What are the cultivation techniques of Dendrocalamus latiflorus (Verbenaceae)?

Dragon spit bead, also known as Kirin spit bead, is a common potted flower in families in summer and autumn. The white calyx at the top spits out a bright red corolla and is embedded in red and white.

[Morphological characteristics]

Weak wooden vines, bare and clean. The stem has four sides. Leaves short ovoid or ovoid, entire. Cymes are born in the axils of branches or upper leaves, and are 8 ~ 12 cm long. Corolla tube green. Lobes elliptic. The fruit is fleshy and the seeds are big and black (see color map 134).

[distribution]

Originated in western tropical Africa, it has been widely planted in various places.

[habit]

Not cold-resistant, it should be placed in a greenhouse with a night temperature above 8℃ in winter and kept dry. The temperature in vegetative growth period can be higher, but the temperature in reproductive growth period and flowering period is lower, about 65438 07℃. We need plenty of sunshine in winter and shade in summer when it is too hot, otherwise the leaves will turn yellow. Insufficient light will cause vines to grow and not bloom. Flower bud differentiation is not affected by photoperiod, but strong light can promote flower bud differentiation and development. Wet and well-drained soil is needed. Excessive humidity is not good for flowering. The main flowering period is in late spring and early summer.

[Propagation, Cultivation and Maintenance]

Cutting is the main breeding method, followed by sowing. Cutting branches, buds and roots can all take root. The top branches of healthy and disease-free branches can be selected, or the old branches below can be cut into 8 ~ 10 cm stems as cuttings. Bud cutting is to take lateral buds (with a part of xylem) on branches as cuttings. When cutting roots, when turning pots, the rhizomes and stolons under the soil are cut into 8 ~ 10 cm segments as cuttings. The matrix of the inserted bed should be peat and perlite, vermiculite and perlite, humus soil and garden soil or sand, etc. , easy to breathe, good acidity. You can also directly insert into flowerpots, with a diameter of 10 cm, with 3 in each pot. Cutting time is better in spring and autumn, and early spring is not suitable for cutting in the open field before winter cold. The row spacing of cuttings is 5cm×10cm. Pour enough water after cutting. In the process of curing, it is necessary to prevent sunlight and keep moisture to promote rooting. Cutting temperature is 265438 0℃, and bed temperature is 5℃ higher than air temperature, which is more conducive to rooting. If properly managed, it can take root and sprout in three weeks. After rooting, plant 1 or 3 plants in each pot, and it will bloom in autumn. Sowing in spring, because the seeds are large, can be sowed every 3 ~ 5 cm, and germinate at 24℃ for about 10 day. After emergence, if the seedlings are too dense, transplanting between seedlings can be carried out. When the seedlings grow to the height of 10 cm, plant them in small flowerpots, each pot contains 1 or 3 plants, and they can bloom in the next year. Long stolons can also be cut into stem segments of 8 ~ 10 cm for cutting.

Dragon spit beads are suitable for greenhouse cultivation. Except in summer, it should be placed in the sun. If the light is insufficient, only vines will grow and will not bloom. Choose loose, porous and well-drained culture soil, and mix humus, such as humus and compost. Or use peat soil and perlite for ventilation. Generally, change pots every 1 ~ 2 years/time, either in early spring or after the flowers wither.

Water and fertilizer should be properly controlled during maintenance, and the amount of nitrogen fertilizer should be controlled after the sprouting branches grow to a considerable length. At flowering stage, the same amount of ternary fertilizer with the concentration of 0.2% was used, and the fertilizer was applied every week 1 time. Don't water it too much. If there is too much water, the vines will only grow without flowering, or the leaves will turn yellow and wither, and even the roots will rot and die. In winter, in order to make it dormant, fertilization should be stopped, water should be controlled, and it should be released to a sunny place to make it safely overwinter. If it is found that the leaves turn yellow during the growth period, it can be combined with topdressing and coated with 0.2% ferrous sulfate solution to change the color of the leaves from yellow to green.

When turning pots in spring, the upper branches should be cut short to promote the germination of new branches. In the early stage of growth, you can pick the core to make the plant round, multi-branched and multi-flowering. Cut off the stem in time after each flower withers, so that the plant shape is low and plump.

The air in the cultivation environment should be fresh, and the place with medicinal smell or ethylene often causes falling flowers, which needs to be guarded against. It should not be kept in the dark for too long after flowering. When the temperature is above 2 1℃, potted flowers will fall off if they are left in the dark for more than 24 hours.

There are four ways to control the flowering period: one is to promote the flowering in short photoperiod, and it will bloom after10-0/2 weeks. However, when the temperature is high in summer, cooling measures must be taken to control the temperature below 265438 0℃. Otherwise, shading treatment will easily increase the temperature, accelerate the growth of branches and stop flowering. Secondly, pouring the growth inhibitor chlormequat chloride into the soil can accelerate the development of flowers. Third, control the temperature not to exceed 265438 0℃. The last one is to control the amount of fertilizer and water, so as not to grow vines.

Pests and diseases are mainly scale insects, mosaic virus diseases and fungal diseases. Removing diseased leaves, strengthening ventilation and keeping leaves dry can control fungal diseases.

[Appreciation and Application]

Dragon spit beads are in full bloom, with white sepals and bright red corollas. When it is not open, the petals are round, like pearls, red and white set each other off, which is very beautiful and funny. It is the top grade of potted flowers. It can also be used to hang potted flowers on flower stands and terraces. After the petals fall off, the white sepals stay on the plant for a long time and still have ornamental value.