Hydroponic method of Dieffenbachia

Method for obtaining hydroponic materials of Dieffenbachia

(Take Guangdong Evergreen as an example)

Root washing method

It can be carried out all year round, but the best time is spring and autumn, because the temperature is suitable at this time, the Guangdong evergreen grows more vigorously, and the potted plants can easily adapt to hydroponic conditions after washing the roots. Specific operation method:

① Select Guangdong evergreens that are strong, have been formed in soil (or other substrates), and have ornamental value.

② Remove the plant from the pot and remove the soil around the roots.

③ Rinse off the soil in water and cut off some old roots. To prevent root rot in the early stage of hydroponics and promote the formation of new roots, you can use 0.5% potassium permanganate to soak and disinfect.

④ Place the treated Guangdong Evergreen plants into the prepared container, inject tap water to cover 2/3 to 1/2 of the root system, and cultivate new roots.

Water plugging method

It is usually carried out in spring and autumn, because the temperature required for rooting cannot be reached in late autumn and early spring, and the cuttings are easily infected by microorganisms and rot in the high temperature season in summer. Of course, under the conditions of warming and cooling, Guangdong Evergreen can be cultivated all year round.

When water cutting, select strong branches with a diameter of about 1 cm, retain the aerial roots on the stem nodes, cut into small sections of 10 cm long, disinfect the cut ends with potassium permanganate (you can dip it in rooting powder) or soak the base of the cuttings with 100 mg/L of auxin (0.5 h), dry the juice flowing out of the wound, and insert it into plain sand or water. Maintain a high air humidity at around 25°C. After about 20 days, the base of the cuttings will take root and sprout to form a plant material suitable for hydroponics.

During the healing and rooting period of water cuttings, the plants breathe vigorously and must have sufficient oxygen supply. Therefore, when starting water cuttings, you should change the water frequently to keep the water clean and meet the cuttings' need for oxygen. When changing the water, you should rinse the cuttings and the container with clean water, especially the cut ends. After rooting, you can switch to normal water culture and care.

Division method

Division is usually carried out when growth begins in spring. Spring division reduces damage to the plants and enables the divided plants to resume normal growth more quickly. When dividing Guangdong evergreen, first remove the plant from the pot, shake off most of the potting soil, straighten out the tangled roots, expose the tiller seedlings and roots, then use a sharp knife to divide it into several clumps from the stem of the mother plant as needed, disinfect the wound (apply wood ash or sulfur), clean it, and then carry out water culture and care.

Key points for water culture care

In order to make the hydroponic evergreen grow healthily, you can make your own nutrient solution for maintenance.

Guangdong evergreen needs to constantly consume oxygen in the water when growing in nutrient solution. As the flowers grow, the oxygen in the water gradually decreases. When it decreases to a certain amount, it will have an adverse effect on the flowers. Therefore, the most critical measure for the success of hydroponic flowers is to change the nutrient solution.

Since the oxygen content in the nutrient solution is inversely proportional to the temperature (that is, the higher the air and water temperature, the lower the oxygen content in the water; the lower the air and water temperature, the higher the oxygen content in the water), and the Guangdong Evergreen has different oxygen requirements at different times, the interval for changing the nutrient solution varies depending on the season.

In spring and autumn, the growth of Dieffenbachia is relatively vigorous and requires more oxygen consumption, but the oxygen content in the water is also high, so the nutrient solution should be changed every 7 to 10 days;

In winter, the plants are dormant or grow very slowly, consuming less oxygen, but the water contains sufficient oxygen, so the interval between water changes is longer, generally changing the nutrient solution every 15 days or so;

During the high temperatures in summer, the Guangdong Evergreen has a strong respiration activity and consumes a large amount of oxygen, while the oxygen content in the water is very low. In addition, the reproduction of microorganisms is very rapid at high temperatures, which can easily cause the water quality to deteriorate. In order to ensure the normal growth of the Guangdong Evergreen, water changes must be increased. Generally, the nutrient solution needs to be changed every 4 to 5 days. Water is added to the original height on a daily basis as it evaporates. The water used for hydroponic cultivation of Guangdong Evergreen must be pollution-free and slightly acidic. If tap water is used, it must be connected in advance and placed in the air for more than one day to fully dissolve oxygen and release chlorine. When changing the nutrient solution, you should wash off the mucus on the roots and cut off rotten roots and burnt leaves.

Fertilization

The nutrients in tap water are insufficient for the healthy growth of hydroponic Dieffenbachia. Water-grown Dieffenbachia should be fertilized with nutrient solution during the vigorous growth seasons of spring and autumn.

When the temperature is high in summer and the growth is slow or stopped in winter, the number of applications should be reduced. When cultivating in solid matrix, do not add too much nutrient solution. It is appropriate to add enough nutrient solution to submerge 1/3 to 1/2 of the root system in the container. Add water on a daily basis to maintain the water level.

Avoid applying fertilizers such as urea directly into water containers. Since urea is a synthetic organic fertilizer, hydroponic plants cannot directly absorb the nutrients they need from urea. Also, some harmful bacteria or other microorganisms will obtain an effective carbon source from the urea and multiply rapidly, causing pollution. Urea can also cause ammonia poisoning or excess ammonia ions.

ventilation

The oxygen content in water is an important factor affecting the growth of hydroponic evergreens, and the oxygen content in water is related to the activities of indoor people and ventilation conditions. When the room is poorly ventilated and people are active, the oxygen content in the water decreases quickly, thus affecting the growth of Guangdong Evergreen, especially during high temperatures. Therefore, for rooms with hydroponic evergreens, doors and windows should be opened more often for ventilation to adjust the room temperature and keep the indoor air fresh.

Pest control

Diseases and pests are very rare in hydroponic Guangdong Evergreen. In summer, direct sunlight should be avoided to prevent sunburn. In winter, insufficient light should be avoided to prevent yellow leaves. Guangdong evergreen sometimes suffers from anthracnose, which causes soft rot and cracking. When the disease occurs, it can be controlled by using 600-800 times diluted 65% mancozeb or 800 times diluted 75% thiophanate-methyl.