November Home Flower Care Guide
This article introduces topics related to home flower care, specifically the November Home Flower Care Guide, so let's explore it together.
Suitable Potted Plants for Courtyard Display
In November, as autumn transitions into winter, temperatures continue to drop across most regions of the country, with monthly average temperatures ranging from 4.4°C (Beijing) to 12.2°C (Shanghai). Potted ornamental plants suitable for display in courtyards this month should be able to tolerate a certain degree of low temperatures. Among the woody ornamental plants, there are: Araucaria heterophylla, Pinus parviflora, Pinus thunbergii, Pinus armandii, Pinus bungeana, Abies firma, Picea spp., Podocarpus macrophyllus, Nageia nagi, Cycas revoluta, Phoenix canariensis, Washingtonia robusta, Yucca elephantipes, Chimonobambusa quadrangularis, Mahonia fortunei, Fatsia japonica, Rhododendron simsii, Aucuba japonica, Daphne odora, Ficus carica, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Livistona chinensis, Ilex cornuta, Euonymus japonicus, Ilex purpurea, Ilex cornuta 'fortunei', Osmanthus fragrans, Pyracantha fortuneana, Citrus aurantium, Acer palmatum, Betula utilis, Betula populifolia, Nandina domestica, Camellia sinensis, Chimonanthus praecox (October yellow), Trachycarpus fortunei, Euonymus japonicus 'Aureo-marginata', Thuja orientalis, Sabina chinensis, Sabina chinensis 'Kaizuca', Platycladus orientalis, Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Aurea', and many others. Herbaceous flowers and foliage plants include: Aglaonema modestum, Dahlia pinnata, Dendranthema morifolium, Tagetes patula, Calendula officinalis, Gomphrena globosa, Chrysanthemum coronarium, Cyclamen persicum, and Poinsettia (in southern regions), among others. In northern regions, after the frost arrives, measures should be taken to insulate and protect against the cold for different types of ornamental plants to prevent unnecessary damage from frostbite.
Propagation of Courtyard Flowers
1. Sowing. The woody ornamental plants that can be sown include: Peony, Camellia oleifera, Ginkgo biloba, Magnolia sieboldii, Melia azedarach, Sapium sebiferum, Rhododendron simsii, Nageia nagi, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Ligustrum lucidum, Ligustrum japonicum, Cinnamomum camphora, Trachycarpus fortunei, Prunus mume, Platanus acerifolia, Sabina chinensis, Photinia serrulata, Ilex cornuta 'Aurea', and many others. When sowing these ornamental plants, appropriate pesticides should be applied to prevent rodent and underground pest damage, such as tea seed cake, furadan, and others, to prevent seedlings from being eaten. In southern regions, grass flowers that can be sown include: Dianthus spp., Silene coeli-rosa, Silene pendula, Papaver rhoeas, Bellis perennis, Viola x wittrockiana, Eschscholzia californica, Iris spp., Phlox drummondii, Petunia hybrida, Althaea rosea, Malva sylvestris, Viola tricolor, Antirrhinum majus, and others. If there is a simple greenhouse in the courtyard, then Asparagus setaceus, Nasturtium officinale, Cyclamen persicum, Primula obconica, Calceolaria herbeohybrida, and Schlumbergera truncata can be sown.
2. Cuttings. This month, cuttings can be taken for outdoor propagation, but it is necessary to cover with ground film to insulate and maintain moisture for woody ornamental plants such as: Prunus cerasifera, Prunus mume (green calyx, pink calyx, etc. varieties), Rosa × 'Elizabeth', and Chaenomeles speciosa. The cutting substrate can be yellow loam. In simple plastic arched greenhouses, the following plants can be propagated by cuttings: Euonymus japonicus 'Aurea-marginata', Buxus microphylla var. sinica, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Ternstroemia gymnanthera, Mahonia fortunei, Mahonia bealei, Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Aureo-marginata', Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Argenteo-marginata', Spiraea prunifolia, Spirea thunbergii, Styrax japonicus, Weigela florida, Punica granatum, Hibiscus syriacus, Lagerstroemia indica, Gardenia jasminoides, Ligustrum × vicaryi, Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea', and others. Proper management will allow them to develop healthy roots by the following spring; the cutting substrate can be a general sandy loam, or a mixture of vermiculite and sand in equal parts. In the Yangtze River basin and southern regions, cuttings can be taken from Hibiscus syriacus, Vitis vinifera, Campsis radicans, and Ficus benjamina branches for sand storage, and then rooted in the following spring, which can significantly improve the survival rate of cuttings.
3. Grafting. This month, grafting can be performed using 1 to 2-year-old Acer buergerianum seedlings as rootstocks to graft Acer palmatum and Acer palmatum 'Dissectum'; using 1-year-old Prunus persica and Prunus armeniaca seedlings as rootstocks to graft superior varieties of Prunus mume, such as 'Osmanthus fragrans', 'Meirenmei', 'Zhusha Hong', 'Tai Ge Lüe', 'Su Bai Tai Ge', 'Huangxiang Mei', and others, but the grafting site should be buried in the soil; using thick branches of the 'Elizabeth' rose variety to cut into sections about 10 to 15 cm long as rootstocks, grafting superior varieties of rose branches and then rooting them, covering the ground with film to prevent cold, can promote the synchronization of callus healing and root growth; in southern regions, using 1-year-old citrus seedlings as rootstocks to graft Kumquat, and using Paeonia lactiflora roots as rootstocks to graft superior varieties of Paeonia suffruticosa.
4. Layering. November is a good time for layering propagation. Ornamental plants suitable for layering include: Chaenomeles speciosa, Michelia figo, Camellia sinensis, Gardenia jasminoides, Prunus mume, Acer palmatum, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Weigela florida, Thuja orientalis, Jasminum nudiflorum, Osmanthus fragrans, Hydrangea macrophylla, Viburnum plicatum, Spirea thunbergii, Chimonanthus praecox, French winter jasmine, Magnolia liliflora, Callicarpa bodinieri, Styrax japonicus, and others.
5. Division. Mainly woody ornamental plants suitable for division include: Nandina domestica, Mahonia fortunei, Mahonia bealei, Gardenia jasminoides, Chaenomeles speciosa, Hydrangea macrophylla, French winter jasmine, Spirea thunbergii, Paeonia lactiflora, Lespedeza buergeri, Jasminum nudiflorum, Jasminum sambac, Chimonanthus praecox, and others. Herbaceous ornamental plants suitable for division include: Paeonia lactiflora, Hosta plantaginea, Ophiopogon japonicus, Ophiopogon japonicus 'Grandis', Zephyranthes candida, Liriope spicata, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium faberi, Hosta ventricosa, Coreopsis basalis, Convallaria majalis, Oxalis rubra, Aglaonema modestum, Belamcanda chinensis, and Iris spp., among others.
Management of Courtyard Potted Flowers
1. Transplanting. By November, most deciduous ornamental plants have shed their leaves from north to south, and can be transplanted in the courtyard. Species include: Hibiscus syriacus, Cercis chinensis, Cercis gigantea, Cercis canadensis, Lagerstroemia indica, Prunus mume, Prunus persica, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus sargentii, Prunus mume, Chimonanthus praecox, Syringa oblata, Prunus cerasifera, Prunus serrulata, Prunus persica, Prunus persica 'Nigra', Prunus persica 'Pallida', Prunus persica 'Longevity', Magnolia denudata, Magnolia × soulangeana, Rosa × 'Elizabeth', Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea', Ligustrum × vicaryi, Viburnum macrocephalum, Wisteria sinensis, Campsis radicans, Ficus benjamina, Jasminum nudiflorum, and others. Some evergreen plants can also be transplanted this month, such as Osmanthus fragrans, Thuja orientalis 'Aurea-marginata', Sabina chinensis, Sabina chinensis 'Kaizuca', Sabina chinensis 'Cupressina', Trachycarpus fortunei, Washingtonia robusta, Phoenix canariensis, Gardenia jasminoides, Lagerstroemia indica, Buxus microphylla var. sinica, Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Aureo-marginata', Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Argenteo-marginata', Mahonia fortunei, and Rhododendron spp., among others. When transplanting evergreen shrubs, it is important to bring a complete soil ball, trim the branches and leaves appropriately, and water frequently after transplanting to ensure the leaves remain green. Early in the month, grass flowers such as Dianthus spp., Bellis perennis, Althaea rosea, Nasturtium officinale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, Viola × wittrockiana, Calendula officinalis, Viola × wittrockiana, Phlox drummondii, and Ixiolirion tataricum can still be planted in the courtyard. Additionally, in prominent locations in the courtyard, narcissus, hyacinths, and daffodils can be planted, arranging them in beautiful patterns according to flower color. When they bloom the following spring, your courtyard will be unique.
2. Pruning. For hedges, green walls, green blocks, and spherical plants that were not completed in October, continue with the final pruning of the year, ensuring flat surfaces, straight lines, round balls, and smooth pruning cuts. Suitable plants for geometric shape pruning include: Thuja orientalis 'Aurea-marginata', Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea', Ligustrum × vicaryi, and others. Suitable plants for pruning include: Sabina chinensis, Sabina chinensis 'Kaizuca', Prunus mume, Prunus persica, Lagerstroemia indica, Euonymus japonicus, Buxus microphylla var. sinica, Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Aureo-marginata', Buxus microphylla var. japonica 'Argenteo-marginata', Mahonia fortunei, and others. For general ornamental plants in the courtyard, shaping and pruning can also be performed this month, such as Prunus mume, Chimonanthus praecox, Punica granatum, Prunus serrulata, Prunus persica, Prunus persica 'Nigra', Lagerstroemia indica, and others. For Lagerstroemia indica, roses, and others, strong pruning should be performed. For Lagerstroemia indica, annual branches should be cut off about 3 to 5 cm from the base, and for roses, 3 to 5 sturdy stems from 1 to 2 years old should be retained, cutting off branches about 10 to 15 cm from the base to promote more and better flowering the following year. For evergreen plants such as Trachycarpus fortunei, Osmanthus fragrans, Camellia sinensis, and others in the courtyard, dead branches and leaves should be pruned.
3. Watering. For newly transplanted shrubs or grass flowers in the courtyard, ensure proper watering and moisture retention to promote survival and robust growth. If the autumn weather is relatively dry, trees transplanted in the spring should still be watered and sprayed to promote growth the following year. If the foliage of evergreen trees in the courtyard is covered in dust, water can be sprayed on the tree canopy irregularly to keep it clean.
4. Fertilizing. In the beginning of the month, low-concentration liquid fertilizer can be applied to grass flowers planted in the ground in the south of the Yangtze River. For Camellia sinensis, Camellia × williamsii, Prunus mume, and Chimonanthus praecox, low-concentration liquid fertilizer with a focus on phosphorus and potassium can be applied to promote the expansion of flower buds. For roses, Cercis canadensis, Lagerstroemia indica, Wisteria sinensis, Hibiscus syriacus, and others that have been pruned in the courtyard, as well as evergreen plants such as Osmanthus fragrans and Michelia figo, a ring-shaped trench can be dug to apply a moderate amount of compound fertilizer or cake fertilizer.
5. Pest Control. Dead branches and fallen leaves should be collected and burned promptly. For plants that have been moved from south to north, tree trunks should be wrapped with straw ropes to insulate against frost. For trees with a diameter of 2 to 3 cm or more in the courtyard, the trunks can be whitewashed or directly treated with lime sulfur. Inspect fallen leaves for egg masses, pupae, and others on branches, bark, and roots, and remove them promptly and burn them together to significantly reduce the occurrence of pests the following year.
6. Seed Collection. This month, seeds of dry-stored woody plants such as Pinus thunbergii, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Cryptomeria japonica, Albizia julibrissin, Magnolia macrophylla, Cercis canadensis, Liquidambar formosana, Melia azedarach, Firmiana simplex, Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa, Acer mono, Acer palmatum, Acer buergerianum, Cercis canadensis, Lagerstroemia indica, and others can be collected. Seeds of woody plants that should be sown immediately or stored in moist sand include: Ligustrum lucidum, Ligustrum japonicum, Trachycarpus fortunei, Cinnamomum camphora, Melia azedarach, Michelia figo, Taxus wallichiana, Ilex cornuta, Euonymus japonicus, Berberis thunbergii, Photinia serrulata, Viburnum macrocephalum, Chaenomeles speciosa, and others. In southern regions or greenhouses, seeds of grass flowers such as Salvia splendens, Gomphrena globosa, Celosia cristata, and others can be collected. Seeds of Ixiolirion tataricum can also be sown immediately this month.
7. Root Storage. In the south of the Yangtze River, after Dahlia pinnata plants wither, their tuberous roots should be dug up, slightly dried, and then stored indoors with a temperature not lower than 5°C, and cut and transplanted the following spring. In the north of the Yangtze River, at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the underground stems of Canna indica, Canna × generalis, and Canna × orchiodes should be dug up, slightly dried, and then stored indoors with a temperature of 4°C to 5°C, and transplanted the following spring.
Management of Courtyard Potted Flowers
1. Watering. After November, the monthly average temperature in the south of the Huai River is generally around 10°C. However, due to the relatively dry autumn air, attention should be paid to combining root watering with leaf surface spraying for some cold-resistant ornamental plants placed in the courtyard, but the potting soil should not be too wet to avoid root rot. For