Hoary Stock Flower (Matthiola Incana) Profile: Info & Care Guide

Hoary stock, Latin scientific name: (Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br.) Cruciferae, Hoary stock is a biennial or perennial herb. Hoary stock has terminal and axillary racemes with large and numerous flowers and elongated racemes at fruiting stage.

Hoary Stock Picture

Characteristics of Hoary Stock

Hoary Stock Stems

Hoary stock is a biennial or perennial herb, up to 60 cm tall, densely covered with grayish white branched pilose hairs. Stem IS erect, much branched, slightly lignified at base.

Hoary Stock Leaf

Leaf blade of Hoary stock is oblong to obliterate or spatulate, petiole 6 -- 14 cm long, 1.2 -- 2.5 cm wide, entire or microwave-shaped, apically obtuse or rarely mucronate, base tapering into stalk.

Hoary Stock Flowers

Hoary stock has terminal and axillary racemes with large and numerous flowers and elongated racemes at fruiting stage. Pedicels are stout, obliquely spreading, 1.5 mm long; Sepals are erect, oblong, ca. 15 mm long, inner wheel sepals saccate at base, margin membranous, white transparent; Petals of hoary stock are purplish red, reddish or white, subovate, ca. 12 mm long, apically shallowly 2-lobed or concave, margin undulate, proximally clawed; Filaments are gradually dilated toward base; Ovary of Hoary stock is cylindrical, stigma slightly 2-lobed.

Hoary Stock Fruit

Fruit of Hoary stock is cylindrical, 7 -- 8 cm long, ca. 3 mm in diam., midrib conspicuous, apical lobed; Fruit is pedicel stout, 10-15 mm long. Seeds are suborbicular, ca. 2 mm in diam., flat, dark brown, margin with white membranous wings.

Habits of Hoary Stock

Hoary Stock likes cold climates, not hot and dry. Hoary stock likes a well-ventilated environment, like a mild climate in winter, but also can withstand the short -5℃ low temperature. The suitable temperature for growth is 15-18℃ during the day and about 10℃ at night. It is not strict to the soil, but it is better to grow in the soil with good drainage and neutral alkali, and it is better to avoid acid soil.

Hoary stock is cold, shaded and afraid of waterlogging. Hoary stock grows in a high location and is vulnerable to pests and diseases when it is hot in rainy weather and poorly ventilated. Hoary stock should not apply too much fertilizer, otherwise it will be detrimental to flowering. Light and ventilation if not adequate, susceptible to disease pests.

How to Care for Hoary Stock

Hoary stock is a straight-root plant, which is not resistant to transplantation. Therefore, in order to ensure its survival, it is necessary to bring more permanent soil during transplantation, not to loose lumps, and try not to damage the roots. Once the root is broken, it is not easy to recover. Before the true leaves are spread, seedlings need to be transplanted. Generally, seedlings can be transplanted after a seedling division. Do not cultivate too densely, otherwise ventilation is poor, vulnerable to pests and diseases. During cultivation, attention should be paid to fertilization, fertilization at a time not too much, thin fertilizer frequently applied, otherwise easy to cause the growth of the plant, and affect the flowering.

The leaves of Hoary Stock are thick and resistant to drought, so excessive water should not be used. The soil should be kept moist, because excessive water will rot the roots. If it is arranged as a flowerbed, the water should be properly controlled in spring, and the soil moisture should be kept under cultivation, so that the Hoary stocks are low and compact, and the ornamental effect should be better. If cultivated as a cut flower, the water supply should be guaranteed to promote the elongation of the foil. If the flower after the timely cut to flower branches, with topdressing, strengthen management, but again germination lateral branches, bloom again. In summer, high temperature and high humidity should pay attention to the prevention and control of diseases and insect pests. If properly maintained, the flower can be in spring. Flowers need to cut branches after flowering, and apply 1~2 times of top dressing, so that you can take out branches, to 6~7 months can be the second flowering. Hoary stock should be selected for seed collection. The remaining plants should be far away from other kinds of cruciferae to prevent interspecific hybridization.

Seed germination of Hoary stock unearthed the most suitable temperature is about 16~20℃, the general use of broadcast, seeding bed soil to fine screen, seedling matrix needs soft, good air permeability, with a watering can pouring permeable water, and then sow dry seeds, seedbed seeding per square meter of 5 grams or so, covered with fine soil 0.5cm.Such as sowing with a seedling tray. Seed plate in the shade and rain protection, if the bed soil water retention is poor, after covering the soil with plastic film or glass.Sow the dry seeds in about 4~6 days. After the emergence of Hoary stock seedlings should gradually remove the shade, so that it can see light. Prevent heavy rain during the seedling period.

Hoary stock has poor root regeneration ability, so seedlings should be grown with containers if possible and transplanted early.1~2 seedlings were placed in each container, the diameter of which was 8~10cm. As the weather turns cold, a greenhouse or arch shed should be appropriate to strengthen insulation, for the growth of seedlings. The bed soil is always moist. Seedlings of Hoary stock should be placed on the south side of the greenhouse, in order to obtain stronger light and greater temperature difference, which can prevent growth. When 8~10 leaves were planted, 2~3 Hoary stocks were planted in 26.7cm diameter pots. Seedling can tolerate -5℃ low temperature, avoid high temperature and hot, the most suitable temperature for growth during the day 15~18℃, about 10℃ at night. Hoary stock loved light, but also slightly tolerant of semi-shade drought tolerance. Hoary stock likes fertile loose bed soil, bed soil suitable for pH5.5 ~7.5. When the seedlings have 6~8 true leaves, control watering, two different colors of leaves will appear. Remove the seedlings with yellow leaves, and only the plants with dark green leaves will be retained for colonization. Neutral or slightly acidic loam soil is required.

When the daytime temperature is 20~25℃ and the night temperature is not lower than 5℃, it takes about 120~150 days from sowing to flowering in autumn. In the cold north, the seeds of Hoary stock are planted in summer, and in other areas in autumn, so that the flowers can bloom around the Spring Festival. In order to arrange spring flower beds, northern cold areas should be sown in winter, so as to reduce the number of days to raise seedlings, and reduce the cost of seedling. Grafted for cut flowers in cultivated beds in protected areas; Autumn sowing in warm areas is used for the transfer of flower beds to cold beds for overwintering in spring. High growth in the seedling stage to pick the heart, and sowing time should be arranged, such as early summer sowing, can be in autumn to flower, the summer should be selected suitable varieties, suitable varieties have the dance of the wind, snow, spring dance, yellow dance, etc.

How to Propagate Hoary Stock

Hoary Stock is generally planted in the ground in autumn. For seed picking, it is better to choose the single flower as the mother parent, because the double flower lacks pistils and cannot seed, and the second generation of the potted mother parent has more petal rate. Before sowing, the basin soil should be moist, after sowing, cover with a thin layer of fine soil, no watering, in half a month if the basin soil is dry, can be half of the basin in the water from the bottom of the water moisten. After sowing, pay attention to shade, 15 days right can emerge seedlings. Seedlings can be planted in a seedbed at a spacing of 6×8 cm before the true leaves are unfolded. When pulling out the seedlings, be careful not to hurt the roots, and take the soil balls with you. Before colonization, some dry pig and chicken manure should be put in the soil for base fertilizer.

After transplanting, pour enough root fixing water to shade but not to sulk; Potted plants should be moved to a cool and breezed place, and then moved to a sunny place after survival, every other day watering once, every 10 days a decomposable liquid fertilizer, immediately stop after seeing the flowers. For tall varieties, flowers should be cut off branches, and then topdressing sparse liquid fertilizer 1~2 times, can promote the secondary branches, before the arrival of the first frost, planting to take soil masses to dig up, store into the sun beds or pot indoor overwintering.

Hoary Stock Disease Control

Under high temperature and wet conditions, fusarium wilt, powdery mildew and leaf rot are easy to occur. It can be sprayed with 10% antibacterial agent 401 acetic acid solution 1000 times liquid or poured into the soil in the pot. Scale insects and red spiders in the growing season often harm the African violet, can be used 40% oxidized diethoate emulsion 1000 liquid spray kill.

Sicken African violets in different parts of the appearance will show different symptoms, such as flowers may lead to non-flowering, deformity, premature death, color is not bright, the number of reduced, decay, etc. The leaf tissue appeared deformity, curl, yellowing, discoloration, formation of brown spots and rot.

The stem part of Hoary stock has vain long (internode becomes long), Browning, decaying, insect, fungus parasitism, etc.Root Browning discoloration, rot or parasitic insects, bacteria, etc.

Distribution of Hoary Stock

Hoary Stock is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean coast.

Hoary stock is often introduced in big cities in southern China, and planted in garden beds or greenhouses in northern China for appreciation.

Hoary Stock Uses

Mauve Hoary Stock flowers are mysterious and elegant. Because of their bright color, thin petals, pleats and transparency, the essence can be released even under cold water. Hoary stock can clear away heat and detoxify, whiten and remove spots, moisturize the skin, remove wrinkles and spot, remove bad breath, enhance luster and prevent ultraviolet radiation. Hoary Stock is very helpful to the respiratory tract and has a conditioning effect on bronchitis. Hoary stock moistens the throat and solves bad breath caused by tooth decay. Hoary Stock's are not only pleasing to the eye, but also can be made into scented tea, which is refreshing to the heart and spleen.

Reminder: suitable with roses, mint, marigold, rosemary, osmanthus and so on.

Hoary Stock Flower Meaning

Quote from Hoary Stock: Eternal beauty, I like you very much.

Hoary Stock (blue): Vigilance, loyalty, I will always be loyal.

Hoary Stock (white): Let's take a chance on happiness.

Hoary Stock (Purple): Falling in love with you in a dream, you will always be beautiful to me.