Calendula cultivation methods and precautions

How to grow calendula

Shading in spring, summer and autumn

Calendula cannot be exposed to strong sunlight and needs to be shaded in spring, summer and autumn. If the daytime temperature exceeds 25 ℃, do not place it directly in the sun, otherwise the leaves will become significantly smaller, the distance between branches will decrease, the bottom leaves will gradually turn yellow and fall off, and the growth of the plant will gradually slow down or even enter a semi-dormant state.

In winter, because the temperature is not high, direct sunlight can be provided to promote photosynthesis, which is beneficial for marigolds to form flower buds, bloom, and bear fruit.

After the plant blooms, you can keep it indoors for 10 to 15 days, and then move it outdoors to a shaded environment for maintenance for a month. This alternating maintenance is beneficial to the accumulation of nutrients in the plant and prolongs the flowering period.

Keep warm, avoid extreme heat

Calendula prefers warm climates and is afraid of extreme heat. It will not grow well if the summer temperature is higher than 34 °C.

It is not frost-resistant and will go dormant or even die if the temperature drops below 4 °C in winter.

The most suitable growth temperature for calendula is 15~25 ℃. Pay attention to controlling the temperature during maintenance throughout the year, open windows for ventilation in time, and control the indoor temperature by spraying water to cool down.

Pinching

Cut off the branches with old and yellow leaves every two months. As long as the temperature is suitable, it can bloom all year round.

Generally, pinching is done twice before flowering to promote the sprouting of more flowering branches: one to two weeks after potting, or when the seedlings are 6 to 10 cm tall and have more than six leaves, pinch off the top and retain the lower 3 to 4 leaves to promote branching. 3 to 5 weeks after the first pinching, or when the side branches grow to 6 to 8 cm long, do the second pinching, that is, remove the top of the side branch and keep the 4 leaves below the side branch. After two pinchings, the plant shape will be more ideal and the number of flowers will be greater.

Control humidity and spray water in time

Calendula likes a humid environment, and the humidity should be controlled at 75~85% . During maintenance, spray water in time to increase the humidity, 1~3 times a day. On sunny days when the temperature is higher, increase the number of spraying water appropriately. On rainy days when the temperature is lower, reduce the number of spraying water appropriately. However, if you spray too much, the ears of corn will be easily infected by pathogens and rot, so you should also pay attention to the water quality when spraying.

Calendula cultivation precautions

Pay attention to water control

Do not water too much during the growing period, just keep the soil moist. When the temperature is high, spray in time to increase the air humidity.

Pest and disease control

Common diseases and pests of calendula are wilt and downy mildew. Spray 500 times diluted mancozeb wettable powder in time for prevention and control. In early summer, the temperature gradually rises and leaf spot disease often occurs in calendula. Spray 2000 times diluted wettable powder of carboxin for prevention and control.