Saffron edelweiss (pronounced cu, with "vinegar"), also known as the big sour grass, purple edelweiss, etc., is geranium order, edelweiss family edelweiss genus of a perennial herb native to South America. No above-ground stems, the underground part of the bulbous bulb, the outer layer with brown membranous; leaf basal, hairy; leaflets 3, compressed rounded obcordate; stipules oblong, apical narrowly pointed, and the base of the petiole united; dichotomous cyme, petals lilac to purple-red.

Saffron edelweiss has colorful flowers, long flowering period, rapid growth and other characteristics, widely cultivated in the country, because of its strong reproductive capacity, has been in the south of all over the escape for the wild, become a weed. The red-flowered edelweiss belongs to the type of abundant flowers and is very drought-resistant.

Planting Procedure

Starting Seedlings

Use a shovel to dig up the aging seedlings whole, gently pat away the soil around the root system, and concentrate on stacking. Digging seedlings a little farther away from the plant, so as not to accidentally injure the bulb, and pay attention to the shovel should be straight down to dig up, can not dig down diagonally, injuring the bulb.

Splitting

Remove the withered leaves from the dug-up redbuds, and remove about 1/2 of the old leaves to reduce transpiration water loss after planting. With a sharp knife to remove the lower part of the old bulb, the incision site in the upper part of the first or second new bulb below the appropriate, so as to retain 1 ~ 2 new bulbs of the seedling after planting, not only to remove the lower part of the old bulb, renewed and re-strengthened; but also ensure that the new plant stores enough nutrients, rapid sprouting and flowering. Finally, in the cut new bulb wound, with fresh grass ash dip, to prevent wound rot.

Fertilizer

In the digging out of the aging seedlings in the flower bed to increase the application of organic fertilizers, deep turning once and rake out the dead leaves, weeds. Generally apply 0.5-0.8 kg / square meter of rotted cake fertilizer, and appropriate application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to ensure that the flowering needs of saffron edelweiss.

Planting

Saffron edelweiss grows rapidly, each plant can reproduce 3~9 seedlings that year. Planting is usually done in zigzag holes with a spacing of 25×35 centimeters. With a small shovel to dig a hole 8~10 cm deep, according to the size of the bulb, each hole put 4~6 plants, and cover the soil 3~4 cm, pay attention to the leaves exposed to the soil surface. Of course, you can also use the method of trench planting, plant spacing is generally 15~30 cm, planting 2~3 days after watering to prevent bulb rot.

Saffron edelweiss is easy to survive, strong growth potential, long flowering period, loved by the majority of people. But because of the daily management is too sloppy, many areas appear only plant regardless of the phenomenon. The growth of many years of saffron edelweiss, plants crowded each other, the roots move up, the ability to absorb fertilizer and water weakened, weak potential year by year, less flowering, shortening the flowering period, serious pieces of the place withered, affecting its ornamental value. Strengthen the daily maintenance and management of the red-flowered edelweiss, can also effectively delay the occurrence of its aging phenomenon. Saffron edelweiss flowering period of up to five months, the growth period requires a lot of fertilizer, should be fertilized and watered in time during the growing season. In the spring before the return of saffron, per mu of compound fertilizer 15 to 20 kg, can be applied to the hole, but also depending on the soil moisture combined with watering sprinkler. Since then, in addition to the dormant period every 20 days fertilizer, and pay attention to the control of pests and diseases. Summer temperatures rise in July to August, the saffron edelweiss is forced into a dormant state, basically stop growing. In order to prevent sunburn damage to the new stems exposed to the soil, mulching should be carried out. Mulch thickness should be based on the height of the new stems of the red-flowered edelweiss each year, generally 2 to 3 centimeters appropriate. Saffron edelweiss is native to Brazil, preferring a shady and humid environment, requiring well-drained, sandy loam with much humus. Not cold hardy, in colder areas, only for greenhouse cultivation.