How to grow safflower at home

1. Maintenance methods

1. Soil: Safflower grows best in fertile and well-drained soil, and nutrient soil needs to be prepared for domestic cultivation. Choose sandy loam, peat soil and sand and mix them in a ratio of 5:2:1. This not only has strong drainage ability but also can provide certain nutrients.

2. Light: Safflower has strict requirements on light. It requires a certain amount of light, but cannot be exposed to the scorching sun. Indoor cultivation requires shade in the summer, or placing it in semi-shade and receiving light in the early morning or evening. In winter, it should be placed on the balcony to receive long-term sunlight.

3. Watering: Red flowers prefer a humid environment but cannot tolerate waterlogging. When watering, control the amount of water and do not let water accumulate in the soil. In addition, you can sprinkle water around regularly to increase the air humidity. When keeping pets at home, open windows and ventilate the house regularly to prevent bacteria from breeding in a humid environment.

4. Fertilization: Safflower has a high demand for fertilizer. Fertilize once every half a month during the growing season, and stop fertilizing when flowering. Add fertilizer in time after the flowers fade to promote its growth. Wait until late autumn to stop fertilizing and let the plant go dormant.

2. Breeding techniques

Safflower can be propagated by sowing, dividing bulbs and cuttings. Among them, the bulb division method is more suitable for home use and can be combined with repotting. After taking the plant out of the pot, peel off the small bulb on the head and plant it separately in a new pot.

3. Pest and disease control

1. Diseases: Common diseases include spot disease, viral disease, etc. The diseased branches and leaves need to be cut off, and the bulbs need to be soaked in formalin, dried and replanted.

2. Pests: The main pest is red spider, which can be killed by spraying with trichloronate.