Master these secrets for growing flowers in summer, and only then will your flowers survive
As summer arrives, I'm wondering whether I can make it through this summer safely - will I be roasted into skewers? Or turned into a barbecue? Deeply worried...... Those of you who grow geraniums at home may be worrying not only for yourselves but also feeling deeply lost about how your geraniums will get through the summer. But I'm here to tell you all! I won't just leave you to it! So here comes the solution, a shower of confetti to welcome it!
Getting geraniums through the summer can be divided into three steps: first, shading and ventilation; second, watering and fertilizing; third, pest and disease prevention. So let me break down these steps one by one!
1. Shading and ventilation. People walking outside fear being dried out by the heat, let alone plants, right? Delicate flowers raised at home can't withstand the harsh summer sun, so shading and ventilation become one of the primary steps for geraniums to get through summer. Based on my experience, you can add a layer of mulch on the potting soil of geraniums, which can reduce water evaporation and also prevent direct sunlight from raising the soil temperature. You can use orchid stone, expanded clay pellets and so on, but don't take the lazy route and choose bark or non-breathable stones - the consequences can be very serious.
In summer, you should diligently be a happy mover. Geraniums can get sun in the morning and evening, but not at noon - you need to move them to a place with indirect light, and also pay attention to ventilation.
2. Watering and fertilizing. The most headache-inducing thing is the watering issue. Why do I say that? Of course I have my own experience - I'm not making things up. The timing of watering also matters; a moment of carelessness may scorch the plant. It's best to choose morning and evening, and wait until the soil temperature drops before watering, otherwise it may burn the plant. The water temperature also matters - let the water sit for a while so its temperature is close to room temperature before watering. The watering method is not just whatever either - you should use the bottom-watering method. So when I say the most headache-inducing thing is the watering issue, I'm not wrong at all!
Surprisingly, geraniums don't need fertilizing in summer! Because at this time geraniums are in their dormant period and can't absorb fertilizer, so pay attention! Do not fertilize geraniums in summer!
3. Pest and disease prevention. Plants can get sick too, so you need to be a doctor who can diagnose illnesses. Let me teach you the four diagnostic methods - look, listen, ask and feel. Watch closely! To prevent geraniums from getting stem rot, you should do preventive work in advance, that is, give geraniums a preventive shot. You can drench the roots once a month with a carbendazim solution, a root rot treatment solution, or a potassium permanganate solution. But if they do get stem rot, then you have to abandon the plant and the soil. How heartbreaking! So you can't slack off at all when it comes to prevention!
If the leaves have problems, don't think that just picking off the leaves will solve it. When leaf spot disease, flower wilt disease and the like appear, besides removing the leaves, you also need to spray Bordeaux mixture for control.
That's all for today's introduction. See you next time!