March Houseplant Guide
This detailed introduction is about knowledge on home gardening, specifically the March houseplant guide, with the following details:
I. Courtyard Section
(1) Flower types suitable for courtyard planting
1. Flower types suitable for ground planting
If your courtyard is spacious and open, with good lighting and ventilation, or if the distance from the front row of houses is more than 30 meters and the soil has been improved to some extent, you can plant some light-loving and high-demanding flower types.
Ground planting flowers include: Magnolia denudata, Ginkgo biloba, Osmanthus fragrans, Magnolia liliiflora, Michelia figo, Magnolia soulangeana, Chaenomeles speciosa, Malus halliana, Malus micromalus, Viburnum plicatum, Hydrangea macrophylla, Prunus persica, Hibiscus syriacus, Prunus mume, Rosa chinensis, Ficus carica, Camellia sinensis, Lagerstroemia indica, Peony, Punica granatum, Wisteria sinensis, Cherry blossom, Vitis vinifera, Prunus persica, Nandina domestica, Acer palmatum, Cercis chinensis, Hibiscus syriacus, Phoenix canariensis, etc.
If your courtyard is relatively shaded and moist, you should choose some flower types that are suitable for such conditions, such as Palm, Photinia serrulata, Aucuba chinensis, Euonymus fortunei, Ligustrum lucidum, Mahonia bealei, Magnolia grandiflora, Cinnamomum camphora, Sabina chinensis, Elaeocarpus decipiens, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Fatsia japonica, Sabina chinensis, Pinus strobus, Chimonanthus praecox, Banana, Bambusa multiplex, etc.
No matter how much light or how dry your courtyard is, when choosing ground planting flowers, you should pay attention to the following points:
First, the minimum temperature that the flowers can tolerate should not be lower than the local minimum temperature to avoid frost damage;
Second, they should be adapted to the local soil and water conditions to avoid unsuitability;
Third, they should have fewer pests and diseases, a longer flowering period, a fragrant aroma, and an auspicious name;
Fourth, the number of flowers should not be too many, with 1 to 2 plants for a small courtyard and more for a large one;
Fifth, the height of adult trees should not exceed the windows and balconies on the second floor to avoid obstructing the lighting of upstairs residents and affecting neighborly relations;
Sixth, avoid planting flowers that may cause allergies or contain toxic substances;
Seventh, choose large-sized plants that grow slowly but have basically matured, so that the greening and beautification effects can be achieved early, such as Ginkgo biloba, Cryptomeria japonica, Osmanthus fragrans, Prunus mume, Podocarpus macrophyllus, etc., with a height of not less than 2 meters;
Eighth, reserve some empty land for planting bedding flowers and placing potted ornamental plants.
There are many types of bedding flowers and ground cover plants suitable for ground planting. Those that prefer sunny and light conditions include Dianthus chinensis, Antirrhinum majus, Brassica oleracea, Viola tricolor, Salvia splendens, Celosia cristata, Gomphrena globosa, Bidens pilosa, Tagetes erecta, Althaea rosea, Impatiens balsamina, Lupinus polyphyllus, Bellis perennis, Calendula officinalis, Papaver rhoeas, Zephyranthes candida, Dahlia pinnata, etc. Bedding flowers and ground cover plants that are more shade-tolerant include Ophiopogon japonicus, Liriope spicata, Asparagus plumosus, Hosta plantaginea, Lycoris radiata, Aspidistra elatior, Nephrolepis exaltata, Iris tectorum, Acorus gramineus, Saxifraga stolonifera, etc.
2. Flower types suitable for potted planting
There are many flower types suitable for potted planting in the home courtyard. Under good conditions, you can choose some flower types with more delicate management requirements, such as Prunus mume, Aglaia odorata, Camellia sinensis, Poinsettia, Chimonanthus praecox, Rhododendron simsii, Araucaria heterophylla, Dracaena fragrans, Pachira aquatica, Areca catechu, Michelia alba, Gardenia jasminoides, Jasminum sambac, Gordonia axillaris, Bromeliads, Pachira aquatica (Dragon Tree), Ficus benjamina (Common Weeping Fig), Ficus lyrata (Fiddle-Leaf Fig), Michelia alba, Clivia miniata, Dendrobium hybridum, Anthurium andraeanum, Cymbidium ensifolium, Phalaenopsis amabilis, Cymbidium lowianum, Oncidium hybridum, Vanda hybridum, Begonia masoniana, Begonia tuberhybrida, Strelitzia reginae, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Clivia miniata, Epipremnum aureum, Fittonia verschaffeltii, Codiaeum variegatum, Dieffenbachia seguine, Syngonium podophyllum, Citrus medica, Citrus reticulata, Citrus limon, Tulipa gesneriana, Hyacinthus orientalis, Calceolaria herbeohybrida, Heliconia rostrata, Livistona chinensis, Phoenix roebelenii, Hyophorbe lagenicaulis, etc.
In courtyards with relatively poor conditions, you can grow some flower types with less demanding management, such as Nandina domestica, Cycas revoluta, Chamaedorea seifrizii, Chrysanthemum, Cymbidium, Cymbidium goeringii, Hippeastrum rutilum, Jasminum nudiflorum, Fritillaria thunbergii, Serissa japonica, Chaenomeles speciosa, Osmanthus fragrans, Cactaceae, Asparagus plumosus, Ficus elastica, Epiphyllum oxypetalum, Schlumbergera truncata, Dracaena fragrans, Nephrolepis exaltata, Schefflera actinophylla, Pilea cadierei, Excoecaria cochinchinensis, Bougainvillea glabra, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulata, Rhododendron simsii, Ficus benjamina, etc.
(2) Reproduction of courtyard flowers
1. Sowing
Courtyard flower types that can be sown in March include: Lagerstroemia indica, Cercis chinensis, Chimonanthus praecox, Calycanthus floridus, Acer palmatum, Liquidambar styraciflua, etc. The seeds of the latter five types need to be soaked in cold water for 24 to 36 hours before sowing. Flowering plants that can be sown include: Impatiens balsamina, Tagetes erecta, Gomphrena globosa, Zinnia elegans, Salvia splendens, Celosia cristata, Capsicum annuum, Solanum pseudocapsicum, Primula obconica, Malva spp., Mirabilis jalapa, Strelitzia reginae, Clivia miniata, Asparagus plumosus, etc. Some cold-sensitive types should be sown in a plastic greenhouse.
2. Cutting
Courtyard flower types that can be propagated by cutting in March include: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Pelargonium hortorum, Epiphyllum oxypetalum, Schlumbergera truncata, Portulacaria afra, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Bougainvillea glabra, Nandina domestica, Chaenomeles speciosa, Salix caprea, Hypericum perforatum, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Punica granatum, Ficus carica, Fatsia japonica, Fritillaria thunbergii, Jasminum nudiflorum, Thuja orientalis, Daphne odora, Pyracantha fortuneana, etc. Cuttings of cold-sensitive flowers should be done in a greenhouse or indoors.
3. Grafting
Courtyard flower types that can be grafted in March include: Using 1 to 2-year-old Pinus thunbergii seedlings as rootstock to graft Pinus parviflora, Pinus densiflora, Pinus sylvestris, etc.; Using 1 to 2-year-old Magnolia denudata and Magnolia liliiflora seedlings as rootstock to graft Michelia figo, Magnolia soulangeana, etc.; Using 1-year-old peach and apricot seedlings as rootstock to graft Prunus mume, Peaches of longevity, Prunus persica, Prunus persica var. atropurpurea, etc.; Using finger-thick seedling Chimonanthus praecox as rootstock, when the leaf buds grow to the size of wheat grains, choose high-quality Chimonanthus praecox scions for grafting and keep them in bags to moisturize for higher survival rate; Using Dracaena angustifolia as rootstock to graft Schlumbergera and various cacti, which should be done in a greenhouse. In addition, Camellia japonica, Cherry blossom, Osmanthus fragrans, Acer palmatum, etc. can also be grafted in March.
4. Layering
Courtyard flower types that can be propagated by layering in March include: Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulata, Prunus mume, Chimonanthus praecox, Acer palmatum, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Thuja orientalis, Cupressus sempervirens, Michelia figo, Chaenomeles speciosa, Viburnum plicatum, Gardenia jasminoides, Osmanthus fragrans, Magnolia liliiflora, etc.
5. Division
Flower types that can be propagated by division in March include: Orchidaceae, Meconopsis horridula, Aspidistra elatior, Asparagus plumosus, Cycas revoluta, Nandina domestica, Mahonia bealei, Chaenomeles speciosa, Sansevieria trifasciata, Oxalis triangularis, Canna indica, Hedychium coronarium, Dahlia pinnata, Strelitzia reginae, etc.
(3) Management of courtyard flowers
1. Management of ground planting courtyard flowers
(1) Transplanting March is the best time for transplanting and planting ground planting flowers. The transplanting of Prunus mume, Magnolia denudata, Magnolia liliiflora, Magnolia soulangeana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer palmatum, etc. should be arranged as early as possible before the plants sprout and unfold their leaves. When transplanting evergreen flowers, some pruning should be done to reduce transpiration and improve survival rate. The transplanting of Chimonanthus praecox, Lagerstroemia indica, Cercis chinensis, Hibiscus syriacus, Zelkova serrata, Prunus persica, Prunus persica var. atropurpurea, Cherry blossom, etc. can be done even after sprouting, but proper pruning should also be carried out. Whether it is an evergreen tree or a deciduous tree, when transplanting, a soil ball should be taken with the roots, and the diameter of the soil ball should be greater than 6 times the diameter of the main stem.
(2) Fertilizing For ground planting flowers that have not been fertilized in winter, before they sprout, a circular trench should be excavated around the roots, with a depth of about 15 to 20 centimeters, and well-rotted cake fertilizer, barnyard manure, chicken manure, pigeon droppings, etc., or multi-element compound fertilizer should be applied to lay a solid material foundation for their annual growth.
(3) Pruning For plants that have not been pruned, especially those like Prunus mume, Chimonanthus praecox, Fritillaria thunbergii, Jasminum nudiflorum, etc. that have finished flowering, in addition to pruning dead branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, and excessive flowering branches, annual branches can be cut off 2 to 3 centimeters from the base of the branch, leaving only 2 to 3 buds. Intensive pruning will allow them to sprout more new branches in spring and produce more flower buds in summer and autumn, which is beneficial for flowering in the coming year. For Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulata, etc., pruning should be done after flowering to remove branches that destroy the shape of the plant and some weak and crossed branches inside the plant. For flowers like Punica granatum, Hibiscus syriacus, Osmanthus fragrans, etc. that form flower buds and bloom on new branches in the same year, pruning can be done in March to adjust the shape of the plant and improve its ventilation and lighting conditions.
(4) Pest and disease control For branches and leaves that have been infected by pests and diseases, they should be cut off and destroyed in time to reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases in the same year. For some flowers that are prone to pests and diseases, such as Rosa chinensis, Ficus carica, Chaenomeles speciosa, Vitis vinifera, Malus halliana, etc., Bordeaux mixture should be sprayed in time after the leaves unfold to prevent powdery mildew and rust.
2. Management of ground planting bedding flowers
Bedding flowers that can continue to be transplanted and planted in March include: Dianthus chinensis, Antirrhinum majus, Calendula officinalis, Bellis perennis, Althaea rosea, Malva spp., Liriope spicata, Ixia, Iris tectorum, Asparagus plumosus, Oxalis brasiliensis, etc. For bedding flowers that were transplanted before February or at the end of the previous year and have resumed growth, such as Brassica oleracea and Viola tricolor, weeding and loosening the soil can be done first, and then low-concentration liquid fertilizer can be applied, such as well-rotted odorless cake fertilizer water, 0.5% urea solution, or other quick-acting compound fertilizer solution.
3. Management of potted courtyard flowers
(1) Potting Potted flowers like Chimonanthus praecox, Prunus mume, Malus halliana, Chaenomeles speciosa, Pyracantha fortuneana, Pinus parviflora, Nandina domestica, Celtis sinensis, Acer buergerianum, Quercus acutissima, etc. that are placed outdoors can be repotted before they sprout and unfold their leaves. They should be repotted with loose and fertile soil rich in organic matter to lay a solid foundation for growth in spring and summer. Potted flowers like Michelia alba, Aglaia odorata, Gardenia jasminoides, Rosa chinensis, Jasminum sambac, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Strelitzia reginae, Cycas revoluta, Poinsettia, Camellia reticulata, Rhododendron simsii, Gordonia axillaris, Gordonia axillaris, Citrus medica, Citrus reticulata, Monstera deliciosa, Nephrolepis exaltata, Clivia miniata, Syngonium podophyllum, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, etc. that are placed indoors should be repotted before they come out of the house.
(2) Exercise In the north of the Yangtze River basin, most potted flowers are still maintained indoors in March and need to pay attention to both cold protection and ventilation. Due to the unstable weather in March, cold currents often move southward. It is still necessary to continue to do a good job of insulation and cold protection in the first half of March. In late March, the doors and windows of the living room can be opened during the day for ventilation and closed at night, allowing flowers like Michelia alba, Aglaia odorata, Gardenia jasminoides, Jasminum sambac, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Poinsettia, Monstera deliciosa, Syngonium podophyllum, Ficus elastica, Araucaria heterophylla, etc. to gradually accept exercise and adapt to the outdoor environment, avoiding premature sprouting that may affect their growth and normal flowering in the same year. In the north of the Yellow River, potted flowers still need to continue to do a good job of insulation and cold protection in March and should not be careless.
(3) Pruning For potted plants like Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Fuchsia magellanica, Clerodendrum fortunatum, Jasminum sambac, Gardenia jasminoides, Ficus elastica, Cordyline terminalis, Alocasia macrorrhiza, etc. indoors, necessary pruning should be done in combination with potting, including removing diseased and insect-infested branches, dead branches, branches with poor shape, weak branches, and some yellowed leaves