Why do the flowers in the flower market bloom so beautifully but are difficult to keep alive after buying them?
An introduction to the reasons why the flowers in the flower market bloom beautifully but are difficult to keep alive after buying, here are some details for netizens to understand.
Many新手 flower enthusiasts often encounter this problem: the flowers they buy from the flower market are all beautiful when they buy them, but they start to wilt after just a couple of days. Why is that?
Many新手 flower enthusiasts will think that it's because they didn't take care of the plants well, which led to the withering of the potted plants. However, it's not necessarily the case. Don't assume it's your problem as soon as you see the newly bought potted plants wilt; it's often because there's an issue with the seedlings themselves.
Some potted plants in the flower market are difficult to keep alive, even for experienced gardeners, so it's important to analyze the situation specifically.
Common pitfalls in the flower market
1. Near-death plants (C-S)
When buying flowers in the flower market, you must learn to choose flowers. Keep in mind that many flower market owners don't know how to care for flowers; they just do the business of reselling. As long as the potted plants (C-S) look beautiful, they don't care whether you can keep them alive after you take them home.
Therefore, careful flower enthusiasts will notice that in the corners of the flower market, many withered or near-death potted plants are often discarded.
Many plants that are close to withering are given special medications by merchants to quickly sell them and reduce losses. These medications, like a plant's "strong heart needle," can keep the plant looking good for a short time, but the plant may already be withered. Once the medication wears off, the plant will wilt.
2. Greenhouse flowers
Greenhouse-grown potted flowers are particularly difficult to care for. We often say "greenhouse flowers," referring to these greenhouse-grown plants that have a hard time adapting to a new environment once they leave the greenhouse, which is a challenge for our home cultivation environment and skills.
How to avoid the pitfalls in the flower market?
1. Principles of choosing potted plants
First look at the roots, then the shape of the plant, keep the plant stable, avoid choosing ones that lean, choose flower buds, not flowers.
When choosing potted plants, don't just take one because it has beautiful flowers and fresh green leaves. You should choose based on the growth of the plant's roots.
When selecting potted plants, first check the roots to see if the bottom of the pot can see the plant's roots. If many roots are coming out of the pot holes, it means the roots are good and considered robust.
Choose potted plants with stable growth. Don't be fooled by the bright flowers; if the plant leans, it's likely that the roots are poor or have rotted, so be extra careful.
I once bought a bulbous begonia from the flower market. The flowers were beautiful when I bought it, but the plant was unstable. When I repotted it, I found the bulbs had already rotted and there was nothing I could do.
When choosing potted plants, choose ones with more flower buds, not more flowers, which should be easy to understand. More flower buds mean a longer period of enjoyment.
2. Proper acclimatization
Many potted plants from the flower market are transported from far away, and the bouncing during transport can cause some damage to the roots. After buying them, you need to repot them to give the plant time to heal itself.
If it's a potted plant with flower buds, water it thoroughly when you get home and place it in a bright, well-ventilated area to acclimatize. If it's a plant that loves sunlight, you can give it morning and evening sunlight to acclimatize without necessarily shading it.
3. About repotting
The pots used by the flower market are often not very attractive, so you'll need to repot them when you get home. The important thing to note is not to remove the original soil when repotting.
The potted plants we buy from the market are mostly in bloom or with flower buds. If the roots are damaged too much, the flower buds will fall off, or even the whole plant will wilt. Therefore, when repotting, try to keep the original soil ball intact to avoid damaging the roots.
If you're not sure, you can directly care for the plant in the original pot, using a decorative pot, and repot it after the flowering period or when it's suitable.
Repotting with the original soil ball causes minimal root damage and doesn't require刻意 acclimatization. Just care for the plant according to its sunlight requirements.
3. Proper care
What's worth mentioning is the method of care. Many flower enthusiasts don't know how to water their potted plants, leading to withering due to excessive watering.
If you're using a large pot, water based on the moisture level of the soil near the roots. If the soil at the roots is dry, you can water.
Sometimes the potting soil is not dry, but the plant shows signs of wilting. In this case, don't water. Just spray water on the leaves and provide some shade.
4. Avoid buying greenhouse flowers
Greenhouse flowers are most commonly found in the winter and early spring flower markets. So be careful when buying. Don't buy something just because it looks beautiful. Even with proper care at home, it will still wilt.
Unless your growing environment is warm and humid, don't easily try greenhouse-grown potted plants, as the withering rate is around 80%.
Buy seasonal flowers, which are cheaper and easier to care for.
The above is a detailed introduction to why the flowers in the flower market bloom beautifully but are difficult to keep alive after buying them.