Should Fertilizing Stop When Flower Buds Show Color?
A detailed introduction regarding stopping fertilization after flower buds show color in green plants and flowers is provided here. The following is a detailed explanation for you.
Previous articles have introduced some basic knowledge about fertilizing plants, including the manifestations of fertilizer damage and emergency treatment methods. At the same time, a question was raised: Do we need to continue fertilizing after flower buds show color? Flower enthusiasts who enjoy reading about flower care should often encounter the phrase: Stop fertilizing after flower buds show color.
Therefore, many people think that there is no need to fertilize anymore when the buds of potted plants show color, but this approach is not actually endorsed.
It has always been emphasized that taking care of flowers is a very flexible task that requires not only theoretical guidance but also practical experience.
The advocacy for stopping fertilization after flower buds show color is based on approximately two reasons:
1. -- Stimulating Further Growth of Potted Plants --
This means that excessive fertilization will stimulate the potted plant to switch from reproductive growth to nutritional growth, resulting in bud drop.
2. -- Leading to Early Wilting of Flowers --
Another view is that excessive fertilization and water in potted plants will cause the blooming time of flowers to become shorter, reducing the flowering period.
The above are two statements about stopping fertilization after flower buds show color. However, in my view, it seems to be a bit alarmist.
Why is that said?
It should be known that flower bud growth in potted plants requires the consumption of nutrients, and flowering also requires a large amount of nutrients.
I remember seeing a news headline a few days ago that told the story of a sister who felt that her mother favored her younger brother because her mother bought chicken legs for him but not for her. The mother's explanation was that her younger brother was still young and growing.
The sister's words made her mother feel ashamed. The sister said to her mother:
Although my brother is younger than me, he is growing, and so am I!
Indeed, when it's a time for growing, why does my brother get chicken legs and I don't?
Then why, when both require nutrient consumption, should we apply top dressing when the flower buds are growing, but not when they are about to bloom?
Regarding whether to fertilize after flower buds show color, I think: Everything has two sides, and we can't just dismiss it outright.
Based on the flowering nature of our potted plants, they can be roughly divided into single-season bloomers and multiple bloomers.
For example: Peonies, peony flowers, lilies, these flowers bloom only once a year, and the buds form almost at the same time.
There is also a situation where flowers bloom and new buds grow at the same time. Typical examples include: dwarf morning glories, pansies, beauty cherry, roses, and hibiscus. These flowers bloom while growing new buds.
In response to these two types of potted plants with different flowering characteristics, we should also differentiate in fertilization.
Should fertilizing stop when flower buds show color?
For flowers that bloom only once a year and form buds in the same period, fertilization can be stopped after the buds show color. For flowers that bloom and grow new buds at the same time, the frequency of fertilization should be maintained, and fertilization should not be stopped.
Why should we treat them differently? For single-bloom potted plants, we provide ample fertilizer and water during bud growth and can stop fertilizing after the buds show color.
Stopping fertilization can prevent fertilizer damage caused by improper fertilization and avoid concerns about excessive nutrition leading to premature withering of flowers.
However, it should be noted that after the flowers have bloomed, it is necessary to replenish fertilizer and water in a timely manner to promote the recovery of the plant's strength.
For potted plants that grow and bloom multiple times a year, the frequency of fertilization should be maintained because flowering requires the consumption of nutrients, as does growing new buds.
If top dressing is not continued, it will lead to excessive consumption by the plant, and the later-growing buds may also become malformed or fall off due to poor nutrition. Even if it's not that serious, the flowers may become smaller and smaller.
Think about your potted plants. Are the rose blooms smaller than the previous ones, and are the leaves of the dwarf morning glories turning more yellow?
These are all manifestations of insufficient nutrients. Will fertilizing after flower buds show color cause the potted plant to shift from reproductive growth to nutritional growth?
The specific content mentioned above about stopping fertilization after flower buds show color is provided for everyone's reference and operation.