How to care for Chinese lantern flowers? Practical care tips shared

  Today the editor introduces a newly available potted plant on the market——the Chinese lantern flower. Its blooms look like little lanterns and are very beautiful. Some varieties of Chinese lantern flower have veins distributed on the flowers when they bloom; these are usually the variegated Chinese lantern flower, though they may also be other hybrid varieties.

  Some botanists have proposed listing them as a separate genus; currently there are roughly more than 100 varieties of Chinese lantern flower worldwide. Domestically, our country has already introduced more than 10 varieties, such as Pink Satin, Little Apple, First Love, Altair, and so on; these varieties perform quite well in terms of growth condition and flowering effect in potted environments. So, how do you grow Chinese lantern flowers well? To help everyone grow Chinese lantern flowers better, today the editor shares some care tips for Chinese lantern flowers.

  1. Soil mixing should be scientific

  Although Chinese lantern flower has low requirements for potting soil and can even survive with ordinary garden soil, to better promote its growth and flowering, for the growing medium used, generally choose a fertile, loose mixed substrate with strong air permeability and water drainage, while keeping the potting soil on the acidic side. There are many such substrates; the editor has mentioned them in many previous articles.

  2. Light should be reasonable

  In terms of light, Chinese lantern flower usually needs full-sun growing conditions. In summer's high-temperature, high-heat, and strong-light environment, we can provide it with appropriate shade. But it should not be kept in a shady place for a long time, because if light is insufficient, the flowers that Chinese lantern flower produces will become smaller and the number of flowers will decrease, thereby reducing the ornamental value of the potted plant. Especially in the other seasons, we should provide it with sufficient light as much as possible.

  3. Temperature should be suitable

  Chinese lantern flower is relatively heat-tolerant and tolerant of high temperatures; as long as the summer temperature does not exceed 38°C, it generally will not affect its normal flowering. But when the winter temperature is below 3°C, Chinese lantern flower will show leaf drop, then enter a dormant state; this shows that Chinese lantern flower is not particularly drought-tolerant, though it can safely overwinter in environments above -6°C.

  But as long as the temperature is suitable, Chinese lantern flower can bloom in all four seasons. Moreover, for a single flower, it can generally stay open for 2-12 days. However, the lower the temperature, the longer a single flower stays open. At the same time, flower color is also affected to some extent by temperature changes; generally, the higher the temperature, the lighter the flower color; conversely, the lower the temperature, the deeper the flower color. So many varieties of Chinese lantern flower often maintain distinctly different colors across the four seasons.

  In northern China, because winter temperatures can become very low, it is recommended to promptly move it indoors for care when the temperature drops sharply. And if the indoor temperature is suitable, we can also enjoy its beautiful blooming appearance. Moreover, many varieties of Chinese lantern flower produce numerous blooms, and in the cold, dull winter season they can often bring us vibrant life.

  4. Watering should be timely

  Chinese lantern flower also relatively likes a moist growing environment; for routine watering, generally just do “water when dry, stop when wet.” Generally, when the potting soil becomes seventy percent dry, we can water it. But watering must not be excessive, otherwise it may cause root rot, since Chinese lantern flower fears waterlogging. And in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment, ensure smooth ventilation, otherwise pests and diseases are likely to breed.

  5. Fertilizing should be sufficient

  Because Chinese lantern flower produces many flowers and consumes a large amount of nutrients, we need to fertilize it frequently. Generally, we can apply more flowering fertilizer with a high phosphorus and potassium content, since Chinese lantern flower blooms are colorful and numerous. Fertilizers like Huaduoduo No. 15 are, for Chinese lantern flower, very good flower fertilizer when applied promptly.

  6. Pests and diseases should be prevented and controlled

  Actually, Chinese lantern flower's disease resistance is also very strong, and basically no pests or diseases occur. But if care conditions change, occasionally a small number of pests such as aphids and cabbage caterpillars may appear. If ventilation conditions are too poor, whiteflies and scale insects may usually appear. However, for this kind of pests and diseases, prevention and control are often relatively easy; general pesticides can achieve a therapeutic effect and bring the situation under control in time.