How to care for and manage flowers during their winter dormancy?
In winter, some flowers often go through a process of dormancy or semi-dormancy. At this time, the plant's water content decreases, stored substances increase, metabolic activity weakens, and the exchange of substances with the outside world slows down. In view of these characteristics, the daily management of winter-dormant flowers is somewhat different from that during the growing season, and the following points should be done well:
1. Pay attention to room temperature: During the dormancy period of flowers, avoid excessively high room temperature, otherwise it will affect the plant's normal dormancy, leading to excessive consumption of nutrients, affecting growth and flowering the following year, and in severe cases causing death. For common flowers such as white orchid (Michelia alba), azalea, osmanthus, and orange, keeping the room temperature above 5°C is enough for them to overwinter, with 8-12°C being optimal; for banana shrub (Michelia figo), Aglaia odorata, jasmine, and Chinese hibiscus, a room temperature of 10-15°C is suitable; for winter jasmine, oleander, Chinese rose, fig, pomegranate, and conifers, high temperatures are even less suitable, and a room temperature not lower than 0°C allows them to overwinter safely.
2. Control water and fertilizer: For flowers entering dormancy, the supply of water and fertilizer must be strictly controlled. Too much watering can easily cause root rot and yellowing and dropping of leaves. Therefore, except for varieties that grow and bloom in winter and spring, such as cineraria, cyclamen, calla lily, fuchsia, and orchid cactus, which can continue to be supplied with water as needed, all flowers entering dormancy should have watering controlled, such as banana shrub and jasmine; especially shade-tolerant or fleshy-rooted varieties, such as Chinese evergreen, Monstera deliciosa, sago palm, and orchids, whose potting soil should be slightly drier than in summer and autumn; others such as certain cacti should have watering even more restricted, as long as the soil does not dry out completely. In addition, dormant flowers should be given little or no fertilizer, so as to avoid prematurely stimulating new shoots, which would affect flowering the following year or make them suffer frost damage.
3. Shaping and pruning: For some flowers dormant in winter, when early spring growth is about to begin, shaping can be combined with cutting off leggy branches, thin and weak branches, diseased and pest-infested branches, and overly dense branches, so as to improve ventilation and light penetration, concentrate nutrients, and develop more and fuller flower buds. For some varieties, such as jasmine, the branches can be left at 20-25 cm and the rest cut off; overly old branches can be cut off from the base to stimulate the growth of robust new branches. Azaleas and camellias generally do not need major pruning; merely cutting off a portion of overly dense and overly long branches in moderation is enough.
4. Prevent pollution: When potted flowers are placed indoors for too long, a lot of soot and dust often accumulates on the leaf surface, which easily pollutes the leaves. In the early stage, dark brown mold spots appear on the surface of flowers and leaves, and over time, a black soot-like layer forms, affecting the plant's photosynthesis and at the same time causing slow growth and disease in the flowers. Therefore, when growing flowers indoors, especially in rooms heated by coal fires, attention should be paid to preventing soot and dust pollution, and the floating dust on the leaf surface should often be rinsed off with water close to room temperature.
How to care for flowers during dormancy
How to care for flowers during dormancy
For flowers dormant in winter, the winter temperatures in their places of origin are also very low, so their habits should be followed by letting them go dormant, while stopping fertilization and reducing watering. Only after dormancy will growth in the second year be normal. If the winter temperature is too high, it is instead detrimental to the second year's growth of some plants.
For flowers dormant in summer, in addition to stopping fertilization, controlling watering, and protecting from rain, cooling measures such as shading, spraying water, and enhancing ventilation should also be taken, so that summer-dormant flowers and trees can pass the summer safely.
How should flowers be cared for in winter?
As the cold winter arrives, plant lovers' flowers and plants receive more and more attention day by day. To care for and manage flowers and plants well in winter, different management measures must be taken according to the characteristics of different orchid varieties.As the temperature drops, even cold-tolerant flowers need measures to protect against the cold and get through winter, let alone the fact that most flowers and green plants are not cold-tolerant. So how flowers should be cared for in winter is one of the worries of every flower lover. Below are some points to note on how to grow flowers in winter.
How should flowers be cared for in winter?
Keep flowers warm
Flowers and plants can be kept warm by the following methods:
1. Splash water on the floor
Winter weather is relatively dry. Splashing some clean water indoors not only maintains a certain air humidity, but can also raise the indoor temperature by 1°C-2°C.
2. A square-shaped environment
A room with a square floor plan has the best heat retention, so it is best to place flowers and plants in a square room.
How should flowers be cared for in winter?
3. Warmth and ventilation
Doors and windows that are not opened should best be sealed with cloth strips, and warm curtains hung over the glass at night. While sealing the window gaps, nail transparent plastic film onto the outdoor window frames, so that by adding a new air insulation layer, the room will not be dimmed and the room temperature can be raised by 3°C-5°C.
4. Clever use of warm colors
Ingeniously use warm colors to decorate the room in winter.
5. Clever use of plastic wrap to retain heat
For families with floor-to-ceiling windows, glass insulation film can be pasted on and insulation coating applied to retain heat.
How should flowers be cared for in winter?
How to fertilize flowers in winter
Winter fertilization varies according to the flower variety. Potted flowers in a dormant state do not need additional fertilizer in winter. However, these potted plants must be repotted in winter, with a one-time sufficient application of base fertilizer.
Foliage potted plants
In winter, an appropriate amount of compound fertilizer and ferrous sulfate can be applied. Apply a liquid fertilizer of about 3% once a month. Flower-viewing potted plants should be given more phosphorus and potassium fertilizer in winter, and a 2%-3% liquid potassium dihydrogen phosphate etc. can be watered on.
Fruit-viewing potted plants
In winter, more phosphorus fertilizer should be applied, with a certain amount of solid superphosphate etc. applied around them.
How should flowers be cared for in winter?
Watering flowers in winter
Winter is cold and dry, which easily causes plants to become diseased and damaged. To help plants get through winter smoothly, in addition to ensuring sunlight and warmth, watering also requires special attention. In winter, most flowers enter dormancy or semi-dormancy, so watering plants in winter is different from other seasons.
When watering flowers in winter, be sure to remember the following three points:
1. Do not water in the evening in winter; it is best to water at noon.
2. If the potting soil is not dry, do not water. Too much watering easily causes root rot.
3. Tap water should be stored in a container and used after being exposed to the sun for one or two days. Make sure the difference between the water temperature and room temperature is not too large, and this can also reduce the chlorine content in the tap water.
How should indoor potted flowers be positioned?
Consider the position of potted flowers after they are brought indoors according to the characteristics of various flowers. Generally speaking, winter has short daylight hours, which is not conducive to flower growth, so potted flowers should be placed indoors in a wind-protected, sunny place to avoid cold wind. Flowers that like sunlight and high temperatures should be placed near windowsills or other sunny places. Flowers that are dormant or like sunlight but tolerate low temperatures should be placed in places with diffused light. Flowers with low light requirements or flowers tolerant of low temperatures should be placed a little farther from the windows.
How should flowers be cared for in winter?
Summary:
What should be noted in winter flower care
1. Pay attention to warmth
The vast majority of flowers should be brought indoors before Frost's Descent. For warmth-loving flowers and trees, they should be moved indoors when the temperature drops to 10 degrees.
2. Pay attention to ventilation
Potted flowers should be ventilated; when the temperature is relatively high at noon, ventilation can be used to dissipate heat. Flowers should be placed in a sunny place so that they receive sufficient sunlight.
3. Control watering
In winter, plants evaporate less water, so there is no need to water frequently. It is best to choose noon as the time for watering in winter.
How should flowers be cared for in winter?
4. Control of fertilization
Fertilization varies by variety. For most foliage plants, nitrogen fertilizer should be stopped, and some low-concentration potassium fertilizer should be applied appropriately to increase the cold resistance of the flowers. For ordinary flowers, applying one thin application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer is enough for them to get through winter smoothly.
5. Shaping and pruning
Potted flowers moved indoors should be pruned in late autumn to reduce the plant's nutrient consumption in winter and promote the storage of more nutrients in the potted flowers. Cut off waste branches such as thin and weak branches and diseased and pest-infested branches; leggy branches can be shortened; for bonsai that have already been shaped, the binding materials should be removed.
6. Prevent and control pests and diseases
The main diseases that home-grown flowers and trees are susceptible to are leaf spot disease and rot disease, etc. The main pests are whiteflies, red spiders, aphids, scale insects, and other pests. Therefore, before flowers get through winter, cut off dead branches and diseased and pest-infested branches. In the first week after bringing them indoors, it is best to open the windows for ventilation.