3 Major Reasons Why Potted Plants Wither in Autumn: How Many Mistakes Did You Make?
Do you know these? Here is an introduction to green plants and flowers about the 3 major reasons why potted plants wither in autumn and how many mistakes you've made:
Recently, the temperature has dropped a bit, and the most discussed topic among flower enthusiasts is "Why do potted flowers, which have endured the hot summer, suddenly wither in autumn?" Many enthusiasts have this疑问, and today I will analyze the reasons behind this, hoping it will be helpful to you.
Why Do Potted Plants Wither in Autumn?
Many flower friends think that potted plants are prone to problems in autumn. In fact, not only in autumn, but potted plants are also vulnerable during seasonal transitions. It's just that the probability of potting in autumn is relatively higher. Summing up the reasons, there are mainly these 3 points that you can pay special attention to and prevent in advance.
1. -- Changeable Weather Makes Watering Challenging --
In summer, it is often continuous high temperatures and dry weather, and our flower friends water frequently. But in autumn, there is more rain, and it is often overcast. Watering potted plants at this time requires skill, and we need to adjust according to the weather and the plant's growth status. If we continue to use the summer watering method, it is easy to water too much and cause root rot, leading directly to plant withering.
In addition to excessive watering, too little water is also a big problem. In autumn, it is often overcast and rainy, but the rain is not heavy, and the temperature is still relatively high. The rain is not enough to fully replenish the soil's moisture, and we think it's overcast and rainy, so we water less, which easily leads to potted plant drought.
Originally, after the severe summer heat, the capillary roots of many potted plants have been damaged, barely surviving into autumn. Whether we water too much or cause drought due to insufficient watering, it will undoubtedly add another blow to the already weak seedlings, and it's time to prepare to pot them.
Therefore, after the autumn, watering potted plants must combine the weather with the seedling's growth and adjust promptly, achieving dry and slightly moist watering without letting the potting soil accumulate water or become too dry. Especially for some summer dormant plants, such as geraniums, osmanthus flowers, kaffir lilies, and cattleya orchids, do not rush to water them in autumn. Instead, gradually increase the amount of water, and only after these dormant plants have resumed growth should you strengthen the fertilization and watering.
2. -- Removing Sunshade Net Too Early Can Lead to Sunburn --
For some plants that do not tolerate direct sunlight, such as hydrangeas, camellias, coralbells, and daylilies, many flower friends remove the shading net early in autumn. However, the sun in early autumn is still very strong. Removing the shading net too early can cause these plants to be unable to adapt to the high-intensity sunlight in a short time, easily leading to sunburn. If exposed to the sun combined with drought, they may even be sunburned to death.
So, when removing the shading net after the autumn, don't rush. Wait patiently until the temperature is below 30 degrees before removing it, and do it gradually. If there are 2 layers of shading nets, remove one layer first and then transition for a few days before removing the second layer. This gradual increase in sunlight exposure will help the plants adapt and avoid sunburn.
3. -- Over-fertilization and Over-watering --
After the autumn, many potted plants begin to recover and grow, about to enter a rapid growth mode. Therefore, our flower friends become eager and want to water and fertilize heavily to make the potted plants grow and bloom quickly. However, the reality is often the opposite.
Because after experiencing the severe summer heat, the capillary roots of most potted plants have been damaged. Excessive watering at this time can increase the burden on the roots and easily cause root rot and withering.
In addition to excessive watering, frequent fertilization is also a significant reason for the withering of potted plants. Generally, in autumn, a autumn fertilizer is applied to the potted plants, mainly using fermented organic fertilizers or slow-release fertilizers, which is a normal operation.
However, after applying autumn fertilizers, many flower friends choose to sprinkle compound fertilizers again and then add water-soluble fertilizers when watering. This practice of adding more fertilizer on top of the existing one often leads to excessive fertilization. Since the capillary roots of plants in autumn are mostly not in good condition and have weak absorption capacity, adding more fertilizer can easily cause fertilizer damage, leading to black stems and withering of the plants.
When fertilizing potted plants after the autumn, it is recommended that you consider the seedling's condition and previous fertilization to comprehensively consider the amount and frequency of fertilization.
For vigorous potted plants, more fertilization is generally needed, while weaker plants need less. For potted plants that are frequently fertilized, the soil generally retains enough nutrients, so there is no need to be too aggressive with fertilization in autumn. After applying long-acting fertilizers, occasional application of fast-acting fertilizers is sufficient.
If potted plants are rarely fertilized, the soil lacks nutrients. After applying long-acting fertilizers in autumn, water-soluble fertilizers can be added with each watering, but the concentration must be low to avoid putting too much pressure on the roots.
The above information about why potted plants wither in autumn and the 3 major reasons you've made mistakes are provided for your comprehensive understanding and reference!