Cornflower Planting and Cultivation Techniques: A Flower That Can Monitor Sulfur Dioxide
The cornflower was originally a wildflower native to Europe. After many years of cultivation by people, the "wild" nature of the cornflower has gradually diminished. Today's cornflowers have larger blooms and diverse colors, among which purple and blue are the most prized. Now let's take a look at the detailed explanation of cornflower planting and cultivation techniques together with the editor of Huinong Network.
1. Monitoring Function
The cornflower is able to monitor sulfur dioxide. When the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the air is relatively high, the cornflower will lose water and wither, and will be unable to bloom normally.
2. Planting Techniques
(1) Choosing a Pot
For planting cornflowers, it is not advisable to choose plastic pots or porcelain pots with poor air permeability, as they easily lead to root rot. It is best to choose clay pots.
(2) Choosing Soil
The cornflower is suitable for growing in fertile, loose-textured, well-drained, sandy soil, and the potting soil should have good aeration and drainage.
(3) Cultivation
Before cultivation, first select the plant. For young cornflower plants, it is best to choose ones that have already grown 6-7 leaves, and then transplant them into a flower pot. Prepare fertile and loose soil in the pot, gently firm the soil around the base of the young plant, water thoroughly, place the pot in a warm and ventilated place, and then carry out normal care and management.
(4) Light
The growing environment of the cornflower must meet the conditions of good ventilation and sufficient light; otherwise, it will die due to a dark and damp environment.
(5) Temperature
The cornflower likes to grow in a fresh and cool environment and has a certain degree of cold resistance. Even in the cold winter, as long as the indoor temperature is suitable, it can grow normally. The suitable temperature is generally 8--15°C.
(6) Watering
Generally, water once a day. Summer is prone to drought, so it is necessary to water once in the morning and once in the evening to maintain the moisture of the potting soil and also cool down the potting soil, but the amount of water should not be too much, and water accumulation is not allowed. Because cornflowers cannot grow normally in a dark and damp environment, during the growing season, each watering must be moderate. Too much water will cause the potting soil to become too damp and lead to rot of the plant's root system.
(7) Fertilizing
Before planting, a base fertilizer should be applied to the cornflower, and thereafter a liquid fertilizer should be applied once a month to ensure normal growth of the plant, until the flower buds appear, when fertilization should be stopped.
(8) Propagation
The propagation method of the cornflower is sowing, which can be carried out in both spring and autumn, with autumn sowing being preferable.
(9) Pruning
The cornflower's stems are slender and weak, so pinching should be carried out at the seedling stage in order to keep the plant low and promote the growth of side branches.
(10) Placement and Arrangement
The cornflower likes light and can be planted in the ground or placed in pots in sunny places such as balconies and windowsills. It can also be used as a cut flower to decorate dining rooms, living rooms, and studies.
The above is the cornflower planting and cultivation techniques compiled by the editor of Huinong Network. Have you all learned them? Cornflowers bloom abundantly, with beautiful flower shapes and bright colors. Flower lovers who are tempted can try growing them.
How to cultivate cornflowers? Cornflower cultivation and care tips
The cornflower is characterized by an elegant plant shape, beautiful flower form, and rich flower colors, giving it very good ornamental value. It is understood that this flower is native to Europe and is currently the national flower of Germany. It was later introduced and planted in many regions of our country. Below are the detailed cultivation and care tips for cornflowers. You can try planting them.
Environment
The cornflower has strong adaptability and likes a sunny, cool environment. It is relatively cold-resistant and afraid of heat, and is not tolerant of shade or waterlogging. It likes loose, fertile, well-drained sandy soil. For ground planting, choose a location with sufficient sunlight and good drainage; otherwise, it often dies due to damp and shady conditions. For potted cornflowers, mix garden soil, leaf mold, plant ash, and river sand, and choose a pot of appropriate size for cultivation.
Management
Cornflower seeds can self-sow and reproduce, and the plant has strong adaptability and is easy to cultivate. In the south, sow in August, plant out in September, and flowers can be produced by February of the following year. In the north, sowing can be done in early spring, and flowering can occur in June. When cultivating cornflowers, do not plant them too densely. After planting out, pinching is needed to promote more branching and more flowers. If there are too many branches, some side buds can be removed so that the flowers bloom larger. A ventilated environment should also be maintained.
Water and Fertilizer
The cornflower likes fertilizer, but fears root rot caused by water accumulation in the soil. During the growing period, keep water and fertilizer sufficient, and apply a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium water-soluble fertilizer once every 20 days. Stop nitrogen fertilizer at the bud stage. In hot summer, water once in the morning and once in the evening. During the plum rain season, drain promptly. During high temperatures, sprinkle water to cool down. In winter, control watering.
Sunlight
The cornflower likes light. Except in the hot summer, it can receive full sun in other seasons. Only with sufficient water, fertilizer, and sunlight will the plants produce large and beautiful flowers. Cornflowers can be sown not only in spring and autumn but also in summer. If sown in April-May, they can bloom from July to October of the same year. For ground-planted cornflowers in the north, use coverings for protection in winter or move them into flower pots. In late October, place the pots indoors in a sunny position and keep the room temperature at 8 degrees for overwintering.
The flower shape and colors of the cornflower both have very good ornamental value. It can generally be planted in pots or flower beds. It can also be used as a cut flower, and is worth growing by all of you who like flowers and plants.
A detailed explanation of cornflower cultivation techniques!
The cornflower's homeland is Europe. It was originally a wildflower. After many years of cultivation by people, its "wild" nature has diminished, the flowers have become larger, and the colors have become more varied, with varieties such as purple, blue, light red, and white, among which purple and blue are the most prized. In Germany, it can be found everywhere on hillsides, in fields, by the water, along roadsides, and around houses. It is regarded as the national flower of Germany. Today, I will briefly introduce the cultivation techniques of the cornflower.
Cultivation Techniques of the Cornflower
The cornflower likes sufficient sunlight and a cool climate, and avoids summer heat. It is suitable for fertile, loose soil. Because it has a taproot, direct sowing is preferable. For autumn sowing, to make it bloom earlier, it can overwinter in a cold frame, and it can bloom in late spring. Because the cornflower does not tolerate transplanting, it must be transplanted with a soil ball; otherwise, it will not recover easily. After the plants survive and are established, apply once every 10 days or half a month a once-diluted decomposed human manure urine with 5 times water, and stop fertilizing in March of the following year to wait for flowering.
If cornflowers are grown in pots, the potting soil should be loose and fertile. It is best to use a mixed soil of garden soil, leaf mold, plant ash, and the like. When the seedlings have 6-7 leaves, carry out the first transplanting. As they grow thereafter, they should be moved at least into three-tube pots, because the cornflower has a taproot system and large seedlings do not tolerate transplanting. In winter, they can be continuously buried in soil to overwinter. Take them out in early March. Fertilize frequently, and stop fertilizing when the flower buds appear.
The cornflower has strong cold resistance. In East China, it can be planted in the open field, while in North China it needs covering to overwinter. It likes fertile and loose soil and sufficient sunlight, and can self-sow. It has strong adaptability and is easy to cultivate. When cultivated as a cut flower, greenhouses are usually used to force flowering: sow in August, plant out in September, and flowers can be produced by February of the following year. In warm areas within the passes, sowing is generally done from August to September, overwintering in the open field with covering, planting out in early spring of the following year, and flowering in early summer.
In the Northeast region, spring sowing is done in greenhouses. Because the cornflower's root is a taproot with few lateral roots, transplanting must be done when the seedlings are small and with soil; larger seedlings are not easy to survive, so direct sowing in spring is often practiced. Cornflowers can also self-sow and reproduce. In addition, cornflowers like dense planting; otherwise, they actually grow poorly. The cornflower has rich flower colors and unique flower shapes, and is a good material for ground planting, potting, and cut flowers. To extend the ornamental flowering period of cornflowers, in addition to autumn sowing, spring sowing and summer sowing can also be used. If sown in April-May, they can bloom from July to October of the same year.
By July, sow seeds matured in the current year, and they generally bloom after September. If cornflowers are cultivated in the open field, they can continue until the Frost's Descent. In mid-to-late October, transplant ground-planted plants into flower pots and move them indoors for the winter, or sow directly in pots in August and move them indoors before winter. In winter, as long as the room temperature is kept at 8-15°C, with moderate watering and a small amount of dilute compound fertilizer, and placed in a sunny place, cornflowers can also be made to bloom. This method of sowing in stages and batches can effectively extend the ornamental flowering period of cornflowers.
Precautions for Growing Cornflowers
The cornflower's stems are slender and weak, and it is prone to lodging, so the planting distance should not be too dense. Prevent overly dense growth and poor ventilation that can cause lodging. At the seedling stage, pinching and topping are needed to promote more branching and make the plant shorter, so that there are more flowers and the plant shape is also graceful. During the growing period, apply a liquid fertilizer once every 20 days, but note that nitrogen fertilizer should not be applied too much. Appropriately apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to make the stems firm and the flower colors vivid. At the same time, watering should be moderate and not excessive. During the rainy season, be sure to drain promptly; otherwise, it will cause root rot and affect the normal growth of the plant.