Family Gardening Tips - 17 Key Points
Comprehensive guide to the common knowledge of flower care, family gardening tips - 17 key points, the following will take you to understand together.
Gardening is for viewing. Containers, balconies, courtyards, fields... transform various places into comfortable gardening spaces. Plants, grasses, trees, and flowers cultivated with love grow healthily and vigorously according to people's wishes. However, there are some tips on flower seedling selection methods, watering and fertilizing, and daily care. Here are the things you need to know for enjoying gardening, summarized one by one.
1. There are flowers that bloom every year and those that wither in 1-2 years.
Perennial herbs: Once planted, you can enjoy their flowers every year. Depending on the type, the lifespan of the plant is different. Plants like chrysanthemums and daylilies that bloom every year are called perennial herbs. Among them, the parts above the soil that grow in winter wither, but the roots remain, and the plants that start to grow in spring are called root herbs. Although their growth rate is slow, they can be enjoyed every year, which is their charm.
Annual and biennial herbs: Annual herbs like pansies and marigolds that bloom and wither within a year after sowing are called annual herbs. According to the sowing period, they can be divided into spring-sown annual herbs and autumn-sown annual herbs. In addition, biennial herbs that bloom and wither within two years after sowing are called biennial herbs. There are many short-lived, long-flowering, and distinctive flower varieties. For example, marigolds, an annual herb, can be planted with new seeds or seedlings the next year.
2. Flowers with long and short flowering periods
Flowers that bloom in spring, flowers that bloom in summer... The flowering seasons of plants are different, and the duration of flowering is also different. There are flowers like pansies and Impatiens sultana that can bloom for more than half a year; there are also flowers like hydrangeas and forget-me-nots that can only bloom for 1-2 months. In addition, flowers like geraniums and begonias that bloom almost all year round are called four-season blooming flowers, and representative plants include petunias and marigolds. On the contrary, flowers that only bloom in a certain season are called seasonal blooming flowers, and they only bloom for a few months a year. Pansies have a long flowering period, which can be enjoyed from winter to early spring.
3. Among plants, there are those that are resistant to cold and heat, and those that are afraid of cold and heat.
The resistance to cold and heat of different plant species is different. Plants that can withstand high temperatures above 30℃ are called heat-resistant. Conversely, plants that can withstand severe cold below 0℃ are called cold-resistant, which means they can overwinter outdoors. These are mainly plants native to high-cold regions. Plants with heat resistance and cold resistance should be grown and cultivated in suitable places and environments. Plants that are not resistant to heat should be placed in cool and shady places in summer; plants that are not resistant to cold should be cultivated in pots and containers and moved indoors in winter. Plants with strong heat resistance but poor cold resistance are suitable for indoor planting in winter.
4. There are seed-raised and bulb-raised
It is well known that plants like morning glories and cosmos are seed-raised, and plants like tulips and hyacinths are bulb-raised. Seed-raised plants require some effort to grow from sowing, watering, fertilizing, to the growth of branches and leaves and the blooming of flowers. Conversely, bulb-raised plants can be easily cultivated after transplantation and planting, because the bulbs store the nutrients needed for germination and flowering. Beginners can start with simple bulb flowers. According to the transplantation period of bulb flowers, they can be divided into spring-planted bulbs, summer-planted bulbs, and autumn-planted bulbs. Spring-planted bulbs bloom from summer to autumn, summer-planted bulbs bloom in autumn, and autumn-planted bulbs bloom in spring of the following year. Cyclamen is a bulb planted in autumn and is suitable for indoor gardening in winter.
5. If you plant in bulk, use seeds; beginners, please use seedlings
Many types of flowers and herbs can be cultivated with seeds, but it is recommended that beginners look for those with flowers sold in black plastic pots. Cultivating with seeds requires time and effort, and the packaged seeds sold in the market are too many for the general family courtyard and containers, so there will usually be leftovers. Friends who have mastered the skills of flower planting and are interested in planting a large number of flowers can learn to cultivate with seeds next time. Group planting uses pot seedlings. Place the seedlings in the center of the container and try to observe the overall balance and consider the arrangement.
6. Choose strong seedlings
In general, flower shops and other places will put fresh flowers on display a little earlier than the original blooming period. It is better to buy during the peak season when there are many seedlings for sale, as this time you can choose the color and quality and buy good seedlings. It is best to choose seedlings with some flowers open and still have flower buds. The flowers can confirm the color, and the flower buds can open early. Choose seedlings without pests and diseases, do not buy seedlings with wilted leaves and long and weak stems. Choose seedlings with flowers and buds, strong and sturdy stems.
7. Group planting similar plants together
When planting flowers and herbs in planting boxes and gardens, consider their different properties. Put similar plants together, and it will be easier to manage. For the same plants, such as several different colors of pansies, it is okay to group plant them together. However, for different plants with different properties, such as lavender that likes dryness and plants that need a lot of water and fertilizer, it will be difficult to manage in watering and fertilizing. Also, combinations like African daisies that are heat-resistant but not cold-resistant and pansies that are cold-resistant but not heat-resistant are difficult to place. It is better to decide on the plants to be planted after understanding the properties of various plants. Group planting will be easier to manage if similar plants are chosen.
8. Consider the size of the seedlings
After purchasing pot seedlings, transplant them into pots, planting boxes, or flower beds as soon as possible. The roots of the seedlings taken out of the pots often extend in all directions, which is a signal that the plants need to be transplanted. If transplanted into a container slightly larger than the soil-covered roots (the roots and the surrounding soil), the roots can still extend in the soil and grow vigorously. Pot seedlings are usually planted in 3号 plastic pots (9cm in diameter) (C-S), so the target for pot planting is 4-5号 pots (12-15cm in diameter). For group planting, consider the size of all the seedlings and choose a container for planting. When planting on the ground in a flower bed, plant with an appropriate plant spacing based on the premise that it can extend. When group planting, consider the balance between all the seedlings and the container.
9. Pay attention to the environment and location of plant cultivation
Whether the flowers bloom or not, whether they can be appreciated for a long time or wither in a short time, there is a big difference depending on the environment of planting flowers. For example, lavender that blooms beautifully in Furano, Hokkaido, when suddenly planted in Tokyo, sometimes does not bloom. This is an extreme example, but cyclamen cultivated in the warm greenhouse of a store, after being purchased and placed near the cold north window for cultivation, often withers. That is, when pot flowers or seedlings are newly purchased, they should be cultivated temporarily in the same environment as (C-S), and then gradually adapt to the new environment, which is very important. Plants are things that adapt to environmental changes, so they can grow vigorously except for extremely unsuitable environments. For example, calendula, which likes cool climates, continues to bloom from spring to autumn in high-cold regions, but in warm regions, the flowers do not bloom in summer.
10. If the sunlight is good, the flowers will bloom more
In order to make the flowers bloom, sunlight is very important. Whether planted in pots or in the ground, the more sunlight, the more flowers will bloom. Looking at some plants, most flowers are suitable for cultivation in sunny outdoor places. If possible, cultivating in a place with full sunlight all day is ideal, but even if there is only half a day in a sunny place, most flowers can also bloom beautifully. When cultivating indoors, try to place them near a sunny and bright window, and place them outdoors on windy and sunny days to expose them to sunlight. Although many plants like sunlight, there are also plants that can grow well in shady or semi-shady places (brighter shady places). After deciding on the cultivation location, it is also important to choose plants that match it. Pansies and violas cultivated in bright sunlight, if the sunlight is sufficient, a large number of flowers will bloom.
11. If the ventilation is good, the plants can grow vigorously
In order for plants to grow healthily, wind is also very important. As is well known, plants use sunlight for photosynthesis, produce energy, and release oxygen. At this time, the required carbon dioxide is transported by wind. That is to say, if there is no wind, there will be a lack of carbon dioxide, and photosynthesis cannot be carried out well, hindering their growth. Moreover, when the branches and leaves are crowded and stuffy, if the ventilation is good, they can recover their health again. Therefore, on balconies or outdoors, try to choose a place with good ventilation. If indoors, sometimes letting the outdoor wind blow is also important. However, in places like balconies, when the wind is too strong, there is a risk of pots overturning or falling off, so attention should be paid. Put down the hanging basket on windy days.
12. It is recommended to use market (C-S) potting soil for planting box cultivation
The roots of plants breathe in the soil and absorb water and nutrients. Plants can fully carry out these activities and grow vigorously in well-drained and water-retaining soil. At first glance, this may seem contradictory because poor water retention makes the soil dry quickly, making it easy for flowers to wither, while poor drainage makes the soil always wet and the roots prone to rot. Well-drained and water-retaining soil refers to soil composed of small particles aggregated into pellets. Cultivation soil is made up of several types of soil such as red soil, black soil, and decomposed leaf soil. For beginners, it is recommended to use market (C-S) potting soil that is well mixed. There are many types, so choose the type of potting soil that suits the plant to be planted. Among the market (C-S) potting soils, HYPONEX potting soil has good quality and can be used with confidence.
13. Soil improvement is necessary before planting in flower beds
In the case of planting and enjoying plants in flower beds or courtyards, it is necessary to improve the soil. Because the soil trampled by the feet is difficult for air and moisture to pass through, the roots cannot grow sufficiently. As long as the soil is slightly dug out, there will be gaps between the soil, and drainage and water storage will be good. The depth of digging out is 20-30cm is enough. If mixed with decomposed leaf soil, drainage and water storage will be better. In the case of planting plants with weak resistance to soil acidity, the soil should be neutralized before planting. The basic raw material red soil, the improved decomposed leaf soil or bitter soil lime can be easily purchased in gardening stores. Red soil: The red soil that is everywhere in the Kanto region, when made into granules, can be used as basic soil, and there are three types of particles: large, medium, and small. Because it can form gaps with the soil, it is convenient for drainage and water storage. Decomposed leaf soil: The representative improved soil formed by the decay of fallen leaves. It is rich in nutrients and is often used to make soft soil with good drainage and water retention. Bitter soil lime: Rich in the bitter soil (magnesium) and lime (calcium) necessary for plant growth. It can neutralize the acidity of the soil when mixed with soil.
14. Supply suitable fertilizers for growth and development
The nutrients necessary for the healthy growth of plants include nitrogen (N) for leaf growth, phosphorus (P) for nutrition for flowers and fruits, and potassium (K) for root extension. Chemical fertilizers in the market (C-S) are well matched in proportion. Regarding fertilization methods, there are two types: mixing basic fertilizer into the soil during transplantation and topdressing during plant growth and development. Basic fertilizer is to increase the nutrients of the soil itself and adjust the downward environment for the smooth growth of plants, so it is more appropriate to use slow-release granular fertilizer with long-lasting stable effect. Topdressing is the fertilizer applied to supplement nutrients during growth and development. It can be used with immediate effect liquid fertilizer (liquid fertilizer) and slow-release solid fertilizer (fertilizer) that only needs to be placed on the soil, etc. There are many types of synthetic fertilizers in the market (C-S), including basic fertilizer, liquid fertilizer for topdressing, and tablet fertilizer, which can all be easily used.
15. Watering conditions are different between pot planting and land planting
Pot planting: "As soon as the soil surface is dry, you need to supplement enough water." When the soil surface of the pot turns white and dry, you need to pour enough water, and the water can flow out from the bottom of the pot. The condition of the soil drying changes according to the season, placement, and environment, so the frequency of watering is higher in the dry summer and lower in winter. In the period of using air conditioning, indoor pots are prone to dryness, so attention should be paid. Flower bed watering depends on nature When planting on the ground, the roots extend in the soil, and it will rain, so watering can depend on nature. Before planting, mix decomposed leaf soil into the soil to keep good drainage and water storage, and the plants can absorb water from the soil. However, when the soil dries, pour enough water before the plants wither. When planting in hanging baskets, when the soil is too dry, add water directly to restore vitality as soon as possible.
16. If you pick the flower shells often, you can enjoy them for a long time
Picking off the flowers after blooming is called "picking flower shells", which is an important task in the care of flowers during the flowering period. Plants bloom and produce seeds to leave offspring. Then wither. If the flowers are picked off before the seeds are produced, the plants will bloom again to leave offspring. In this way, a large number of fresh flowers can be enjoyed for a long time. Moreover, once the seeds are formed, the seeds absorb nutrients, and the number and frequency of flowers that will bloom next will gradually decrease. Moreover, if the flower shells are left on the stems or let them fall into the soil, they will become the source of attracting pests and diseases, so it is necessary to pick the flower shells often. After some flowers have bloomed, cut off the stems at the flower stem.
17. Trim withered leaves and overextended branches
Plants that bloom all year round (four-season blooming), flowers with long flowering periods, perennial herbaceous perennials, etc., need to be cut off 1/2 to 1/3 of the plant length after blooming, which is called "cutting". When the whole plant looks tired and the posture is disordered, it needs to be cut. Specifically, there are the following states: dense planting of flowers or leaves, poor stretching of buds, excessive upward extension of stems, and shrinking flowers. It is a bit reluctant to cut off the plants that have grown up and are still blooming, but cutting is a way for the plants to recover and bloom more flowers. Moreover, pruning and shaping the branches of flowering trees after flowering is also necessary to maintain a beautiful posture. Calendula pruning. After the flowers bloom in early summer, cut them near the roots, and you can enjoy the flowers again in autumn.
The above () introduces the specific introduction of family gardening tips - 17 key points for you. I hope everyone will like it!