How to care for a potted monthly red flower
In contrast to the knowledge of how to care for a potted monthly red flower and the cultivation methods of the monthly red flower for most people, we will together learn about it next.
Monthly red flowers are known as the "Queen of Flowers" and have been chosen as the city flower by 52 cities in China. They were ranked fifth in the "Top Ten Famous Flowers in China" in 1985. They are deeply loved and favored by people. There are tens of thousands of varieties of monthly red flowers in the world, and more than a thousand in China alone. Modern monthly red flowers have various shapes, and when blooming, there are single-petal, double-petal, and卷芯 (scroll-core) ones, etc. The flowers are large and come in many colors. Up close, they have a strong fragrance that is captivating and makes one reluctant to leave. The eyes are unable to keep up with the dazzling and beautiful sight.
Monthly red flowers are adaptable, cold-resistant, and drought-resistant. They are suitable for both potting and ground planting and are widely used in landscape engineering, parks for planting flower walls, arranging flower festivals, home courtyard beautification, making cut flowers, decorating flower baskets and bouquets, as well as for essential oils and medicinal purposes. Monthly red flowers are typical ornamental flowers and can bloom every month if properly cared for. Next, let's talk about the care methods and key points for potted monthly red flowers.
Choosing a pot and soil.
Monthly red flowers are suitable for potting. Place tiles or pottery pieces at the bottom of the pot for drainage and lay a layer of pottery pieces as a water-permeable layer. Apply thoroughly decomposed organic cake fertilizer as a base fertilizer at the bottom and choose a loose, fertile, well-draining, slightly acidic matrix soil for the pot. When potting, make sure to compact the soil in the pot, water thoroughly to settle the roots, and it's best if water drains out from the bottom of the pot. At temperatures above 20°, the seedlings will recover in about a week. If the temperature is below 20°, extend the time a bit, and after about 10 days, they will probably survive and can be cared for normally. I should mention that when choosing monthly red seedlings, look for those with thick stems, fewer or smaller leaves, and with a good soil ball, as these have a higher survival rate.
Light and temperature.
Monthly red flowers enjoy sunlight and should be placed in a sunny and well-ventilated area for care. Insufficient light can cause poor growth, yellow leaves, and fewer and smaller flowers. The suitable growing temperature for monthly red flowers is between 18°-28°. When the temperature reaches 32°, the bud differentiation of monthly red flowers will be affected and they need to be moved to a shady and well-ventilated place. Otherwise, the flowers will not bloom or bloom very few, which is why many ground planted monthly red flowers do not bloom in the summer. In winter, if conditions permit, the temperature can be controlled above 18° to allow the monthly red flowers to grow normally. If not, the flowers can only enter a natural dormancy to wait for the next year.
How to care for a potted monthly red flower
Watering and fertilizing.
Watering monthly red flowers follows the principle of "water when dry, not when wet, and water thoroughly when watering." In spring and autumn, when the plants grow vigorously, they need plenty of water, watering thoroughly every 2-3 days. In the summer heat, as the potting soil dries up quickly and the flowers are in a semi-dormant state, water should be applied every 1-2 days, and water mist should be sprayed in the morning and evening to keep the plants moist. In winter, when the flowers are dormant, the soil should not be completely dry, keeping the potting soil slightly moist will help them overwinter. Monthly red flowers enjoy fertilizer, except during the blooming and dormant periods. Fertilize every 10 days or so, mainly using nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium compound fertilizer and liquid fertilizer, which can be alternated. It is especially important to apply fertilizer once before sprouting, after flowering, and before winter to ensure adequate nutrients.
Pruning and pest control.
The first pruning occurs after winter when the flowers enter a dormant state. At this time, keep the main branches and some lateral branches, cut off all other branches, leaving only about 5cm of the branches that are retained. The second pruning is during the bud formation period, where generally one best bud is left on each branch, and the rest are cut off. This ensures that when the flowers bloom, they will be large, colorful, and fragrant. The third pruning is done after flowering, cutting off the残花 (residual flowers), weak branches, aging branches, and branches that affect the appearance, leaving only the strong and young branches to reduce nutrient loss and await the next blooming period. When adjusting the plant shape, it is best to lightly prune, cutting the overly tall branches in half, as monthly red flowers need to be dwarfed. Otherwise, the taller the plant grows, the thinner the branches will become, and the smaller the flowers will bloom. Monthly red flowers have many diseases and pests and should be prevented as the main method. The plants need to be well-ventilated and have plenty of light. When diseases and pests appear, they should be promptly removed by hand or treated with pesticides.
Propagation methods.
The propagation methods of monthly red flowers are diverse, including grafting, layering, cutting, seeding, and dividing, as well as hybrid cultivation. The emergence of more and more new varieties of monthly red flowers in recent years is inseparable from the dedication of professionals who specialize in studying these flowers. We look forward to more new members of the monthly red family.
In addition to being planted in the ground or in pots for home viewing, monthly red flowers are increasingly being used in urban public greening, such as flower hedges, flower walls, and screens, adding luster and beauty to urban greening. They can also help purify the air, beautify the environment, and even have a certain mitigating effect on increasingly serious noise pollution and the greenhouse effect. Monthly red flowers have become a good friend to humans.
The above content introduces how to care for a potted monthly red flower and the detailed cultivation methods of the monthly red flower, hoping to provide you with help!