What are the key points of the crystal mud flower planting method?
Crystal mud flowers are a type of miniature flower cultivation. They condense tiny plants into exquisite, small decorative touches for daily life, emphasizing ornamental value and interest, and stressing artistry and imagination, letting people experience the endless joy of plant growth in relatively small living spaces.
I. Characteristics of crystal mud flowers
(1) Highly ornamental
Crystal mud is crystal clear and colorful, with colors such as sapphire blue, emerald green and agate red, and the colors can be freely combined; it is generally cultivated in transparent glass containers, so you can not only enjoy the flowers and leaves, but also watch the growth process of the root system.
(2) Rich in nutrients, good water retention, high survival rate
Crystal mud is a high-tech product that can provide richer nutrients than soil, meeting the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and various trace elements needed for plant growth. The survival rate can reach 95%, the plants grow robustly and uniformly, the flower colors are more vivid, and the flowering period is longer.
(3) Simple to operate, environmentally friendly and hygienic
Crystal mud flowers are light, easy to move, easy to plant, easy to grow and easy to care for, saving time, effort and space. They are mostly planted in glass vessels, which avoids sewage overflowing from the bottom hole of the pot when watering, and will not attract mosquitoes or spread pests and diseases because of soil odor.
(4) Can be used as a fragrance additive
Adding an appropriate amount of fragrance to the water used for soaking crystal mud can beautify the environment. The ratio of fragrance to water is 1:100.
II. Planting methods for crystal mud flowers
Crystal mud is suitable for indoor planting of shade-loving and water-loving plants. Such as: aloe types, spider plant types, monstera types, etc. The planting method is as follows:
(1) Soaking the crystal mud
The raw material of crystal mud is rich in color and granular, and needs to be soaked in 50-100 times its amount of water. Large domestic raw material granules are soaked for 8-9 hours, and small imported raw material granules for 1-2 hours.
The water used for soaking must be clean. Generally tap water is used, left standing for two days to release the chloride ions in the water. Choose an empty container, pour in an appropriate amount of water, then soak the crystal mud raw material in it, and reserve some dry granular raw material for later use.
(2) Treating the plant
Generally, smaller plants are chosen for transplanting. First observe whether the plant's soil is compacted. If it is compacted, spray a certain amount of water, and after the soil becomes soft, lift out the plant with its roots, soak it in water for 5-10 minutes, wash the roots clean with clear water, and after drying, trim the roots. The principle is: keep new roots and healthy roots, cut off old, weak, diseased and rotten roots and overly long fibrous roots, generally trimming off about 1/3 of the original root system. When trimming, be careful not to damage the main root. If the root system is damaged or contaminated during trimming, it can be treated with alcohol to prevent bacteria from breeding and causing root rot. Specific method: soak the root tips of the plant in 75% alcohol for 3 seconds, then take them out.
(3) Planting process
1. First observe whether the crystal mud has been soaked well. Well-soaked crystal mud is crystal clear and bright in color, with a soft and smooth surface.
2. Rinse the soaked crystal mud with clear water 2-3 times, then drain it for later use. Generally, place 1-2 colors of crystal mud in a vase, with no more than 3 colors at most, with darker colors at the bottom and lighter colors on top.
3. Wash and dry the vase, place the reserved dry crystal mud granules at the bottom of the vase to absorb excess water. According to the designed colors, spread a layer of prepared crystal mud at the bottom, put the plant into the center of the container with one hand, and with the other hand evenly place the crystal mud around the roots, and finally add the second color of crystal mud.
4. The height of the crystal mud in the vase should preferably completely cover the roots and be 1-2 cm from the mouth of the vase. After all the crystal mud is placed, lift the plant slightly upward so the roots spread out, then gently press the crystal mud firmly with your hand. It is enough if the plant is stable and not crooked.
(4) Management
1. Seedling recovery period
Newly transplanted plants should not be exposed to sunlight immediately. They need to be placed in a cool place for 3-5 days for seedling recovery. After the plant's root system spreads out, the plant can be placed in a spot with scattered light for normal management.
2. Water and light
After crystal mud is soaked in water, it has a high water content, so generally water once every 15-20 days, but also pay attention to observation. If the surface of the crystal mud is found to be dry and shriveled, or the plant turns yellow or drops leaves, be sure to supply water promptly according to the plant's characteristics.
Crystal mud cultivation mostly uses shade-loving plants, but this does not mean they do not need light. Generally, shade-loving plants need 30%-50% of the light required by sun-loving plants. Long-term insufficient light will cause the plants to grow leggy and have yellow leaves. It is best to place the plants in a bright spot near a window, or every so often place the plants near a balcony to absorb sunlight and recover growth, then move them back to a cool place.
3. Root treatment
Soilless cultivation plants are prone to root rot. The main reason is that the root system is not adapted to the difference between the water environment and the soil environment, and is prone to becoming too wet or waterlogged. When root rot is observed with the naked eye or a rotten smell is smelled from the vase, the rotten roots should be cut off promptly, and the root system and crystal mud should be thoroughly cleaned before planting again.