The flowering season is here.
Today, we are introducing some common knowledge about flower cultivation. Be careful when entering the minefield of flower cultivation as the flowering season arrives. Let's learn about it together.
Melodious fragrance wafts at dusk in late May. The night is filled with the scent of flowers, and the potted plants on the balcony are competing to bloom.茉莉花, gardenia, and white magnolia, the famous summer trio of white flowers, have jointly welcomed the first round of the flowering season this year. All three flowers have rich fragrances. True flower lovers, in addition to appreciating flowers, should also know how to care for them carefully, because the arrival of the flowering season is the most vigorous and also the most vulnerable period for flowers and trees.
Many people complain that although they love flowers and are diligent in watering and fertilizing, the flowers they cultivate wither after only a few days, the leaves start to wilt, the branches begin to dry, and the flowers completely fade before the flowering season even begins. In fact, there is a method to flower cultivation, and home gardening often has pitfalls. Once these are misstepped, it can easily lead to the premature death of flowers.
Pitfall 1: Overwatering - The roots will suffocate and die. Lack of understanding of the plant's habits can lead to excessive or insufficient watering. Water is a necessary condition for the survival and propagation of flowers, and proper watering is the key to successful flower cultivation. Different types of flowers, environments, and climates have greatly varying water requirements. For home gardening, especially indoor flowers, due to the absence of direct sunlight, the transpiration of flowers is较弱, and they should not be watered too frequently. Otherwise, the soil will often be in a waterlogged state, causing the roots to suffocate and die.
For flowers on the balcony, watering should be flexible according to the temperature. Water more during hot weather and less when the temperature is cool. Water more for herbaceous plants and less for woody plants. The simplest method is to water only when the soil is relatively dry, and each time, water until water seeps out from the bottom of the pot. Do not water the plant when the soil is still moist.
Pitfall 2: Over-fertilizing - Easily burns and even kills the roots of the plant. Generally, home gardening does not require too much fertilizer and there is no need to worry about insufficient nutrition. For potted plants with vigorous growth, fertilizing once every one or two months is sufficient. Too much fertilizer can easily burn and even kill the roots of the plant.
Currently, most supermarkets sell flower fertilizers, which are mainly divided into two categories: organic and inorganic. Organic fertilizers have long-lasting effects and are beneficial for improving the soil structure, while inorganic fertilizers are chemical and mineral fertilizers that have quick but short-lived effects. Although they are easy to use and odorless, their frequent use can cause the soil to compact. Therefore, home gardening should primarily use organic fertilizers, with inorganic fertilizers as a supplement.
Pitfall 3: Pests and Diseases - Homemade non-toxic flower medicines can be sprayed to kill pests. When admiring flowers, it is necessary to check frequently if there are pests on the potted plants. The main pests for home potted plants include aphids, red spiders, scale insects, and ants and grubs in the soil. If pesticides are used, chemical pesticides can be highly toxic, easily polluting the environment and causing harm to humans. On one hand, pests can be manually captured, and on the other hand, homemade non-toxic flower medicines can be used to spray and kill pests, such as crushing garlic and adding a small amount of laundry detergent, diluted 50 times; or using eucalyptus oil diluted 500 times in water, which is effective against most pests.
Enjoying summer flowers - Rose - Direct sunlight on the balcony is not suitable for rose growth. Common home potted plants are easy to cultivate. However, a too hot and sunny balcony is not suitable for rose growth and should be placed in a well-ventilated and well-lit area facing north or south. Summer is the most vigorous flowering season for roses.
For potted roses, do not water until they are dry and water thoroughly when you do. In hot summer weather, the evaporation rate is high, and the amount of water for potted plants should be increased, especially a sufficient amount in the evening. High temperatures can lead to poor growth, fewer flowers, and adding fertilizer at this time can be counterproductive. They can be exposed to the late afternoon sun but should be shaded during the hottest part of the day. Also, do not fertilize when new shoots are red and tender, as this can injure the young roots, causing the plant to wilt or stop growing.
Pests and Diseases: Roses are prone to leaf spot and powdery mildew, which can cause a large number of leaves to fall off and severe cases can lead to death. From late May to August is the peak period for rose diseases. At this stage, a 0.3 to 0.5 degree Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed. The most serious pest is the longicorn beetle. Cutting off the branches infested by the larvae of the longicorn beetle from mid-June to July is one of the key measures to control the pest. If this opportunity is missed, the larvae boring into the main stem will make control more difficult.
Jasmine - Water twice a day, morning and evening, when the weather is hot. It is currently the season for jasmine to bloom. Small white flowers of jasmine have a strong fragrance and can be cultivated indoors and outdoors. However, it is best to place them on the balcony during the flowering season, as prolonged exposure to strong fragrance indoors can easily cause insomnia and discomfort to the body.
Jasmine is a typical summer flower that prefers warm, humid, and sunny environments. The key to growing jasmine is watering. When the weather is hot, it is necessary to water twice a day, morning and evening, and to mist the leaves with fine spray, but not in the middle of the day.
Pests and Diseases: Jasmine is prone to leaf blight, stem blight, and white rot. A 65% wettable powder of zinc omadine can be sprayed at a dilution of 800 times. Pests include leafrollers, red spiders, and scale insects, which can be sprayed with a 50% fenvalerate emulsion at a dilution of 1000 times. These are available in flower markets.
Gardenia - A sun-loving woody plant that requires full-day sunlight. The fragrant gardenia is also in bloom. Potted gardenias are suitable for placement on the balcony because they are sun-loving woody plants that require full-day sunlight. Gardenias prefer humid air and should be watered once a day, thoroughly. In hot summer weather, it is best to mist the leaves several times a day. However, after the flower buds appear, do not water too much to avoid bud drop.
Pests and Diseases: Gardenias often turn yellow due to lack of fertilizer, but this should be treated according to the specific situation. The main pest is the scale insect, which can be removed with a bamboo stick while also spraying with pesticides for prevention.
White Magnolia - Vulnerable to wind attacks and should be placed near a wind-protected wall. Large white magnolias are commonly seen on both sides of the streets in Shenzhen and are ornamental woody plants. They are often sold in flower markets and can be used as fragrant flowers to adjust the atmosphere on the balcony. Currently, white magnolias are in bloom.
White magnolias have a single branch with a slender main stem, with leaves densely surrounding it, unlike green vines or lucky plants that look sturdy. Therefore, in Shenzhen's weather with frequent thunderstorms and typhoons, home white magnolias are easily affected by wind. It can be placed near a wall on the balcony. Also, avoid direct sunlight on the leaves. Water once every one or two days according to the temperature, and water thoroughly each time.
Pests and Diseases: The main pest is the scale insect. As the flowering season begins, scale insects also start to hatch. Carefully observe the branches and leaves for eggs and brush them off before they hatch. If adult insects are found, spray with a 40% solution of omite at a dilution of 1000 to 1500 times. These are available in flower markets.
The above content about the arrival of the flowering season and being careful when entering the minefield of flower cultivation is hoped to be helpful to you!