1. Potting

Choose a suitable flowerpot with drainage holes at the bottom. You can put a tile on it to alleviate leakage. Then plant the plant in the pot and fill the surrounding area with the prepared substrate.

2. Moisture Application

Because of the limited space for potted flowers, it is very important to apply water. Do not apply too much or too little water to affect growth. Generally, wait until the soil in the pot is completely dry before applying water. The specific application time depends on the habits of the plant, the size of the pot, the season, and the weather conditions. The time for watering can be selected during the growth period of the plant, and it is necessary to avoid the hot sun at noon. In summer, watering should be done before 8 am and after 5 pm. In winter, watering should be done after 9-10 am.

3. Lighting

Provide sunlight according to the different types of plants. Those that like light should be placed in bright sunlight, and those that like shade should be placed in a diffuse light environment, but they should not be kept in a shaded environment all the time.

4. Fertilizer application

The nutrients that can be absorbed from the potting soil are limited, so the application of fertilizer is very important. Fertilizer should be applied according to the growth of the plant and seasonal changes, and the concentration should be light.

Further reading

Autumn cultivation and management of potted flowers

For potted flowers, autumn management is particularly important, because the autumn climate changes from hot summer to cool and gradually cold. At this time, potted flowers are likely to wither and die due to the inability to adapt to the sudden change in climate. Therefore, the following management work should be paid attention to in potted flower management at this time.
1. Key points for potted flower maintenance in autumn
1. Sufficient light Some light-loving woody flowers that bloom in summer, such as jasmine, hibiscus, and osmanthus, should still be placed in a sunny place so that the plants can fully receive light, so that the leaves can better photosynthesize, and timely supply nutrients to promote the maturity of the branches of the current year, so that they can safely overwinter and ensure the flowers and leaves are lush the following year. Potted flowers such as azaleas, Clivia, cyclamen, poinsettias, and Schlumbergera that bloom around the Spring Festival should also be placed in a sunny place and receive full sunlight, otherwise the flowering period will be delayed or even not bloom. Generally, foliage plants are more shade-tolerant, and some light can be provided appropriately to avoid direct strong sunlight at noon.
2. Appropriate water and fertilizer. Control the amount of watering and stop fertilizing flowers in early October to prevent root rot caused by too much water and excessive fertilizer from causing excessive growth of branches and leaves, which will affect wintering. Flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as cyclamen, Clivia, Schlumbergera, and azalea, have passed their dormant period and entered their peak growth season. Therefore, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened from autumn to the Spring Festival, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be appropriately increased to facilitate the formation of flower buds.
3. Reasonable pruning. In addition to flowers that bloom in early spring, most flowers, such as jasmine, crape myrtle, and pomegranate, can be pruned and shaped in autumn, which can reduce nutrient consumption in winter and promote more flowering of potted flowers in the following year. When pruning, remove diseased branches, dead branches, overcrowded branches, and overgrown branches to lay a good foundation for potted flowers to survive the winter.
4. Timely breeding. The temperature is low in autumn, and some biennial flowers, such as pansies, dianthus, cineraria, and hollyhocks, are a good time to sow. Pay attention to spraying water after sowing to keep the soil moist. There are also some woody flowers suitable for cuttings in autumn, such as roses, geraniums, jasmine, etc., which have a higher survival rate in autumn. For perennial flowers that grow densely and need division, such as peonies and peonies, division and reproduction should be carried out in time. For flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as hyacinths, tulips, and amaryllis, they should be potted as soon
as possible. 5. Timely entry into the room The time for potted flowers to enter the room can vary according to different flowers. Hibiscus, poinsettia, begonia, cyclamen, jasmine, coleus, monstera and other warm-loving flowers and trees should be moved indoors when the temperature is 10℃, and spider plants, asparagus, aphids, Schefflera, rubber trees, etc. should also be moved indoors when the temperature is 5℃. It is better for most flowers to enter the room before the frost falls.
2. Timely maintenance of flowers in autumn
1.
Light Timely light Some light-loving woody flowers that bloom in summer, such as jasmine, hibiscus, and osmanthus, should still be placed in a sunny place. Potted flowers such as azalea, Clivia, cyclamen, poinsettia, and Schlumbergera that bloom around the Spring Festival should also be placed in a sunny place.
2. Pruning
Timely pruning Except for flowers that bloom in early spring, most flowers such as jasmine, crape myrtle, and pomegranate can be pruned and shaped in autumn, which can reduce the consumption of nutrients in winter and promote the increase of flowering in the next year.
3. Breeding
Timely breeding The temperature is low in autumn, and some biennial flowers, such as pansies, dianthus, cineraria, and hollyhocks, are a good time to sow. Pay attention to spraying water after sowing to keep the soil moist. There are also some woody flowers that are suitable for cuttings in autumn, such as roses, geraniums, and jasmine, which have a higher survival rate in autumn. For perennial flowers that grow densely and need to be divided, such as peonies and peonies, they should be divided and propagated in time. For flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as hyacinths, tulips, and amaryllis, they should be potted as soon as possible. Cao Qidong
3. How to manage potted flowers in autumn?
1. Proper amount of water and fertilizer
Water and fertilizer management after autumn needs to be treated differently according to the habits of different flowers. For autumn chrysanthemum, osmanthus, camellia, azalea, wintersweet, etc. that bloom once a year, timely topdressing with liquid fertilizer mainly composed of phosphorus fertilizer 2 to 3 times, otherwise not only will the flowers be few and small, but also the buds will fall off. For roses, Milan, jasmine, etc. that bloom multiple times a year, sufficient water and fertilizer should continue to be supplied to promote their continuous flowering.
For most flowers, after the Cold Dew Festival in northern regions, it is generally not necessary to fertilize them to facilitate wintering. As the temperature drops, except for the flowers that bloom in autumn and winter or early spring and the grass flowers sown in autumn, the number of watering and the amount of watering should be gradually reduced for other flowers, in order to avoid excessive water and fertilizer, causing leggy growth, affecting flower bud differentiation and suffering from frost damage.
2. Pruning and shaping
After the fall, when the temperature is around 20℃, most flowers tend to sprout more tender branches. Except for the part that is retained as needed, the rest should be cut off in time to reduce nutrient consumption. The remaining tender branches should also be pinched in time. For chrysanthemums, dahlias, roses, jasmine, etc., after the buds appear in autumn, when the buds grow to a certain size, except for the top bud that grows well, all the other side buds should be removed.
3. Timely seed collection
The seeds of many flowers mature around mid-autumn and need to be harvested in time. After harvesting, the seeds of saffron, morning glory, etc. are removed and dried, and then stored in a cloth bag in a low-temperature and ventilated place. For some seeds with thicker seed coats, such as peony, peony, magnolia, and Michelia, it is advisable to bury the seeds with wet sand after harvesting and stratify the sand.
4. Sowing at the right time
Biennial or perennial grass flowers cultivated as one or two years, such as snapdragon, dianthus, daisy and other open-field flowers and cineraria, cyclamen, gloxinia and other greenhouse flowers, as well as gerbera, delphinium, primrose, begonia and other flowers that easily lose their germination ability after harvesting, are suitable for autumn sowing.
5. Bring flowers indoors at the right time.
After the Cold Dew Festival in northern China, most flowers need to be moved indoors to overwinter according to their cold resistance to avoid cold damage. The specific time to bring flowers indoors varies from flower to flower. For most flowers, do not rush to bring them indoors as soon as the weather changes. This is because bringing flowers indoors too early will affect nutrient accumulation and be detrimental to their growth and development in the next year. Therefore, it is better to bring flowers indoors a little later without causing cold damage.

How should potted flowers be managed and cared for?

How should potted flowers be managed and cared for?

1. Repotting

Some potted flowers can be repotted after being taken out of the room or shed, such as camellia, azalea, rubber tree, Schefflera, Araucaria, Strelitzia, orchid, Dracaena, Areca palm, Fishtail palm, etc.

2. Plastic surgery

For white orchid, Milan, Michelia, Asteraceae, camellia, etc. that have just been moved outdoors, you can prune away dead and weak branches to keep them in good shape; for potted plum, wintersweet, Pyracantha, crabapple, etc., the overly vigorous branches can be topped to promote the healthy development of the plant shape; for roses, weeping crabapples, peonies, Erythrina, Deutzia, etc. that have already bloomed, they can be pruned to reduce the branches.

Watering

In May, the temperature rises. For potted flowers placed in the courtyard, the amount of watering should be increased, which can be controlled to once a day. When the weather is fine, pay attention to spraying water around the plants to increase the air humidity; in case of continuous rainy weather, the potting soil should be checked frequently. If there is water in the pot, it should be removed in time and the pot should be changed as soon as possible. In the northern region, when watering potted flowers that prefer acidic soil conditions such as gardenia, camellia, azalea, white orchid, Michelia, pearl orchid, daphne, cycad, palm bamboo, and monstera, a small amount of ferrous sulfate can be added to the water to prevent physiological yellowing of the plants. For cyclamen and calla lilies that have entered a dormant state, watering should be stopped and they can be placed in a moist and cool place.

4. Fertilization

May is the vigorous growing season for potted flowers. For those species of flowers and trees that are worth viewing for their flowers, fruits and fragrance, such as white orchid, Milan, rose, daisy, gardenia, jasmine, camellia, plum, wintersweet, peony, etc., apply a balanced compound fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium once every half month. You can also add a small amount of potassium dihydrogen phosphate to the cake fertilizer water to facilitate the plant's recovery growth, flower bud differentiation, or continuous bud formation and flowering. For those species that are mainly for viewing leaves, such as Monstera, Spring Feather, Angel Philodendron, Rubber Tree, Red (Green) Gem, Cycas, Bamboo Palm, Hulk, Green Emperor, Aspidistra, and Guangdong Dieffenbachia, apply fermented cake fertilizer water once every half month; for foliage plants with stripes, such as Golden Edged Tiger Tail, Colorful Pineapple, Golden Heart Brazilian Iron, Tricolor Cordyline, Demi-Gondola, Croton, Coleus, White Butterfly Syngonium, Alpinia officinalis, Mosaic Cassava, Golden Peach Leaf Coral, Golden Edged Lucky Bamboo, Net-grass, Mosaic Schefflera, Golden Pothos, and Hanging Bamboo Plum, while applying dilute cake fertilizer liquid, apply 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate externally on the roots to make their leaf color appear more vivid and bright.

5. Shade

In May, it is advisable to move the potted plants that like semi-shade or shade to the shade shed or under the shade of trees, such as Monstera, Bamboo, Arrowroot, Spring Feather, Hulk, Red (Green) Gem, Green Emperor, Daifenye, Syngonium, Orchid, Azalea, Camellia, Camellia Sasanqua, Strelitzia, Pearl Orchid, Clivia, Begonia, Begonia, Bamboo, Chlorophytum, Nephrolepis, Areca Palm, Anthurium, Pepper Grass, Green Ivy, Boston Fern, etc. For the flowers and trees that like light, sufficient light must be given, such as Cycas, Pomegranate, Rose, Jasmine, Wintersweet, Pyracantha, Broad-leaved Mahonia, etc.

6. Prevent diseases and pests

For potted roses, floribunda roses, miniature roses, etc. grown in the courtyard, attention should be paid to the prevention and control of powdery mildew and brown spot disease. If leaf-feeding pests are found, 1000 times dilution of 90% trichlorfon crystals should be used for prevention and control. The larvae of citrus swallowtail butterflies that appear on plants such as rutaceae, kumquat, bergamot, and lemon should also be caught and killed in time or controlled with cypermethrin.

Potted plants suitable for balcony display In May, the types of potted ornamental plants suitable for balcony display and entering the flowering period include: peony, iris, dwarf lily, amaryllis, jasmine, pomegranate, gloxinia, snapdragon, phlox, dianthus, New Guinea impatiens, June snow, begonia, sea daffodil, etc. In addition, the foliage plants that can be used to decorate the indoor balcony include: Tianzhu, Sajin peach leaf coral, Aspidistra, Araucaria, palm bamboo, Areca palm, rubber tree, Angel Philodendron, Golden Heart Brazilian Iron, Podocarpus, Schefflera, Cycad, South American Iron Tree, etc.

What are potted flowers

Generally, flowers originating from subtropical and temperate regions, when local climate conditions are not suitable for the growth of certain flowers, it is necessary to artificially create flowers and trees with suitable soil, temperature, light, humidity, water and other conditions for their growth and development. These flowers are planted in pots and moved to solar greenhouses, cellars and other places for protection during the winter. In summer and autumn, they are cultivated and planted in the open field or used for garden beautification and decoration.

There are many varieties of potted flowers, which can be divided into one- and two-year-old flowers such as potted cineraria and cattail flowers. Perennial flowers such as Clivia and Dieffenbachia. Bulbous flowers such as Cyclamen and Calla Lily. Cacti and succulent plants such as Christmas cactus and aloe. Ferns such as nest ferns and maidenhair ferns. There are also flowers of orchids, bromeliads, and palms, as well as woody flowers such as cycads, crotons, and white orchids. In the case of special needs, some seasonal outdoor flowers are often potted for easy movement and use. For example, for use on May Day and National Day, saffron, chrysanthemums, small lilies, roses, triangle flowers, pomegranates, crape myrtles, etc. are often potted. In gardening work, most potted flowers are relatively precious indoor flower varieties, such as plum blossoms, pineapples, anthuriums, podocarpus, citrus, etc.

Potted flowers are not limited by species. As long as the flowers have a certain ornamental value and can grow well in pots, this method can be used. However, it is best not to use pots for woody flowers that are too tall, have deep roots, have many taproots, and few fibrous roots. Since the soil in the flowerpot is limited and the nutrient area is small, the level of flower and tree maintenance and management is required to be high. Flowers that can grow well in the open field are generally not cultivated in pots unless there is a special need. Stump bonsai is also a type of potted flower.

Points to note when watering potted flowers at home

Different types of flowers have different requirements for water. For example, succulent flowers such as cacti and prickly pear are more drought-resistant and do not need much watering; while flowers such as umbrella grass and Christmas cactus prefer a humid environment and need more watering. The same type of flower has different requirements for water in different growth stages. During the vigorous growth period, the water requirement is relatively large, so more watering is appropriate to promote growth; during the flower bud differentiation period, less watering is appropriate to promote flower bud differentiation.

Selection of water quality for watering flowers

Natural water can be divided into hard water and soft water. Hard water has a high content of mineral salts, and long-term watering will have an adverse effect on the growth of flowers. Soft water has a low content of mineral salts and is ideal for watering flowers. Rainwater, river water, lake water, etc. have low hardness and can be used directly for watering, but groundwater such as spring water and well water has a high hardness and cannot be used directly for watering flowers. Tap water is also not suitable for direct use because it contains disinfectants such as chlorine. It is best to store it in open containers such as tanks and pools for 3 to 5 days to volatilize and precipitate harmful substances in the water before use.

Water well to establish roots

The first watering after planting is called rooting water. Rooting water must be poured in full. Because the soil is not completely solid when first planted, there are many gaps in the soil. Only after the water is poured in, the soil and the root system can be fully combined. Generally, it is necessary to water twice in a row after planting. After the first watering is completed and the water is drained, and water is seen flowing out of the holes at the bottom of the pot, water it again. This can ensure that the soil is fully absorbed and in close contact with the root system.

When watering, most flowers are watered by spraying. This can increase air humidity and wash away dust on the leaves. However, for flowers with fluffy leaves or in bloom, you cannot spray water. Instead, you should place the flower pot in a basin of water and use the holes at the bottom of the pot to make the soil moist.

In summer, potted flowers have strong respiration, so the potting soil needs to be well ventilated. Therefore, do not water when the potting soil is not dry, so as to avoid excessive water affecting ventilation. However, water should be applied immediately after it becomes dry and it must be watered thoroughly. In summer, the potting soil often cracks due to excessive dryness, so watering cannot be completed at once, otherwise the water will leak directly to the bottom of the pot through the cracks, while most of the potting soil is still very dry. Wait a while after the first watering, and water again after the soil cracks close.

If you forget to water the plants for many days, causing them to wilt due to drought, do not rush to water them heavily. Instead, move the flowers to a cool, ventilated place and spray the leaves with water 2 to 3 times with a spray bottle. After the leaves have recovered, water them in small amounts. After the roots have recovered their ability to absorb water, water them thoroughly.

Water carefully in midsummer and winter

Water temperature has a direct impact on the physiological activities of the root system of flowers. If the water temperature is very different from the soil temperature (more than 5°C), watering will cause a sudden change in soil temperature and damage the root system, which in turn affects the root system's absorption of water and causes physiological drought. Therefore, it is better to water when the water temperature is close to the soil temperature, especially in winter and summer. In winter, it is best to store the water indoors for a while, or add a little warm water to raise the water temperature to 15~20°C before watering. In summer, avoid watering under the scorching sun and at high temperatures at noon.

Flower watering time

The watering time should be chosen so that the water temperature is as close to the soil temperature as possible. Under normal circumstances, if the difference between the water temperature and the soil temperature is within 5°C, it is safer to water the flowers and the root system will not be damaged. The specific watering time for each day is different in spring, summer, autumn and winter.

In spring, autumn and winter, around 10 am and after 4 pm are the appropriate times to water the flowers. At noon in midsummer, the temperature is very high, and the temperature of the leaves of flowers can often reach around 40°C. The transpiration is strong, and the water evaporates quickly. The root system needs to continuously absorb water to replenish the loss of transpiration from the leaves. If cold water is poured at this time, although water is added to the potting soil, the root hairs will be stimulated by the low temperature due to the sudden drop in soil temperature, which will immediately hinder the normal absorption of water. At this time, since the flowers are not prepared in any way, the stomata on the leaves are not closed, and the water supply and demand balance is lost, causing the leaf cells to wilt from a tense state, causing the plants to produce "physiological drought", the leaves to scorch, and in severe cases, the whole plant will die.

This phenomenon is particularly obvious in herbaceous flowers, such as geraniums, morning glory, and aster, which are most afraid of being watered with cold water at noon in hot weather. Therefore, it is best not to water flowers at noon in hot summer. Similarly, in winter, the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, so flowers should be watered at noon when the soil temperature is close to the air temperature. Many flower growers are accustomed to watering in the evening, mistakenly believing that this is the best way. In fact, it is the opposite. Especially in winter or indoors, if watering is done at night, the water will dissipate slowly, which will increase the humidity of the pot soil and air and easily cause flowers to be infected with diseases and suffer frost damage.

Watering at different stages of development

During the seedling period, the potting soil should be relatively dry. As the saying goes, "dry soil grows roots, wet soil grows leaves", dry soil is easy to grow roots and strong seedlings. Too much water will cause the seedlings to grow too tall.

Vegetative growth period

Adequate watering will allow the plant to flourish, otherwise it will grow slowly. However, you should not water too much blindly, which may cause waterlogging and root rot. The general principle of watering is to alternate between dry and wet soils, so as to keep the surface soil moist. The "dry" mentioned here does not mean that there is no water in the soil at all. The saying "dry soil, water thoroughly until water flows out of the bottom hole" is unscientific. Because the soil is completely dry, cracks will appear between the pot and the soil. When watering, water will quickly flow out of the cracks, and it is obviously impossible to water thoroughly. In this case, you should loosen the soil first and then water it, or directly use the immersion method to water it.

Reproductive growth period

When flowers are transforming from vegetative growth to flower bud differentiation, if there is too much water or too much nitrogen fertilizer, the formed flower buds will also become leaf buds. Therefore, during the flower bud differentiation period, the method of withholding water (controlled watering) can be used to inhibit the excessive growth of branches and leaves and promote the formation of flower buds. For example, for bougainvillea, plum blossom, peach, magnolia, etc., watering should be controlled 2 to 3 times in June and July, and watering can be done again after the branches and leaves wilt, which can effectively increase the flowering rate.

Flowering and fruiting period

Once flowers enter the bud formation and flowering and fruiting stages, they consume the most water. Water cannot be insufficient, let alone causing the branches and leaves to wilt, otherwise the flowering period will be shortened and the flowering will be poor. However, it should not be too much, especially water accumulation, as long-term water accumulation will cause flowers and fruits to fall off.

The above are general rules. The frequency of watering should also be flexibly controlled according to the local climate and environmental conditions at the time, such as air humidity, texture and size of the flower pot, and the condition of the potting soil.

"Key Points for the Management of Potted Flowers" is written by the editor of Flower Growing Knowledge. The content materials are mainly from the Internet. I hope it can help you in your flower growing process! We have collected a lot of "Key Points for the Management of Potted Flowers" content in a special topic and reproduced it for you. I hope you like it!