How do you care for and manage soilless potted cineraria?

To grow soilless potted cineraria well, several points need attention in its care:

(1) Applying nutrient solution. After planting, the first application of nutrient solution should be thorough, that is, enough solution should flow out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. During the growing period of cineraria, a nutrient solution mainly of nitrogen fertilizer should be applied, preferably once a week; at the bud stage, apply a nutrient solution mainly of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer twice a week until flowering. A 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution should be sprayed on the leaves once a week for 4 consecutive times.

(2) Watering. Besides applying nutrient solution, pay attention to watering as well, just enough to keep the medium moist; never overwater, to avoid root rot.

(3) Light and temperature. Potted cineraria should be placed in a sunny spot. In winter the nighttime temperature must not be lower than 5°C, ideally kept at 10°C, and the daytime temperature should preferably not exceed 15°C.

How to plant potted cineraria, potted cultivation techniques for cineraria

Cineraria, also known as fuguiju (wealth chrysanthemum) and huanggua hua (cucumber flower), is a common ornamental flower. Cineraria has large, melon-shaped green leaves and colorful, showy flowers. Cineraria has strong growth habits, and many flower enthusiasts often grow potted cineraria at home. So how do you plant potted cineraria? Today the editor will learn the potted cultivation techniques of cineraria together with you.

1. How should cineraria be transplanted into pots

When the seedlings grow 3 true leaves, first apply 1 light application of dilute fertilizer water, then transplant them with the soil into small clay pots to grow. When the seedlings grow 6 true leaves, transplant them a second time into a larger clay pot with a diameter of 20 cm. First add an appropriate amount of slow-release base fertilizer, such as cake fertilizer powder and phosphate fertilizer, at the bottom of the pot, mix it with the potting soil, then fill the pot with soil, and afterward transplant the seedlings with their soil balls from the small pots into the pot, immediately watering thoroughly through percolation to settle them in. After that, carry out normal care and management.

2. How to care for soilless potted cineraria

(1) Applying nutrient solution. After planting, apply the first nutrient solution, and water thoroughly, that is, enough solution should flow out of the drainage hole at the bottom of the pot. During the growing period of cineraria, a nutrient solution mainly of nitrogen fertilizer should be applied, preferably once a week; at the bud stage, apply a nutrient solution mainly of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer twice a week until flowering. A 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution should be sprayed on the leaves once a week for 4 consecutive times.

(2) Watering. Besides applying nutrient solution, pay attention to watering as well, just enough to keep the medium moist; never overwater, to avoid root rot.

(3) Light and temperature. Potted cineraria should be placed in a sunny spot. In winter the nighttime temperature must not be lower than 5°C, ideally kept at 10°C, and the daytime temperature should not exceed 15°C.

3. How should cineraria be repotted correctly

(1) Potting soil and base fertilizer. When repotting, first add a phosphorus-containing base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot. The potting soil should be a loose, fertile, well-aerated growing medium. (2) Pot and transplanting. When removing the plant from the pot, turn the pot upside down, tap the rim lightly, loosen the soil, then use your fingers to push the plant with its soil ball out through the bottom hole; this way the roots and seedlings are not damaged. Then plant the plant with its soil ball into the new potting soil. (3) Watering after transplanting. Place the repotted pot in a container holding a certain amount of water, letting the water seep into the potting soil through the bottom hole until the surface soil is moist. After repotting, place it in a shaded spot for care first.

The above is a brief introduction to how to plant potted cineraria and the potted cultivation techniques of cineraria. Cineraria grows easily in an environment with sufficient light and good ventilation. Plant it in well-drained, fairly fertile soil and give it proper care, and when the flowering season of cineraria arrives, you will surely be able to enjoy its beautiful flowers.

Key points for spring care of potted flowers

In early spring the temperature difference between day and night is large; sometimes the nighttime temperature drops below zero, and sometimes there are late frosts or cold spells. At this time, keeping the potting soil dry and doing a good job of frost protection are still the key points. It is best not to ventilate for long periods, and even more so not to place the plants in a place with air convection. Therefore, potted flowers should be moved outdoors a little later rather than too early in spring, and the change should be gradual rather than rushed. Generally, about 10 days before moving them outdoors, you can open the windows for ventilation to let them gradually adapt to the outdoor temperature; you can move them out in the morning and back in the afternoon; move them out on cloudy days but not on windy days.

Repotting. For potted flowers whose sap is beginning to flow, such as serissa (June snow), pomegranate, Chinese rose, and other flowers and trees with relatively strong cold resistance, which have been grown for several years and whose pots have become too small, repotting and soil changing should be done at this time. The potting soil should contain a certain amount of mountain soil, and otherwise leaf mold soil will do. For flowers and trees that are blooming or bearing ornamental fruit, repotting should be done after the flowers fade and the fruit falls, such as kumquat, camellia, and rhododendron. For flowers and trees in a semi-dormant state, such as large-leaf gardenia and spider plant, repotting can be done around Qingming. For cold-sensitive flowers and trees, such as orchid tree (Aglaia odorata), pearl orchid (Chloranthus spicatus), jasmine, epiphyllum, and night-blooming cereus, as well as most foliage plants such as rubber tree and money tree, cold protection and warmth should be continued, and repotting and soil changing should be done only after Qingming.

Pruning. According to the growth characteristics of different kinds of flowers, carry out pruning of branches and roots, pinching, and leaf removal. For Chinese rose, hibiscus, poinsettia, and others that bloom on one-year-old branches, heavy pruning can be done, thinning out dead branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and overly dense branches that affect ventilation and light penetration. For rhododendron, camellia, winter jasmine, gardenia, and others that bloom on two-year-old branches, usually it is enough to cut off diseased and damaged branches and overly dense branches.

Water and fertilizer management. When fertilizing flowers in early spring, one should follow the principle of “light and infrequent fertilization, gradually increasing”, applying fully decomposed dilute cake fertilizer water, with the frequency going from few to many. Fertilizing in spring is best done on a clear evening.

Watering in early spring should also be moderate, following the rule of watering when dry and letting dry out between waterings; do not water too much all at once. In late spring the temperature is higher, the sunlight is stronger, and evaporation is greater, so watering should be more frequent and the amount of water should also be increased. In short, when watering potted flowers in spring, grasp the principle of not watering when not dry and watering thoroughly when you do water, and never let water accumulate in the pot. Watering is best done before noon, and after each watering, loosen the soil promptly.

Propagation. Spring is the best time for cuttings, division, and sowing of potted flowers. For example, Chinese rose, geranium, winter jasmine, pomegranate, and others can be propagated by cutting healthy branches; orchids, asparagus fern, spider plant, and others can be propagated by division; herbaceous flowers such as mimosa, garden balsam, morning glory, salvia, French marigold, marigold, and ornamental pepper can be propagated by broadcasting or dibbling.

Pest and disease control. Spring is the season when a hundred flowers bloom, but it is also the period when pests and diseases begin to multiply, so inspections should be frequent, with early detection, early prevention, and early treatment. Common pests in spring include various aphids, red spider mites, whiteflies, scale insects, and so on; common diseases include powdery mildew, rust, black spot, and chlorosis. Cineraria, dahlia, garden balsam, Chinese rose, and others are prone to powdery mildew; Malus halliana, rose, Chinese peony, bamboo, and others are prone to rust; peach blossom, Chinese rose, plum blossom, and others are susceptible to aphid damage; camellia, pomegranate, rhododendron, Chinese rose, hibiscus, lilac, crabapple, rohdea japonica, and others are susceptible to scale insect damage, so control should be carried out early.

(The author's affiliation is the Hengshui City Landscape Management Bureau, Hebei Province)