The steps and precautions for planting keel

Dragon bone is a flower that is relatively easy to maintain. It looks a bit like a cactus , with a unique and domineering appearance. The stem grows upright, resembling an upright dragon spine, full of power. Let’s talk about the planting steps and precautions for dragon bones.

1. Choose a pot

Choose the right pot and soil. The pots should be air permeable and of moderate size. Larger pots allow the plants to grow better and faster, while smaller pots are helpful in controlling the size. Clay pots or plastic pots are preferred.

2. Soil

The soil should be mainly sandy, loose, fertile and well-drained. You can mix leaf mold, garden soil, river sand, etc., and put a layer of broken tiles or expanded clay at the bottom of the pot to facilitate drainage.

3. Lighting

Dragon bones like an environment with plenty of sunlight, but avoid direct sunlight to prevent the leaves from turning yellow. In spring and autumn, it can be placed outdoors in the sun, in summer it should be shaded, and in winter it should be kept warm to prevent frostbite.

4. Temperature

Dragon bone flower prefers a warm environment. The most suitable growth temperature is 15-30 degrees. It is afraid of cold but not heat. Summer is the growth stage of dragon bones, and they particularly like hot environments. It can be said that the hotter the weather, the faster they grow. Their growth rate is particularly fast in summer, so you need to pay attention to maintenance.

5. Watering

Dragon bones are drought-resistant but not water-resistant. When watering, you should follow the principle of watering when the soil is dry, that is, water it after the soil is completely dry, and water it thoroughly each time. Water more frequently during the growing season to keep the soil moist. In winter, reduce watering to avoid frost damage.

6. Fertilization

The principle of fertilization is to apply small amounts of fertilizer frequently. During the growing season, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizers can be applied, and multi-element foliar fertilizers can be sprayed to promote plant growth. In winter, you should reduce or stop fertilizing.

7. Pruning

The keel grows quickly and can easily grow too tall, affecting the ornamental effect. Therefore, regular pruning is necessary to maintain the beautiful shape of the plant. When pruning, you can cut off branches that are too high to promote the growth of side branches. The best time to prune is in spring, from April to August.

8. Reproduction

Grafting is a commonly used method of propagation for dragon bones. Grafted seedlings grow fast, are easy to survive, and bloom early. In addition, cuttings and sowing are also common methods of reproduction, and the best season for reproduction is usually spring.

9. Pest and disease control

Although dragon bones are relatively disease-resistant, they may still be invaded by some pests and diseases during the maintenance process. Common diseases include leaf spot and anthracnose, which can be controlled by pesticides such as thiophanate-methyl and carbendazim. Common insect pests include red spiders, aphids, etc., which can be killed by spraying with imidacloprid, omethoate and other pesticides. When preventing and controlling pests and diseases, pay attention to the concentration and method of use of the pesticide. To avoid causing damage to the plants.

10. Notes

① Turn the flower pot frequently to ensure that the keel receives light evenly and avoid crown imbalance.

② Clean up fallen leaves and dead branches regularly to keep the plants neat and beautiful.

③Avoid placing the keel near heat sources such as air conditioning outlets or radiators to prevent the leaves from drying out.

④During the growing season, you can spray water on the leaves frequently to increase the air humidity, which is beneficial to plant growth.

That’s it