How to Propagate Verbena bonariensis? A Detailed Guide to Artificial Sowing Methods

Verbena bonariensis is used very widely in landscape arrangements. Below, using a planting case in the Shenyang area, we explain the sowing and propagation techniques for Verbena bonariensis. In the Shenyang area, Verbena bonariensis is suitable for spring sowing, blooms in summer and autumn, has abundant flowers, and a long ornamental flowering period.

1. Plug tray selection and disinfection

The outer dimensions of the plug tray are 54.9cm x 27.8cm. For sowing, choose a 200-cell tray; for transplanting seedlings, 32-cell or 50-cell trays are more suitable. For plug trays that are used again, they must be cleaned, disinfected and dried before they can continue to be used. For disinfection, generally place the plug tray in a bleaching powder solution diluted 100 times and soak for 8 to 10 hours, then remove and sun-dry for later use.

2. Substrate materials

The main sowing substrate materials include garden soil, peat soil, perlite, vermiculite, and turf soil. In actual production, the formula is garden soil : turf soil : vermiculite or perlite at a ratio of 1 : 1 : 1. Fully mix the selected substrates, and while stirring, spray a small amount of water with a watering can and mix evenly.

3. Substrate disinfection

Generally, two methods are used: solar disinfection and chemical treatment. Solar disinfection is to place the prepared seedling substrate on clean ground or wooden boards, spread it into a thin layer of 3 to 5cm, and expose it to the sun for 3 to 15 days, which can kill a large number of pathogens and pests. Chemical treatment is to apply 40g of 50% carbendazim powder or 60g of 60% zineb powder per 1m3 of substrate, mix well, and cover with plastic film. After 2 to 3 days, remove the film and use it after the chemical smell has volatilized. Potassium permanganate disinfection can also be used. After the plug tray soil is filled, if the soil is relatively dry, first moisten the surface soil with clean water; if the soil is relatively wet, omit this step, then dilute potassium permanganate to 400 to 600 times, spray it evenly on the surface soil with a sprayer, then cover and seal with plastic film and expose to the sun for 3 to 5 days, after which the film can be removed and sowing can begin.

4. Sowing

Before and after sowing, first fill the substrate into the plug tray, and gently scrape off excess substrate with glass or a wooden board. Do not press hard, so as not to damage its physical properties. Water the bottom thoroughly one day in advance. When sowing, use tools such as tweezers or toothpicks to gently press the seeds down onto the plug tray filled with substrate. The pressing depth depends on the size of the seeds, generally 1 to 3mm. Place 1 to 2 seeds per cell, then gently cover with a layer of fine soil, perlite or vermiculite. The covering should not be too thick; level with the small cell is appropriate. After sowing, spray water promptly until water seeps out from the bottom of the plug tray. After spraying, cover with plastic film to keep the soil moist. Before covering with plastic film, it is best to place some small bamboo strips on the plug tray so that there is a gap between the film and the plug tray and they do not stick together.

5. Seedling-stage management

After emergence, promptly remove the covering plastic film to prevent excessive stretching if the film is removed too late. After the cotyledons unfold, immediately thin the seedlings and transplant seedlings to fill gaps. Pull out excess seedlings in single cells and move them into empty cells missing seedlings, ensuring each cell has one seedling. Water immediately after transplanting. After sowing and before germination, if the temperature is too high, ventilate promptly and replenish water in time, but the soil should not be too wet. About 1.5 months after sowing, transplant into large-specification plug trays such as 32-cell trays or nutrient pots for growth. About 3 months after sowing, plant out at the growing site. Before planting out, hardening off is needed, that is, place the seedlings outdoors for 3 to 5 days for training. After planting out, they can bloom in 1 to 1.5 months. The flowering period lasts as long as 2 to 3 months.

The above is all the content about Verbena bonariensis. Because its effect when planted in mass is extremely spectacular, it is often used in places such as open woodlands, botanical gardens and villa areas. Therefore, farmer friends who are interested in learning more can first come to Huinong Net to study the planting techniques.

Uses of Verbena bonariensis Cultivation Methods of Verbena bonariensis

Many people easily mistake a whole patch of Verbena bonariensis flowers for a lavender field. When both are blooming, they are both a sea of small purple flowers, but when you look closely, you will find that the flower forms of the two differ quite a lot. Verbena bonariensis has relatively strong drought tolerance, and planting and management are also relatively simple. Nowadays, many parks like to plant a patch of Verbena bonariensis for decoration and embellishment. If you have a small garden at home, planting a patch of Verbena bonariensis is also a good choice. Today, the editor will join everyone in learning about the uses of Verbena bonariensis and the cultivation methods of Verbena bonariensis.

Uses of Verbena bonariensis

1. Verbena bonariensis is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Verbenaceae family. It is upright, with dark green leaves clustered at the base. The stems are upright, slender and tough. The inflorescence is terminal, the flowers are tiny, blue-purple, with a crown diameter of 60cm, blooming in summer and autumn. With its swaying posture, delicate flower color, and lush and long ornamental period, flowering plants can reach up to 1.5m tall. Although the flowering stems are tall, they do not lodge. The soft flower color is especially suitable for combining with other plants, and it is most suitable as background material for flower borders.

2. Verbena bonariensis is very widely used in landscape arrangements. Because its effect when planted in mass is extremely spectacular, it is often used in landscape arrangements in open woodlands, botanical gardens and villa areas. In the flowering season it is like a stretch of pink-purple clouds, which is striking.

3. In courtyard greening, Verbena bonariensis can be planted in bands along roads. While separating courtyard spaces, it can also enrich the roadside scenery. In the lower layer of Verbena bonariensis, planting Oenothera speciosa, Viola philippica, and variegated Hylotelephium erythrostictum can produce an even better effect.

Cultivation Methods of Verbena bonariensis

Habits: Verbena bonariensis prefers a warm climate. The suitable growth temperature is 20~30°C. It is not cold-tolerant, and growth is slower below 10°C. It grows best in full sun. If cultivated in an environment with insufficient sunlight, it will grow poorly. It can bloom throughout the year, has a long flowering period, and high ornamental value. Spring, summer and autumn flowering is better, while in winter it is poorer or does not bloom. It is not demanding about soil, as long as drainage is good. It has strong drought tolerance and moderate water demand.

Propagation: Cultivation can use sowing, cuttings and root-cutting methods. The suitable germination temperature for sowing is about 20-25°C. Spring, summer and autumn are all suitable. After sowing, it germinates in about 1 month. Although the sowing method can obtain a larger number of plants in a short time, the time from sowing to flowering is relatively long, so cuttings are generally still the main method. Spring and summer are the suitable periods for cuttings, and terminal bud cuttings are best. Cuttings root extremely easily, and after cutting they can become seedlings in about 4 weeks.

Planting out: For plant and row spacing, use large and small ridges. The large ridge spacing is 60cm, the small ridge spacing is 40cm, and 6 plants are planted per square meter. Before planting out, ensure good soil conditions. Generally, preparatory work such as watering, weeding, fertilizing, plowing and leveling with a rake must be done first. After planting out, water thoroughly to ensure that the soil layer 20cm below the soil surface remains moist. Verbena bonariensis does not need pruning and has strong natural branching ability. From 1.5 to 2.5 months after planting out, it begins to enter the flowering period, and the full flowering period can last 2.5 to 3 months. Verbena bonariensis is very drought-tolerant. During maintenance, alternate between dry and wet, and it must not be too wet. Verbena bonariensis can overwinter safely in areas where the minimum temperature is above 0°C. In areas north of the Yangtze River, it is generally cultivated as an annual.

Leaf thinning: Seeds of hybrid broad-leaf verbena account for about 5%. During seedling raising of this type of seed, broad leaves and narrow leaves cannot be distinguished. Only after planting out and the main stem is drawn can broad leaves and narrow leaves be distinguished from the leaves growing from branches on the main stem. Therefore, if seed-propagated Verbena bonariensis is to have broad-leaf off-types removed, this must be done about 1 month after planting out.

Introduction to Verbena bonariensis and Cultivation Methods

Verbena bonariensis is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Verbenaceae family. It is upright, with dark green leaves clustered at the base. The stems are upright, slender and tough. The inflorescence is terminal, the flowers are tiny, blue-purple, with a crown diameter of 60cm, blooming in summer and autumn. With its swaying posture, delicate flower color, and lush and long ornamental period, flowering plants can reach up to 1.5m tall. Although the flowering stems are tall, they do not lodge. The soft flower color is especially suitable for combining with other plants, and it is most suitable as background material for flower borders.

Introduction to Verbena bonariensis

Verbena bonariensis, perennial herb. Plant height 100~150cm. Cyme, small tubular flowers borne at the top of the flowering stem, purplish red or light purple. Leaves are willow-leaf shaped, decussate opposite. In the early stage, the leaves are elliptical with slightly notched edges. After the flowering stem grows tall, the leaves turn slender and willow-leaf shaped, with pointed notches still on the edges. The stem is square, and the whole plant has fine hairs. The flowering period is May-September.

In the wild, it will hybridize with some plants in the Verbenaceae family whose flowers are spicate, so there are often some plants with inflorescences intermediate between cyme and spike.

Cultivation Methods of Verbena bonariensis

Environment

Verbena bonariensis prefers a warm climate. The suitable growth temperature is 20~30°C. It is not cold-tolerant, and growth is slower below 10°C. It grows best in full sun. If cultivated in an environment with insufficient sunlight, it will grow poorly. It can bloom throughout the year, has a long flowering period, and high ornamental value. Spring, summer and autumn flowering is better, while in winter it is poorer or does not bloom. It is not demanding about soil, as long as drainage is good. It has strong drought tolerance and moderate water demand.

Cultivation

Verbena bonariensis can be propagated by sowing, cuttings, and root division. Spring sowing gives the longest flowering and ornamental period. Verbena bonariensis seeds number about 4000 per gram, with a germination rate of about 85%. The suitable germination temperature for seeds is 20°C~25°C. After sowing, they germinate in 10~15 days. The whole plug seedling cycle is 40~45 days. Sowing in January is better. From sowing to flowering takes 3 to 4 months (when sowing and raising seedlings under low-temperature conditions from January to March, it takes 4 to 5 months from sowing to flowering). For seedling raising, 200-cell plug trays are usually used, which facilitates transplanting and planting out. The medium can use Danish Pindstrup imported turf soil to ensure strong, uniform and fast seedlings. After 45 days from sowing, when true leaves reach 2 to 3 pairs and the root system forms a ball, they can be transplanted. Plug seedlings are not recommended to be put directly into the ground, because when directly put into the ground, early growth is slow and the mortality rate is relatively high. Generally, first move them into 9cm~12cm nutrient pots to grow for 2 months, and then plant out for the best effect.

When planting out, use large and small ridges for plant and row spacing. The large ridge spacing is 60cm, the small ridge spacing is 40cm, and 6 plants are planted per square meter. Before planting out, ensure good soil conditions. Generally, preparatory work such as watering, weeding, fertilizing, plowing and leveling with a rake must be done first. After planting out, water thoroughly to ensure that the soil layer 20cm below the soil surface remains moist. Verbena bonariensis does not need pruning and has strong natural branching ability. From 1.5 to 2.5 months after planting out, it begins to enter the flowering period, and the full flowering period can last 2.5 to 3 months. Verbena bonariensis is very drought-tolerant. During maintenance, alternate between dry and wet, and it must not be too wet. Verbena bonariensis can overwinter safely in areas where the minimum temperature is above 0°C. In areas north of the Yangtze River, it is generally cultivated as an annual.

Although the sowing method can obtain a larger number of plants in a short time, the time from sowing to flowering is relatively long, so propagation by cuttings is also a very good method. Generally, in spring and summer, terminal bud cuttings are best. Cuttings root extremely easily, and after cutting they can become seedlings in about 4 weeks. The root-cutting method is to cut and divide the root system of the mother plant in early spring.

During the cultivation of Verbena bonariensis, attention should be paid to the problem of some broad-leaf verbena that has no ornamental value. Under normal circumstances, Verbena bonariensis has narrow leaves, but the commonly sold Verbena bonariensis seeds on the market are generally conventional domestic varieties. Because Verbena bonariensis is a nectar-source plant, it is very easily pollinated by insects during breeding, causing hybridization with the same-genus Brazilian verbena. After hybridization, the plants grown from the seeds have relatively broad leaves. When flowering, the inflorescence is intermediate between cyme and spike, the flowering period is short, and the flower color is dull, basically with no ornamental value. Seeds of hybrid broad-leaf verbena account for about 5%. During seedling raising of this type of seed, broad leaves and narrow leaves cannot be distinguished. Only after planting out and the main stem is drawn can broad leaves and narrow leaves be distinguished from the leaves growing from branches on the main stem. Therefore, if seed-propagated Verbena bonariensis is to have broad-leaf off-types removed, this must be done about 1 month after planting out. If the planting density is relatively high (about 16 plants per square meter), because the proportion of broad-leaf verbena is not high, this removal work can be ignored, and after flowering it basically does not affect the overall landscape effect. In addition, terminal bud cutting propagation can also be used to eliminate broad-leaf verbena. Generally, from April to June, select mother plants of narrow-leaf Verbena bonariensis for cuttings. They root in 1 week, become seedlings in 1 month, and can then be planted out.