Methods and Technical Key Points for Autumn Care and Management of Potted Flowers
As all things begin to wither in autumn, the care of potted flowers in autumn requires greater attention to detail so that they can safely make it through winter. So how should potted flowers be managed in autumn?
As all things begin to wither in autumn, the care of potted flowers in autumn requires greater attention to detail so that they can safely make it through winter. So how should potted flowers be managed in autumn?
Potted flowers
Watering and fertilizing. In autumn the climate is cool, with large temperature differences between day and night, and potted flowers evaporate water slowly. Generally, watering once a day is fine. If watered too much, the plants are prone to rot disease, causing leaves to yellow and drop; if watered too little, the leaves will wilt and droop, and the plants will grow weakly. Watering should keep the potting soil alternating between moist and dry. In autumn most potted flowers are in a vigorous period; under normal conditions, apply a dilute decomposed liquid fertilizer as a top dressing once every 10 days. For potted flowers that bloom in autumn, such as osmanthus, chrysanthemum, dahlia, etc., apply less nitrogen fertilizer and more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote abundant flowers and lush leaves.
Reasonable pruning. In autumn potted flowers sprout many tender shoots, so they should be pruned appropriately to avoid consuming nutrients. For the retained branches, leaves should be kept and buds removed; for plants with strong growth, prune heavily; for weak-growing ones, prune lightly. For potted flowers that form flower buds in autumn, such as plum blossom, wintersweet, rhododendron, etc., heavy pruning is not advisable; pinching can be done instead. Reasonable pruning helps the plant accumulate nutrients and lays the foundation for future growth. It also promotes the aging of branch tips and enhances cold resistance.
Cold protection and warmth. After Cold Dew, if there is insufficient light, improper temperature, or unbalanced fertilizer and water, the plants are easily weakened. Potted flowers that fear Cold Dew and cannot tolerate low temperatures, such as Aglaia odorata, Chinese hibiscus, poinsettia, banana shrub, etc., are very easily frostbitten, so they should be placed under the eaves in a sunny, wind-sheltered spot for care, and when the temperature drops to 5°C, moved indoors to a sunny spot.
Autumn Care and Management of Potted Flowers
For potted flowers, autumn management is especially important, because in autumn the climate changes from hot summer to cool and gradually colder; at this time potted flowers may wither and fade because they cannot adapt to the sudden change in climate, so at this time potted flower management should focus on the following tasks.I. Key points for autumn care of potted flowers
1. Sufficient light. Some light-loving woody flowers that bloom in summer, such as jasmine, Chinese hibiscus, orange jasmine, etc., should still be placed in a sunny place so the plants can fully receive light, allowing the leaves to carry out photosynthesis better, supply nutrients in time, promote the maturity of the current year's branches, enable them to overwinter safely, and ensure abundant flowers and lush leaves the following year. Potted flowers that bloom around Spring Festival, such as rhododendron, clivia, cyclamen, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, etc., should also be placed in a sunny place to receive full sun, otherwise flowering will be delayed or they may not bloom at all. Generally, foliage plants are more shade-tolerant and can be given some light, avoiding direct strong light at noon.
2. Appropriate water and fertilizer. For flowers, start controlling the amount of watering in early October and stop fertilizing, so as to avoid root rot from too much water and excessive vegetative growth of branches and leaves from too much fertilizer, which would affect overwintering. Flowers that bloom around Spring Festival, such as cyclamen, clivia, Christmas cactus, rhododendron, etc., have already passed dormancy and begun to enter the peak growth period, so from autumn until Spring Festival flowering, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be appropriately increased to help flower bud formation.
3. Reasonable pruning. Except for flowers that bloom in early spring, most flowers such as jasmine, crape myrtle, pomegranate, etc., can be pruned and shaped in autumn; this can reduce nutrient consumption in winter and encourage potted flowers to bloom more the following year. When pruning, remove diseased branches, dead branches, overly dense branches, and leggy branches, laying a good foundation for potted flowers to overwinter.
4. Timely propagation. In autumn the temperature is lower; for some biennial flowers, such as pansy, dianthus, cineraria, hollyhock, etc., it is a good time to sow. After sowing, pay attention to spraying water to keep the soil moist. Some woody flowers are suitable for autumn cuttings, such as Chinese rose, geranium, jasmine, etc.; the survival rate of autumn cuttings is relatively high. For perennial flowers that grow densely and need division, such as tree peony, Chinese peony, etc., divide and propagate them in time. For flowers that bloom around Spring Festival, such as hyacinth, tulip, amaryllis, etc., seize the time to pot them up.
5. Move indoors in time. The time for moving potted flowers indoors can vary according to the flower. Warm-loving flowers and trees such as Chinese hibiscus, poinsettia, begonia, cyclamen, jasmine, coleus, monstera, etc., should be moved indoors when the temperature is 10°C; spider plant, asparagus fern, cast-iron plant, Schefflera, rubber tree, etc., should also be moved indoors when the temperature is 5°C. For the vast majority of flowers, it is best to move them indoors before Frost's Descent.
II. Three timely tasks for autumn flower care
1. Light
Timely light. Some light-loving woody flowers that bloom in summer, such as jasmine, Chinese hibiscus, orange jasmine, etc., should still be placed in a sunny place. Potted flowers that bloom around Spring Festival, such as rhododendron, clivia, cyclamen, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, etc., 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, pomegranate, etc., can be pruned and shaped in autumn; this can reduce nutrient consumption in winter and encourage potted flowers to bloom more the following year.
3. Propagation
Timely propagation. In autumn the temperature is lower; for some biennial flowers, such as pansy, dianthus, cineraria, hollyhock, etc., it is a good time to sow. After sowing, pay attention to spraying water to keep the soil moist. Some woody flowers are suitable for autumn cuttings, such as Chinese rose, geranium, jasmine, etc.; the survival rate of autumn cuttings is relatively high. For perennial flowers that grow densely and need division, such as tree peony, Chinese peony, etc., divide and propagate them in time. For flowers that bloom around Spring Festival, such as hyacinth, tulip, amaryllis, etc., seize the time to pot them up. Cao Qidong
III. How should potted flowers be managed in autumn?
1. Appropriate water and fertilizer
After the beginning of autumn, water and fertilizer management should be tailored to the habits of different flowers. For autumn chrysanthemum, osmanthus, camellia, rhododendron, wintersweet, etc., which bloom once a year, apply 2 to 3 timely top dressings of liquid fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus fertilizer; otherwise not only will the flowers be fewer and smaller, but bud drop may also occur. For Chinese rose, Aglaia odorata, jasmine, etc., which bloom multiple times a year, continue to supply relatively sufficient water and fertilizer to promote continuous flowering.
For most flowers, in northern regions after Cold Dew, generally no more fertilizing should be done, to facilitate overwintering. As the temperature drops, except for flowers that bloom in autumn and winter or early spring and autumn-sown herbaceous flowers, which can continue to be watered normally according to the actual needs of each type of flower, for other flowers the frequency and amount of watering should be gradually reduced to avoid excessive water and fertilizer, which can cause leggy growth, affect flower bud differentiation, and lead to frost damage.
2. Pruning and shaping
After the beginning of autumn, when the temperature is around 20°C, most flowers tend to sprout many tender branches; except for those retained as needed, the rest should be cut off in time to reduce nutrient consumption. The retained tender branches should also be pinched in time. For chrysanthemum, dahlia, Chinese rose, jasmine, etc., after buds appear in autumn, when the buds have grown to a certain size, except for keeping the 1 well-growing large terminal bud, remove all the other side buds.
3. Collect seeds in time
The seeds of many flowers mature one after another around mid-autumn and need to be collected in time. After harvesting the seeds of scarlet sage, cypress vine, morning glory, etc., remove impurities and dry them, put them in cloth bags, and store them in a low-temperature, ventilated place. For some seeds with thicker seed coats, such as tree peony, Chinese peony, magnolia, banana shrub, etc., after collection it is best to bury the seeds in moist sandy soil for stratified sand storage.
4. Sow at the right time
Biennial flowers, or perennial flowers cultivated as annuals or biennials, such as snapdragon, dianthus, daisy, and other open-field flowers, as well as greenhouse flowers such as cineraria, cyclamen, gloxinia, and flowers that easily lose germination ability after harvest, such as African daisy, delphinium, primula types, begonia types, etc., are all suitable for autumn sowing.
5. Move indoors at the right time
In northern regions, after Cold Dew, most flowers should be moved indoors one after another for overwintering according to their cold resistance, so as to avoid cold damage. The specific time for moving indoors varies by flower. For most flowers, when the weather has just changed, do not rush to move them indoors. This is because moving indoors too early affects nutrient accumulation and is unfavorable for growth and development the following year. Therefore, on the premise of not suffering cold damage, it is better to move them indoors a little later.
Key Points for Autumn Care and Management of Potted Flowers
After the beginning of autumn, the temperature gradually drops and sunlight weakens. For many flower-growing urban residents, flowers need to be cared for according to the climate characteristics of this season so that they can smoothly pass autumn and overwinter.After the beginning of autumn, the weather gradually turns cooler. For some foliage flowers, such as asparagus fern, spider plant, sago palm, etc., generally apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once every half month to keep the leaves green and improve cold resistance; for chrysanthemum, camellia, rhododendron, etc., which bloom once a year, apply timely top dressings of liquid fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus fertilizer to ensure sufficient nutrients and make the flowers more numerous and larger; for Chinese rose, Aglaia odorata, jasmine, etc., which bloom multiple times a year, supply sufficient fertilizer and water so they keep blooming; for some ornamental-fruit flowers, such as kumquat, Buddha's hand, ornamental pomegranate, etc., apply 1 to 2 dilute liquid fertilizers mainly based on phosphorus fertilizer. As the temperature gradually drops, except for autumn-sown herbaceous flowers that bloom in autumn and winter or early spring, which continue to be watered normally, for other flowers the frequency of watering should be reduced, and the rule should be not to water until the potting soil is dry, so as to avoid excessive water and fertilizer, which can cause leggy branches and leaves, affect flower bud differentiation, and lead to frost damage.
Key Points for Autumn Care and Management of Potted Flowers
I.Move indoors for warmth
In this season, most woody flowers, bonsai, and perennial herbaceous plants from the south should be moved indoors, such as banyan, Chinese hibiscus, poinsettia, begonia, cyclamen, monstera, Schefflera, African jasmine, Aglaia odorata, rubber tree, etc. This is because as the temperature difference between day and night increases and nighttime temperatures drop, perennial flowers under such conditions will convert the chlorophyll in their bodies into anthocyanins and carotenoids, producing abscisic acid. Although the plants will not die, it can still cause a large amount of leaf drop or yellowing of leaves and other phenomena, losing their ornamental effect.
Key Points for Autumn Care and Management of Potted Flowers
II.Appropriate water and fertilizer
In autumn, potted flowers grow slowly, and most flowers should begin to have their watering controlled from this time and fertilizing stopped, so as to avoid root rot from too much water and leggy branches and leaves from too much fertilizer. For flowers that bloom around Spring Festival, such as cyclamen, clivia, Christmas cactus, camellia, rhododendron, etc., they have already passed dormancy at this time and begun to enter the peak growth period, so from autumn onward fertilizer and water management should be strengthened, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be appropriately increased to help flower bud formation.
Key Points for Autumn Care and Management of Potted Flowers
III.Timely propagation
For annual herbaceous flowers, attention should be paid to collecting and preserving seeds. For some biennial flowers, such as pansy, dianthus, cineraria, hollyhock, etc., it is a good time to sow. After sowing, pay attention to spraying water to keep the soil moist. Some woody flowers are suitable for autumn cuttings, such as Chinese rose, geranium, jasmine, etc.; the survival rate of autumn cuttings is relatively high. For perennial flowers that grow densely and need division, such as tree peony, Chinese peony, etc., divide and propagate them in time. For flowers that bloom around Spring Festival, such as hyacinth, tulip, amaryllis, etc., seize the time to pot them up.
Autumn sowing and autumn cuttings should be done in time. In autumn, promptly harvest mature flower and tree seeds, and promptly sow tulip, gloxinia, snapdragon, etc. In particular, seeds that easily lose germination ability should be sown promptly in autumn, and combined with pruning, take cuttings of flowers and trees. For example, taking cuttings of Chinese rose, rose, Rosa multiflora, etc., gives a relatively high survival rate.
Key Points for Autumn Care and Management of Potted Flowers
IV.Reasonable pruning
Most flowers such as jasmine, crape myrtle, pomegranate, etc., can be pruned and shaped in autumn; this can reduce nutrient consumption in winter and encourage potted flowers to bloom more the following year. When pruning, remove diseased branches, dead branches, overly dense branches, and leggy branches, laying a good foundation for potted flowers to overwinter.
V.Pest and disease control
Autumn is an important period for the prevention and control of flower pests and diseases. Before potted flowers are moved indoors, to prevent overwintering disease sources and insect sources, spray chemicals for prevention.