How to raise lily of the valley on the balcony
Lilies of the valley have become a popular choice for balcony planting with their bell-shaped flowers and elegant temperament. This shade-tolerant plant shows its best growth in scattered light environments. Mastering the three core maintenance points, even if the balcony is closed, the lily of the valley can bloom every year, creating your own mini lily of the valley flower landscape. Light filtering and orientation selection, key elements of environmental control. East-facing or north-facing balconies are most suitable for the growth of lily of the valley. The soft morning sunshine can meet the needs of photosynthesis. Yarn curtains with 50% shading rate need to be installed on west-facing balconies, and double-layered sunshade nets are recommended for south-facing balconies. Observing the condition of leaves is an important indicator: yellowing of leaves may cause too much light, and increasing the duration of light if stems are long. Coordinated management of temperature and humidity maintains an ideal temperature range of 15-22℃, and coordinates with 60% air humidity. In summer, the "sandwich cooling method" is adopted: spray water on the ground around the basin in the morning, use a circulating fan at noon, and spray twice in the evening. When the temperature is below 5℃ in winter, a double-layered insulation shed is used with a built-in temperature and humidity meter for real-time monitoring. The precise water and fertilizer supply plan for the full-cycle maintenance system uses the "three-finger detection method" to judge the watering timing: water should be replenished immediately when 3 centimeters under the topsoil is dry. During the growth period, a combination of "dipping basin + foliar spray" water supply is implemented every week, combined with organic liquid fertilizer diluted 300 times. Potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution was used to irrigate roots during the budding period to improve the quality of flowering. Dynamic optimization strategy for basin soil: Mix lime soil, perlite, pine scale and bone meal in a ratio of 4:3:2:1 when changing pots every spring. Choose a red pottery basin or a green mountain basin to ensure breathability, and lay a 3 cm ceramsite drainage layer on the bottom of the basin. Mature plants retain 1/3 of the protective soil, and slow-release fertilizer granules are added to the new soil to extend the fertilizer efficiency. Precautions for special stages The "morning and dusk management method" is implemented during high temperature periods in summer: watering is completed before sunrise and leaf cleaning is carried out after sunset. Maintain micro-moisture in the substrate during winter hibernation, and rotate the flowerpot 45 degrees every month to ensure even light reception. Pay special attention to the toxicity of the entire lily plant. Wear gloves when trimming to avoid the juice coming into contact with the skin.
Through systematic environmental control and fine maintenance, balcony lily of the valley can continue to bloom from April to May every year. The key is to grasp the three principles of "focusing on scattered light, balancing temperature and humidity, and progressive fertilization" and cooperate with regular observation and timely adjustment. Even novice gardeners can cultivate lily plants with beautiful flowers and leaves.