizer should be applied promptly with watering. For camellia, sasanqua, plum blossom, wintersweet, etc. that are in the stage of flower bud differentiation, a small amount of potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution can be sprayed by foliar topdressing.
5. Pest and disease control in August, for scale insects occurring on plants such as deodar cedar, privet, pittosporum, osmanthus, crape myrtle, photinia, and camellia, promptly spray 40% Supracide 1500 times solution for control. For chrysanthemum beetles, aphids, etc. occurring on ground-planted chrysanthemums, spray 90% trichlorfon crystal 1000 times solution to kill them. For larvae such as rose sawfly and tobacco cutworm that chew rose leaves, promptly spray 10% fenvalerate 1000 times solution for control.
6. Seed collection in August, woody flower species whose seeds can be collected include: tree peony, elm-leaved spirea, red camellia, Buddhist pine, summer sweet shrub, etc. Herbaceous flowers whose seeds can be collected include: Chinese peony, moss rose, four o'clock flower, phlox, California poppy, snow-in-summer, etc. Management of courtyard potted flowers
1. Watering in August, watering should be done between 9 and 10 in the morning, and after 4 o'clock in the afternoon, keeping the water temperature basically consistent with the soil temperature and air temperature. For ornamental plant species that like acidity, 0.1% ferrous sulfate can be added to the irrigation water. It is worth noting that for ornamental plants with dense hairs on the leaf surface, such as calceolaria, gloxinia, iron cross begonia, and fuzzy-leaved begonia, water droplets that land on the leaf surface are not easy to evaporate and can easily cause leaf rot, so only a small amount of misting can be done; the leaf rosette flower buds of Gerbera (African daisy) and the center of the leaf rosette of clivia cannot be sprinkled with water either, as dirty water flowing into the leaf rosette will cause heart rot; for bromeliads, water must be given sparingly and misted more, and water should be poured into the leaf tank to meet their needs. This month, while watering and misting potted plants, be sure to loosen the soil, about once every 10 days, otherwise repeated watering will cause the potting soil to become compacted. For flower species in dormancy and semi-dormancy, control watering and misting, just keep the potting soil slightly moist, and create a relatively cool and moist environment for them by misting the small environment around the flower pots.