How much does a pot of fragrant alyssum cost?

It is easy to grow. It is recommended that you buy a pot for about 20 yuan.

The scientific name is Freesia hybrida hort.

Other standard names are the Latin name Freesia refracta and the English name Freesia. refracta Klatt., Chinese name is Xiangxuelan.

Also known as freesia, tuberose, small iris, small grenade, small leylan, plain fragrant orchid

The name of the flower comes from the flower color of alyssum, which is as pure as snow and has a floral fragrance. It is as quiet as an orchid, so it is named Xiangxuelan.

The family belongs to the Iris family and the genus Alyssum

There are about 5 species of related species in the genus Alyssum. Common alyssum has been widely cultivated throughout China. However, its flowers are small, the flower stems are short, the flower color is greenish-yellow to bright yellow, and the varieties are monotonous. Currently, most of the alyssums cultivated in China are artificially improved. Their flowers are larger than before, more colorful, the number of flowers on the stems has also increased, and the petals are thick and fragrant.

Origin and main distribution It is native to southern Africa and is now widely cultivated.

Morphological characteristics

Perennial bulbous herbaceous flowers. Underground corms are bulbous, scaly, oval or conical, 1 cm to 5 cm in diameter. Generally mature corms have 4 nodes, each node has an axillary bud; the stem is thin, about 40 cm high, and branched; There are several leaflets, with 6 to 10 leaves at the base, arranged in a linear sword shape; the flower stem is usually single or branched upright, slender and slightly twisted, with terminal spikes, and most of the flowers are eccentrically borne on the upper side or on the inflorescence axis. Inclined, each inflorescence usually bears 5 to 7 flowers, as few as 2, and as many as 9 to 10, blooming sequentially. The flowers are narrow and funnel-shaped, with a slender tube, upright and fragrant, with unequal petals. The colors include milky white, bright yellow, yellow-green, red, pink, blue, purple, purple-red and multiple colors. The natural flowering period is from February to May. In March, the capsules will form after flowering, and the fruit maturity period is from June to July.

Growth Habits

Alyssum likes a warm, humid and sunny environment, with a suitable temperature of 15°C to 25°C, and is suitable for growing in loose, fertile sandy loam soil. For home cultivation, artificial culture soil prepared with 2/3 peat soil and 1/3 fine sand is usually used. Short day conditions are conducive to the differentiation of flower buds of alyssum, while long days can lead to early flowering. During the growth period, sufficient fertilizer and water are required. Organic liquid fertilizer should be applied every two weeks, and compound chemical fertilizers can also be applied in appropriate amounts. The potting soil needs to be dry and moist, and should not accumulate water or be too dry.

Propagation

Propagation is done by sowing seeds or dividing bulbs. Sowing is mostly done in pots indoors in autumn, and germination takes about 2 weeks. It takes about 3 to 4 years for seedlings to bloom.

〖Divided bulb planting method〗

Indoor potted bulbs are usually planted in early September. The flower pot should be a tile pot with a diameter of about 20 cm and good air permeability. The bulbs should be planted Select healthy and large bulbs and soak them in 500 to 800 times of carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl solution for 1 to 2 hours before planting. Each pot can plant 5 to 7 bulbs of different varieties to improve the ornamental effect. You can have one variety in one pot, or you can have multiple varieties in one pot.

After planting, cover the soil with 2 cm to 3 cm, pour water and place in a cool place. Seedlings will begin to emerge in about 15 days. After emergence, the flower pot can be moved to the sun for maintenance, and the flower pot can be moved before frost. Go to a sunny room and control the room temperature at 10°C to 18°C. During the growth period, the pot soil should be kept moist and dilute bean cake water should be applied every half month. Alyssum is relatively resistant to fertilizer. If the fertilizer and water are appropriate, the flowers will be large and fragrant. It will bloom in about 10 to 12 weeks. During this period, the temperature should be controlled at 8°C to 10°C, watering should be controlled appropriately, and fertilization should be stopped to extend the flowering period. It goes dormant after flowering, and the bulbs should be taken out and stored in time after the leaves dry up. Storage temperature was 25°C for 3 months after harvest, then moved to 13°C for 1 month until sowing.

The balls of alyssum are similar to lily bulbs and can be stored for a long time at a low temperature of -2°C. They can be planted in greenhouses at any time. Generally speaking, it takes 40 to 50 days from planting bulbs to flowering. It can be planted at the right time according to the needs of the flower market, providing long-term supply of fresh cut flowers. If it needs to bloom during the Spring Festival, it can be potted in early December. If it needs to bloom during the May Day Festival, it can be potted and planted in early March. Alyssum has thin stems and is prone to lodging, so it needs to be supported by a bracket when potted. Gradually reduce watering after the flowers fade. When the stems and leaves wither, stop watering, dig out the bulbs, dry them in the sun for a short period, and then store them at low temperature.

Cultivation

It requires good drainage, loose and fertile soil or culture soil plus 20% to 50% humus soil is better. Sow seeds from mid-August to early October, preferably mid-September. Cover the pot with about 2cm of soil. For ground planting, you should consider how to cover it with glass or plastic film and install heating equipment in winter, and then plow the land and apply sufficient base fertilizer. After sowing, the weather is still hot, so you should provide shade and keep the soil moist. After emergence, when the temperature turns cooler, the plants should be exposed to as much direct sunlight as possible, and the soil should be loosened, weeded, and topdressed frequently. A full-element compound fertilizer can be applied every 10 days. Generally, there will be no cold damage above 0℃, but before frost comes, a greenhouse or plastic shed should be built to avoid freezing damage. When flower buds appear, you can add potassium dihydrogen phosphate for root irrigation or apply foliar fertilizer.

In order to provide flowers regularly, heating and cooling bed cultivation methods can be implemented. The room temperature should not be high at first, 5°C to 10°C is more suitable, and then gradually increase to 15 to 18°C. Flowering will begin around the Spring Festival. Cultivation in cold bed, covered with straw curtains in the morning and evening to prevent freezing, blooming from March to May in the next spring.

When the temperature exceeds 20°C in winter, it is easy to grow leggy and the corolla is thin and small, making it unsightly.

Alyssum grows vigorously and is generally free of diseases and insect pests. However, it is prone to lodging during the flowering period. Potted and ground plants should be tied up with pillars. After flowering, watering should be reduced. When the leaves turn yellow, dig up the bulbs, dry them thoroughly and store them in a ventilated, dry place without sunlight. During the blooming period of alyssum, flowers of different colors are selected and artificially pollinated repeatedly. The seeds are harvested and sown when they are mature. The seedlings will emerge in more than a month. If management is strengthened, new varieties of other colors will bloom in the same year. Management after the flowering period is carried out normally until the stems and leaves turn yellow from June to July. After the plant withers and turns yellow, stop watering, allow the pot soil to dry, and place it in a cool and ventilated place. Take it out and replant it in autumn.

In addition, during the indoor cultivation of alyssum, the plants often appear to be thin and leggy. When drawing the peduncles, support the flower stems with sticks to prevent the peduncles from bending and affecting the ornamental value. In order to prevent it from growing too long and promote "dwarfing", it is to treat the bulbs with "paclobutrazol" before planting, which can achieve excellent results. The method is to soak the stored bulbs in 80 ppm "paclobutrazol" solution for 15 to 20 hours before potting alyssum in autumn, take them out and wash them with clean water, then put them in the pots and perform normal watering and other management. After treatment, the alyssum seedlings will emerge neatly, the leaves will be dark green, the width of the leaves will increase, the length will decrease, and the fragrance will be stronger after flowering.

Pests and diseases and their control

Alyssum is prone to mosaic disease, ball rot, etc. Prevention and control methods: Thoroughly disinfect the soil and bulbs when planting, and thoroughly disinfect them every year Replace potting soil. At the same time, attention should be paid to the prevention and control of aphids. In the early stages of aphids, 40% omethoate solution 1500 times or 90% trichlorfon solution can be sprayed for control.

Application

Alyssum has lily-like flowers and orchid-like leaves. The flowers are elegant in color, exquisite and delicate, with rich fragrance and long flowering period. It is a favorite indoor ornamental flower in winter and spring. It has many horticultural uses. variety. It is commonly used as potted plants or cut flower branches and placed in bottles to decorate indoors. It is an ideal potted flower to decorate the living room and study room.

In addition, alyssum is commonly known as "ginger flower". Its fragrance can calm nerves, eliminate fatigue and promote sleep.