Calendula is also known as golden cup, elixir, decanting hop, ivy. Its flower language is: sorrow and jealousy, the pain of parting. It is native to southern Europe, along the Mediterranean coast. Ideal for place on balconies or sunny window sills, or outdoors.
Calendula is not tolerant of bright light, and its logo color is golden yellow. Calendula essential oil is an important aromatherapy raw material. In medieval Europe it was used to treat trauma, fight the plague and the Black Death, among others. Modern research has shown that calendula essential oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and can be used to treat sunburn, pimples, eczema, etc.
In addition, many flower lovers like to raise calendula Another important reason is that calendula has a good repellent effect. If you are playing with vegetables on the balcony of your home, you can sow several pots of calendula. Because calendula has a strong ability to drive away beetles, moths and larvae that fly into balconies and window sills, it can be regarded as "appreciation and insect repellent".
Calendula also has a strong antibacterial effect, can purify the air, and has a certain resistance to harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide, cyanide, hydrogen sulfide and so on.
Of course, caring for calendula is actually very simple.
First, it is advisable to choose a fertile, loose and well-drained sandy loam or culture soil, with a soil pH of 6-7 preferred. In this way, the plants have many branches and large and many flowers.
For sunlight: Spring, summer and autumn need to be maintained in shade conditions. At times of high temperatures (above 25 °C during the day), if it is placed in direct sunlight, the leaves will become significantly smaller, the branches will be shortened, the foot leaves will yellow, fall off, and grow very slowly or enter a semi-dormant state. In winter, direct sunlight should be given to facilitate photosynthesis and the formation of flower buds, flowering, and fruiting.
For temperature: prefer warm climate, the most suitable growth temperature is 15 ~ 25 ° C, avoid extreme heat, in the summer temperature above 34 ° C when the growth is obviously poor; not resistant to frost, in the winter temperature below 4 ° C into dormancy or death.
About fertilization: 7-10 days after colonization, plucking promotes branching or sprays the foliar surface 1-2 times with 0.4% bijiu solution to control plant height. Fertilize once every half a month during the growing season, or use "Huiyou" 20-20-20 universal fertilizer. Fertilizer is plentiful, and calendula flowers are numerous and large. On the contrary, the fertilizer is insufficient, and the flowers are significantly smaller and degraded.
About insect pests: indoor cultivation due to poor ventilation, high humidity, often occur blight and downy mildew hazards, can be used 65% daisen zinc wettable powder 500 times liquid spray control. When the temperature rises in early summer, the leaves of chrysanthemums are often found to be rusty and harmful, and they are sprayed with 50% rusty spirit wettable powder 2000 times liquid. In early spring, it is susceptible to red spiders and aphids and can be sprayed with 40% oxidized Fruit Emulsion 1000 times.
About pruning: Cut off the branches with old leaves and yellow leaves every two months, as long as the temperature is right, you can bloom in all seasons.