As summers get hotter, these plants' fresh scents help you cool down

In the scorching summer, choosing some flowers and green plants can add a touch of coolness to your home.

So what flowers and plants should you choose in summer? And how should you care for them?

There is quite a lot to learn.

If they are brightly colored flowers, they are more likely to give people an intense visual impression and make them restless and uneasy,

so for potted flowers in summer, it is best to choose flowers with light colors and a relatively long flowering period,

and you can also choose some elegant green plants as accents.

1. Mint

Mint leaves grow in opposite pairs at the stem nodes and can be ovate, elliptical and so on, with leaf colors including green, dark green and grayish green. Mint has a fresh fragrance with a slightly spicy note. In summer it can dispel indoor dampness and miasma, and has the effect of refreshing the mind and repelling mosquitoes and flies.

Care tips:

Mint likes bright light but not direct sunlight, and at the same time needs plenty of moisture. For watering, it is recommended to water when dry and let it dry between waterings ("water when dry, let dry between waterings" is a common term in flower growing, meaning to water thoroughly each time, then wait until the soil is nearly dry before watering a second time; its purpose is to prevent root rot caused by overwatering and pests and diseases caused by dampness.)

In addition, note that potted mint sold in flower markets cannot be confirmed as having been sprayed with pesticides, so it is best not to eat it.

2. Lavender

Lavender flowers are shaped like wheat spikes, with narrow leaves covered in gray fuzz, and blue-purple flowers growing on slender stems. Although it is not blooming now and grows best in August and September, it has a unique herbal scent, so it can also be chosen at this time. Lavender cultivation was already quite widespread in Roman times, and it is known as the "queen of herbs." Its fragrance can refresh the mind and brighten the eyes, make people comfortable, relieve anxiety, and also repel mosquitoes and flies.

Care tips:

Lavender needs ample sunlight and a suitably moist environment; it is better to provide full sun. It is semi-heat-tolerant, prefers coolness, and likes warm winters and cool summers. In summer, at least 50% of the sunlight should be blocked, and ventilation should be increased to lower the ambient temperature. Lavender does not like water lingering around its roots. After one thorough watering, wait until the soil is dry before watering again. The second watering is best done when the soil surface is dry and the interior is moist and the leaves are slightly wilted.

3. White Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis has broad, large leaves, with one to several arching flower stems, and large flowers shaped like butterflies. Its flower posture is elegant, making it a treasure among tropical orchids, and it has the reputation of being the "queen of orchids." Phalaenopsis comes in many colors; in summer, white is suitable because white is a cool color that looks cool, elegant, peaceful and serene.

Care tips:

Phalaenopsis likes shade, and room temperature should not be too high. It likes a ventilated, humid environment and requires air humidity to be kept at around 60%-80% regularly, with air circulation maintained. A gentle breeze is best, and dry hot winds should be avoided. There should not be excessive water accumulation in the pot.

When choosing Phalaenopsis in summer, you can focus on two points: first, there should be many flower buds; second, the petals should be thick. Only then can the flowering period be maintained for a relatively long time.

4. Jasmine

Jasmine has emerald green leaves and pure white, elegant flowers, and is divided into single-petaled, double-petaled, single-leaf and compound-leaf types. Its floral fragrance is fresh and striking. It blooms in late spring and early summer each year, and July to October is its flowering period.

Care tips:

Jasmine likes fertilizer, especially because its flowering period is long and it needs more nutrients. During the growing period, apply a thin cake fertilizer once a week. It likes warmth and humidity by nature, and grows best in a well-ventilated, semi-shaded environment. In midsummer, water it every morning and evening. If the air is dry, supplement with misting.

5. Golden-edged tiger-striped sword lily

The rhizome is rolled-sheet shaped, the leaves are sword-shaped, the leaf edges have broad yellow margins, and the center of the leaf has green-white horizontal stripes in alternating wave-like patterns.

Care tips:

Golden-edged tiger-striped sword lily is a perennial herbaceous plant. It stays evergreen all year round and will grow taller year by year. With proper care, it will also bloom. Golden-edged tiger-striped sword lily likes sun and can be placed in sunny spots such as balconies and sunrooms. Watering once every two or three months is enough.

6. Pothos

A climbing vine foliage plant, with heart-shaped leaves bearing yellow spots. Its vine stems are slender and soft. As it "ages," the roots and stems gradually grow longer and can reach the ground.

Care tips:

Pothos is also evergreen all year round and is shade-tolerant, so do not place it in a strong-light environment. If the growing medium or nutrient granules feel dry when touched by hand, it needs watering. You can let it climb on a cylinder tied with palm fiber and place it in an entryway, or train it into a hanging form and place it in a study or on a windowsill. You can also place a decorative pot high on top of a furniture cabinet and let its vines hang down freely, or after the hanging vines grow too long, loop and hang them into a ring, just like an emerald relief.