What are the cultivation methods for the five-pointed star flower?
The five-pointed star flower is also known as golden silk thread, brocade screen, cypress vine, etc. It is an annual slender twining herbaceous plant of the genus Ipomoea in the Convolvulaceae family. It has a long flowering period. In China, in the Anhui, Hubei and Hunan areas, the flowering period can last from April to November each year. It is often used as an excellent plant for courtyard flower trellises and flower hedges, and can also be potted and displayed indoors. Now let us take a look at the cultivation methods for the five-pointed star flower!
Growth habits of the five-pointed star flower
The five-pointed star flower is native to tropical America and is now widely distributed in temperate and tropical regions around the world. It likes warmth, avoids cold, and fears frost. When the temperature is low, growth is very slow. The suitable temperature for seed germination is 20-25°C. It requires a sunny environment. Most types do not have strict requirements for day length, but Ipomoea quamoclit needs a day length shorter than 12 hours to bloom. It does not have strict requirements for soil, but grows well in fertile and loose soil.
Propagation methods for the five-pointed star flower
The five-pointed star flower is propagated by seeds. Sowing and growing seedlings with ordinary nutrient soil for seedling raising allows it to grow well. When sowing in a seedling tray, the sowing rate is about 100 grams per square meter of seedbed. After sowing, cover with about 1.5 cm of fine soil. It must not be too thin, otherwise the seed coat is likely to emerge from the soil with the seedlings. Control the ground temperature at 20-25°C. Dry seeds emerge in 4 days after sowing. The five-pointed star flower emerges easily, but often unevenly, so seeds should be carefully selected to make the seedlings uniform. Seedlings are very afraid of drought. When drought is slightly severe, they will wither and die, and even watering will make it difficult for them to recover. Special attention should be paid to this when raising seedlings.
Cultivation methods for the five-pointed star flower
1. Planting: The five-pointed star flower is planted after the last frost. In areas where the night temperature is still relatively low, early planting is generally not recommended. For single-row planting, the plant spacing is about 35 cm. For seedling cultivation or fertile soil, the plant spacing should be appropriately larger.
2. Watering: During the growth period, the five-pointed star flower should generally be watered once a day. In hot summer weather, when the plants grow vigorously, it should be watered once in the morning and once in the afternoon, but water accumulation in the pot must be avoided.
3. Fertilizing: Apply decomposed liquid fertilizer water once a month to the five-pointed star flower. There is no need to pinch off growing tips throughout the entire growth period; let it climb naturally. As long as attention is paid to watering and fertilizing to promote rapid growth of the stems and vines, the flowers will bloom more abundantly.
4. Guiding the vines: In the early stage, manually assist in guiding the vines of the five-pointed star flower onto trellises, fences, trees or other supports. In the middle and later stages, the plant itself has a very strong climbing ability. Except for shaping, there is no need to manage it; just let it climb and twine.
5. Seed collection: The fruit ripening period of the five-pointed star flower is uneven, and the fruits crack easily after ripening, so seeds should be collected in batches and in a timely manner. The lifespan of the seeds is 4-5 years. The roots can be used as medicine and have the effect of clearing heat and reducing swelling, and are used to treat ear sores and hemorrhoids.