A Detailed Guide to Delphinium Seed Prices and Planting Methods
Delphinium, also known as large-flowered delphinium, pigeon flower, baibu grass, chicken-claw larkspur, dried bird grass, luo xiao hua, and thousand-bird flower, is an ornamental flowering plant that tolerates cold and loves sunlight. Delphinium is native to southern Europe, and is now cultivated in many parts of our country. Besides its ornamental value, its whole plant and seeds both have certain medicinal value. Below, let us learn about delphinium seed prices and planting methods.
I. Delphinium seed prices
The market price of delphinium seeds has always been very stable. Around 350 yuan will buy you one jin of top-quality delphinium seeds, and this price is still within a range that everyone can accept.
The price of delphinium seeds is affected by many factors, such as the size of that year's delphinium seed harvest; the purchase quantity, with larger purchases costing less and smaller purchases costing more; and whether it is the peak or off season for planting.
II. Delphinium planting methods
1. Temperature requirements
Delphinium has low temperature requirements. In summer it can tolerate high temperatures above 30 degrees, but when the temperature exceeds 35 degrees its growth is inhibited, so attention must be paid to cooling it down and avoiding disease caused by high temperature, high humidity and poor environmental ventilation. In autumn, when the temperature falls below 10 degrees, the above-ground parts dry up, while the root system can overwinter naturally and sprout again when the temperature rises in spring the following year.
2. Soil requirements
Delphinium has low soil requirements and grows well in fertile, moist, well-drained acidic soil. When planted in the ground, garden soil alone can meet its growth needs. When grown in pots, because the space inside the pot restricts root development, and also to avoid soil compaction, you can mix humus soil, coconut coir and rotted manure and other organic fertilizers into the potting soil to improve the soil structure, increase soil fertility, and ensure the nutrients delphinium needs for growth.
3. Light conditions
Delphinium loves light and grows well under conditions of sufficient light. It can tolerate slight shade, and during the growing period bright scattered light alone can meet its growth needs. During the flowering period, sufficient light is needed to ensure large flowers with vivid colors. Some gardening friends use shade nets in summer to block part of the sunlight and lower the temperature; in this case, be sure to use a shade net with high light transmittance, to avoid insufficient light caused by trying to lower the temperature.
4. Propagation methods
There are three propagation methods for delphinium: seed sowing, division and cuttings. When sowing seeds, the temperature must remain stable above 15 degrees to avoid the death of seedlings caused by low temperatures or unstable temperatures in early spring. Once there are 4-6 leaves, they can be transplanted, and care must be taken not to damage the main root when transplanting. The division method is generally carried out in early spring when the plant begins to sprout, or in autumn after the above-ground parts have withered and turned yellow and the plant's physiological activity has weakened. Generally, dividing once every two to three years is enough. The cutting method is carried out in spring. Cut a 10 cm length from the tip of a new shoot as a cutting, and it will take root and survive in about three weeks. To improve the success rate of cuttings, the cuttings can be treated with rooting powder.
5. Common diseases of delphinium
These are mainly fungal diseases such as powdery mildew, root rot and black spot. Generally, after the above-ground parts wither and turn yellow in autumn, we promptly bury deeply or burn the withered plants to reduce pathogens. In summer, pay attention to environmental ventilation and avoid excessive humidity. When disease occurs, promptly prune away diseased branches and spray fungicides such as carbendazim, benomyl or thiophanate-methyl. Pests are mostly common problems such as aphids and noctuid moths, which can be killed with common low-toxicity insecticides.