When growing flowers, you need to choose varieties that suit you; not all flowers can be grown.
When buying flowers from the market, the main things to pay attention to are the quality of the flowers and whether the varieties are genuine or fake. Beginners who lack experience in growing flowers had best not buy small seedlings or deciduous nursery stock. This is because, on the one hand, they are not easy to keep alive, and on the other hand, it is easy to be fooled and buy fake varieties. Also do not buy ones that have just been recently cuttings-propagated, as they are also not easy to keep alive.
When buying flowers, follow the six-observation principle:
1. Observe the overall effect
Observe the flower from its overall appearance, such as whether its morphological characteristics, plant height, degree of freshness, and growth condition are good, whether there is any wilting, whether there are any signs of dying, and whether the size of the plant matches the size of the pot.
2. Observe the condition of the flowers
Observe the growth condition of the flowers, including whether the size and number of flowers are balanced, whether the buds are plump, whether the flower color is bright, and whether the flower shape is intact and neat. Also whether the flowering branches are robust, etc. Generally, when buying ornamental flowering plants, you can buy flowers that have buds but have not yet opened, so that you can ensure a certain period of ornamental value.
3. Observe the condition of the stems and leaves
Observe the growth condition of the flower's stems and leaves, including whether the stems and branches are sufficiently robust, whether they are evenly distributed, whether there are leggy branches, bare bases, or wounds or damaged and broken areas on the branches; whether the leaves are arranged neatly and evenly, and whether there are dead branches or yellow leaves and damaged leaves. Healthy flowers have thick, lush green leaves that are glossy and bright. Do not buy plants whose branches and leaves have lost water and become much shriveled.
4. Observe whether there are any pests or diseases
Observe whether there are traces left by pests or diseases on the flowers, such as insect eggs or traces caused by insects at damaged spots on the leaves. You can also observe whether there are yellow spots or disease spots on the leaves.
5. Observe the condition of damage
This refers to damage caused during production and circulation, such as breakage, scratches, crushing injuries, water stains, pesticide damage, sunscald, and fading. Do not buy plants whose roots are damaged and that have a lot of soil missing or little soil.
6. Observe the soil condition
Check whether the soil is new or old, and from this determine how long it has been since potting, as potted flowers that have been potted for a longer time are preferable to buy. Flowers that have been potted only recently have damaged root systems, are susceptible to bacterial invasion, and if not cared for properly, this will affect the growth and survival of the flowers. When buying flowers, you can shake the flower pot; if the soil around the flower's roots is loose, it means it has not been in the pot for long. When buying cacti and other succulent plants, check whether their soil is dry, and do not buy ones with damp potting soil, because in a damp environment these plants easily suffer root rot.
7. Choose a good time to buy flowers
Different seasons are suitable for buying different flowers; for example, in spring, buying succulent plants makes it easy for them to survive. Plants that are difficult to cultivate are better bought between late spring and mid-autumn, as this period is favorable for the plants' survival.