What month does the red hot poker (Kniphofia, Liliaceae) bloom, and how should it be grown to flower?
Red hot poker, also known as red fire stick and torch lily, is a fairly common perennial herbaceous plant of the Liliaceae family in China. Because its flower color and flower shape closely resemble a burning torch, it is widely cultivated, and many people now grow it indoors to enhance its ornamental value. So when does the red hot poker bloom? Which months are its flowering period? How should it be grown so that it flowers?
Bloom time:
If last year's sown seedlings are transplanted and planted in April to June of the following year, then fully opened red hot poker flowers can be seen in September to October.
Which months are the flowering period?
From May to mid-June is the natural flowering period of the red hot poker. The flower stems are usually 100-140 cm tall, while dwarf varieties are about 40-60 cm. It has a dense spicate raceme, with the inflorescence 20-30 cm long and composed of more than a hundred small flowers. The number of small flowers can reach more than 300. The small flowers open gradually from bottom to top, and the flowering period of one inflorescence is about 20 days. For individual plants that grow vigorously in early spring, the lateral buds at the lower part of the flower stem will sprout and bloom again after flowering. After the first batch of flowers on the rhizome cluster has bloomed, some later-developing individual plants will also bloom another batch of flowers.
Growing techniques:
1. Soil and flower container
The red hot poker is not very strict about soil requirements, but loose, fertile sandy soil is suitable. If planted outdoors, ordinary garden soil can be used. If potted indoors, river sand, garden soil, and leaf mold can be mixed in a 3:1:2 ratio.
The root system of the red hot poker is not very developed; it is fleshy and has few root hairs. Therefore, when choosing a flower container, an air-permeable clay pot or purple clay pot is suitable. Because the red hot poker grows relatively tall, the flower pot should be chosen to be slightly taller and larger.
2. Water and fertilizer
The torch lily is drought-tolerant and does not like moisture, so in usual care it should be kept dry rather than wet. When first potting, water thoroughly, and in normal times water thoroughly once every two weeks.
Before planting, decomposed cake fertilizer can be placed in the bottom of the pot as a base fertilizer. During the growing season, apply monopotassium phosphate fertilizer once a month, which can improve the soil and increase the nutrients needed by the flowers. Before winter, apply an additional organic compound fertilizer to supplement more nutrient elements.
3. Light and temperature
The red hot poker likes sufficient light. If it grows in a shaded place, the leaves often lack luster, the whole plant becomes leggy, and no flower buds appear. A daily light duration of 6 hours is suitable. If the light is not too harsh, shading is not necessary. The suitable growing temperature for the torch lily is 18-30 degrees, and in winter it can withstand severe cold of minus 10 degrees.
4. Pruning and shaping
Generally, plants grown for more than two years need shaping and pruning. If the red hot poker has grown for three years or even more, each plant will grow more than a dozen tiller buds at the root, which causes crowded growth and poor ventilation. At this time, we need to prune, and the cut small seedlings should be divided and cultivated separately.
5. Pest and disease management
The common disease of the red hot poker is leaf spot. After it appears, black spots appear on the plant leaves, mainly caused by muggy air and poor ventilation. Once discovered, promptly cut off the diseased branches and leaves, and spray with Bordeaux mixture.
The common insect pests of the red hot poker are scarab beetles and aphids, which suck the leaf sap and in severe cases can cause the whole plant to wither. Omethoate can be sprayed on the whole plant for control.