Stock flower plants If you wish to decorate your gardens with both beautiful flowers and sweet fragrances, stock flower plants are a...
Stock flower plants
If you wish
to decorate your gardens with both beautiful flowers and sweet fragrances, stock
flower plants are a great option! The common name of this plant includes “Gilly
flower” and botanical name includes Matthiola incana.
There are
several varieties of these plants available in the floral markets. Some
varieties sprout single blooms and other varieties sprout double blooms. The
blooming season is usually from spring to summer depending on the climatic
zones. In any case, these plants stop blooming during summers when the
temperatures are extremely high.
These plants
grow as annuals in cooler zones. They usually need temperatures below 60
degrees Fahrenheit to produce buds. This bud production decreases when the
temperature rises. They even stop producing buds in warm temperatures.
Similarly, these plants grow as perennials in warmer zones.
Description
The height
of a well-grown stock flower plant is about 3 inches. The leaves usually
develop in rosettes on branches. Normally, the leaves have ash color and are
lanceolate in shapes.
The plants
appear with starry looks and have white hairs. The beautiful flowers develop in
various colors including red, white, yellow, and blue. Some varieties like
Cinderella Stock, Legacy Stock Etc., are well known for their sweet and spicy
signature smell. Generally, stocks have a pleasant perfume that fills the
garden air, especially during cold weather.
The pods
have flattened flaps. Normally, the pedicels measure 10-12 mm long. But during
the fruiting times, they elongate further measuring more than 12 mm. The petals measure about 30 mm and the sepals
measure about 14 mm
Propagation
The stock
flower plants, like all other plants, prefer to grow under full light. But they
can tolerate partial shades also. The ideal soil should be slightly acidic,
loose, well-draining, and rich. If you fertilize the soil before planting, it
will encourage healthy and sturdy growth.
From seeds
You can
easily purchase the seeds from nurseries. You can also opt to purchase them
from online stores. The availability never ceases!
Start the
process before a couple of months from the last frost date. Fill a planting pot with good quality potting
soil. Sow the seeds slightly below the surface. Water well and keep the arrangement
near the windows to receive indirect sunlight.
When a set
of true leaves sprout out, your seedling is ready to be transplanted outdoors
after the frost. Make sure to distance them at least 18 inches from each other.
Alternatively,
you can plant the seeds or purchased seedlings directly into the garden soil
after the frost.
Caring
Water at
least twice a month during the growing season. Maintain the soil moist. But do
not allow it to be soggy. This process can be automated by using drip or
trickle systems. These systems efficiently handle watering.
Fertilize
the soil every month. This helps plants to grow energetically. Remove the Weeds
periodically using a good quality weed remover machine. The weeds usually
compete with host plants for water. They also invite harmful pests. So, it is
necessary to keep its growth under check.
You can also
apply about 3 layers of mulch around the plants. Mulching helps in many ways.
It helps to maintain the temperature of the soil to some extent. It also keeps
weed growth under check.
After the
season, remove the dead blooms. This encourages fresh growth. You can also snip
off the entire plant to its basal level during hot summers. This restores fresh
growth in plants.
Uses
Plant them
as border plants or edging plants in your lawns. Decorate your indoor spaces by growing them
in containers. Beautify your gardens by planting stocks in empty spaces. While
doing so, make sure to plant the dwarf varieties in the front and tall varieties
at the back. The resultant scenery for sure will be a treat to the eyes.
Use them in
floral bouquets or at nose level staging. They will enhance the environment
with their vibrant colors and sweet - pleasant signature smells. They serve in
numerous ways to the environment, although we have stated only a few!
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