Flowers are cultivated for viewing. Balcony cultivation, courtyard cultivation, ground cultivation, pot cultivation, etc., transform various places into comfortable flower cultivation spaces. Plants, grasses, trees, and flowers cultivated with love grow healthily and vigorously according to people's wishes. However, there are some tips for selecting seedlings, applying water and fertilizer, and daily care. Therefore, in order to appreciate the charm of flowers and better cultivate them, you need to understand the following matters:

1. Some flowers bloom every year, while others wither in 1-2 years.

Perennial herbs: Once planted, you can enjoy its flowers every year. The lifespan of plants varies depending on their species. Plants that bloom every year, such as chrysanthemums and monarch grasses, are called perennial herbs. Among them, the parts that grow above the soil wither in winter, but the roots remain and the plants that begin to grow in spring are called perennial herbs. Although their growth rate is slow, people can enjoy their flowers every year. This is their charm.

Annual and biennial herbs: Plants that bloom and wither within one year after sowing, such as pansies and marigolds, need to be repurchased every year. Plants are called annual herbs. According to the different sowing periods, they can be divided into spring-sown annual herbs and autumn-sown annual herbs. In addition, those that bloom and wither within more than one year but less than two years after sowing are called biennial herbs. They have short lifespans and long flowering periods. There are many gorgeous and distinctive flower species. For annual herb marigolds, new flower seeds or seedlings are sown the following year.

2. Flowers with long flowering periods and flowers with short flowering periods.

Flowers that bloom in spring, flowers that bloom in summer...

Different plants have different flowering seasons and different durations of flowering. There are flowers that have a long flowering period, such as pansies and silver balsams, which can bloom for more than half a year; and there are flowers that can only bloom for 1-2 months, such as hydrangeas and forget-me-nots. In addition, flowers that bloom almost all year round, such as geraniums and lantern crabapples, are called seasonal flowers. Representative plants include petunia and marigolds. On the contrary, flowers that only bloom in a certain season are called seasonal flowers, which bloom only a few months a year. The flowering period of pansies is very long and can be enjoyed from winter to early spring.

3. Among plants, some are cold-resistant and heat-resistant, while others are afraid of both cold and heat.

Different plant species have different abilities to resist cold and heat. Plants that can withstand extreme heat are called heat-resistant, which refers to plants that can withstand temperatures above 30°C. On the contrary, plants that can withstand severe cold are called cold-resistant, which refers to plants that can withstand temperatures below 0°C, that is, plants that can overwinter outdoors. These are mainly plants native to high and cold areas. Plants that are heat-resistant and cold-resistant grow and cultivate in places and environments that are suitable for each. Plants that are not heat-resistant should be placed in a cool, shaded place in the summer; plants that are not cold-resistant should be cultivated in containers such as flower pots, and it would be better to move them indoors in the winter. They have strong heat resistance but poor cold resistance, so they are suitable for indoor planting in winter.

4. Some are grown from seeds, while others are grown from bulbs.

As we all know, plants such as morning glory and cosmos are cultivated from seeds, while plants such as tulips and hyacinths are cultivated from bulbs. Plants cultivated from seeds require some time to water and fertilize after sowing until they grow branches, leaves and flowers. On the contrary, plants cultivated from bulbs can be cultivated easily and without any trouble after transplanting. This is because the bulbs have accumulated the nutrients needed for germination and flowering.

Beginners can also start with simple bulb flowers. According to the transplant 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 the spring of the following year. Cyclamen is a flower that is planted in autumn and is suitable for indoor gardening in winter.

5. If you are planting in large quantities, use seeds. Beginners should use seedlings.

Although many types of flowers and herbs can be grown from seeds, it is recommended that beginners look for flower seedlings with flowers sold in black plastic pots. Growing from seeds takes time and effort, and the bagged seeds sold on the market are too many for the average family's garden and containers, so there are usually surpluses. Friends who have mastered the skills of growing flowers and want to grow a large number of flowers, and have developed an interest in growing flowers through multiple plantings, must learn to grow from seeds next time. Use potted seedlings for group planting. Place the seedlings in the center of the container, and it is best to observe the overall balance while considering the placement.

6. Choose healthy seedlings.

Choose flowers that are in bloom: Generally speaking, gardening stores put flowers in front of the store a little earlier than the original blooming period. Instead of buying flower seedlings when they are just starting to be sold, it is better to wait until they are on the market in large quantities, because you can choose the color and quality at this time and buy good flower seedlings. It is best to choose flower seedlings that are in bloom and have some flowers that have opened and still have buds. The color of the flower can be confirmed when the flowers are open. If there are flower buds, the next flowers can bloom early.

Choose seedlings that are free of pests and diseases: Don’t buy seedlings with wilted leaves or insects. Also avoid seedlings with spindly, thin stems and poor overall balance. Potted geraniums (left) and snapdragons (right).

Choose seedlings with flowers and buds and strong stems.

7. Plant plants with similar properties together.

When grouping flowers and herbs in planters and gardens, take into account their different characteristics. Grouping plants with similar characteristics will make management easier. Grouping the same plant, such as several pansies of different colors, is fine, but grouping different plants with different characteristics, such as lavender that likes dryness and plants that need a lot of water and fertilizer, will be difficult to manage in terms of watering and fertilizing.

Also, it is difficult to place a combination of heat-tolerant gerberas and cold-tolerant pansies. It is better to learn about the properties of various plants in detail and then decide which plants to plant. If you choose plants with similar properties for group planting, it will be easy to manage.

8. Consider the size of the seedlings.

After purchasing potted seedlings, transplant them into containers such as flower pots, planting boxes or flower beds as soon as possible. The roots of the seedlings taken out of the pots often spread and stretch everywhere. This is a secret signal that the plants need to be transplanted.

If you transplant it in a container slightly larger than the root with soil (root and soil around the root), the root can still stretch in the soil and thrive. Pot seedlings are usually sold in No. 3 plastic pots (9cm diameter), so with this as the goal, flower pot planting should be in No. 4-5 flower pots (12-15cm diameter), and group planting should take into account the size of all the seedlings and then choose the container for planting.

When planting on the ground in a flower bed, allow the plants to stretch and leave appropriate spacing between them.

When planting in groups, consider the balance of all the seedlings in the container.

9. Pay attention to the environment and place for growing plants.

Whether flowers bloom or not, whether they can be appreciated for a long time or wither in a short time, varies greatly depending on the environment in which they are grown. For example, a lavender plant that blooms beautifully in Furano, Hokkaido, may not bloom if it is suddenly taken to Tokyo for cultivation. This is an extreme example, but cyclamen that have been cultivated in a warm greenhouse in a store often wither when cultivated by a window on the cold north side after purchase. In other words, it is important to cultivate potted flowers or seedlings in the same environment as when they were sold when they were first purchased, and then slowly get used to the new environment.

Plants are designed to adapt to changes in the environment, so they can thrive except in extremely unsuitable environments. Nasturtiums prefer cool climates, and their flowers continue to bloom from spring to autumn in high-altitude areas, but in warm areas, the flowers no longer bloom in summer.

10. If the sunlight is good, more flowers will bloom.

Sunlight is very important for flowers to bloom. Whether you plant them in pots or in the ground, the more sunlight you get, the more flowers you will bloom. Looking at some of the plants, most flowers are best grown outdoors in full sunlight. If possible, it would be ideal to grow them in a sunny place all day, but most flowers can bloom beautifully even if they are only in a sunny place for half a day or so. When growing them indoors, try to place them near a window with good sunlight, and place them outdoors on sunny days with little wind so that they can be exposed to sunlight. Although many plants prefer to face the sun, there are also plants that grow well in shade or semi-shade (brighter shade). After deciding on the location for cultivation, it is also important to choose plants that match it. Pansies and clustered violas grown in bright sunlight. If there is enough sunlight, there will be a lot of flowers blooming.

11. If there is good ventilation, it will thrive.

Wind is also important for plants to grow healthily. As we all know, plants use sunlight to photosynthesize, produce energy, and release oxygen. The carbon dioxide they need is transported by wind. In other words, if there is no wind, there will be a lack of carbon dioxide, and photosynthesis will not be carried out well, which will hinder their growth. In addition, when branches and leaves are crowded and suffocated, they can recover if ventilation is good.

Therefore, on the balcony or outdoors, try to choose a well-ventilated place. If it is indoors, it is important to let the outdoor wind blow sometimes. However, in places such as balconies, when the wind is too strong, the flower pots will be in danger of tipping over or falling, so be careful. On windy days, put down the hanging basket.

12. It is recommended to use commercially available culture soil for planting in planting boxes.

The roots of plants breathe in the soil, absorbing water and nutrients. Plants can fully carry out these activities and thrive in soil with good drainage and water storage. At first glance, this may seem contradictory, because if the water storage is poor, the soil will dry out quickly and the flowers will wilt easily, while if the drainage is poor, the soil will always be wet and the roots will rot easily. The so-called soil with good drainage and water storage refers to soil with a structure that is a mass of granular particles formed by the aggregation of several small particles.

The soil for cultivation is a mixture of various soil types such as ruby ​​soil, black soil, and leaf humus. For beginners, it is recommended to use a commercially available soil that is a good mixture of these soils. Since there are many types, it is necessary to select the soil that is suitable for the plant to be planted. Among the commercially available soils, HYPONEX soil is of high quality and can be used with confidence.

13. Improve the soil before planting in flower beds.

When planting and viewing plants in flower beds or gardens, it is necessary to improve the soil. Because the soil that is compacted by feet is difficult for air and water to flow smoothly, the roots cannot grow fully. As long as the soil is dug out a little, there will be gaps between the soil, and drainage and water storage will become better. A depth of 20-30cm is enough. If you mix it with leaf mold, drainage and water storage will be better.

Generally speaking, some soils with strong acidity are not suitable for plant cultivation. When planting plants that are weak in soil resistance to acidity, the soil should be neutralized before planting. Ruby soil as the basic raw material, leaf mold or magnesia lime for improvement, can be easily purchased in gardening stores.

Ruby soil: Red soil that can be found everywhere in the Kanto region can be used as basic soil by granulating it into large, medium and small particles. After mixing with soil, it can form gaps, which is convenient for drainage and water storage.

Leaf mold: A typical 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.

Magnesium lime: rich in magnesium and lime (calcium), which are essential for plant growth. Mixed with soil, it can neutralize the acidity of the soil.

14. Supply fertilizer suitable for growth and development.

The nutrients necessary for healthy plant growth include nitrogen (N) for growing leaves, phosphate (P) for providing nutrition for flowers and fruits, and potassium (K) for root expansion. Chemical fertilizers sold on the market combine them in a good proportion.

Regarding fertilization methods, there are two methods: mixing base fertilizer into the soil when transplanting and planting, and applying topdressing during the growth and development of the plants.

Basal fertilizer is used to add nutrients to the soil itself and adjust the bottom-up environment for the smooth growth of plants. Therefore, it is more appropriate to use slow-release granular fertilizers that can maintain a stable effect for a long period of time.

Top dressing is the fertilizer applied to supplement nutrients during the growth and development process. You can use quick-acting liquid fertilizers (liquid fertilizers) that take effect immediately and slow-acting solid fertilizers (soil fertilizers) that only need to be placed on the soil.

There are many kinds of synthetic fertilizers sold on the market, including base fertilizers, liquid fertilizers for top dressing, and tablet fertilizers, all of which are easy to use.

15. Pot planting and land planting.

Watering is different for potted plants: “As soon as the surface of the soil dries, you need to add plenty of water.

Once the surface of the soil in the flowerpot turns white and dry, water it sufficiently so that the water can flow out from the bottom of the flowerpot. The drying of the soil varies depending on the season, location and environment, so in the summer when it is easy to dry out, water it more often, and in the winter less often. When using air conditioning, indoor flowerpots are easy to dry out, so you need to pay attention.

When planting in the ground, the roots stretch out in the soil, and because it will rain, you can leave the watering to nature.

Before planting, add leaf mold to the soil, and if you keep the drainage and water storage good, the plant will absorb nutrients from the soil. However, when the soil becomes dry, water the plant before it wilts. When planting in a hanging basket, if the soil is too dry, just add water to it and it will recover as soon as possible.

16. Pick the flower shells frequently so that you can enjoy them for a long time.

The flowers that have bloomed should be removed before they set seeds. This is called "removing the flower husks", which is an important task in the care of the flowering period. In order to leave offspring, plants will set seeds after blooming. Then they will wither. If the flowers that have bloomed are removed before they set seeds, the plants will bloom again to leave offspring. Repeating this process over and over again will allow you to enjoy a large number of flowers for a long time. Moreover, once seeds are formed, the seeds absorb nutrients, and the number and frequency of flowers that bloom will gradually decrease. In addition, if the flower husks are left intact on the stems or allowed to fall into the soil, they will become the source of diseases and pests, so the flower husks should be removed frequently. After some flowers have bloomed, cut off its stem at the pedicel.

17. Trim away dead leaves and overextended branches.

Plants that bloom all year round (seasonal flowering plants), plants with a long flowering period, perennial herbs, etc., need to be cut back by 1/2 to 1/3 of the plant's length after the flowers bloom. This is called "pruning." When the plant is exhausted and in a mess, it needs to be pruned.

Specifically, there are the following conditions: densely planted flowers or leaves, poor bud extension, excessive upward extension of stems, smaller flowers, etc. Many people are reluctant to cut off the plants that have grown and are still blooming, but cutting is a way to restore the vitality of the plants and bloom more flowers.

Also, the branches of flowers and trees are trimmed and shaped after they bloom. This is called pruning and pruning, and it is also necessary to maintain the beautiful posture. Nasturtium cutting. After the flowers bloom in early summer, cut them off near the roots so that you can enjoy the flowers again in autumn.