The Most Complete Flower-Growing Tips Ever Released - One Article Worth a Hundred, Read It and You're a Flower-Growing Master

Huahua is presenting a big summary of flower-growing tips today. No matter what flowers you grow, this article applies. If you want a comprehensive grasp of how to grow flowers, start reading now!

How to water?

The Complete Guide to Flower Growing

Different flowers have different needs for water. Most of the plants we grow at home are mesophytes and xerophytes. Flowers and plants like clivia (Clivia miniata) and Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis) are mesophytes that can't take too much or too little water, while succulents and other succulent plants are xerophytes with low water needs.

Choosing water:

Tap water at home can't be used directly to water flowers. We can collect natural water, such as rainwater, snowmelt, lake water or well water - these are the top choice for watering flowers. Tap water must be sun-exposed before use, to remove the chlorine first.

Water temperature:

The best watering temperature is one that matches the temperature of the flower. We can place the water next to the flower for a while, and once the two temperatures are about the same, use it to water the flowers.

Watering methods:

Besides the usual watering method, we can also usethe soaking-pot method and the moisture-retention method。

The soaking-pot method is to place the flower pot in a shallow dish of water and let the water slowly be absorbed into the soil, so that for a period of time no watering is needed.

The moisture-retention method is to frequently spray water around the flower with a spray bottle. For example, for some foliage plants, spraying the leaves or the surrounding area keeps humidity up and also keeps the leaves clean.

Principles of watering:

You shouldn't always aim for watering once every few days. The most effective method is to judge whether watering is needed by the condition of the soil. The so-called "dry-wet cycle" - water when dry and water thoroughly, don't water when not dry - refers to the degree of dryness and moisture of the soil.

Use a small trowel to dig about 2 cm into the pot soil. If it looks whitish and feels dry to the touch, it means it's time to water. You can also lift the flower pot to feel its weight - if the pot is light, the water has dried up and it needs watering.

When the soil is dry to the degree described above, water thoroughly, until water flows out of the drainage holes of the pot.

If the surface of the pot soil looks moist, then there's no need to water. In short, dry is better than wet - just don't worry that the flower isn't getting enough water.

Consequences of improper watering:

① Overwatering: the roots can't breathe and suffocate, leading to root rot and even death.

② Underwatering: lack of water causes the flower to wilt and dry up.

③ Not watering thoroughly: the roots can't fully extend and develop, showing up as short, weak, spindly growth.

How to fertilize?

The Complete Guide to Flower Growing

The growth of flowers mainly needs three elements: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Different elements play different roles for flowers. Nitrogen fertilizer promotes the growth of branches and leaves, phosphorus fertilizer promotes flowering, and potassium fertilizer promotes root development and fruit setting. Only when the three elements work together can flowers grow well.

Types of fertilizer:

1、Base fertilizer: material used to line the bottom of the pot. For example, chicken manure, decomposed pine bark, fruit peels and so on can all be placed at the very bottom of the flower pot as base fertilizer.

Note that the base fertilizer must not directly touch the roots of the flowers and plants; a layer of soil must separate them in between to prevent root burn.

2、Solid fertilizer: solid-state fertilizers such as compound fertilizer. When using, dig a small hole in the pot soil and bury in 2~3 granules.

3、Water-soluble fertilizer: that is, liquid fertilizer, which can be purchased fertilizer diluted with water, or the clear supernatant liquid of homemade fertilizer.

When using, generally dilute at a ratio of 1:2000 and then water the flowers with it.

4、Organic fertilizer: homemade fertilizers are generally organic fertilizers, such as decomposed rice-washing water, fruit peels, kitchen scraps, okara and so on.

Homemade organic fertilizer must first be decomposed. The method is to put the materials with water in a sunny place, sealed, for about 2 months, then mix the well-decomposed fertilizer into the soil, or take the clear supernatant liquid, dilute it with water and water the flowers with it.

Principles of fertilizing:

"Weak fertilizer, applied often" - apply a little each time, once a month during the growing season.

What to do if too much fertilizer is applied?

① Use the soaking-pot method to gradually dilute the fertilizer in the soil.

② Change the soil: wash the soil around the flower's roots and the flower pot, coat the flower with carbendazim and let it dry in a ventilated place, prepare new soil, then transplant it into the pot.

How to get sunlight?

The Complete Guide to Flower Growing

Divide commonly grown household flowers into three types:sun-loving, semi-shade semi-sun, shade-loving。

1. Sun-loving flowers include Chinese rose, chrysanthemum, petunia, cactus and succulents, etc. These flowers basically need full sun. Normally we should place them in a sunny spot on a south-facing balcony, but if the temperature exceeds 30°C, pay attention to shading to avoid sunburn.

2. Semi-shade semi-sun flowers include gardenia, Monstera deliciosa, camellia, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, fiddle-leaf fig, etc. These flowers can generally just be placed in a living room spot with diffused light; they are fairly shade-tolerant. When winter temperatures are low, they can be moved to the balcony to get some sun.

3. Shade-loving flowers include pothos, asparagus fern, snake plant, maidenhair fern, etc. These flowers don't need much light and can be kept in relatively dark rooms at home.

Flower lovers in the north generally don't need to worry about flowers getting sunburned; what they worry about most is that when the temperature drops, the flowers will freeze. After winter begins, if the daytime temperature isn't too low, there's no need to do anything; when the nighttime temperature is low, pay attention to moving the flowers indoors to keep them warm.

When buying flowers, flower lovers can observe what position the flower they want to buy is placed in to judge its sunlight needs.

How to repot and mix soil?

The Complete Guide to Flower Growing

Flowers bought back generally need a change of pot and soil. For good flower growth, we should choose a suitable flower pot and soil.

Choosing a flower pot:

Bigger is not better for a flower pot, nor should it be too small and affect the extension of the flower's roots. Based on the plant shape, we can choose a pot 3~5 cm larger than the plant's diameter.

Choosing soil:

If you don't know what soil to use or can't be bothered to mix soil, here's the simplest soil mix: leaf mold from under a big tree + river sand, mixed at a ratio of 1:1!

The soil must be able to guarantee looseness and air permeability, otherwise the flower's roots won't develop well, which in turn affects the growth of branches and flowers.

Points to note:

① Disinfect the soil after digging it up. First put it on the balcony to air-dry for 2~3 days to sterilize it; you can mix in some carbendazim.

② When repotting and changing soil, trim the flower's roots, remove rotten roots, bad roots and dead roots, then coat with carbendazim, let dry in a ventilated place, and then transplant into the pot.

③ You can bring some of the original soil into the pot, which helps the flower adapt to the new environment.

Have flower lovers clearly understood the four key points of water, fertilizer, light and soil?

These are the basic principles - you must master them!

If you have other questions, feel free to ask Huahua~

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