How to grow and propagate blue flax? A detailed guide to cultivation and management methods
Plant name: blue flax; Latin name: Linum perenne L; Aliases: perennial flax, blue-flowered flax, a perennial herbaceous plant.
Propagation and cultivation: mainly seed propagation. Division can also be used. Seed propagation methods: can be divided into spring sowing and autumn sowing. 1. Spring sowing: first wash the seeds with dish soap or laundry detergent, soak for 24 hours, put the seeds in the refrigerator to freeze for 24 hours, after thawing mix the seeds with fine sand, spread them out on clean ground to dry in the sun, and once they are loose after drying, the seedbed should first be watered thoroughly with a 1500 times dilution of potassium permanganate for disinfection; after the water has seeped in, sow the seeds on the seedling bed soil, cover with fine sandy soil or vermiculite 2 times the thickness of the seed diameter; for pot cultivation, cover with a piece of glass with good transparency, and cover with newspaper with evenly printed text for shade; for seedbed cultivation, cover with plastic film and pull up a shade net high; after one week the seedlings emerge evenly, then remove the glass or plastic film, and gradually remove the shade net; after the seedlings have 4 true leaves and are relatively strong, prick out the seedlings. After pricking out, cultivate the seedlings indoors or in a shed for about half a month, then place the seedlings in a well-ventilated place for 3~5 days, then move them outdoors to harden off; only after the seedlings have been hardened off for half a month can they be planted out in the ground, with a planting spacing of 25~30cm between rows and plants. Because the seedlings are slender and weak and easily swallowed up by weeds, therefore they should be frequently hoed and weeded, and fertilization should also be applied lightly and frequently. 2. Autumn sowing: autumn sowing is generally carried out from late September to mid-October, sown in an open-field seedbed; the seedbed is generally 10m long and 1m wide; sow the seeds broadcast or in drills on the level, finely prepared seedbed; the sowing density can be relatively lower, so that transplanting is not necessary.
Blue flax can also be propagated by division, dividing plants in combination with transplanting, but with this method the propagation quantity is easily limited by the source of seedlings.
Blue flax Linum perenne Linn Blue flax illustrated guide: how to grow blue flax / how to propagate blue flax
Blue flax profileBlue flax Linum perenne Linn
Alias: perennial flax
Classification: herbaceous flowering plant
Family and genus: Plantae, Angiospermae, Magnoliopsida, Linales, Linaceae, Linum
Peak flowering period: summer
Blue flax (Linum perenne L.), also known as perennial flax, Linaceae, Linum, perennial herb. Native to Europe. Likes ample sunlight, strong cold tolerance. Because blue flax has strong adaptability, it can be used as an ornamental plant, and this variety is also edible; blue flax flowers from May to July.
Blue flax cultivation methods and precautions, an introduction to blue flax
Blue flax (Linum perenne L.), also known as perennial flax, Linaceae, Linum, perennial herb. Native to Europe. Likes ample sunlight, strong cold tolerance.
Because blue flax has strong adaptability, it can be used as an ornamental plant, and this variety is also edible; blue flax flowers from May to July.
Morphological characteristics of blue flax
Blue flax is also known as flax flower. Linaceae, Linum, a biennial herbaceous flowering plant. Native to Europe. Plant height 50-60cm, leaves fine and numerous, linear and spirally arranged, flowers terminal or axillary, pedicels slender and drooping, corolla with 5 petals, blue or light blue, fruit a capsule.
Blue flax begins to grow in early April each year, and its branches and leaves wither in early November.
Blue flax flowers from May to July, opening successively. Each flower does not stay open long, but the whole plant stays in bloom for a longer time. Fruit ripening period August-October.
Ecological habits of blue flax
Blue flax likes a sunny, dry and cool climate, grows well in fertile soil with good drainage, is drought tolerant, and grows poorly in slightly alkaline soil.
Blue flax is cold tolerant, fertilizer tolerant, not moisture tolerant, and likes semi-shade and well-drained high-lying terrain.
Blue flax likes a relatively dry air environment; if rainy days last too long, the plants are easily infected by pathogens. Its optimum air humidity for growth is 40%-60%, so attention should be paid to the ventilation conditions of its growing site.
Cultivation techniques for blue flax: spring sowing
First wash the seeds with dish soap or laundry detergent, soak for 24 hours, put the seeds in the refrigerator to freeze for 24 hours, after thawing mix the seeds with fine sand, spread them out on clean ground to dry in the sun, and once they are loose after drying, the seedbed should first be watered thoroughly with a 1500 times dilution of potassium permanganate for disinfection; after the water has seeped in, sow the seeds on the seedling bed soil, cover with fine sandy soil or vermiculite 2 times the thickness of the seed diameter; for pot cultivation, cover with a piece of glass with good transparency, and cover with newspaper with evenly printed text for shade; for seedbed cultivation, cover with plastic film and pull up a shade net high; after one week the seedlings emerge evenly, then remove the glass or plastic film, and gradually remove the shade net; after the seedlings have 4 true leaves and are relatively strong, prick out the seedlings. After pricking out, cultivate the seedlings indoors or in a shed for about half a month, then place the seedlings in a well-ventilated place for 3~5 days, then move them outdoors to harden off; only after the seedlings have been hardened off for half a month can they be planted out in the ground, with a planting spacing of 25~30cm between rows and plants.
Because the seedlings are slender and weak and easily swallowed up by weeds, therefore they should be frequently hoed and weeded, and fertilization should also be applied lightly and frequently.
Autumn sowing
Autumn sowing is generally carried out from late September to mid-October, sown in an open-field seedbed; the seedbed is generally 10m long and 1m wide; sow the seeds broadcast or in drills on the level, finely prepared seedbed; the sowing density can be relatively lower, so that transplanting is not necessary.
Blue flax can also be propagated by division, dividing plants in combination with transplanting, but with this method the propagation quantity is easily limited by the source of seedlings.
Blue flax cultivation methods 1.Water management: the germination stage and seedling stage need sufficient water; spray water 1-2 times a day to keep the soil layer moist. As the seedlings grow, gradually reduce the frequency of watering. Pay attention to replenishing water during dry weather, and do a good winter irrigation before winter to help overwintering and greening up.
2、Fertilization management: if the sowing plot is very poor, appropriate fertilization is needed, generally carried out before sowing in combination with soil improvement, best using organic fertilizer or low-nitrogen compound fertilizer. Be careful to avoid excessive fertilization, otherwise it will favor weed growth, cause the flowers to grow leggy, and reduce flowering.
3、Weed control and thinning, transplanting of seedlings: weed control is the primary issue in seedling stage and later maintenance. If the sowing plot has many weeds, it is recommended to carry out weed control in two steps: first, water before sowing to promote weed germination, and after germination spray herbicide or remove them. Second, after the flower seeds germinate, remove weeds to prevent them from spreading; during the growing period, extensive management can be used. When the seedlings grow too densely, appropriate thinning is needed to help the seedlings grow. At the same time, transplant the thinned seedlings to sparser areas, thereby maintaining a better overall landscape effect.
4、Pruning: to make the blue flax plant full in shape, pinching can be carried out during growth. Generally, when the seedlings are 6-10 cm tall, remove the top shoots to promote branch formation. 3-5 weeks after the first pinching, a second pinching can be done on the side branches. Besides adjusting the plant shape, pinching can also increase the number of flowers. If you want a second bloom, after flowering in May-June, leave 15-20 cm of the root crown and cut off the upper part to promote new branches, and it can bloom again around October.
Propagation methods of blue flax
Blue flax is mainly propagated by sowing; both spring and autumn sowing are possible, and in northern regions spring sowing is preferable. Blue flax is relatively afraid of heat throughout the growing period; the optimum sowing temperature is 15-20 "C. Spring sowing time is April-May, autumn sowing in mid-to-late September. Its propagation methods are generally three: plug tray seedling raising, direct sowing in the open field, and cutting propagation.
1、Plug tray seedling raising uses plug trays as containers for raising seedlings, and has the advantages of high seedling quality, uniform seedlings, simple and convenient transplanting, easy long-distance transport, less root damage, no root binding, high survival rate, easy control of the seedling stage, significantly reduced disease occurrence, suitability for large-scale production, standardized management, and high production efficiency. Plug tray specifications can be 128-cell, 200-cell and other models. The seedling substrate should be soil with good fertility, loose, good air permeability, and few impurities; the substrate is generally composed of peat, vermiculite, and perlite, with the usage ratio being peat soil: vermiculite: perlite = 3:1:1. Mix the substrate evenly, disinfect with potassium permanganate, put it into already disinfected plug trays, fill them full, and scrape off excess substrate on the surface with a scraper. Water thoroughly with bottom water; after the water has seeped in, sow the pre-germinated seeds into the plug trays, one seed per cell, then evenly sprinkle pre-moistened vermiculite or perlite over the seeds, covering to a thickness that just does not expose the seeds; do not cover too thickly, as this affects the emergence rate. Finally cover the surface with plastic film, glass, etc. to keep warm and retain water, improve the germination rate, and place in a shaded place. After about 10 days the seedlings emerge evenly; remove the covering in time to avoid leggy seedlings. Pay attention to water supply during the seedling stage, keep the soil moist, generally spraying twice a day. After the seedlings are strong, move them into larger plug trays, continue cultivating in the greenhouse for about half a month, carry out hardening off, and after half a month plant out in the ground, with a plant spacing of 20-25 cm.
2、Direct sowing in the open field is a common propagation method for herbaceous flowering plants, especially suitable for varieties with high seed germination rate, lower price, and intolerance to transplanting; it has the advantages of saving funds, saving labor and trouble, being operable over large areas, and good landscape effect. Blue flax has relatively long fibrous roots and is not tolerant of transplanting, so it can be sown directly when used for garden landscaping. The sowing density is 2-3 grams per square meter; the sowing method depends on the planting area and terrain; when the area is small, hand sowing or an air-vortex seeder is generally used; when the area is large, broadcast sowing is used. Sowing method: before sowing, deep plow, finely harrow, and level the soil; for poor soil, an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer can be applied, such as leaf mold, peat soil, etc. If the sowing plot has many weeds, water half a month in advance to promote weed germination and remove them in time, so that the seeds and soil are closely combined; finally cover with plastic film or straw curtains, etc. to raise the ground temperature, promote seed germination, and water thoroughly on the covering (straw curtain).
3、Cutting propagation: the cutting substrate can use nutrient soil or river sand, peat soil and other materials. Select thick, pest-free top shoots as cuttings. The optimum temperature for cutting rooting is 18°C-25°C; below 18°C the cuttings root with difficulty; above 25°C the cut end of the cuttings is easily infected by pathogens and rots. After cutting, appropriate shading should be provided, because strong light will cause excessively high temperatures, increase the plant's water consumption, and be unfavorable to the survival of the cuttings. After the cuttings have rooted, the light time can be gradually extended.
Distribution area of blue flax
Blue flax: Europe and the Mediterranean; Northeast China; North China; Southwest China, Northwest China.
Landscape uses of blue flax 1.Blue flax has relatively strong adaptability, grows quickly, has a long flowering period, abundant flowers, and is convenient to cultivate and manage; as a garden greening flowering plant, it can be widely used in large garden settings such as scenic areas, suburban recreation areas, and forest parks, on open ground, roadsides, forest edges, beside streams, and on hillsides. Without increasing much investment, it can add the beauty of natural landscape. It can also be invested in once and used for many years, while also having the effect of conserving soil and water.
2、Because landscaping is based mainly on plants, achieving the expected landscape effect is always limited by the time factor. Therefore, before basic construction is completed, perennial flowers such as blue flax, coreopsis, and black-eyed Susan can be used as "pioneer flowers" for early ground cover, to achieve the goal of early greening and beautifying the environment, and at the same time solve problems such as flying dust and soil erosion.
3、Blue flax introduced and cultivated in various places can all grow well, and the introduction and cultivation area should be further expanded. It should also be widely introduced and cultivated in urban streets and residential areas to give full play to its greatest value.
Blue flax pictures
An introduction to the growth habits of blue flax, and an introduction to its cultivation methods
The flowers of blue flax are delicate, lovely, and very beautiful; the flowers of blue flax are blue with a bright yellow center, and the branches are slender. The flowers of blue flax are abundant, and from a distance they look like a blue ocean. Nowadays many friends also grow blue flax themselves at home. Today, the editor will take everyone to learn about the growth habits of blue flax, and an introduction to its cultivation methods.Morphological characteristics
Perennial herbaceous plant, height30-40cm, fibrous roots slender, stems smooth, clustered, leaves alternate, linear to lanceolate, length1.5-2.0cm, cymes terminal, sparse, flowers small, opening in the early morning, withering in the afternoon, flower diameter about2.5cm, obovate, light blue, petals5in number, with radial colored markings, drooping at bud stage and fruit stage; flowering period6～7month.
Seed propagation methods
Can be divided into spring sowing and autumn sowing:
Spring sowing
First wash the seeds with dish soap or laundry detergent, soak24hours, put the seeds in the refrigerator to freeze for 24 hours, after thawing mix the seeds with fine sand, spread them out on clean ground to dry in the sun, and once they are loose after drying, the seedbed should first be watered thoroughly with potassium permanganate1500times dilution for disinfection; after the water has seeped in, sow the seeds on the seedling bed soil, cover with fine sandy soil or vermiculite2times the thickness of the seed diameter; for pot cultivation, cover with a piece of glass with good transparency, and cover with newspaper with evenly printed text for shade; for seedbed cultivation, cover with plastic film and pull up a shade net high; after one week the seedlings emerge evenly, then remove the glass or plastic film, and gradually remove the shade net; after the seedlings have4true leaves and are relatively strong, prick out the seedlings. After pricking out, cultivate the seedlings indoors or in a shed for about half a month, then place the seedlings in a well-ventilated place3~5days, then move them outdoors to harden off; only after the seedlings have been hardened off for half a month can they be planted out in the ground, with a planting spacing of25~30cm。
Because the seedlings are slender and weak and easily swallowed up by weeds, therefore they should be frequently hoed and weeded, and fertilization should also be applied lightly and frequently.
Autumn sowing
Autumn sowing is generally in9late month to10mid-month, sown in an open-field seedbed; the seedbed is generally long10m, wide1m, sow the seeds broadcast or in drills on the level, finely prepared seedbed; the sowing density can be relatively lower, so that transplanting is not necessary. Blue flax can also be propagated by division, dividing plants in combination with transplanting, but with this method the propagation quantity is easily limited by the source of seedlings.
The above is the introduction to the growth habits of blue flax that I have compiled, as well as an introduction to its cultivation methods. I hope it can be helpful to the vast number of flower lovers, and please continue to follow Duorou Huapu to learn more about flower care knowledge.