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Detailed Explanation of Flowering Tobacco Planting Methods and Techniques

Growing Techniques By Emily Carter 0 views
Herbaceous Plants

Flowering tobacco (scientific name: Nicotiana alata Link et Otto) is a limited perennial herbaceous plant of the genus Nicotiana in the Solanaceae family, reaching a height of up to 1.5 m, with the entire plant covered in sticky hairs. The leaf base is slightly stem-clasping or has winged petioles, becoming ovate or ovate-oblong upward, nearly sessile or with auricles at the base, becoming lanceolate near the inflorescence. It has a false raceme arrangement, with several flowers loosely borne; the calyx is cup-shaped or bell-shaped, with subulate-needle-shaped lobes of unequal length; the corolla is pale green, the stamens are of unequal length, the capsule is ovoid-spherical, and the seeds are grayish-brown.

Propagation is by sowing. Spring and autumn are suitable sowing periods, but early spring sowing is best, with an optimal germination temperature of about 18-25 degrees C. Scatter the seeds evenly on the soil surface; the seeds are light-favoring and must not be covered with soil, so they should be fully exposed to light. Water to maintain moisture, then cover the soil surface with a piece of transparent plastic film. Transplant for cultivation when the seedlings have 4-6 true leaves.

Propagation Methods


Flowering tobacco seeds are relatively small in size, with about 11,500 seeds per gram, and domestic Chinese producers generally use pelleted seeds. The seedling substrate should be an imported peat with good moisture retention and good air permeability, with a pH value of 5.5-5.8, and the substrate should be saturated with moisture before sowing. Based on seedling-stage growth performance, seedling raising is divided into 4 stages:
Stage One: The radicle germination stage, from after sowing until the root length reaches 0.6 cm and the cotyledons begin to grow. Maintain the soil temperature at 24 degrees C-26 degrees C and keep the substrate moderately moist, that is, uniformly moist but not saturated; drying is not allowed at any time during this stage. After sowing, the seeds must not be covered with soil. Light of 1100-4300 lux helps the germination of flowering tobacco seeds. Using large-size plug trays favors root development. Under better conditions, young roots appear in 3-5 days. After this stage ends, the radicle has elongated and the root system is forming.
Stage Two: The stem and cotyledons emerge, from the end of Stage One until the root length reaches 1.2-1.4 cm and the cotyledons have emerged. Lower the soil temperature and maintain it at 20 degrees C-24 degrees C, and adjust light to 5400-13000 lux. Once the cotyledons unfold, a 50-75 ppm 14-0-14 slow-release fertilizer can be applied weekly. After the seedling roots penetrate the substrate, the soil can be allowed to alternate between drying and moistening, but dryness must be avoided, otherwise the seedlings will stop growing. This stage generally lasts 7-10 days.
Stage Three: The root system grows deep into the plug tray, reaching 2.5 cm, and 2-3 true leaves appear. The focus of this stage should be on watering and fertilization management, so that flowering tobacco develops a well-developed root system. Carry out one wet-dry cycle every 24 hours and increase the fertilizer concentration, generally applying 100-150 ppm nitrogen fertilizer once a week, with 20-10-20 and 14-0-14 used alternately. The soil temperature can gradually be lowered and maintained at 18 degrees C-21 degrees C. During this stage, maintain light at 13000-16000 lux, and B9 can be used to control plant shape. This stage generally lasts 4-6 weeks in a 200-cell plug tray.

Stage Four: In the later part of this stage, the well-developed root system occupies the entire plug cell, and the flower stem should have 3-4 leaves. The focus of this stage is still on watering and fertilization management. The soil temperature must be maintained at 16 degrees C-17 degrees C, and light can rise to 16000-38000 lux. Fertilization is the same as in Stage Three, but in the later part of this stage, watering and fertilization need to be reduced 7-10 days before potting to harden the seedlings appropriately.


Cultivation Techniques

Flowering tobacco must be potted in a timely manner, otherwise it will cause severe root binding and plant aging. To ensure smooth growth, the substrate should be as permeable, airy, and fertilizer-retentive as possible, with a soil pH value of 5.5-5.8. In production, a mixed substrate with a pH value of 6.0 can be used. The soil temperature at this stage is very important. For newly transplanted seedlings, the daytime temperature should be 18 degrees C-21 degrees C, and the nighttime temperature should be 16 degrees C-18 degrees C. Too low a temperature will cause albino seedlings, and a sharp rise in temperature will cause leaf scorch and, in severe cases, the death of some seedlings. The first watering after transplanting must be thorough, otherwise it will affect the seedling survival rate and the uniformity of later potted flower growth. The seedling stage of flowering tobacco is very critical, and its later growth is also very important. The growth period is simply divided into two stages:
  Stage One: The vegetative growth stage. This stage is mainly the vigorous branching period and plant formation period of flowering tobacco, and the quality of conditions directly affects later growth. Keep the substrate alternating between drying and moistening to promote normal root growth; this stage has a large demand for fertilizer. To promote vegetative growth, watering and fertilization are carried out alternately, with 20-10-20 and 15-0-15 slow-release fertilizers used alternately at 150-200 ppm. Sufficient fertilizer supply and light conditions are the key to this stage. Under better conditions, the vegetative body is fully formed in 20-25 days, with a small amount of flower formation but not yet reaching the desired effect.
  Stage Two: The reproductive growth stage. This stage is mainly to promote the massive formation of flowers to achieve the desired effect. In this stage, besides still keeping the substrate alternating between drying and moistening, the regulation of light and fertilizer is still key. To promote an increase in flower quantity, this stage requires fertilizers mainly based on P and K fertilizers. 10-30-20 and 20-10-20 slow-release fertilizers can be applied alternately at a concentration of 150 ppm once or twice a week. For products marketed from September to February of the following year, the photoperiod must be extended while fertilizing. If 10 hours cannot be achieved in production, light interruption can be used to promote flowering.

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