How to grow and care for the dolphin flower, and the key points to note - read this and you can grow it well

The dolphin flower is a perennial herbaceous plant native to South Africa, named because its flowers stretch out in all directions like a pod of dolphins when in bloom. In fact, anyone who has grown it knows that when the dolphin flower is in bud, it looks even more like a single dolphin, with a blue back and white belly, a big head and a small tail, very cute. So how is this interesting flower grown? Below, Qinnong.com will introduce it to everyone.

I. Growth habits of the dolphin flower

The dolphin flower likes a semi-shaded living environment with good ventilation. Its flowering period is spring and autumn, but with proper care it can bloom year-round. The dolphin flower needs a cool environment, but also needs a certain amount of light, so in spring and autumn it can receive direct sunlight, but in summer it must be shaded and moved to a cool location. In winter, temperatures below 10°C can easily cause cold damage, so insulation measures should be taken promptly.

II. How to grow the dolphin flower

1. Soil

The dolphin flower is afraid of waterlogging, so when choosing soil, be sure not to choose clay soil; choose soil with good air permeability and excellent drainage, such as 3-in-1 peat; or mix ordinary potting soil with sand, which can likewise increase its air permeability.

2. Water

The leaves of the dolphin flower are fleshy and have a relatively high water content, so do not water too frequently, and do not place a tray under the pot, to avoid the roots rotting from lack of oxygen; of course, try not to let it dry out either, because if it lacks water its leaves will curl and the plant shape will be poor. Many flower lovers say this balance is hard to master, so friends, remember: better dry than waterlogged. Some flower lovers abroad have tried it, and after the leaves wilted, watering once restored them in a day.

3. Light

It was already explained earlier that the dolphin flower needs a certain amount of sunlight, but excessive exposure will cause the leaves to turn yellow and curl, and in severe cases the leaf edges will scorch. The best approach is to place it indoors and let sunlight come through curtains or plant leaves. Spring and autumn are the main flowering and growing periods, and the sunlight at this time is also relatively soft, so it can shine directly on the plant. Appropriate light helps keep the plant compact, so the effect after flowering will also be better.

4. Fertilizing

The reason the dolphin flower is said to be relatively easy to grow is that it hardly needs fertilizing. The dolphin flower has low fertilizer requirements, so just apply some fertilizer once every month and a half. Of course, if slow-release fertilizer is applied to the growing medium, then you can simply leave it alone.

The above is Qinnong.com's introduction to the dolphin flower's growing methods and key points to note. It is still fairly simple, right? As long as you pay attention to temperature changes, there are basically no other problems, making it very suitable for urban office workers to grow at home!