Blue snowflower is suitable for balcony cultivation and is a great choice for beautifying balconies
Blue snowflower, also known as blue snow dan, belongs to the genus Plumbago in the family Plumbaginaceae. It is native to South Africa and is now introduced and cultivated all over the world. The climate in South China is the most suitable, where it can be grown outdoors in the ground and remains evergreen; it is also widely cultivated in East China, Southwest China and the Beijing area, mainly as a potted plant, moved indoors in winter, and if necessary the spent flowers and black branches are cut off, leaving about 15cm to overwinter. Blue snowflower is a shrub. When planted in the ground, the plant height can reach 1-2 m; in pots it is usually 30-50 cm. When young, the branches are upright, and later they curve and droop. It likes warmth and is not cold-tolerant. 15-30 degrees is the optimal temperature; too high or too low will affect normal growth. The flowering period is generally from June to September. In southern regions with high temperatures, it may extend to December. The flower colors are mostly blue, light blue, and also white, and it bears capsules.
Blue snowflower has male and female plants, and can be propagated by sowing, cuttings and division. Cuttings and division are generally carried out in May-June (20-25 degrees is most suitable; refer to the temperature in different regions), and roots form in 20-28 days. For sowing, first put a paper towel in a flat dish and moisten it with water drops, sprinkle on the stored seeds, seal it with plastic wrap, poke a few holes in it, and wait until the seeds show white sprouts before putting them into the soil. Home potted plants generally aim for two effects: a full pot or a lollipop shape. The prerequisite for a full pot is at least two plants per pot. After the plant exceeds half a meter, ensure sunlight and water: more than 6 hours of sunlight per day and one thorough watering, paired with an appropriate amount of fertilizer, and it can be achieved. The lollipop shape depends on a climbing support, leaving a single long branch to grow upward along the support, and after reaching the height, pinch the top to encourage it to sprout, and keep pruning the side buds until the flower ball is full. After flowering, prune hard, and after it reblooms, it is done.
The mature branches of blue snowflower hang down and have an artistic effect of their own in large containers. It can be used for environmental landscaping around venues, roads, overpasses and other key positions, and can also be planted at the edge of woods or as a dot planting on lawns. Overall, it is relatively easy to grow and maintain, so the cost is controllable. As a home flower, it is one of the ideal choices for beginners. In addition, blue snowflower does have a pink form (a species in the same genus), also called purple snowflower (P. indica), native to tropical Asia, and now widely cultivated in Guangdong and Yunnan. There is also white snowflower (P. zeylanica) in the same genus, which can reach 3 m in height, and its roots can be used medicinally. It is distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Taiwan, China. Both of the above are climbing shrubs. There is also small blue snowflower (P. micrantha) in the same genus, only 20-50 cm tall, with the whole plant tinged red, making it truly miniature.
The story of the flower language. Long, long ago, a warrior fell in love with a princess, or more precisely, a former princess. In order to have an everlasting love, the warrior decided to flee his own country together with the princess of a fallen kingdom. Why does great love always require escape or elopement? This is one of the stupidest (most ruthless) hints history has given humanity. The two lived a secluded life, that is, ignoring the world and just doing it. But the warrior ultimately could not escape his ruthless fate and was finally killed in battle, and his opponent was a black bear. The princess of the fallen kingdom hanged herself with a blue cloth strip, and right beneath her feet was a patch of blue snowflower. Therefore, legend says that blue snowflower is the most magical thing in the world, able to make the person you long for share life and death with you (very fierce, very gentle). So its flower language is: coldness, melancholy.
I feel like my English is so bad it makes me cry