Butterfly flowers, also known as star chrysanthemums or dragonfly flowers, are widely planted in parks and zoos due to their easy cultivation and diverse, beautiful colors. However, the specific techniques for growing this flower are still not widely known.
>> Techniques for growing butterfly flowers from bulbs
Butterfly flowers have a relatively simple cultivation technique. This plant belongs to the daisy family, with many varieties that are commonly grown in our country. People can cultivate this flower as an ornamental plant in their gardens.
Butterfly flowers have a relatively simple cultivation technique.
Due to their fragile and slender stems, butterfly flowers are rarely used like their relatives; they are not commonly sold or displayed for offerings. However, this does not hinder the popularity of star chrysanthemums, as they are increasingly favored for beautifying home gardens due to their ease of propagation and cultivation.
When wanting to plant them as ornamental plants in the garden, it is essential to choose a spacious, open area to highlight the scenery of the flowers.
This type of flower has hollow, beautiful green stems but is quite delicate. If not careful, stepping on or bumping into it can cause the plant to break, topple, or die. The flowers planted in parks or gardens are often smaller than those growing wild in nature. On average, butterfly flowers only grow to about 0.3 to 0.4 meters in height, making them easy to care for and enjoy.
The leaves can grow in single or compound forms depending on the variety. Compound leaves grow symmetrically. The leaf shape is quite similar to mulberry leaves but slightly smaller, with pointed tips and some varieties having serrated edges.
As a member of the daisy family, butterfly flowers grow in clusters. The petals have a unique two-layer structure compared to other flowers. The outer petals are large and wide, spreading horizontally, while the inner petals grow vertically along the stem, and the flower’s stamen is found within these petals.
This flower has a hollow, beautiful green stem but is quite fragile.
Meaning of Butterfly Flowers
True to their name, butterfly flowers appear like colorful butterflies from a distance. In a gentle breeze, fields of butterfly flowers seem like hundreds or thousands of butterflies flapping their beautiful wings. This scenery has captivated countless generations of Vietnamese people.
The delicate flowers evoke a sense of peace and tranquility in the human soul. Observing butterfly flowers can soothe even the most frustrated individuals, bringing them a sense of calm and relaxation. Additionally, butterfly flowers symbolize a deep, gentle love that is equally beautiful.
Techniques for Growing Butterfly Flowers
To ensure the plants bloom for the Lunar New Year, growers should sow seeds from the 9th to 10th lunar month when the seedlings are 20-25 days old. Before planting, it is essential to fertilize the well-prepared soil with decomposed manure.
With a little attention to the cultivation technique, growers can achieve a beautiful flower bed.
Since the seeds are small, when sowing on sandy beds, it is crucial to sow them evenly. After sowing, the seeds should be covered with a layer of decomposed straw to prevent crust formation on the soil surface and to protect the seeds from being washed away during heavy rains. This covering can be removed once the seeds start to sprout. After removing the straw, avoid overwatering as it can cause the plants to die.
This delicate flower comes in a variety of colors.
Gardening enthusiasts can apply 5 cubic meters of decomposed manure, which includes: 3 kg of phosphorus, 3 kg of potassium, and 10-15 kg of lime powder for 1 sao (approximately 360 m²). Half of the decomposed manure should be applied to the soil before the final tilling to prepare the beds, while the other half should be applied to the flowers before they bloom.
Butterfly flowers are often planted in rows.
The planting density is 30x40cm. Once the plants recover, flower enthusiasts can apply additional fertilizers every 7 days using a water-soluble fertilizer at a ratio of 1/5 to 1/4. Fertilizing at the time the plants start to bud is the most crucial.
For propagation: Growers should select plants with beautiful colors, collect mature, ripe seeds, dry the whole fruit, and then crush it to obtain the seeds. The fruit will easily split, allowing the grower to sift and select the firm seeds, which should be dried and stored. The seeds of this flower are difficult to preserve, so they should only be sun-dried lightly or kept in the shade, cooled down before being stored in jars.
Transplanting Butterfly Flowers
When the butterfly flowers reach about 5 cm in height and have 5-6 true leaves, they are ready for transplanting into the garden or pots.
Butterfly flowers are drought-resistant, cold-tolerant, and have low water requirements. Therefore, it is essential to control the amount of water and avoid overwatering, which can negatively affect plant growth. During flowering, the soil should be kept slightly dry.
Important Notes When Growing Butterfly Flowers
- The plants adapt to most weather conditions; however, if planted too densely or during heavy rains, they may suffer from gray mold disease.
- Avoid overwatering the plants, as excess water will hinder flowering.
- If you want to prolong the blooming period, regularly cut off withered flowers.
- Weed regularly around the base of the plants.
- Due to the fragile stems, it is necessary to stake around them to protect the flowers from strong winds.
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