How to care for hydroponic pennywort (Hydrocotyle) in winter? A few methods to teach you
The pennywort plant is not only very cute but also very tasty. Generally, households grow it hydroponically, which is simple and hygienic, so how should hydroponic pennywort safely overwinter in winter? I want to introduce to you the methods for cultivating hydroponic pennywort in winter. I hope everyone likes it.
Preparing pennywort for winter
When cultivating pennywort, many choose the half-soil half-water growing method, but there is also the pure water culture method. If it is pure hydroponic pennywort, then before winter arrives, it should be converted to half-soil half-water care, so that the soil stays moist through winter and is ready for next year's growth.
Winter care methods for hydroponic pennywort
The first thing to pay attention to is the winter temperature. In winter, cultivated pennywort must be kept at a suitable temperature, at least no lower than 5°C. If the temperature is very low, insulation measures must be taken, such as covering the plant with a lid.
Pennywort has always liked light. In winter, it is also necessary to maintain enough light so that it is exposed all day, and adjust the angle so that it receives it evenly. If there is not enough light in the room, you can use light instead of sunlight to supplement the light.
As for water and fertilizer, there is still no need to worry too much. Pennywort does not need much water or fertilizer. Usually, when watering, the water quality does not need to be high, and overnight tap water can be used. Fertilizing does not require much fertilizer.
The flowering period of pennywort
Pennywort mainly blooms in summer, with the flowering period in April. After the flowers bloom, fruiting will occur in July.
The flowering period of ordinary pennywort lasts for a very short time, but if phosphorus makes pennywort bloom continuously, the flowering period will be extended. If there is continuous pennywort flowering, a compound fertilizer containing nitrogen and potassium can be used to help with the flowering phenomenon. In the daily care of pennywort, reducing the use of phosphorus-containing fertilizer will make it difficult for pennywort to bloom.
Solutions for pennywort flowering
To be honest, when pennywort blooms, its ornamental value is not high, and many flower friends have reported that when pennywort flowers, the leaves become smaller or even stop growing, affecting the ornamental value of pennywort. Some flower friends also say that after flowering, pennywort will produce seeds that can be planted and propagated. Therefore, after pennywort blooms, there are usually two solutions.
A fairly good method is to ignore it, let it bloom, and wait until the pennywort flowers are planted, then you can use the seeds to propagate. However, it should be noted that the success rate of sowing and propagating pennywort is lower than the success rate of cutting propagation.
A fairly good method is to cut off the flowers when pennywort blooms. If you do not want to keep seeds, you can cut them off. Leaving the flowers not only affects the ornamental effect of pennywort, but also makes the flowers and leaves compete for nutrients, which is not good for its growth.