Xiang Xuelan Cultivation Tips:
Soil Preparation: Xiang Xuelan thrives in sandy loam with high organic content, good water retention, and proper drainage. The ideal pH range is 6 to 7.2. Before planting, it's recommended to disinfect the soil using 6–10 g of pentachloronitrobenzene per square meter, 50–70 g of methyl bromide, and 8–12 g of silane. After application, the soil should be tilled flat, and sowing can begin every 5–7 days. In arid areas, planting beds should be about 5 cm high, while in areas with high moisture or poor drainage, the bed height should be 20–25 cm.
Seed Preparation: Scented bulbs have a long natural dormancy period, typically 50–60 days. After excavation, they should be stored at 28–31°C for 2–3 months to encourage germination, or kept at 13°C for up to 8 months to maintain dormancy. To break dormancy, a combination of high-temperature treatment followed by low-temperature conditioning is necessary before planting.
Seed Selection: Choose large bulbs with a diameter of at least 1 cm. To minimize virus infection, use detoxified tissue-cultured bulbs or newly grown seedlings. Tissue culture or seed-grown bulbs can develop into high-quality bulbs within 1–2 years of cultivation.
Seed Ball Pretreatment: Before planting, bulbs must be disinfected, treated to break dormancy, and prepared to promote root growth. Soak the bulbs in a 500–800 times diluted solution of carbendazim or thiophanate-methyl for 1–2 hours, then dry them. Root promotion should be done just before planting, ensuring roots are not too long to avoid damage during transplanting.
Planting: The best time for planting is between September and October, with winter protection to ensure flowering from March to April. Proper planting techniques allow for delayed blooming to control the fragrance timing. Planting spacing varies depending on variety, bulb size, and season. A typical spacing is 8 cm × (10–14) cm, with 80–110 plants per square meter. Narrow-leaf varieties are planted more densely than broad-leaf ones, and winter planting is denser than summer. Small bulbs are also planted more closely. Cover the bulbs with 2–3 cm of soil, avoiding excessive depth. After planting, cover the surface with a thin layer of peat, pine needles, straw, or sawdust to maintain moisture.
Fertilizer Management: Keep the soil moist after planting until germination. Once the buds appear, gradually reduce watering and keep the soil surface dry to lower humidity and prevent diseases. Organic and compound fertilizers applied before planting usually meet the plant’s needs. If the plant shows weak growth, apply ammonium nitrate and urea when there are 2–4 leaves, along with potassium sulfate. At the beginning of flowering, use a 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate foliar spray, but avoid top-dressing around the bud stage.
Temperature Control: Temperature plays a crucial role in producing high-quality scented cut flowers. Inflorescence differentiation occurs about 6 weeks after planting, with smaller bulbs taking 2–3 weeks longer. During this phase, avoid temperatures above 25°C or below 10°C. From the 4-leaf stage, maintain a temperature of 13–14°C for over 4 weeks to support flower bud differentiation. After flower buds emerge, raise the temperature slightly to speed up flowering. To extend the blooming period, lower the temperature to around 15°C when the first flower opens. Greenhouses should be ventilated if temperatures exceed 25°C and insulated or heated if below 10°C.
Light Management: Provide appropriate shading during seedling and flowering stages. Shading during the first leaf growth period helps lower ground temperature and promotes root development. Short-day conditions (about 10 hours) before flower bud differentiation help increase the number of flowers. After differentiation, extending sunlight promotes better inflorescence development and earlier flowering. Although Xiang Xuelan prefers light, it should avoid strong sunlight. Use a shade cloth with 70% light transmission in cases of intense light and high temperature.
Staking: Xiang Xuelan has soft stems and drooping inflorescences, making staking essential. Set up a net at the 3–4 leaf stage, starting about 25 cm above the ground, and add 2–3 layers as the plant grows. The net grid size is typically 10 cm × 10 cm or 10 cm × 15 cm.
Harvesting Cut Flowers: Harvest when the first small flower on the main stem begins to open. For long-distance transport, cut the flower when it is half-open or fully open. Disinfect cutting tools with alcohol to prevent disease spread. Cut at the base of the main stem to allow lateral branches to produce additional harvests. The stem length should be over 55 cm. If the inflorescence is small or the stem is too short, remove side branches along with the main one. After cutting, bundle flowers by quality—10 or 20 stems per bundle—and wrap partially in paper. Store in preservation liquid or water at 1–2°C with 90% humidity for up to 7 days. Pack in boxes containing 300–500 stems. Always leave at least 2 leaves on the plant to support bulb development, typically after the leaves turn yellow.
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