Indoor Flower and Plant Growing and Care Knowledge for Spring in the North

Photo by reporter Jia Chenglong

In March in the north, it is warm yet still cold, and residents who enjoy indoor planting begin to get busy, carefully cultivating beautiful flowers and plants on their balconies. Next, here is a summary of flower and plant care knowledge for friends who love planting.

Bromeliad Family and genus: Bromeliaceae Bromelia; flower meaning: the bromeliad flower represents perfection.

Care method: It likes a high-temperature, humid, semi-shaded environment. It is suitable to place it indoors in a warm spot. It is not tolerant of drought and needs watering once every 3 to 4 days to keep the soil moist.

Narcissus Family and genus: Amaryllidaceae Narcissus; flower meaning: the narcissus flower symbolizes longing and represents reunion.

Care method: It likes warmth and humidity, and also requires good drainage. During the growing period it likes fertilizer and water; if it lacks water, its growth will be poor. In the late growth stage it needs to be fully dried, otherwise bud differentiation will be affected.

Cyclamen Family and genus: Myrsinaceae Cyclamen; flower meaning: innocence and welcoming guests.

Care method: It likes a cool, humid environment with plenty of sunlight. The suitable growing temperature is 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is 70% to 75%; during the winter flowering period the temperature must not be lower than 10 degrees Celsius.

Phalaenopsis Family and genus: Orchidaceae Phalaenopsis; flower meaning: I love you, and happiness is flying to you.

Care method: The roots must not remain overly damp and shaded for a long time. The daily watering amount should be such that it can dry naturally by the end of the day, alternating between dry and moist. In winter, water less, only keeping the medium slightly moist.

Cymbidium Family and genus: Orchidaceae Cymbidium; flower meaning: abundance and peace, noble and elegant.

Care method: Cymbidium likes light, and the potting soil is best kept on the dry side. It grows best at 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, water once every 3 to 5 days.

Golden barrel cactus Family and genus: Cactaceae Echinocactus; flower meaning: confidence and boldness.

Care method: It likes calcareous soil, likes dryness, likes warmth, likes sun, requires plenty of sunlight, fears cold, and avoids moisture. The suitable growing temperature is 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 10 to 13 degrees Celsius at night.

Anthurium Family and genus: Araceae Anthurium; flower meaning: great prospects, passion, and warm blood.

Care method: It likes a warm, hot, and humid environment with good drainage. The most suitable temperature is 14 to 32 degrees Celsius. It is not tolerant of drought and needs watering once every 3 to 4 days to keep the soil moist.

Azalea Family and genus: Ericaceae Rhododendron; flower meaning: prosperity and strength, always belongs to you.

Care method: The azalea likes a cool, mild, humid, ventilated, semi-shaded environment. The suitable growing temperature is 12 to 25 degrees Celsius. It avoids scorching sun exposure and is suitable for growing under scattered light of low intensity.

Rieger begonia Family and genus: Begoniaceae Begonia; flower meaning: amiable and approachable.

Care method: Rieger begonia likes a warm, humid, well-ventilated cultivation environment. It should be placed under scattered light, and the soil should be kept moist.

Poinsettia Family and genus: Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia; flower meaning: blessing you, festive.

Care method: Poinsettia is not tolerant of drought, nor of waterlogging. Generally, watering should be done to the extent of keeping the potting soil moist without accumulating water. After flowering, watering should be reduced.

Chinese cymbidium Family and genus: Orchidaceae Cymbidium; flower meaning: beauty, noble purity, and virtue.

Care method: It likes shade and avoids strong light, likes warmth and avoids severe cold, likes moisture and avoids dryness. It cannot be placed in a spot with direct sunlight, and the soil should be kept moist.

Clivia Family and genus: Amaryllidaceae Clivia; flower meaning: nobility.

Care method: It likes a semi-shaded and humid environment and fears strong direct sunlight. The best growing temperature is between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. If it is below 5 degrees Celsius or above 30 degrees Celsius, its growth will be inhibited. Clivia likes a ventilated environment and likes deep, fertile, loose soil, and is suitable for indoor cultivation.

Indoor Flower and Plant Growing and Care Knowledge for Spring in the North

Photo by reporter Jia Chenglong

March 18 news from China Landscape Web: In March in the north, it is warm yet still cold, and residents who enjoy indoor planting begin to get busy, carefully cultivating beautiful flowers and plants on their balconies. Next, here is a summary of flower and plant care knowledge for friends who love planting.

Bromeliad Family and genus: Bromeliaceae Bromelia; flower meaning: the bromeliad flower represents perfection.

Care method: It likes a high-temperature, humid, semi-shaded environment. It is suitable to place it indoors in a warm spot. It is not tolerant of drought and needs watering once every 3 to 4 days to keep the soil moist.

Narcissus Family and genus: Amaryllidaceae Narcissus; flower meaning: the narcissus flower symbolizes longing and represents reunion.

Care method: It likes warmth and humidity, and also requires good drainage. During the growing period it likes fertilizer and water; if it lacks water, its growth will be poor. In the late growth stage it needs to be fully dried, otherwise bud differentiation will be affected.

Cyclamen Family and genus: Myrsinaceae Cyclamen; flower meaning: innocence and welcoming guests.

Care method: It likes a cool, humid environment with plenty of sunlight. The suitable growing temperature is 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is 70% to 75%; during the winter flowering period the temperature must not be lower than 10 degrees Celsius.

Phalaenopsis Family and genus: Orchidaceae Phalaenopsis; flower meaning: I love you, and happiness is flying to you.

Care method: The roots must not remain overly damp and shaded for a long time. The daily watering amount should be such that it can dry naturally by the end of the day, alternating between dry and moist. In winter, water less, only keeping the medium slightly moist.

Cymbidium Family and genus: Orchidaceae Cymbidium; flower meaning: abundance and peace, noble and elegant.

Care method: Cymbidium likes light, and the potting soil is best kept on the dry side. It grows best at 10 to 20 degrees Celsius. In winter, water once every 3 to 5 days.

Golden barrel cactus Family and genus: Cactaceae Echinocactus; flower meaning: confidence and boldness.

Care method: It likes calcareous soil, likes dryness, likes warmth, likes sun, requires plenty of sunlight, fears cold, and avoids moisture. The suitable growing temperature is 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 10 to 13 degrees Celsius at night.

Anthurium Family and genus: Araceae Anthurium; flower meaning: great prospects, passion, and warm blood.

Care method: It likes a warm, hot, and humid environment with good drainage. The most suitable temperature is 14 to 32 degrees Celsius. It is not tolerant of drought and needs watering once every 3 to 4 days to keep the soil moist.

Azalea Family and genus: Ericaceae Rhododendron; flower meaning: prosperity and strength, always belongs to you.

Care method: The azalea likes a cool, mild, humid, ventilated, semi-shaded environment. The suitable growing temperature is 12 to 25 degrees Celsius. It avoids scorching sun exposure and is suitable for growing under scattered light of low intensity.

Rieger begonia Family and genus: Begoniaceae Begonia; flower meaning: amiable and approachable.

Care method: Rieger begonia likes a warm, humid, well-ventilated cultivation environment. It should be placed under scattered light, and the soil should be kept moist.

Poinsettia Family and genus: Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia; flower meaning: blessing you, festive.

Care method: Poinsettia is not tolerant of drought, nor of waterlogging. Generally, watering should be done to the extent of keeping the potting soil moist without accumulating water. After flowering, watering should be reduced.

Chinese cymbidium Family and genus: Orchidaceae Cymbidium; flower meaning: beauty, noble purity, and virtue.

Care method: It likes shade and avoids strong light, likes warmth and avoids severe cold, likes moisture and avoids dryness. It cannot be placed in a spot with direct sunlight, and the soil should be kept moist.

Clivia Family and genus: Amaryllidaceae Clivia; flower meaning: nobility.

Care method: It likes a semi-shaded and humid environment and fears strong direct sunlight. The best growing temperature is between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius. If it is below 5 degrees Celsius or above 30 degrees Celsius, its growth will be inhibited. Clivia likes a ventilated environment and likes deep, fertile, loose soil, and is suitable for indoor cultivation.

Spring has come, common knowledge for spring flower care

Spring has come, the earth warms again, and all things revive. So what kinds of tips are there for caring for these main spring flowers?

Entering March, the weather grows warmer day by day, and spring in the north gradually arrives. As the weather warms, the flowers cultivated at home also shift from the dormant period to the budding growth period, and the flowers and plants that lay dormant for a winter begin to show vitality.

Spring is the best time for fertilizing, pruning, and propagating potted flowers. Seizing this time for proper care can make them flourish with abundant flowers and leaves throughout the year and grow more luxuriant day by day. Repotting and changing the soil is the best way to supplement fertilizer for potted flowers in spring. For varieties with strong cold resistance, such as five-needle pine, Chinese rose, pomegranate, chrysanthemum, and other flowering plants, once Start of Spring passes, the buds begin to stir, so repotting and changing the soil can be done earlier. For winter jasmine, camellia, clivia, and azalea that bloom in early spring, do not rush to repot them; this can be done after the flowers fade.

In addition, plants such as yellow orchid, jasmine, epiphyllum, hibiscus, milan, and sago palm should be repotted and have their soil changed in April. When moving from a small pot to a larger pot, the old soil around the roots of the flowers and plants should be retained (commonly known as "grandmother soil"). When repotting, dead roots, rotten roots, and overly dense roots should be trimmed away, and decomposed organic fertilizer should be mixed into the soil. Be careful not to let the roots directly touch the fertilizer, so as to avoid burning them. In early spring, flowers and plants have just awakened from dormancy and have not yet had time to absorb too much fertilizer and water. Too much fertilizer and water will damage the root system, so at this time fertilization should be done as little and often as possible, and no single fertilization should be too much. Do not fertilize newly repotted flowers and plants immediately either; wait until new roots grow, then apply dilute fertilizer water. (Flower-viewing plants can be given phosphorus-based fertilizer before and after budding to make the flower colors more vivid. Foliage plants can be given nitrogen-based fertilizer to make the leaves emerald green.)

By the same principle, watering flowers in early spring should not immediately be excessive either. It is best to follow the rule of not watering when not dry, and watering thoroughly when watering. Later, as the temperature rises, gradually increase the irrigation of fertilizer and water. Spring is even more a good time for pruning flowers and plants. To keep the posture of flowers and plants beautiful and promote lush growth, at this time you can boldly use scissors and cut away excess branches. For example, Chinese rose, chrysanthemum, azalea, Boston ivy, and rose should all have faded flowers and flower stalks cut off in this season to reduce nutrient consumption and increase sunlight exposure. In addition, the propagation of many flowers and plants is mostly carried out in spring. For example, azalea, jasmine, Chinese rose, hibiscus, geranium, crown of thorns, rose, and rubber tree are propagated by cutting healthy branches for cuttings. Some other plants propagated by seeds, such as mimosa, moss rose, large morning glory, and cyclamen, can be sown indoors in pots for breeding. After sowing the seeds and watering them, cover the mouth of the pot with plastic film and place it in the sunlight. After a period of time, the flower buds will break through the soil.

Narcissus - add a piece of aspirin

If the room temperature is below 7°C, you can add warm water in the morning and evening to force the flowers, or move it to a sunny spot. If it buds too early now, move it to a low-temperature place to control early flowering. When the flowers are in full bloom, adding a little salt can make the flowers last longer. However, when there are still flower buds about to open, salt must not be added, so as not to inhibit the buds from opening.

Tip: Put about one aspirin tablet into the water used for growing narcissus, and it can make the narcissus stout and luxuriant.

Lucky bamboo - change the water once a week

Lucky bamboo is an extremely shade-tolerant plant. Under weak light conditions, it still grows well, upright and strong. It can be placed indoors for a long time for foliage viewing, and does not need special care. As long as there is enough water, it can grow vigorously. Therefore, it is deeply favored by everyone. The room temperature is 18-24°C, and it can grow all year round. Below 13°C, the plant goes dormant and stops growing. When the temperature is too low, due to insufficient water absorption by the root system, yellow-brown patches will appear at the leaf tips and leaf margins. The minimum overwintering temperature should be above 10°C. At present, in winter, you may change the clean water about once a week as appropriate. During its growth and development, it needs to continuously absorb mineral nutrients, so fertilization is necessary. For water culture, when changing to new water, it is enough to appropriately add a few granules of "multi-element compound fertilizer."

Phalaenopsis - keep moist

According to a staff member of Huiyuan Flowers at Nanshan Market, Phalaenopsis is considered good when the leaves are glossy, thick and full, numerous, and neatly arranged. The best ones have fresh roots and newly sprouted roots, and they are generally graded by the number of flowers.

In cultivation, Phalaenopsis must strictly guard against low temperatures. It likes warmth and humidity. During the Spring Festival, it is best to place it in a warm room, pay attention to ventilation, and keep it moist.

Cymbidium - strictly guard against low temperatures

It is one of the popular New Year flowers this year. Among exotic orchids, its market price is the highest. In the care of Cymbidium, low temperatures must be strictly guarded against. Its fleshy roots are quite developed and have a strong ability to absorb water and fertilizer. It can be cultivated with leaf mold or a mixture of fern root, charcoal scraps, broken bricks, and the like. Its water requirement is greater than that of other orchid species, and the leaf surface should be sprayed multiple times. Only when the inside and outside of the leaves are moist can yellow leaves be prevented.

Azalea - do not water when not dry, and water thoroughly when watering

Azalea likes acidic soil and loves mild coolness. Do not water when the soil is not dry, and water thoroughly when watering. It is best to let the water and the azalea sit in the same temperature place to warm up, and use rainwater for irrigation. However, during the flowering period it is not suitable to water too much, so as to avoid bud drop and early withering. Usually, a light application of thin fertilizer is enough.

Polyscias - pay attention to ventilation and avoid exposure to the sun