How to grow Gaillardia seeds? Flowering time and value introduction

Gaillardia, an annual herb in the Asteraceae family, 20-60 cm tall. Native to tropical America, cultivated throughout China, so do you know what the seed planting methods for Gaillardia are? When does it bloom? What value does it have? Gaillardia has brilliant colors, a long flowering period, and simple cultivation and management, and is often grown in gardens for ornamental purposes, with a flowering and fruiting period from June to August.

I. Gaillardia seed planting methods

1. Sowing time

This plant likes a hot and dry environment, so it is generally sown in summer, a period with plenty of sunlight.

2. Preliminary treatment

① Soak the seeds in warm water for seven or eight hours, so the seeds fully absorb water and swell up. Even after swelling, the grains are still very small.

② Sterilize the prepared growing medium; high-temperature sterilization can be used.

3. Sowing method

① Choose a pot with good air permeability and drainage, and put the sterilized medium into it. Because the seeds are already very small, when sowing you can press the seeds in with your finger or use tweezers to pick them up and place them one by one on the growing medium; if using tweezers, be careful with the force so as not to damage the seeds. After placing them, cover the surface with a layer of soil the same as the sowing medium, about 1 cm thick.

② Prepare a large basin, place the flower pot in the basin, and pour water into the large basin until the water level reaches two-thirds of the flower pot. Let it sit for a few minutes until the water in the large basin has soaked all the soil in the flower pot, then take it out.

③ Note: If there are relatively large seeds, put them directly into the soil and sow them at a distance of 3 cm. After sowing, cover with soil, controlling the thickness to two or three times the size of the seeds. Water with a shower head or spray bottle to avoid washing the seeds away.

④ Pay attention to observing whether the soil is dry or wet, and replenish water promptly when it looks dry to keep it moist.

⑤ Cover with a layer of plastic film on top to retain moisture and temperature.

4. Later care

① Once the seeds grow into seedlings, remove the plastic film promptly to avoid scorching from excessive temperature. After removing the film, place the flower pot in a sunny spot; this step is best done in the evening or early morning, as the midday sun is too strong and the seedlings may get scorched.

② Once the seeds have sprouted into seedlings, you can see their growth condition. Thin out those that are too densely spaced, and remove diseased and poorly growing ones to leave space for healthy seedlings. When the seedlings grow three leaves, they can be repotted and transplanted.

II. When does Gaillardia bloom

1. The flowering period of Gaillardia

Gaillardia generally blooms in summer and autumn, with its flowering period from July to October. After flowering, it produces fruit, and the fruit generally matures from August to October.

2. Gaillardia flowering

The Gaillardia plant is actually not very tall, and a single flower is usually a whole cluster. This one flower contains many ray florets and tubular florets, and the colors are quite brilliant. Generally, the ray florets surround the inner tubular florets; after the ray florets wither, the inner tubular florets develop into fruit, and once the fruit matures, it can produce seeds.

III. What value does Gaillardia have

Ornamental

Gaillardia has graceful flower forms, brilliant colors, and a long flowering period, making it suitable as a flowering plant for flower beds and flower borders.

Environmental protection

Gaillardia is wind-resistant, moisture-resistant, highly resilient, and drought-tolerant. The whole plant has fine hairs that can prevent water loss, making it a good windbreak and sand-fixing plant.