Buddha's Belly Flower, also known as Coral Flower, is the root or whole plant of the plant Zhejiang-Anhui Coarse Tube Moss in the Gesneriaceae family. It is mainly harvested in summer and autumn, and can be used fresh or dried. When cultivating and maintaining Buddha's Belly Flower, planting should be based on its unique biological characteristics. Let's take a closer look at the planting methods of Buddha's Belly Flower.
Buddha's Belly Flower Image
1. Soil Selection
For outdoor cultivation, sandy soil rich in humus should be selected. Buddha's Belly Flower can also grow well in light saline-alkali soil. For potted plants, a mixed substrate can be prepared using 3 parts of humus soil, 5 parts of sandy vegetable garden soil, and 2 parts of bone meal and dry organic fertilizers;
Alternatively, a mixture of humus soil, coarse sand, and garden soil can be prepared in a ratio of 1:2:1.5, preferably with the addition of some calcium superphosphate, the amount of which can be controlled between 0.2% and 0.3% of the total volume of the cultivation substrate.
Before use, the soil must be well-rotted and disinfected, and then sieved for later use. The seedlings should be repotted and the soil changed every two years to facilitate normal plant growth.
2. Moderate Fertilization
Buddha's Belly Flower prefers fertile soil, but not excessive fertilization. It prefers solid waste and in addition to applying dry organic fertilizers rich in phosphorus and potassium as base fertilizers during planting, it should also be supplemented with mature organic liquid fertilizer every 10 to 15 days during the vigorous growth stage, but the concentration should not be too high, generally at a concentration of 1:15 to 1:20.
When the plant is flowering, it is best to apply a 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution as top dressing every 2 weeks. When the seedlings have just emerged, thin fertilizers should be applied every half month.
3. Moderate Watering
Buddha's Belly Flower prefers a slightly dry soil environment and is relatively drought-tolerant. During the winter dormant stage, it should not be heavily watered, and the interval and amount of watering should be well controlled.
The soil should be kept moist. As the seedlings grow, the amount of water should gradually decrease, and less water should be applied in winter. Generally, the plant can be rinsed with water at a temperature of around 25°C once a month, and the excess water can be used to moisten the potting soil. If placed in a humid greenhouse, watering can be even less or not at all.
4. Temperature Control
Buddha's Belly Flower prefers higher temperatures, with 20 to 30°C being the most suitable for its growth. It is afraid of low temperatures and has poor cold resistance. The winter temperature should not be lower than 10°C, otherwise it will cause leaf drop.
However, even after the leaves have dropped, the bare "belly" can still continue to bloom. It can withstand short-term temperatures as low as 0°C and enter a dormant state, and can safely overwinter in a greenhouse.
5. Maintain Sufficient Light
Buddha's Belly Flower prefers ample sunlight. In order to achieve the best ornamental effect, it is best to maintain full-day sunlight. A shaded environment will cause slow plant growth, and if sunlight is not seen for a long time, it will also lead to fewer or no flowers. Avoid direct strong sunlight during the summer when the light is strong.
