How to propagate the butterfly flower? A detailed explanation of propagation methods
Seed propagation
The sowing time varies according to the desired flowering period and the climate characteristics of the region. In areas with mild winters and cool summers, sowing can be done all year round; spring-sown plants bloom from June to September; summer-sown plants bloom in September and October; autumn-sown plants bloom in December; plants sown in September and October bloom in February and March of the following year. Flowers can be had almost all year round. Sowing in autumn in September is best; each gram contains 700 seeds, the suitable germination temperature is 13°C to 16°C, germination occurs 12-15 days after sowing, and it takes about 100-110 days from sowing to flowering.
Cuttings propagation
Carry it out in May and June; under these climatic conditions, cuttings propagation can be done. For autumn cuttings, give slight protection after winter sets in, and they will bloom in early spring. Cut off the shoots sprouting from the base of the plant and insert them into peat, keeping the air humid; they will root 15-20 days after insertion, and the survival rate will be higher.
Division propagation
Division is often done after flowering; the new divisions need to have 23 stem buds and good fibrous roots. Cut off the side branches with adventitious roots or the new rooted shoots sprouting from the rhizome, pot them directly, and place them in partial shade to recover; in winter they need plenty of sunlight.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that the blue butterfly flower is not only beautiful on the outside; its inner beauty is often praised. Blue butterfly flower tea has a delicate fragrance, a unique color, and special health-preserving benefits.
How to grow the butterfly flower
Soil
The butterfly flower has low requirements for soil; any type of soil, as long as it is well-drained, strongly moisture-retentive and not prone to caking, can be used to plant the butterfly flower with confidence.
Sandy loam gives the best cultivation results, because its high aeration and permeability are good for the expansion of the butterfly flower's root system.
What if the soil of the chosen plot is clayey? Apply plant ash, perlite, coarse sand, etc. to the surface of the soil, then deep-plow and mix evenly before planting.
If the soil is too sandy and tends to leak too quickly, the way to deal with it is to spread rice husks, pine needles or peat and other mulches on the soil surface after planting to alleviate the problem of overly fast leakage.
Planting
When planting the butterfly flower, a soil temperature below 20°C is most appropriate. If the average temperature during the planting period is expected to exceed 23°C, it cannot be planted. At this time the planting period must be moved earlier or later, otherwise the butterfly flower will find it very hard to survive.
Watering
The butterfly flower likes a humid environment, so the soil should be kept moist during cultivation; if the soil is too dry, it will be unfavorable to plant growth. Water once before planting to ensure the soil stays moist during planting, which helps rapid rooting. Water once again after planting to make the soil fully contact the bulbs. Note that watering is best done in the morning.
Fertilizing
Before planting the butterfly flower, the usual method of applying base fertilizer should not be used, because it is very sensitive to soil salinity; if fertilizer is applied at this time, it will increase the salt content in the soil, which is unfavorable to the butterfly flower's root development.
However, organic fertilizer can be applied, such as cow or horse manure or dried chicken manure, and after application it should be mixed evenly with the cultivation soil. After the plants survive planting in spring, apply urea once as a top dressing in early summer, apply a phosphorus-potassium fertilizer once in early autumn, and at the end of autumn, in combination with watering for freezing, apply a light application of cow or horse manure, which can also be scattered directly on the soil.
Weeding
The plot where the butterfly flower is to be planted must be cleared of weeds in advance. If weeds appear during planting, they should be pulled out by hand in time; chemical herbicides must not be used to remove weeds, otherwise it will be unfavorable to its growth.
The above are the care precautions for the butterfly flower. Although the process of growing the butterfly flower is somewhat tedious, it is worth your hard work; if you don't believe it, just read on!
How to grow the butterfly flower
How to grow the butterfly flower
Temperature requirements
The suitable cultivation temperature is 25-28°C during the day. The temperature also seen is 18-20°C; for seedlings it should be raised to about 23°C at night. In such a temperature environment, the butterfly flower is in a growing state almost all year round, especially the seedlings grow rapidly; seedlings moved out of test tubes can bloom in about 1-2 years.
Humidity requirements
The butterfly flower's native habitat is fairly humid, so growing the butterfly flower requires creating an environment with high air humidity. Generally speaking, the humidity should be kept at 60-80% all year round. In the vast northern regions, the climate is dry in spring, autumn and winter, so the air humidity of the cultivation environment must be increased by some means; you can sprinkle water several times a day on the ground, benches, walls and other places, or apply a small amount of water to the plant leaves to increase the humidity of the local environment.
Light requirements
When cultivating the butterfly flower, be sure to avoid strong light; there should be good shading conditions. Although the butterfly flower's leaves are broad and thick and store abundant water, the cuticle layer and drought-resistant structure on the leaf surface are relatively poor, so once exposed to direct sunlight, water is lost in large amounts, or if it is not replenished in time, the leaves are very prone to sunburn.
Precautions for growing the butterfly flower
In North China, winter and spring are often sunny with few cloudy and rainy days, so appropriate shading is needed at this time
When the summer sun is strong and the temperature is too high, shade nets or bamboo blinds should be placed outside the greenhouse glass, serving the dual purpose of cooling the greenhouse and providing shade; the shading rate should be above 60%. By autumn, only about 40% shading is needed.