How to grow hollyhocks? Master these care and management points
Hollyhock (detailed introduction) is an ornamental flower that can safely overwinter outdoors in North China. It is highly adaptable and prefers a sunny environment. Some gardening enthusiasts like to grow hollyhocks at home, so what issues should be noted when cultivating hollyhocks artificially?
Hollyhock (detailed introduction)
Hollyhock prefers a cool climate, dislikes heat and frost, loves light, and tolerates slight shade; it is suitable for deep, fertile, well-drained soil.
Hollyhock cultivation and management is relatively simple. When the seedlings grow 2 to 3 true leaves, they should be transplanted once, increasing the plant and row spacing. After transplanting, water timely. Before flowering, apply topdressing 1 to 2 times in combination with hoeing and weeding; phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are best for topdressing. After one transplanting, sown seedlings can be planted out in November. During the seedling growth period, apply liquid fertilizer 2-3 times, mainly nitrogen fertilizer.
At the same time, loosen the soil and weed frequently to help the plants grow robustly. When flower buds form in the leaf axils of hollyhocks, apply a topdressing of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer once. To prolong the flowering period, maintain sufficient moisture. After flowering, promptly cut off the aboveground parts, and new shoots can still sprout. For pot cultivation, repot in early spring and keep a single stem for flowering.
Because hollyhock seeds are easily scattered after maturing, they should be harvested in time. After 3-4 years of planting, the plants tend to age. Therefore, they should be renewed in time. In addition, hollyhocks easily crossbreed; to maintain variety purity, different varieties should be kept at a certain distance apart. Hollyhocks are susceptible to damage from leaf rollers, aphids, red spider mites, etc. Old plants and dry weather tend to develop rust disease, so timely control should be carried out.
Key points for the care and management of potted flowers in autumn
After the beginning of autumn, temperatures gradually drop and sunlight weakens. For many citizens who love growing flowers, 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 plants, such as asparagus fern, spider plant, sago palm, etc., apply a dilute liquid fertilizer once every half month to keep the leaves green and improve cold resistance; for chrysanthemums, camellias, rhododendrons, etc. that bloom once a year, timely apply liquid fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus fertilizer to ensure sufficient nutrients and make them bloom more and larger; for roses, Aglaia, jasmine, etc. that bloom multiple times a year, supply sufficient fertilizer and water so they continue blooming; for some ornamental fruit plants, such as kumquat, fingered citron, ornamental pomegranate, etc., apply 1-2 times a dilute liquid fertilizer mainly based on phosphorus fertilizer. As the temperature gradually decreases, in addition to continuing normal watering for autumn-sown herbaceous flowers that bloom in autumn, winter, or early spring, watering frequency should be reduced for other flowers. Do not water until the potting soil is dry, so as to avoid excessive water and fertilizer causing excessive growth of branches and leaves and affecting flower bud differentiation and cold damage.
Key points for the care and management of potted flowers in autumn
1.Moving indoors for warmth
In this season, most woody flowers, bonsai, and perennial herbaceous plants from the south should be moved indoors, such as banyan, hibiscus, poinsettia, begonia, cyclamen, Monstera deliciosa, Schefflera octophylla, African jasmine, Aglaia, rubber tree, etc. Because as the temperature difference between day and night increases and nighttime temperatures drop, perennial flowers under such conditions convert chlorophyll in their bodies into anthocyanins and carotenoids, producing abscisic acid. Although the plants will not die, it can still cause leaf drop or yellowing of leaves, losing ornamental value.
Key points for the care and management of potted flowers in autumn
2.Proper water and fertilizer
In autumn, potted flowers grow slowly. Most flowers should begin to have watering reduced from this time, and fertilization should stop, so as to avoid root rot from too much water and excessive growth of branches and leaves from too much fertilizer. For flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as cyclamen, clivia, Christmas cactus, camellia, rhododendron, etc., they have already passed the dormant period and begun to enter the peak growth season. Therefore, from autumn onward, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be appropriately increased to facilitate flower bud formation.
Key points for the care and management of potted flowers in autumn
3.Timely propagation
For annual herbaceous flowers, attention should be paid to collecting and preserving seeds. For some biennial flowers, such as pansy, pink, cineraria, hollyhock, etc., it is exactly a good time to sow. After sowing, pay attention to spraying water and keep the soil moist. Some woody flowers are suitable for autumn cuttings, such as rose, geranium, jasmine, etc.; the survival rate of autumn cuttings is relatively high. For perennial flowers that grow densely and need division, such as peony, herbaceous peony, etc., divide and propagate them in time. For flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as hyacinth, tulip, amaryllis, etc., seize the time to pot them.
Autumn sowing and autumn cuttings should be done in time. In autumn, mature flower and tree seeds should be harvested in time, and tulips, gloxinia, snapdragon, etc. should be sown in time. Especially seeds that easily lose germination capacity should be sown promptly in autumn. Combined with pruning, flower and tree cuttings should be taken. For example, taking cuttings of rose, rose, and climbing rose has a relatively high survival rate.
Key points for the care and management of potted flowers in autumn
4.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 promote more flowering of potted flowers 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.
5.Pest and disease control
Autumn is an important period for preventing and controlling flower pests and diseases. Before potted flowers are moved indoors, to prevent overwintering sources of disease and insects, spray chemicals for prevention.
Key points for flower care and management in autumn
China Landscape Network, October 10 news: In autumn, as the temperature gradually turns cooler, the management of autumn flowers needs to be adjusted in time according to weather changes, always paying attention to factors such as temperature difference, moisture, light, and branch and leaf pruning, and adjusting treatment promptly, which is beneficial to the good growth of autumn flowers. In addition to continuing normal watering for autumn-sown herbaceous flowers that bloom in autumn, winter, or early spring, other flowers should have watering frequency reduced. Do not water until the potting soil is dry, so as to avoid excessive water and fertilizer causing excessive growth of flower branches and leaves and affecting flower bud differentiation and cold damage. In order for flowers to safely pass the coming severe winter, flower care and management should be done well in autumn.
(1) Water and fertilizer. The most important part of autumn flower care and management is the control of water and fertilizer. From the beginning of October, appropriate water and fertilizer should be applied to avoid root rot from too much water and excessive growth of branches and leaves from too much fertilizer, which affects overwintering. Flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as cyclamen, clivia, Christmas cactus, rhododendron, etc., have passed the dormant period and begun to enter the peak growth season. Therefore, from autumn to Spring Festival flowering, fertilizer and water management should be strengthened, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be appropriately increased to facilitate flower bud formation. For watering time, autumn is suitable in the morning and afternoon.
(2) Temperature. Moving indoors in time can be handled separately according to different flower varieties. Warm-loving flowers and trees such as hibiscus, poinsettia, begonia, cyclamen, jasmine, coleus, Monstera deliciosa, etc. should be moved indoors when the temperature is 10°C; spider plant, asparagus fern, Aspidistra, Schefflera octophylla, rubber tree, etc. should also be moved indoors when the temperature is 5°C. The vast majority of flowers are best moved indoors before Frost's Descent.
(3) Pruning. Frequent pruning is an important part of autumn flower management. Most flowers, such as jasmine, crape myrtle, pomegranate, etc., can be pruned and shaped in autumn. This can reduce nutrient consumption in winter and promote more flowering of potted flowers 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) Light. Different flowers have different preferences for light, so attention should be paid to the effect of daily light on different flowers. For example, jasmine, hibiscus, orange jasmine, etc. belong to summer light-loving flowers and trees, and should still be placed in a sunny place so the plants fully receive light, promoting the maturation of current-year branches and safe overwintering. Potted flowers such as rhododendron, clivia, cyclamen, poinsettia, Christmas cactus, etc. all bloom around the Spring Festival and should also be placed in a sunny place to receive full sunlight; otherwise, the flowering period will be delayed or they may even fail to bloom. Generally, foliage plants are more shade-tolerant, so some light can be appropriately provided.
(5) Propagation. Propagation should be timely. In autumn, temperatures are lower. For some biennial flowers, such as pansy, pink, cineraria, hollyhock, etc., it is exactly a good time to sow. After sowing, pay attention to spraying water and keep the soil moist. Some woody flowers are suitable for autumn cuttings, such as rose, geranium, jasmine, etc.; the survival rate of autumn cuttings is relatively high. For perennial flowers that grow densely and need division, such as peony, herbaceous peony, etc., divide and propagate them in time. For flowers that bloom around the Spring Festival, such as hyacinth, tulip, amaryllis, etc., seize the time to pot them.