The Cultivation and Management Techniques of Greenhouse Flowers
Here are some experiences on the cultivation and management techniques of greenhouse flowers and simple tips for growing flowers in small-scale greenhouses, followed by detailed content sharing.
With the continuous development of flower cultivation techniques, greenhouse flowers have become the mainstream in the industry. This article briefly introduces common greenhouse flower cultivation and management techniques from aspects such as substrate preparation, fertilization, watering, shaping, pruning, pest and disease control, and outdoor exercise for reference.
1. Greenhouse Flower Substrate Preparation
Soilless cultivation, potting, and ground planting are the main methods of greenhouse flower cultivation and management. Among them, due to the small volume of pots, a substrate with good water permeability and the ability to retain water and nutrients can be chosen to provide sufficient nutrients for the flower roots, such as decomposed leaf soil, needle leaf soil, compost soil, and sandy soil. When preparing the soil for ground planting, different substrates can be used in specific proportions to prepare soil with suitable pH. For example, when preparing the substrate for the planting of Calla lilies, a mixture of decomposed leaf soil and well-rotted chicken manure and bone meal can be used. For soilless cultivation, sand, sintered soil particles, water, and perlite can be used as substrates. For example, when hydroponically cultivating Clivia miniata, a transparent glass container can be chosen, and a nutrient solution can be appropriately formulated with inorganic salts such as ferrous sulfate, calcium, urea, magnesium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen phosphate, as well as organic substances like bone meal, soybean cake meal, and ripe sesame meal, and a metal mesh can be placed on the hydroponic container.
2. Greenhouse Flower Cultivation and Management Measures
2.1 Cultivation Methods
According to different types of greenhouse flowers, different cultivation methods can be chosen. For example, in the greenhouse cultivation of Phalaenopsis orchids, because they prefer humidity and are not tolerant to cold, heat, or dryness, a high-quality water moss with good breathability and drainage can be chosen. Then, using the test-tube seedling method, after the Phalaenopsis orchids grow into seedlings with 3 cotyledons in spring, the seedlings with rhizomes can be cut from the mother plant and transplanted into test tubes filled with water moss. After 3 or 4 weeks, the seedlings can grow new roots, and they can be transplanted again. For soilless cultivation, the plant can be directly placed into the prepared nutrient solution. For example, in the greenhouse cultivation of Clivia miniata, the Clivia seedlings can be directly inserted into the nutrient solution through the mesh.
2.2 Water and Fertilizer Management
On one hand, since the growth effect of greenhouse flowers is greatly affected by water, the time, frequency, and amount of water application can be scientifically determined based on the growth stage differences, flower type differences, and water requirements of different flowers. Generally, watering is needed in the morning or evening in summer, and at noon in winter. For example, in the greenhouse cultivation of Dendrobium orchids, due to the strict water requirements of Dendrobium, the cultivation staff should ensure that the Dendrobium is watered sufficiently and thoroughly, and adjust the watering method according to the season and weather changes.
Firstly, in spring, watering should be done when the surface of the Dendrobium substrate is dry. Watering should be done twice a day in sunny weather, and the watering time should be between 10:00-12:00 (when the temperature rises to 25.0°C and the water temperature rises to 15.0°C).
Secondly, in summer, the cultivation staff should water twice a day. In cold and rainy weather, water can be supplemented appropriately according to the humidity of the substrate. In sunny weather with high temperatures in summer, watering can be done after 07:00 or 17:00.
Again, in autumn, watering can be done every 24 or 36 hours on sunny days; on rainy days, the watering situation can be determined based on the humidity of the substrate, generally the same as in spring.
Finally, in winter, watering should be done every 36 or 72 hours. In winter, when the temperature is low, the moisture on the surface of the Dendrobium substrate should be kept dry as much as possible to avoid excessive watering affecting the growth of Dendrobium.
On the other hand, due to the small nutritional area of the roots of greenhouse flower seedlings, organic fertilizers and some chemical fertilizers can be applied sufficiently, and foliar topdressing can be done regularly. For example, in the greenhouse cultivation of Zantedeschia aethiopica, since it prefers a warm and humid environment, in addition to sufficient water supply after planting, a thin liquid fertilizer can be applied every 7 days during its growth. Then, during its growing period, the humidity (above 70%) can be increased appropriately, and the indoor temperature can be adjusted to around 10.0°C in early September.
The Cultivation and Management Techniques of Greenhouse Flowers
2.3 Shaping and Routine Management
Firstly, to maintain a good plant shape of greenhouse flowers, methods such as bud removal, fruit thinning, bud removal, pinching, root pruning, and shoot pruning can be used for shaping management. For example, for greenhouse flowers with high shape requirements, such as Fuchsia, they can be placed in a shaded shed during hot weather and pinched multiple times to achieve more blooms, better plant shape, and longer blooming periods.
Secondly, when potting, since the seedlings need to be transplanted from the seedbed to the flowerpot, potting can be done after the seedling roots extend out of the drainage holes or when the physical properties of the soil in the pot change. During potting, to avoid adverse effects on flower growth due to uneven temperatures on single-sided greenhouses, the pots can be rotated regularly. At the same time, remove algae and weeds from the soil surface and loosen the soil in the pot using a small trowel and bamboo strips.
In addition, to obtain well-developed flower plants, the position of the plants in the greenhouse can be adjusted according to their habits.
Finally, in the process of greenhouse flower cultivation and management, in addition to water and fertilizer management, temperature and humidity control and ventilation management in the greenhouse are also very important. For example, in the greenhouse cultivation of Clivia miniata, the cultivation staff needs to change the pot every 2 or 3 years to ensure that the growth environment temperature of Clivia miniata is between 18.0-22.0°C, avoiding strong sunlight causing leaf burn. Then, during the semi-dormant period of Clivia miniata from mid-July to late September, ventilation is strengthened, and the indoor temperature is adjusted to around 20.0°C to avoid poor air quality causing yellowing of the leaves. In winter, when it's cold, the indoor temperature should be adjusted to 10.0-12.0°C, and the leaves of Clivia miniata should be sprayed with water regularly to ensure healthy growth. When hydroponically cultivating Clivia miniata, two or three small fish can be placed in the hydroponic tank based on indoor temperature and humidity (15.0-35.0°C) and ventilation management to determine the oxygen content in the water. If the fish always float to the surface, a small oxygen pump can be used to aerate the hydroponic tank.
In addition, for some flowers that need to be moved out of the greenhouse during the growing period, the temperature inside the greenhouse can be gradually reduced in the early stage of outdoor exercise. At the same time, strengthen indoor and outdoor ventilation to minimize the difference between indoor and outdoor environments to improve the adaptability of the flower plants.
3. Greenhouse Flower Disease and Pest Control
Due to the characteristics of high temperature, high humidity, and poor air circulation in the greenhouse flower cultivation environment, it provides a good condition for the growth and reproduction of diseases and pests, which seriously threatens the healthy growth of greenhouse flowers. Therefore, greenhouse flower cultivation staff can adopt comprehensive methods such as cultivation management, physical control, and chemical control to reduce the impact of diseases and pests on the cultivation benefits of greenhouse flowers.