There's an art to caring for flowers after the Start of Autumn, and these points deserve close attention

Every change of season means a new test for flower lovers. The solar terms and seasonal winds are just that remarkable: we were only just discussing how to get plants safely through summer and how to screen out harsh direct sunlight in summer, and in the blink of an eye it is time to move the pots outside to bask in the sun.

As autumn arrives, our approach to caring for flowers needs new adjustments too. We have put together the following points:

1. Give light-loving plants more sun

As the saying goes, "each autumn rain brings a layer of chill." After the Start of Autumn, daylight grows shorter, temperatures drop, and the sun is nowhere near as fierce as in summer. Light-loving potted plants no longer need to hide from direct sunlight all day long; you can start moving them out of the house and take down the shade netting.

If they do not get enough sunlight after the Start of Autumn, photosynthesis falls short, the plant's ability to transport and absorb nutrients is limited, and this can easily affect how robust the plant is as well as its flowering time and flower quality.

For example: jasmine no less than 4 hours, crab claw orchid (Schlumbergera truncata) 8 hours, chrysanthemum no more than 10 hours, osmanthus 6-8 hours, Chinese rose at least 4 hours, and so on.

2. Watering strategy needs to change

Summer temperatures are high, so watering is generally increased and must be done in the evening or early morning. After autumn arrives, temperatures drop, the taboo on watering at noon is gradually broken, and the potting soil no longer dries out as fast as it did last month, because with high temperatures causing rapid transpiration, the extra water added can now be reduced.

In autumn, the best time to water is in the morning on a sunny day, because the temperature difference between day and night grows larger and evening is not suitable.

Some flowers that are in their growing period still need a sufficient water supply, for example: azalea, camellia, osmanthus, and so on.

For plants preparing to bloom in autumn, some need less water during flower bud differentiation to prevent bud drop, while others need to be kept moist to ensure flowering. For example, Cymbidium goeringii and clivia need controlled watering right now.

3. Increase fertilizer for flowers entering their growing season

Summer temperatures are high, and many flowers enter dormancy or semi-dormancy, so it is best to avoid fertilizing as much as possible. If fertilizer is applied improperly, the plant cannot handle absorbing it, and the roots are easily burned, damaging the plant's health.

Autumn is a period of vigorous growth for many flowers. During the growth stage, plants use up nutrients and fertilizer faster, and if these are not replenished in time, it will affect the plant's healthy development, slowing growth and making the flowers and leaves less attractive.

Flowers that enter their growing season in autumn and need more fertilizer include: azalea, camellia, chrysanthemum, Chinese rose, geranium, and so on.

4. Clear out pests and diseases before bringing flowers indoors

Autumn is also a season with a high incidence of pests and diseases. Which diseases are prone to appear in autumn?

Pests and diseases that have already occurred on autumn flowers: leaf spot, black spot, anthracnose, fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, scale insects, aphids, thrips, longhorn beetles, whiteflies, red spider mites, nematodes, and so on.

These problems must be dealt with promptly; if handled poorly, they can easily affect the plant's health through the winter.

Even when there are no pests or diseases, preventive measures should be taken in good time; you can spray Bordeaux mixture and chlorothalonil as a preventive measure.

5. Repotting in autumn

Repotting can improve the soil structure and conditions for the plant, increase organic matter and the nutrients necessary for continued growth, and also allow the roots to be cleaned up in time so they are healthier and better able to spread.

If you do not repot in time, the soil nutrients are exhausted, the plant's growth cannot be guaranteed, and the roots cannot spread, leading to all kinds of problems such as yellow leaves, weakness and disease, and few flowers.

There are also flowers that are unhealthy due to pests, diseases, root rot and various other problems; you wanted to repot them but did not dare to do it in summer. Once autumn arrives, repot the ones that need it as soon as possible.

Potted plants best suited to autumn repotting include geranium, cyclamen and calla lily; clivia, spider plant and succulents can also be repotted in autumn.

6. Propagation and cuttings: make arrangements promptly after the Start of Autumn

From the Start of Autumn onward, temperatures drop but are not cold, so the sowing of many herbaceous flowers and the cuttings of some woody flowers can all be arranged as soon as possible.

For example, geranium is well suited to cuttings in autumn, as are ivy, mint, Rieger begonia, Aglaia odorata, chrysanthemum, and so on.

Flowers that can be sown in August include: petunia, salvia, nasturtium, oxalis, phlox, peony, and so on.

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