March Flower Guide
Today we will explain to our netizens the knowledge of home flower cultivation, the March Flower Guide, let's take a look together.
(一) Flower types suitable for courtyard planting
1、 Flower types suitable for ground planting If your courtyard is spacious and well-lit, or the distance between your courtyard and the front row of buildings is more than 30 meters, and the soil has been improved to some extent, you can plant some flower species that are more light-loving and have higher requirements for the growing environment. Ground planting flowers and trees such as: Magnolia denudata, Ginkgo biloba, Osmanthus fragrans, Magnolia liliiflora, Michelia figo, Magnolia soulangeana, Chaenomeles speciosa, Begonia grandis, Malus spectabilis, Viburnum plicatum, Snowball viburnum, Persimmon, Hibiscus syriacus, Prunus mume, Rosa chinensis, Ficus carica, Camellia sinensis, Lagerstroemia indica, Peony, Punica granatum, Wisteria sinensis, Prunus serrulata, Vitis vinifera, Prunus persica, Nandina domestica, Acer palmatum, Cercis canadensis, Hibiscus syriacus, Canary Island date palm, etc. If your courtyard is relatively shady and humid, you should choose some flower species that are suitable for shady and humid conditions, such as: Palm, Photinia, Aucuba japonica, Ilex crenata, Ligustrum lucidum, Mahonia fortunei, Magnolia grandiflora, Cinnamomum camphora, Sabina chinensis, Elaeocarpus decipiens, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Maki', Cephalotaxus fortunei, Nandina domestica, Thuja orientalis, Pinus bungeana, Chimonanthus praecox, Musa basjoo, Phyllostachys edulis, etc.
No matter how the light in your courtyard is, how dry or wet it is, you should pay attention to the following points when choosing ground planting flowers and trees: First, the minimum temperature that the flowers and trees can tolerate should not be lower than the local minimum temperature to avoid frost damage; Second, it should be adapted to the local soil and water conditions to avoid soil and water incompatibility; Third, there should be fewer pests and diseases, longer flowering and fruiting periods, fragrant flowers, and auspicious flower names; Fourth, the number of flowers and trees should not be too many, 1 to 2 plants for a small courtyard, and more can be planted for a large courtyard; Fifth, the height of mature trees should not exceed the windows and balconies of the second floor to avoid obstructing the lighting of the upstairs residents and affecting the relationship with neighbors; Sixth, avoid planting flowers and trees that can cause allergies or contain toxic substances; Seventh, choose large-sized plants that grow slowly but have basically taken shape, so that greening and beautification effects can be achieved early, such as Ginkgo biloba, Japanese hemlock, Osmanthus fragrans, Prunus mume, Podocarpus macrophyllus, etc., which should not be lower than 2 meters in height; Eighth, some idle land should be reserved for planting bedding flowers and placing potted ornamental plants.
There are many types of bedding flowers and ground cover plants suitable for ground planting. Those that like sunlight include: Dianthus chinensis, Snapdragon, Ornithogalum caudatum, Viola tricolor, Salvia splendens, Celosia cristata, Gomphrena globosa, Zinnia elegans, Tagetes erecta, Althaea rosea, Impatiens balsamina, Lupinus, Daisy, Calendula officinalis, Papaver rhoeas, Zephyranthes candida, Dahlia pinnata, etc. There are also some bedding flowers and ground cover plants that are relatively shade-tolerant, such as: Ophiopogon japonicus, Ophiopogon japonicus 'Variegata', Asparagus plumosus, Hosta plantaginea, Liriope spicata, Narcissus tazetta, Chlorophytum comosum, Arisaema triphyllum, Iris, Acorus gramineus, Saxifraga stolonifera, etc.
2、 Flower types suitable for potted planting in family courtyard There are many types of flowers suitable for potted planting in family courtyard. Under good conditions, you can choose some flower species that require more delicate management, such as: Prunus mume, Aglaia odorata, Camellia sinensis, Poinsettia, Chimonanthus praecox, Belgium azalea, Araucaria heterophylla, Dracaena fragrans, Ficus benjamina, Areca catechu, Michelia alba, Jasminum sambac, Ficus carica, Anthurium, Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Cymbidium ensifolium, Cymbidium lowianum, Vanda, Begonia sutherlandii, Begonia tuberhybrida, Strelitzia reginae, Hibiscus syriacus, Clivia miniata, Philodendron selloum, Peperomia obtusifolia, Codiaeum variegatum, Dieffenbachia, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, Citrus medica, Citrus aurantium, Citrus limon, Tulipa gesneriana, Hyacinthus orientalis, Calceolaria herbeohybrida, Livistona chinensis, Livistona chinensis 'Variegata', Hyophorbe lagenicaulis, etc. For courtyards with relatively poor conditions, you can plant and raise some species that require less delicate management, such as: Nandina domestica, Cycas revoluta, Rhapis excelsa, Chrysanthemum, Cymbidium, Cymbidium goeringii, Hippeastrum, Jasminum nudiflorum, Fritillaria thunbergii, Jasminum polyanthum, Camellia japonica, Camellia reticulata, Osmanthus fragrans, etc.
(二) Reproduction of courtyard flowers
1、 Sowing The types of courtyard flowers that can be sown in March include: Lagerstroemia indica, Cercis canadensis, Chimonanthus praecox, Cercis canadensis 'Summer Snow', Acer palmatum, Liquidambar styraciflua. The seeds of the latter five need to be soaked in cold water for 24 to 36 hours before sowing, so that they can absorb water and then sown. Flowering plants that can be sown after sand storage and germination include: Cycas revoluta, Ginkgo biloba, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Podocarpus macrophyllus 'Maki', Magnolia liliiflora, Michelia figo, Osmanthus fragrans, Aesculus chinensis, Nandina domestica, Ilex chinensis, Punica granatum, Viburnum plicatum, etc. The types of herbaceous flowers that can be sown include: Impatiens balsamina, Tagetes erecta, Gomphrena globosa, Zinnia elegans, Salvia splendens, Celosia cristata, Capsicum annuum, Solanum pseudocapsicum, Primula obconica, Malva sylvestris, Mirabilis jalapa, Strelitzia reginae, Clivia miniata, Asparagus plumosus, etc. Some cold-sensitive species should be sown in a plastic shed.
2、 Cutting The types of flowering trees that can be propagated by cutting in March include: Hibiscus syriacus, Pelargonium hortorum, Epiphyllum oxypetalum, Schlumbergera truncata, Portulacaria afra, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, Kalanchoe thyrsiflora, Hydrangea macrophylla, Nandina domestica, Chaenomeles speciosa, Salix alba, Hypericum perforatum, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Punica granatum, Ficus carica, Fatsia japonica, Gardenia jasminoides, Fritillaria thunbergii, Jasminum nudiflorum, Sabina chinensis, Daphne odora, Pyracantha fortuneana, etc. The cutting of cold-sensitive flowering plants should be done in a shed or indoors.
3、 Grafting The types of flowering trees that can be propagated by grafting in March include: Grafting Pinus parviflora, Pinus thunbergii, Pinus bungeana with 1 to 2-year-old black pine seedlings as rootstocks; Grafting Michelia figo, Magnolia soulangeana with 1 to 2-year-old white magnolia and purple magnolia seedlings as rootstocks; Grafting Prunus mume, Peaches, Apricots with 1-year-old peach and apricot seedlings as rootstocks; Grafting Prunus mume with finger-thick seedlings as rootstocks, choosing excellent varieties of Prunus mume scions for cutting and grafting, and giving bagging and moisturizing, the survival rate is relatively high; Grafting Schlumbergera truncata and various cacti with Cereus peruvianus as rootstock, it is suitable to be carried out in a greenhouse. In addition, Camellia sinensis, Prunus serrulata, Osmanthus fragrans, Acer palmatum, etc. can also be propagated by grafting in March.
4、 Layering The types of flowering trees that can be propagated by layering in March include: Camellia sinensis, Camellia reticulata, Prunus mume, Chimonanthus praecox, Acer palmatum, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Sabina chinensis, Juniperus chinensis, Michelia figo, Chaenomeles speciosa, Snowball viburnum, Gardenia jasminoides, Osmanthus fragrans, Magnolia liliiflora, etc.
5、 Division The types of flowers that can be propagated by division in March include: Orchid grass, Dicentra spectabilis, Aspidistra elatior, Asparagus plumosus, Cycas revoluta, Nandina domestica, Mahonia fortunei, Chaenomeles speciosa, Sansevieria trifasciata, Canna indica, Hedychium coronarium, Dahlia pinnata, Strelitzia reginae, etc.
(三) Management of courtyard flowers
1、 Management of ground planting flowers and trees
(1) Transplanting March is the best time for transplanting and planting ground planting flowers and trees. The transplanting of Prunus mume, Magnolia denudata, Magnolia liliiflora, Magnolia soulangeana, Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer palmatum, etc. should be arranged as much as possible before the plants sprout and unfold leaves. Evergreen flowering plants should be pruned during transplanting to reduce transpiration and improve survival rate. The transplanting of Chimonanthus praecox, Lagerstroemia indica, Cercis canadensis, Hibiscus syriacus, Koelreuteria paniculata, Prunus persica, Prunus serrulata, etc. is not a problem even after sprouting, but proper pruning should also be done. Whether it is an evergreen tree or a deciduous tree, a soil ball should be taken with the soil when transplanting, and the diameter of the soil ball should generally be more than 6 times the diameter of the main stem.
(2) Fertilization For ground planting flowers and trees that have not been buried with fertilizers in winter, a ring-shaped trench can be excavated around the roots before they sprout, about 15 to 20 cm deep, and well-rotted cake fertilizer, barnyard manure, chicken manure, pigeon manure, etc. can be applied, or a multi-element compound fertilizer, to lay a material foundation for their growth throughout the year.
(3) Pruning For plants that have not been pruned, especially Prunus mume, Chimonanthus praecox, Fritillaria thunbergii, Jasminum nudiflorum, etc. after flowering, dead branches, diseased and insect-infested branches, and overgrown flowering branches must be pruned. For annual branches, they can be cut off at 2 to 3 cm from the base of the branch, leaving only 2 to 3 buds, and after intensive pruning, more new branches can sprout in spring and more flower buds can be formed in summer and autumn, which is beneficial to flowering in the following year. For Camellia sinensis, Camellia reticulata, etc., branches that destroy the shape of the plant should be pruned after flowering, and some weak branches and crossed branches in the inner cavity should also be pruned. For Punica granatum, Hibiscus syriacus, Osmanthus fragrans, etc. that form flower buds and bloom on new branches in the same year, pruning can be done in March to adjust the plant shape and improve the ventilation and light conditions of the plant.
(4) Pest control Diseased and insect-infested branches and leaves on the plants should be cut off and destroyed in time, which can reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases in the current year. For some flowering plants that are prone to pests and diseases, such as Rosa chinensis, Osmanthus fragrans, Chaenomeles speciosa, Vitis vinifera, Begonia grandis, etc., Bordeaux mixture should be sprayed in time after the leaves unfold to prevent the occurrence of powdery mildew and rust.
2、 Management of ground planting bedding flowers The types of bedding flowers that can continue to be transplanted and planted in March include: Dianthus chinensis, Snapdragon, Calendula officinalis, Bellis perennis, Althaea rosea, Malva sylvestris, Liriope spicata, Iris, Asparagus plumosus, etc. For bedding flowers that were transplanted before February or before the New Year, if the plants have recovered growth, such as Ornithogalum caudatum, Viola tricolor, etc., weeding and loosening the soil can be done first, and then a low-concentration liquid fertilizer can be applied, such as well-rotted odorless cake fertilizer water, 0.5% urea solution, or quick-acting compound fertilizer solution for New Year flowers.
3、 Management of potted flowering trees in the courtyard
(1) Pot changing Potted Chimonanthus praecox, Prunus mume, Begonia grandis, Chaenomeles speciosa, Pyracantha fortuneana, Pinus parviflora, Nandina domestica, Ulmus parvifolia, Acer buergerianum, Fagus engleriana, etc. placed outdoors can be repotted before they sprout and unfold leaves, changing them to loose and fertile, organic-rich fresh potting soil, laying a foundation for growth in spring and summer.
For potted plants such as Michelia alba, Aglaia odorata, Jasminum sambac, Rosa chinensis, Jasminum sambac, Hibiscus syriacus, Strelitzia reginae, Cycas revoluta, Poinsettia, Camellia reticulata, Camellia sinensis, Belgium azalea, Ficus carica, Citrus medica, Citrus aurantium, Citrus limon, Rhapis excelsa, Calathea zebrina, Dieffenbachia, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, etc. placed indoors, pot changing should be done before they are moved out of the house.
(2) Training In the north of the Yangtze River basin, most potted flowers are still under indoor care in March, and it is necessary to pay equal attention to cold prevention and ventilation. Due to the unstable weather this month, cold currents often move south, and it is still necessary to continue to do a good job of heat preservation and cold prevention in the first and middle ten days of March. In the late ten days of March, the doors and windows of the house can be opened during the day for ventilation and closed at night, so that Michelia alba, Aglaia odorata, Jasminum sambac, Hibiscus syriacus, Poinsettia, Rhapis excelsa, Calathea zebrina, etc. can gradually accept training and adapt to the outdoor environment, avoiding premature germination that affects the growth and normal flowering of the year. Potted flowers in the north of the Yellow River still need to continue to do a good job of heat preservation and cold prevention this month, and they must not be careless.
(3) Pruning Necessary pruning, including cutting off diseased and insect-infested branches, dead branches, deformed branches, weak branches, and some yellowed leaves, should be done for plants such as Hibiscus syriacus, Fuchsia hybrida, Clerodendrum fortunatum, Jasminum sambac, Jasminum sambac, Michelia alba, Ficus elastica, Carica papaya, Rhapis excelsa, Aglaia odorata, etc. indoors in combination with pot changing. For tree trunks such as Acer buergerianum, Podocarpus macrophyllus, Juniperus chinensis, Pinus taiwanensis, Pinus thunbergii, Ulmus parvifolia, Elaeagnus pungens, etc. mainly for appreciation, coiling and pruning can also be done before germination in March to further perfect their shape. For Prunus mume, Chimonanthus praecox, Rosa chinensis, Prunus persica, Jasminum nudiflorum, Fritillaria thunbergii, etc., intensive pruning can be done before germination after flowering.
(一) Flower types suitable for balcony planting Urban residents cannot have a small courtyard for each household, nor