How to fertilize gladiolus? Master the correct fertilization method
Known as the king of cut flowers, gladiolus, also called sword lily, can be used not only as a cut flower but also for potted plants and flower bed arrangements. Recently, many netizens have asked the editor about the fertilization method for gladiolus, so how do you fertilize gladiolus? Simply put, before planting gladiolus, the soil should be given sufficient base fertilizer, and the base fertilizer should preferably be rich in phosphorus and potassium. Before and after flowering, apply 1 to 2 times of decomposed dilute organic fertilizer; after flowering, apply more potassium fertilizer to promote the growth of cormels. The specific fertilization methods for gladiolus are described below:
Gladiolus likes fertile soil, but fertilizer should not be applied excessively. During the growth process of gladiolus, fertilizer can be applied multiple times, which can generally be divided into base fertilizer before planting and 3 topdressings at key growth stages. The base fertilizer is mainly organic fertilizer; fully decomposed organic fertilizer can improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil, adjust soil structure, make the soil loose, improve water permeability and water retention, and promote good root growth. Even more beneficial is the slow-release and long-lasting nature of organic fertilizer, which can provide nutrient supply for the entire growth cycle of the plant. When applying the base fertilizer, some quick-acting chemical fertilizer can be used together, but it should not be applied in large amounts.
Fertilization should be carried out according to the specific conditions of cultivation type and purpose, soil type and fertility, total soil salt content, and the plant's growth stage. Because gladiolus is sensitive to soil salinity and the content of fluorine and chlorine, attention should be paid to the selection of fertilizer types. Use tripolyphosphate as little as possible (it tends to contain high concentrations of fluorine), and replace it with other phosphorus fertilizers, which can effectively avoid leaf tip scorch. Topdressing can be carried out by combining root fertilization and foliar fertilization, and combined with irrigation, to give full play to fertilizer efficiency. Chemical fertilizers that can be used for topdressing include: ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate, superphosphate, monopotassium phosphate, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, urea, etc. Use potassium chloride and fluorine-containing phosphorus fertilizers as little as possible.
The suitable time and type of fertilization are determined according to its growth and development characteristics. The first time is after the plant has unfolded 2 leaves, and the fertilizer is mainly nitrogen and potassium fertilizer. At this time, it is the floret differentiation stage, and the nutrients of the originally planted corm have been largely consumed. If fertilizer and water are insufficient at this time, the number of florets in the inflorescence will decrease, affecting the commercial value of the fresh cut flowers. The second time is after the 4-leaf stage, when the flower stem begins to gradually elongate and the development of individual florets accelerates. The fertilizer is mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, to promote thick and strong flower stems, make the flowers large and brightly colored, and give a long vase life after cutting. The third time is after flowering, when it is the growth and development period of new corms and cormels, requiring large amounts of nutrients to promote the development and fullness of new corms. The degree of fullness of the planting corms and the number of cormels will have a relatively large impact on the cut flower production and expansion propagation of the next year, and the fertilizer is still mainly phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
Throughout the entire growth period of gladiolus, apply topdressing 2 times. The fertilizer should be mainly phosphorus fertilizer, supplemented by nitrogen fertilizer. For the first time, after 2 leaves have unfolded, apply 40 kg per mu of compound fertilizer containing 15% each of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to promote vegetative growth; for the second time, at the 4-leaf stage (flower bud differentiation stage), apply 25 kg per mu of compound fertilizer and 5 kg of potassium fertilizer to promote thick and strong flower stem growth. Note that when fertilizing, the compound fertilizer must be dissolved in water and diluted into liquid fertilizer for application. After growing to 5 leaves, a 1% concentration monopotassium phosphate solution or XinzhiSu can be sprayed as a foliar topdressing every 5 to 7 days. In addition, at the 4-leaf stage, apply 25 kg per mu of lime powder by broadcasting to neutralize soil acidity and reduce the occurrence of diseases later.
Precautions:
Organic fertilizer is commonly known as farmyard manure. It mainly uses the supply of organic matter as a means to improve soil physical and chemical properties, promote plant growth, and support the cycling of the soil ecosystem. Some broad-sense varieties of organic fertilizer:
Compost: A type of fertilizer made from various stalks, fallen leaves, green grass, animal and plant residues, and human and livestock manure as raw materials, mixed with each other in proportions or mixed with a small amount of soil and subjected to aerobic fermentation and decomposition.
Waterlogged compost: The raw materials used are basically the same as those for compost, except that fermentation is carried out under flooded conditions.
Biogas fertilizer: A by-product after organic matter decomposes and produces biogas in a sealed biogas digester, including biogas slurry and residue.
Green manure: The use of cultivated or wild green plant bodies as fertilizer. Such as mung bean, broad bean, sweet clover, sesbania, alfalfa, and vetch of the legume family. Non-legume green manures include ryegrass, fodder radish, guizotia, azolla, water hyacinth, alligator weed, etc.
Crop straw: Crop straw is one of the important fertilizer varieties. Crop straw contains nutrient elements required by crops such as n, p, k, ca, s, etc.
Under suitable conditions, through the action of soil microorganisms, these elements are mineralized and returned to the soil for absorption and utilization by crops.
Pure natural mineral fertilizer, including potassium mineral powder, phosphorus mineral powder, calcium chloride, natural potassium sulfate magnesium fertilizer, and other natural substances that have not undergone chemical processing. Such products must pass organic certification and be produced strictly according to organic standards before they can be used in organic agriculture.
Cake fertilizer: rapeseed cake, cottonseed cake, soybean cake, sesame cake, castor cake, tea seed cake, etc.
Mud fertilizer: uncontaminated river mud, pond mud, ditch mud, harbor mud, lake mud, etc.