April Guide to Home Flower Care "April Home Flower Care Mini Strategy"

April Gardening GuideThis article provides a comprehensive guide to gardening at home, focusing on the best practices for April. Let's explore the details together!Garden Flower Arrangement(1) Suitable Flower Types for Courtyard DisplayIn regions south of the Yangtze and Huaihe Rivers, many potted ornamental plants can be displayed in the courtyard after the Qingming Festival. Examples include Nanyang Cypress, Camellia, Japanese Black Pine, Weeping Cherry, Japanese Quince, Cycas Revoluta, King Coconut Palm, Bambusa textilis, Fish Tail Palm, Broadleaf Palm, Canary Island Date Palm, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Strelitzia reginae, Rubber Tree, Rhapis excelsa, and many others. In the north, courtyard displays might include Black Pine, Whitebark Pine, Korean Pine, Cypress, Norway Spruce, Yew, Jujube, Beauty Plum, Broadleaf Mahonia, Taihang Pine, Butia capitata, Palm, European Dwarf Palm, and Chilean Wine Palm.(2) Courtyard Flower Propagation1. SeedingApril is suitable for seeding various courtyard flowers, such as Spider Flower, Celosia, Impatiens, Salvia splendens, Globe Amaranth, Marigold, Cornflower, Chrysanthemum, Geranium, Petunia, Snapdragon, and Kochia scoparia. Woody flowers suitable for April seeding include Yulan Magnolia, Michelia, Red Maple, and Zelkova serrata. Seeds like those of Winter Sweet, Wisteria, Albizia julibrissin, and Cercis chinensis should be soaked in cold water for 24 to 36 hours before sowing. Seeds of the Calathea can be sown immediately after harvesting in late April. Solanum mammosum can be sown in a plastic greenhouse in April. Bulbous flowers like Polianthes tuberosa, Gladiolus, and Dahlia can be planted at this time.2. CuttingMany flowering shrubs with unopened buds can be propagated by cutting in April, including Mahonia, Mahonia bealei, Calathea, Boxwood, Nandina domestica, Weeping Cherry, Mei Flower (Pink and Green varieties), Podocarpus macrophyllus, Pomegranate, Lagerstroemia indica, Pyracantha, Spiraea, and Rose. Chrysanthemum can also be propagated by cutting at this time.3. GraftingIn April, suitable flowering plants for grafting include Peach-leafed Coral and Jujube. By grafting flowering branches onto female trees like Ginkgo biloba, fruit production can be enhanced, avoiding the need for annual pollination. Other flowering shrubs suitable for grafting include Weeping Cherry, West Lake海棠, Winter Sweet, Dragon Claw Acacia, Red Maple, Sweet Osmanthus, Red Maple, Magnolia, and White Magnolia. In southern regions, Cactus, Golden Ball, and Japanese Tree Fern can also be grafted at this time.4. DivisionSuitable flowering plants for division in April include Mahonia, Mahonia bealei, Nandina domestica, Phoenix Tail Bamboo, Weeping Cherry, Forsythia, Pomegranate, Fig, Magnolia denudata, Banana, Canna indica, Dahlia, Iris, Spring Orchid, Chives, Lotus, and Water Lily.5. LayeringSuitable flowering shrubs for layering in April include Mei Flower, Winter Sweet, Red Maple, Gardenia, Magnolia, Camellia, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Sweet Osmanthus, and Weeping Cherry.(3) Courtyard Flower Management1. Management of Flowering Trees(1) TransplantingApril is the best time for transplanting flowering trees in the courtyard. Both deciduous and evergreen trees can be transplanted as long as their buds have not yet opened or grown. Suitable species include Magnolia grandiflora, Camphor Tree, Magnolia, Ginkgo biloba, White Magnolia, Zelkova serrata, Photinia, Persimmon, Winter Sweet, Mei Flower, Red-leafed Plum, and Red Maple. The diameter of the soil ball should be about 6 to 7 times the diameter of the trunk, and some branches and leaves may need to be trimmed based on the condition of the roots. For trees that have already sprouted, the diameter of the soil ball should be increased, and the branches and leaves should be trimmed more heavily. Mei Flower should not be transplanted after the leaves have opened to avoid poor growth or death. Peony and Paeonia lactiflora should not be transplanted in spring. Potted flowering plants like Pot Marigold, Snapdragon, Impatiens, Salvia splendens, Cosmos (with 4 to 5 true leaves), Petunia, California Poppy, Snapdragon, Iris, Chives, Lilyturf, Daylily, Lilyturf, and Lucky Grass can also be transplanted at this time.(2) PruningFor plants like Winter Sweet, Mei Flower, Flowering Quince, Peach, and Forsythia that have finished flowering, pruning should be done at the base of the flowering branches to adjust the shape of the tree. Flowering shrubs like Chinese Redbud, Weeping Cherry, Quince, Flowering Crabapple, Mahonia, and Chinese Dwarf Cherry should be pruned to remove overgrown branches, disfigured branches, inner branches, weak branches, and diseased branches to promote good flowering shapes.(3) FertilizingBoth evergreen and deciduous shrubs can be fertilized at this time if they have not yet sprouted. A circular trench can be dug around the roots, and composted organic fertilizer (cake fertilizer) or compound fertilizer can be buried, with 0.5 to 1 kilogram per plant.(4) Pest and Disease Prevention Diseased and pest-infected branches and leaves should be removed and the fallen branches and leaves on the ground should be cleared and destroyed. For rose family plants that are prone to diseases, such as Rose, Weeping Cherry, Weeping Cherry, Flowering Crabapple, Flowering Crabapple, Loquat, and Pear, Bordeaux mixture should be sprayed in a timely manner to prevent rust and brown spot diseases.2. Management of Potted Flowers in the Courtyard(1) RepottingFor plants that have not been repotted in March and have just started to sprout but have not yet unfolded their leaves, repotting can be done in April. When repotting, do not remove too much old soil or prune the roots too much. Suitable species include Ginkgo biloba, Nanyang Cypress, Korean Pine, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Black Pine, Korean Pine, Red Pine, Japanese Black Pine, Osaka Pine, Gara Tree, Pomegranate, and Lagerstroemia indica. Generally, Mei Flower plants that have unfolded their leaves should not be repotted.(2) ShapingIn southern regions, the seedlings of Fortune Tree can be dug up at this time, laid out to dry for 1 to 2 days to lose some moisture, and then braided into a braid with an odd number of stems, such as 3, 5, or 7. After braiding, a heavy object can be placed on top to fix the shape, and then an appropriate pot can be chosen for planting.For Magnolia, pruning should be done carefully as its branches have a large pith, and a dead section may appear below the pruning cut. Therefore, the pruning cut should be at least 5 centimeters away from the retained strong buds.For Triangle Maple Bonsai, pruning should not be done at this time, otherwise a large amount of injured sap may flow, causing the branches to dry out below the cut and affecting the normal growth of the branches.Suitable flowering plants for shaping in April include Podocarpus macrophyllus, June Snow, Cypress, Japanese Cypress, Banyan, Ginkgo biloba, Japanese Black Pine, Black Pine, Korean Pine, Red Pine, Osaka Pine, Gara Tree, Weeping Cherry, Velvet Cypress, Elm, Chinese Fringetree, Water Willow, Hazel, White Wax Myrtle, Weeping Euonymus, Mei Flower, and others. For pine Bonsai, the female and male flower balls should be removed in a timely manner to reduce nutrient consumption.(3) WateringIn April, the watering of potted flowers on the balcony should be increased to promote the rapid growth of branches and leaves. For Bonsai like Japanese Black Pine, Black Pine, Korean Pine, and Red Pine, watering should be controlled, sunlight should be maximized, and the growth of needle leaves should be prevented from becoming too long. It is advisable to water only when dry and to spray water more frequently. In southern regions, Cycas revoluta should also be watered in moderation to prevent the newly emerging leaves from becoming too long, affecting the aesthetics. For plants like Camellia, Azalea, and Poinsettia that have just finished flowering (after pruning and repotting), as well as Epiphyllum, Euphorbia pulcherrima, Mei Flower, Magnolia, Jasmine, and Orange, special attention should be paid to controlling the amount of watering to prevent waterlogging and root rot.(4) FertilizingFor plants like Rose, Camellia, Mei Flower, Winter Sweet, Azalea, Spring Orchid, Cymbidium, and Dendrobium, after flowering, the roots have just started to grow tender fibrous roots. Fertilizer concentration should not be too high. If using cake fertilizer water, a concentration of about 10% is recommended. For urea and potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution, a concentration of 0.2% to 0.3% is appropriate. If the fertilizer concentration is too high, it may damage the tender fibrous roots. A small amount of composted solid organic fertilizer or multivariate quick-acting compound granular fertilizer can also be buried in different parts of the potted flowers.(5) Pest and Disease PreventionWhen moving potted orchids to the balcony, it is important to carefully check if there are scale insects on the leaves. Bordeaux mixture or mancozeb should be sprayed on the plants to prevent leaf diseases. For tree stump Bonsai like Pine, Cypress, Elm, Chinese Fringetree, Mei Flower, and Triangle Maple, diseased and pest-infected branches and leaves should be removed and burned. The exposed wood on the tree trunks should be coated with lime sulfur mixture to prevent decay. For potted plants that were previously infected with whiteflies and scale insects in the room, such as Kumquat, Orange, Lemon, Gardenia, and Camellia, insecticides like dimethoate should be sprayed in a timely manner after moving them to the balcony to prevent infestations.(1) Suitable Potted Flower Types for Indoor DisplayIn April, when the flowers are still in bloom, suitable potted flowers for indoor display include Camellia, Chinese Gloxinia, Phlox, European Primrose, California Poppy, Peach, Peony (blooming plants), Golden Lotus, Pansy, Cattleya (spring flowers), Dendrobium (spring flowers), Strelitzia reginae, Viola, Freesia, Narcissus, Red Calla Lily, Tulip, Rose, Cymbidium, and others. Foliage plants include Hosta, Nanyang Cypress, Cycas revoluta, Money Tree, Cinnamon, Rubber Tree, Variegated Saxifrage, Croton, Fiddle-leaf Fig, Dracaena fragrans, Ponytail Palm, Philodendron, Rhapis excelsa, Bird's Nest Fern, Purple Heart, Bromeliads, Peach-leafed Coral, and Fatsia japonica.(2) Balcony Flower PropagationFlower propagation on the balcony is usually done in pots and in smaller quantities. Due to the strong wind and low humidity on the balcony, management can be more challenging. However, with careful attention, some propagation can still be done for personal potted plants or as gifts to friends.1. SeedingIf a small amount of seeds from Asparagus plumosus or Clivia are available, they can be sown in pots. In colder northern regions, they should be placed indoors first and moved to the balcony when the outdoor temperature reaches 10°C to 15°C. Additionally, a small number of plants like Salvia splendens, Marigold, Globe Amaranth, Primrose, Christmas Cactus, Petunia, Celosia, and Impatiens can be sown in pots on the balcony. This can be used to decorate the balcony and indoors with flowers during the blooming period, creating a blooming environment throughout the year.2. CuttingCutting on the balcony can only be done in large pots for a few types of flowering plants. The cutting medium can be clean sandy loam, fine sand, vermiculite, or perlite. A mixture of watered rice chaff and fine sand in a 1:1 ratio is recommended for better results in balcony pot cutting. Suitable flowering plants for cutting propagation in April on the balcony include Finger Citron (in the south), China Rose, Geranium, Rose, Jujube, Poinsettia, Rubber Tree, Jasmine, Pearl Orchid, Red-backed Cherry, Hydrangea, Dwarf Podocarpus, Gara Tree, Miniature Rose, Pyracantha, Japanese Cypress, Cypress, Peach-leafed Coral, and Magnolia. Evergreen plants should have more leaves removed before cutting. After cutting, plastic film should be used to cover and maintain moisture. In northern regions, they can be placed near a sunny window indoors to avoid freezing.3. GraftingGrafting propagation on the balcony is more difficult than in the courtyard. It requires the rootstock to be planted in a pot the previous year and to grow vigorously. In April, suitable flowering plants for grafting on the balcony include:① Branch grafting for Red Maple, Japanese Black Pine (in the north), Rose, Jujube, Peach-leafed Coral, and Winter Sweet (with large buds);② Approach grafting for Winter Sweet and Sweet Osmanthus. For branch grafting, bags should be used to maintain moisture, which helps improve the grafting survival rate. Cactus, Golden Ball, and Japanese Tree Fern can also be grafted at this time on the balcony or indoors.4. DivisionDivision is the most commonly used method for flower propagation on the balcony. In April, when the outdoor temperature reaches 10°C to 15°C from south to north, suitable flowering plants for division propagation on the balcony include Strelitzia reginae, Spider Plant, Iris, Rhapis excelsa, Clivia, Hosta, Cycas revoluta, Orchid, Daylily, Weeping Cherry, Bromeliads, Bird's Nest Fern, Rhapis excelsa, Pearl Orchid, Calathea, Agave, Fern, and Calla Lily. It is important to note that when separating suckers from the mother plant, including Cycas revoluta, Bromeliads, and Clivia, plants with roots can be directly potted. Suckers without roots should be first planted in moist fine sand to promote root growth. After developing good roots, they can be transplanted into potting soil. Otherwise, there is a risk of rotting and failure in division propagation. After division, Clivia and Bromeliads can be covered with plastic bags after planting, and the bags should be opened every 1 to 2 days for ventilation to increase humidity in the local space, which is very important for balcony flowers. For leafless and rootless suckers separated from the mother plant of Cycas revoluta, creating a dark environment is beneficial for root growth and leaf development.5. LayeringIn April, suitable flowering plants for high-pressure propagation on the balcony include Podocarpus macrophyllus, Rubber Tree, Red Maple, Magnolia, Camellia, and Sweet Osmanthus (in the south). If 100ppm to 200ppm ABT root powder (No. 1 or No. 2) is applied to the stripped and wounded areas of the branches and then wrapped with moss and sphagnum, it is beneficial for the healing of the stripped areas.(3) Management of Potted Flowers on the Balcony1. RepottingWhether in the south or north, as long as the temperature on the balcony reaches 10°C to 15°C, most potted flowers can be moved to the balcony. However, there should be a process of acclimatization before moving them out. For both evergreen and deciduous plants, if the potted plants have not yet sprouted or have just sprouted, repotting can be done at this time. Generally, small pots are repotted once a year, and large pots are repotted every 2 to 3 years. Common flowering plants suitable for repotting in April include Magnolia, Michelia, Pearl Orchid, Jasmine, Rubber Tree, Rhapis excelsa, Bird of Paradise, Camellia, Mei Flower, Winter Sweet, Chinese Flowering Quince, Clivia, Nanyang Cypress, Schefflera arboricola, Bougainvillea, and others. During repotting, some yellowed or disfigured branches and leaves should be removed, and some aged or rotten roots should be trimmed. For Magnolia, most of the remaining old leaves should be removed to promote the growth of new leaves.In April, common potted flowering plants that can be planted in pots on the balcony include Chili Pepper, Petunia, Pot Marigold, Snapdragon, California Poppy, Red Spider Lily (bulbs), Iris, Dahlia, Elephant Ear, and others.2. PruningFor plants like Azalea and Camellia, dead flowers and buds should be removed in a timely manner after flowering, and diseased branches and disfigured branches should be trimmed. For plants like Winter Sweet, Mei Flower, Peach, and Flowering Quince, only 1 to 2 centimeters of the annual branches should be retained, and the rest should be cut off. For Bromeliads and Cymbidium, the remaining stems should be cut off after flowering, and new pots should be provided. For Clivia, special care should be taken when cutting the flower stalks to avoid causing heart rot in the plant. The method is: stop watering the potting soil for a week to let it dry out, cut off the dead flower stems, and do not let the juice that oozes from the wound enter the leaf sheath. The pot can be placed at an angle in advance, and watering should be controlled. After the wound has dried, the pot can be straightened to avoid dirty rainwater or dirty water from entering the leaf sheath, allowing the remaining flower stems to naturally shrink and wither.3. WateringIn April, the potted flowers on the balcony should be kept moist, with more spraying and controlled watering. Since the temperature is still low, over