Tulip has won the favor of many flower lovers with its elegant posture and gorgeous colors. However, many people have doubts about the lifespan of tulips when they grow them. This article will delve into the tulip growth cycle, the factors that affect it, and how to extend its life so that your tulips can continue to bloom beautifully.
1. The Tulip Growth Cycle
Tulips are perennial plants, the above-ground parts of which wither after flowering, but the underground bulbs remain alive. In general, tulip bulbs can be used for many years, but after 2-3 years, the bulbs may degrade, resulting in less effective flowering. The growth and development cycle of tulips varies depending on the variety and environmental factors, usually between 3 and 8 months. The main influencing factors include ambient temperature, light and moisture conditions.
Under the right conditions, such as adequate sunlight, proper temperature and moisture, the growing season of the tulip may be shortened and it may take only 3-4 months to complete the full life cycle. On the other hand, if the tulip is grown in an unsuitable environment, such as too low or too high temperature, poor soil drainage or lack of necessary nutrients, it can lead to prolonged growth time, and may even be unable to flower or flower quality is poor.
2. Factors Affecting The Lifespan Of Tulips
soil
Tulips have high demands on the soil, which requires both water retention and air permeability, as well as moderate salinity and acidity. The most suitable pH should be no less than 6. In practice, it is usually used to mix peat, decomposed soil and sand in a ratio of 1:1:1 as the cultivation substrate, and the effect is more ideal. Tulips like fertile, loose, humus rich, well-drained sandy loam, in high density soil, poor growth in poor soil.
illumination
Adequate sunlight is essential for the growth of tulips. Lack of light can lead to poor plant growth, bud loss, plant weakness, and lighter leaf color. Therefore, in the early stage of the tulip basin, the light should be properly shaded to facilitate the new root of the seed ball. After germination, light should be gradually increased to promote the jointing of plants and the formation of flower buds. During the flowering period, direct sunlight should be prevented to extend the flowering time.
temperature
Tulips prefer a climate of warm winters and cool summers. The most suitable growth temperature is 9-13℃, and it is also said that the most suitable growth temperature is 15-18℃. In this range, the appropriate low temperature can promote the flower bud differentiation of tulips. Tulips can grow well in an environment of 5-20 ° C, and grow slowly above 25 ° C and gradually enter dormancy. Can withstand low temperature of -35℃. Therefore, during the growth process, attention should be paid to maintaining the appropriate temperature to avoid the adverse effects of too high temperature and too low temperature on plant growth.
water
After planting, it should be ensured that the water is poured, so that the soil and the seed ball are closely combined, which is conducive to the new root of the seed ball. After budding, the water should be properly controlled according to the actual situation, and the watering times can be appropriately increased after the leaves gradually extend. During flower bud differentiation and flower opening, adequate water supply should be ensured to promote normal flower development. Tulips like wet, do not tolerate drying, especially in the flowering period, the lack of water supply, will cause the front of the leaves to wither, the bud can not open properly, the petals wilt. However, the water in the soil or the long-term water content is too large, the plant roots can not breathe normally and will rot.
fertilize
Tulips have a relatively low fertilizer requirement. If the growth of the plant is weak, some nitrogen fertilizer can be applied. When the root system is well developed, 2 kg of calcium nitrate can be applied every 100 square meters, and it can be spread in three times. In addition, in the process of plant growth, attention should also be paid to appropriate topdressing to meet the growth needs of the plant.
Pest control
Common insect pests in tulips include aphids. When insect infestation occurs, 3% natural pyrethrin 800 times liquid can be used for spraying. At the same time, maintaining good ventilation conditions and avoiding high temperature and humidity environment can effectively prevent the occurrence of diseases and pests.
3. How To Extend The Life Of Tulips
Select high-quality seeds
When planting tulips, good quality seeds should be used. High quality seeds have higher germination rate and growth potential, which is conducive to prolonging the life of tulip. When purchasing seeds, you should choose a reputable merchant to ensure the quality of the seeds.
Rational fertilization
Tulips need adequate nutrient support during their growth. During the planting process, reasonable fertilization should be applied to ensure the healthy growth of tulips. When applying fertilizer, the appropriate fertilizer should be selected according to the growth stage of the tulip and the soil condition, and the amount of fertilizer should be applied according to the recommended amount on the instructions.
Maintenance management
During the tulip growth period, it is necessary to regularly prune dead leaves, weed, and loosen the soil to maintain the healthy growth of the plant. At the same time, it is also necessary to pay attention to the prevention and control of pests and diseases to avoid damage to tulips. In high summer temperatures, care should be taken to provide proper shade for tulips to avoid excessive exposure to the sun causing damage to the plant.
Keep the seed balls well
Care should be taken to avoid high temperatures and dry conditions during the preservation of tulip bulbs. It can be stored at room temperature and low temperature. The method of storage at room temperature is to wrap the seed ball with a net or newspaper and put it in a cool and ventilated place indoors; The rule of cryopreservation is to place the seed balls in the freezer, wrap them with sand and water, wrap them in newspaper and put them in a ziplock bag. In the preservation process, it is necessary to pay attention to regularly check the state of the seed ball to avoid dry death or decay.
Seed ball treatment
The balls should be treated before planting. First, the brown skin on the outer layer of the seed ball is peeled off, and then the seed ball is soaked in the diluent of carbendazim, chlorothalonil and other agents for about 1-2 hours for sterilization. The treated balls should be placed in a ventilated, dry place to dry out the moisture before planting.
Seed germination
Tulip seeds need lower temperature conditions to germinate. In general, about 5℃ is the best germination temperature. In the process of germination, attention should be paid to maintaining a suitable temperature range to avoid too high or too low temperature to affect the germination rate. At the same time, during the germination process of seeds, the environment should be kept well ventilated to avoid excessive humidity conditions. At the same time, keep the environment bright and avoid direct sunlight.
Planting room temperature requirement
In the winter shed to promote cultivation, should pay attention to the adjustment of indoor temperature and humidity. The appropriate temperature range is 8℃-12℃, and the humidity should be controlled at 50%-60%. Growing tulips in too high or too low a temperature may cause the plant to grow slowly or the flowers to die early.
4. Tulip Planting Practical Operation Steps
Choose the right variety
There are many varieties of tulips, and different varieties have slightly different growing conditions. Therefore, before planting, you need to choose the right variety according to your planting environment and preferences.
Soil preparation
Humus, peat and river sand are mixed in equal proportions to provide loose, fertile, well-drained soil for the tulips. It is best to choose a deeper pot, which is conducive to better rooting of the bulb. Before planting, it is necessary to turn the soil loose and add an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer to provide sufficient nutrients.
Plant bulbs
Peel off the seed coat of the bulb and bury it in the soil, the top of the bulb is upward, and then bury it in the soil, cover it with a thin soil thickness of about five centimeters, pour water on the soil, and put it in a cool place for maintenance. The distance between the bulbs should be kept at a certain distance for the growth and reproduction of flowers and plants.
Watering and fertilizing
After planting, keep the soil moist, but do not over water, so as not to cause root rot. Every once in a while, the right amount of organic fertilizer can be applied to promote the growth and flowering of the plant.
Pest control
Regular inspection of tulip plants, if found harmful organisms or diseases, to take appropriate preventive measures in time.
Management and pruning
During the tulip growth period, it is necessary to weed and loosen the soil in time to maintain the permeability and fertility of the soil. After the flower fades, it is necessary to trim the flower stem in time to promote the growth of the plant and the accumulation of nutrients.
Conclusion
The life of tulip is affected by many factors, but the growth cycle of tulip can be prolonged by selecting high quality seeds, reasonable fertilization, maintenance management and proper preservation of seed balls. In the actual planting process, we need to comprehensively consider the growth habits and environmental conditions of tulips, and formulate appropriate planting programs and management measures to ensure that tulips can grow healthily and bloom beautiful flowers.
With its elegant posture and gorgeous colors, tulips add a touch of bright color to our lives. With scientific planting and management, we can keep tulips beautiful and alive for longer, adding a lasting beauty to our gardens and balconies.
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