How to grow delphiniums

How to grow delphiniums at home

sowing

Delphiniums can be sown in spring and autumn, but if sown in autumn, it must be done in mid-September. If sown in spring, the flowering period will be in September, and if sown in autumn, the flowering period will be in May of the following year. Flowers planted in spring should be timed to avoid blooming during the hot summer days.

Repotting and maintenance

When the delphinium grows two true leaves, it needs to be transplanted into a small pot with soil, and then the pot should be changed again after the seedling grows up. Because delphiniums have few roots, you need to be extra careful when repotting to avoid damaging the roots, which could cause the plant to grow slowly or even die.

After sowing delphinium, the soil must be kept moist. The easiest way is to cover it with some grass and then gradually remove the covering after the seedlings emerge.

Water and fertilizer management

Watering: When watering delphiniums, you should follow the principle of watering when the soil is dry and wet, keeping the soil moist but avoiding waterlogging. Water more frequently during the flowering period to avoid the soil from being too dry, which will lead to poor flower shape.

Fertilization: Apply fertilizer once every half month during the growth period of delphinium, and apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers 2-3 times before flowering. Keeping the soil moist during the delphinium flowering period can extend the flowering period. Depending on the growth condition of delphinium, apply cake fertilizer and water 1-3 times a month.

illumination

Delphiniums likes light, and full-sun maintenance is beneficial to promote flowering, prevent the plant from growing too tall, and keep the plant short and beautiful.

Height Control

After repotting delphinium, you can use paclobutrazol to control the height of the plant. The specific method is: apply 0.5% paclobutrazol once every 2 weeks.

Things to note when raising delphiniums

Seed Collection

The seeds of delphinium mature in August and September. Because its seeds are mature first when they bloom, the follicles will naturally split open when they are ripe, so they must be harvested in time to avoid scattering.

Pests and diseases

Common diseases of delphinium include black spot disease, crown rot disease and chrysanthemum leaf blight nematode disease, which damage the leaves, flower buds and stems.

When delphinium is diseased, the diseased plants should be removed in time, burned in a concentrated area, and sprayed with 50% methyl thiophanate wettable powder diluted 500 times for prevention and control.

Common pests of delphinium are aphids and armyworms, which can be killed by spraying them with 10% insecticide emulsion diluted 2000 times.

Is delphinium poisonous?

The whole plant is poisonous, and the seeds are even more toxic. They mainly contain terpene alkaloids. If ingested by mistake, they can cause nervous system poisoning, and in severe cases, they can cause convulsions and respiratory failure and death. Flower lovers who have naughty children at home must take care to preserve the seeds and keep them out of the reach of children.