How to Grow Poinsettia? Full Guide to Hydroponic Methods and Care
Poinsettia, also known as Christmas red, Christmas flower, ivory red, gorilla wood, and laolaijiao. Euphorbiaceae, Euphorbia genus. It is cultivated in both northern and southern China, and in South China it is mostly used as a Lunar New Year flowering plant for Spring Festival. Below, the Huinong Network editor tells you about poinsettia hydroponic methods and care guide.
1. Growth Characteristics
The poinsettia flowering period coincides with Christmas, hence the name Christmas flower; its leaves are emerald green, and after winter begins, several vermilion or yellowish-white leaves grow near the flowers on the young branches, with red and green or red and yellow setting each other off, and a bright red or yellow crown on top. Poinsettia is an evergreen shrub. The plant height is about 3 m, while potted plants are less than 1 m tall. The whole plant contains white milky sap. Leaves are simple and alternate, ovate-elliptic to fiddle-shaped, entire or shallowly lobed, emerald green in color. The inflorescence is terminal, monoecious with unisexual flowers, stamens clustered, pistil solitary. The flowers are small and inconspicuous. Below the inflorescence are leaf-like whorled bracts in colors such as red, yellow, and milky white.
2. Hydroponic Methods
(1) Hydroponic poinsettia is suitable for the root-washing method. Take an established soil-grown plant, remove the soil, rinse it clean with clear water, place it in a planting basket, and secure it with expanded clay, pebbles, and the like.
(2) Poinsettia is relatively sensitive to water, so the amount of water should be moderate and not excessive; otherwise, the leaves will become narrow and leggy. The water level should be at 1/3 -1/2 of the root system, and water roots will grow in about 15 days. The picture shows hydroponic poinsettia.
3. Care Guide
(1) Temperature and Light
The optimum growth temperature for poinsettia is 18- 25°C, and it can overwinter safely at 10°C. Poinsettia likes light, and maintaining sufficient sunlight during the growing period can make the stems and leaves grow rapidly.
(2) Changing Water
In the early stage of hydroponics, change the water frequently, once every 2-3 days; after water roots have grown, change the water once every 15- 20 days.
(3) Fertilizing
Add nutrient solution when changing the water. After entering the growing period, spray foliar fertilizer about once every 7 days to ensure the nutrients needed for plant growth.
(4) Pest and Disease Control
Leaf spot disease, whiteflies, and spider mites are common problems of poinsettia. When leaf spot disease is found, remove the diseased leaves, improve the environment, and strengthen ventilation to avoid recurrence; for whiteflies and spider mites, manual capture is the main method, and observe at any time for recurrence.
The above is the poinsettia hydroponic methods and care guide compiled by the Huinong Network editor. Have you all learned it?
Household Indoor Flower Care Methods
Indoor plants, whether grown for flowers, foliage, fruit, or stems, all have strong ornamental value. Rare flowers and exotic plants, ever-changing, help people understand nature and increase scientific knowledge while being enjoyed. Placing suitable plants indoors can not only beautify the environment, regulate temperature and humidity, and purify the air, but some plants placed indoors also have health benefits for the human body. Some flowers can absorb formaldehyde from the air, such as snake plant, spider plant, cast-iron plant, Philodendron bipinnatifidum, and orchids; some can absorb carbon dioxide from the air, such as narcissus and aloe; some can absorb chlorine from the air, such as pothos and ivy; some can absorb computer radiation, such as spider plant, cacti, dragon tree, weeping fig, and sword fern; some can absorb nitrogen oxides, such as narcissus, chrysanthemum, and four o'clock flower.
2 Common Indoor Flower Varieties
2.1 Potted Flowers
Potted flowers are the basic material for plant decoration in various places. They are convenient to arrange and replace, come in diverse types and forms, and have a relatively long ornamental period.
2.1.1 Varieties suitable for display in bright indoor areas without direct light: sago palm, Monstera deliciosa, cast-iron plant, clivia, lucky bamboo, palm, lady palm, Chinese fan palm, and date palm.
2.1.2 Varieties suitable for display in bright indoor areas with a certain amount of direct light: camellia, Cordyline fruticosa, citrus, Hosta, Calathea, ferns, bromeliads, Michelia figo, hydrangea, Asparagus species, areca palm, and spider plant.
2.1.3 Varieties suitable for display in indoor areas with ample sunlight for short-term viewing: poinsettia, croton, Pelargonium species, Begonia species, Primula species, jasmine, Schlumbergera species, Epiphyllum, night-blooming cereus, cyclamen, and Michelia alba.
2.2 Hydroponic Flowers
Hydroponic flowers use water as the medium, planting flowers in containers such as glass or plastic with a certain degree of transparency and applying the needed inorganic nutrient elements for ornamental purposes. It belongs to the static hydroponic method of soilless cultivation with non-solid medium. Compared with traditional soil cultivation, it has many advantages: first, you can not only view the plant's flowers, stems, and leaves, but the care method for Begonia semperflorens also allows you to view the plant's root system; second, flowers and fish can be kept together, which is more enjoyable; third, cultivating plants in water is very clean and hygienic, with no odor; fourth, watering, fertilizing, and other care procedures are very simple, suitable for a “lazy person” pace.
2.2.1 Herbaceous flowers suitable for water culture: peace lily, umbrella papyrus, Peperomia, Anthurium, Alocasia, Phalaenopsis, asparagus fern, Begonia, Alocasia, and clivia.
2.2.2 Woody flowers suitable for water culture: Dracaena fragrans, money tree, ponytail palm, miniature coconut, and Dracaena.
2.2.3 Vine flowers suitable for water culture: spider plant, pothos, and ivy.
2.2.4 Succulent flowers suitable for water culture: snake plant, golden barrel cactus, Aeonium, jade plant, and Haworthia fasciata.
3 Display Forms of Indoor Flowers
3.1 Point Style
The most common and ordinary display form. Beside the sofa, in corners, on tea tables, and on tabletops, they can all be arranged in point style.
3.2 Line Style
Arrange flower pots in a line within a certain range.
3.3 Patch Style
Several pots or a dozen pots form a small patch, usually in a larger room.
3.4 Wall Style
Combined with indoor decorative design, locally protruding wall bodies or recessed wall niches can be set on the wall to place potted flowers or trailing plants, and supports can also be set on the wall.
3.5 Hanging Style
In a larger indoor space, choose relatively lightweight shade-tolerant foliage plants, such as bird's nest fern and ivy, for hanging, but on the premise that it does not affect people's activities.
4 Requirements for Placing Flowers Indoors
4.1 Placement Requirements for Different Places
The living room is the main place for family members' activities and receiving guests. Greening should mainly be simple, beautiful, and elegant, and ornamental plants such as clivia and cyclamen should be chosen. The bedroom is a place for rest and is more cozy; foliage plants or small flowers with elegant colors can be chosen, such as Osmanthus fragrans, bromeliads, and golden barrel cactus. The study is a room for reading and writing, and a quiet and elegant atmosphere should be created; asparagus fern, spider plant, and the like can be chosen. The kitchen is generally small in area and short of light, with more smoke and higher humidity; Pilea and Sedum can be chosen. The dining room is where family and guests eat, with the purpose of improving the dining environment; lucky bamboo, Schefflera octophylla, and the like can be chosen.
4.2 Placement Requirements for Different Plants
4.2.1 Because foliage plants have relatively good shade tolerance, they become good materials for greening the home. How to grow potted azaleas: large foliage plants can be placed beside the sofa or at the corner of the living room, such as money tree and rubber plant, but they should not be arranged too many.
4.2.2 Flowering plants come in many varieties, such as jasmine, Chinese rose, and narcissus, which can release fragrance and make the room fresh and pleasant, and can be placed on tabletops, tea tables, and other places.
4.2.3 Cactus family plants have strong drought tolerance and fewer diseases, and also absorb carbon dioxide from the air. On a sunny windowsill or in a small room with long sunshine hours, Epiphyllum and the like can be placed.
4.2.4 Ferns are shade-tolerant and moisture-loving, resistant to pests and diseases, evergreen all year round, and graceful in form, such as sword fern, maidenhair fern, and tree fern. They can be placed on windowsills, desks, and in bedrooms of shaded rooms.
5 Care and Management of Indoor Flowers
5.1 Potted Plants
5.1.1 Light: Most indoor foliage plants like semi-shaded environments, but they should also get appropriate sun every week, and long periods under strong light should be avoided. Therefore, reasonable light should be given according to their respective characteristics to benefit their growth. For example, fish-tail palm and lady palm can grow very well under indoor light, while rubber plants and succulents need sufficient sunlight to grow well.
5.1.2 Temperature: The suitable growth temperature for most foliage plants is 15~30°C. Below 10°C they stop growing, and the overwintering temperature should preferably be above 15°C. Foliage plants should be kept warm in winter, especially sago palm and snake plant, which all like warm environments. But indoor temperature should not be too high or too low; if too high, flowers easily wither, and if too low, growth and development are affected.
5.1.3 Humidity: Indoors, drought-loving plants should be placed in places with strong light and good ventilation; placing them in dark places will cause leggy growth. Moisture-loving plants should be placed in relatively humid places. If the air is too dry, leaf tips will turn yellow. Water frequently to keep the potting soil moist. Some potted flowers also need frequent spraying of the leaves to create a humid environment and satisfy their full water requirements, such as Alocasia.
5.1.4 Watering: Different plants need different amounts of water. For Araceae plants such as Monstera deliciosa and calla lily, and most ferns, water must be given promptly when the potting soil becomes dry. For trailing vines such as pothos, which have many leaves, smooth leaf surfaces, and aerial roots, the water demand during the growing period is relatively large, and the leaves should also be sprayed with water. Plants such as ponytail palm and Yucca elephantipes have strong water retention and storage capacity themselves, evaporate less water, and do not need too much watering; keeping the soil moist is enough. Some taro foliage plants have dense leaves and are relatively sensitive to water. When short of water, symptoms such as leaf curling and yellow, withered leaf tips tend to appear, so the water demand in the growing season is relatively large. In short, the principle should be “alternating dry and wet.”
In addition, plants have different water requirements in different seasons. Generally, spring and summer are the growing periods for indoor foliage plants, requiring more water, so water must be supplemented appropriately. Especially in summer with high temperatures and low air humidity, water supplementation is even more necessary. In winter, most indoor foliage plants are in the dormant period, and can be watered once every 5~7 days. No matter the season, watering must be thorough so that the entire root system is completely moistened. Never give half-hearted watering, with the upper layer wet and the lower layer dry, as this easily causes the upper roots to rot and the lower roots to lack water, affecting plant growth.
5.1.5 Fertilization Management: Fertilization for indoor ornamental plants is mainly liquid fertilizer and granular compound fertilizer. Foliage plants especially need nitrogen fertilizer. If nitrogen fertilizer is lacking, chlorophyll forms slowly, photosynthesis is not vigorous, and leaf surfaces lose their luster; but if nitrogen fertilizer is excessive, it will cause excessive growth of the plant. For plants grown for both flowers and foliage, before flowering, more phosphorus fertilizer should be applied, with thin fertilizer applied frequently. In winter, when the temperature is low and plant growth is slow, fertilization should be stopped.
5.1.6 Pest and Disease Control: Pest and disease control should follow the principle of “prevention first, combining prevention and control.” The main pests include red spider mites and aphids, and the main diseases include powdery mildew and rust. Pay attention to ventilation and regularly inspect the leaf backs, leaf bases, and leaf tips. When insects are found on individual branches, gently brush them off with a soft brush; if the infestation is too severe, move the plant outdoors and spray pesticide. To control pests, spray pesticide when the nymphs are crawling. The pesticide can be 40% omethoate 1000~1500 times solution or 40% Supracide 1500 times solution. To control red spider mite damage, spray with 25% fenbutatin oxide wettable powder 1500 times solution.
5.2 Hydroponic Plants
5.2.1 Nutrient Supply: Try to use special fertilizer for hydroponic flowers, and apply it strictly according to the instructions. Strictly prevent fertilizer damage caused by applying too much or too high a concentration. According to the number of water changes, generally add nutrient solution each time the water is changed, to supplement the nutrient loss caused by changing the water.
5.2.2 Changing Water and Washing Roots: Generally, the water change interval should be 5~7 days, depending on seasonal changes and the different conditions of the plants. In summer, plants grow vigorously, the temperature is high, and the water easily deteriorates, so the water change interval should be shortened. In winter, most plants are in a dormant or semi-dormant state, the temperature is lower, and the water change interval can be longer. Overall, a shorter water change interval is beneficial to plant growth.
5.2.3 Spraying Water and Washing Leaves: Most indoor hydroponic foliage plants like relatively high air humidity; otherwise, leaf tips or edges easily scorch. Therefore, spray water frequently to increase air humidity and enhance plant vigor.
5.2.4 Proper Ventilation: Strengthening ventilation keeps indoor air fresh and can also increase the oxygen content in the water, which is beneficial to the growth of hydroponic flowers.
5.2.5 Lighting and Temperature: Shade-loving flowers such as ferns, Orchidaceae, and Araceae plants should be properly shaded. Neutral flowers such as Monstera deliciosa, poinsettia, and Schefflera octophylla are not strict about light intensity, generally like sufficient sunlight, and can also grow normally under shade. In terms of temperature, controlling the root system temperature of hydroponic flowers within the range of 15~30°C is best for their growth.
5.2.6 Timely Pruning: For hydroponic flowers, especially some varieties with vigorous growth and relatively developed root systems, prune the roots when growth begins in spring. This can also be combined with changing the water to prune excess, aged, and rotten roots at any time, ensuring normal growth.
5.2.7 Keep Clean: During the care of hydroponic flowers, cleanliness and hygiene must be maintained, the water must not be polluted, organic matter must not be added, and algae that grow should be removed promptly.
With the development of society, people's yearning for nature and pursuit of beauty are becoming stronger and stronger, and all kinds of flowers have become everyone's favorites for their vitality, beauty, warmth, and romance. In leisure time, tending flowers and plants has become an important part of some people's lives, adding interest to life and also benefiting physical and mental health.
Brief Introduction to Hydroponic Flower Technology
◆What is hydroponic flower technology?Hydroponic flowers refer to the cultivation technology of directly using water and nutrient solution to grow flowers, achieving effects such as home flower growing, hygiene, environmental protection, and convenience.
◆How do hydroponic flowers overwinter? Can ordinary flowers overwinter safely?
In the south, they can overwinter safely above 0°C, and indoors in the north there is no problem either. They can overwinter in ordinary greenhouses.
◆How long can ornamental fish be kept in hydroponic flowers? How should technical issues such as changing water be handled?
Fish can be purchased locally. The nutrient solution does not have a very large impact on fish, and the nutrient solution itself also provides some mineral nutrients. In general, depending on the variety, the length of time they can be kept can meet ornamental requirements.
◆Can hydroponics only cultivate certain specific flower species, or are common flowers also suitable?
Both specific flower species and common flowers can be hydroponically cultivated.
◆Do the addition of flowers and nutrient solution conflict with fish farming?
Not at all. The three can coexist peacefully. This is also one of the key points of the nutrient solution formula.
◆What should be noted about the time and frequency of changing water?
Replace once every 20~40 days.
◆If cultivation uses expanded clay, colored stones, glass balls, etc., can nutrient solution still be used?
It can be used and will not affect flower growth, except that you cannot view the roots or fish.
◆Do hydroponic flowers need to have the solution changed regularly?
The root system of hydroponic flowers is soaked in nutrient solution, and the buffering capacity of the nutrient solution is relatively poorer than that of a substrate. Due to plant metabolism, new roots are constantly produced, and the root system may also secrete some toxic substances, which have adverse effects on root growth and development. In addition, because different flowers absorb nutrients differently and selectively, nutrient imbalance in the nutrient solution is often caused. Sometimes it causes deficiency diseases and physiological disorders. In addition, the effect of temperature on pH can also cause imbalance, especially obvious in hydroponic methods. Therefore, hydroponics requires regular solution changes. In winter, spring, and autumn, change the solution once every 1 month; in summer, change it once every 25 days. Therefore, a good nutrient solution must have strong buffering capacity, can stabilize the plant growth environment, and ensure nutrient balance.
◆Water Management
In general, the cultivation water in the pot should be replaced once every one or two months. Tap water from daily life can be used, but note that when the water temperature is lower than the indoor temperature, the tap water should be left to stand for a period before use, so as to keep the root system temperature stable.
Hydroponic flowers are mostly shade-loving and neutral flowers suitable for indoor cultivation, and flowers have their own requirements for light. Shade-loving flowers such as ferns, Orchidaceae, and Araceae plants should be moderately shaded; neutral flowers such as Monstera deliciosa, Schefflera octophylla, and poinsettia are not strict about light intensity, generally like sufficient sunlight, and can also grow normally under shade.
Ensuring the temperature for normal flower growth is very important. The flower root system grows well within the range of 15°C~30°C. Above 5°C, most flowers will not die. That is to say, in winter, a temperature above 5°C must be maintained to ensure that most flowers overwinter safely. A small number of flowers can overwinter at 0°C according to variety characteristics.
Attention should be paid to identifying the root color of flowers to judge whether they are growing well. When light, temperature, and nutrient solution concentration are appropriate, the whole root or root system is white, and some plant roots also show other night colors. Please note that exceeding the nutrient solution amount is strictly prohibited, and shortening the time interval for adding nutrient solution is strictly prohibited.
1. For water, purified water and tap water can be chosen.
2. The water in the pot should not be too much, and a certain amount of roots need to be kept in the air (it is suitable for 70% of the root length to be in water, and generally it is suitable for the planting basket not to touch the water).
3. When planting, pay attention to protecting the root system, and straighten it out as much as possible so that most of all the roots can be soaked in water.
4. If mixed with fish, pay attention to changing the water frequently, and at the same time lower the concentration of the nutrient solution to reduce waste. Also pay attention to feeding the fish. If conditions permit, oxygen-increasing equipment and medicines can be added to ensure the fish's living environment.
5. Hydroponic flowers without fish are generally changed once every 1-2 months.
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