How to plant common flowers and plants in summer? Detailed explanation of cultivation and management methods
Herbaceous flowers are a flower variety that everyone relatively likes, because these flowers generally have relatively small plants and large, brightly colored blooms. But generally herbaceous flowers are not very easy to grow, and some people even dare not grow them upon hearing they are herbaceous flowers, either feeling that growing them takes a lot of effort, or feeling that buying them home just to enjoy them for a few days before they die is not worth it. Especially in summer, when water evaporates heavily and the weather is hot, herbaceous flowers can easily dry out and die from the sun with the slightest neglect. How to care for and manage herbaceous flowers well in summer is a problem that troubles many flower lovers. Below are some of my humble views on some common herbaceous flowers.
Skullcap (moss rose)
Likes warmth, plenty of sunlight and dryness; maintain a certain amount of light and humidity; sandy soil with good drainage is most suitable; during the growing period it does not need frequent watering, water when the soil looks dry
Zinnia
Likes warmth, is not cold-tolerant, and fears intense summer heat; likes loose, fertile soil; when sowing, cover lightly with soil and place in a shaded spot; transplant immediately after true leaves grow. Pinch and prune in time. After planting, water thoroughly once, then water when the soil looks dry. Fears waterlogged environments.
Dwarf red snake's-eye chrysanthemum (peacock chrysanthemum)
Likes plenty of sunlight, has strong cold tolerance, is drought-tolerant, and tolerates poor soil. Easy to cultivate, likes a cool climate. Place in a spot with half shade and half sun and good ventilation; after sowing, be careful not to water too forcefully so as not to wash the seeds out. In summer's high temperatures, water promptly in the morning and evening.
French marigold
Likes sunlight, but can also bloom when planted in half shade; can be sown in all four seasons; the suitable germination temperature is 22-24°C; in high-temperature seasons, avoid direct sunlight and provide shade around noon to cool down. Keep moist during germination; during seedling growth, prevent excessively high humidity and water when the soil looks dry
Rosemary
By nature likes a warm climate and prefers a ventilated and cool environment; choose soil rich in sand; after transplanting, water thoroughly to settle the roots and prevent lodging. Less water and dry conditions, water when the soil looks dry
Globe amaranth
By nature likes sunlight and a hot, dry climate; suitable for growing in loose, fertile soil; at the seedling stage, avoid direct sunlight. After potting, it can grow in a sunny environment in 2-3 weeks. To encourage branching, pinch the tips repeatedly during the seedling stage. Once in the morning and once in the evening, not too much, and do not water at noon. Water less on cloudy and rainy days; when temperatures are high and evaporation is great, water more, and when watering, water thoroughly. But be careful to prevent water accumulation in the pot.
Scarlet sage
Likes warmth and a sunny environment. Not cold-tolerant, tolerates half shade, avoids frost, snow and high temperatures, and fears waterlogging and alkaline soil. Apply sufficient base fertilizer in the pot, and begin applying topdressing when entering the vigorous growth period; applying twice a month can make the flowers bloom abundantly and extend the flowering period. The cultivation site must have plenty of sunlight; if light is insufficient, the plant tends to become leggy. In the early growth stage, do not water too much; watering once every two days is fine to avoid yellowing and falling leaves. When entering the vigorous growth period, the amount of watering can be appropriately increased.
Petunia
Likes warmth and a sunny environment. Not frost-tolerant, fears rain and waterlogging; during the growing period it requires plenty of sunlight. The soil should be loose, fertile sandy loam. When cultivating in summer, apply thin fertilizer frequently during the early growth of young seedlings, choosing fertilizer with high nitrogen and potassium content and appropriately lower phosphorus. Watering always follows the principle of not watering until dry, and watering thoroughly when watering
Summer cypress (kochia)
Likes sunlight, is drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant, poor-soil-tolerant and salt-alkali-tolerant, but is not cold-tolerant and not shade-tolerant; fertile, loose loam rich in humus helps summer cypress grow vigorously; during the growing period, water once every 7-10 days
Rehmannia
Chrysanthemum likes light and fertilizer, is relatively heat-tolerant; a sunny environment and the provision of fertile, loose soil containing humus can promote robust plants and abundant blooms; watering always follows the principle of not watering until dry, and watering thoroughly when watering
Garden balsam (henna)
Likes sunlight, fears moisture, is heat-tolerant but not cold-tolerant, and tolerates poor soil; suitable for growing in loose, fertile, slightly acidic soil. In summer, provide shade to prevent excessively high temperatures and scorching sun exposure. The suitable growth temperature is 16-26°C, and the environmental temperature during the flowering period should be kept above 10°C. In winter, it should be moved into a greenhouse to prevent freezing; during the growing season, water once a day, and in hot summer, water twice a day; pay attention to drainage on rainy days; in short, do not let the pot soil dry out or become waterlogged
Wishbone flower (bluewings)
Likes light, tolerates half shade, tolerates high temperature and high humidity, but is not cold-tolerant; suitable for growing in moist loam with good drainage. The suitable growth temperature is 18°C-21°C, the winter temperature should not be lower than 5°C, and the summer temperature should not exceed 28°C. It is sensitive to light; when light is insufficient, the plant grows weakly and blooms little, but it avoids direct sunlight; in summer, keep the soil moist regularly, and in high-temperature seasons with high evaporation, water once in the morning and once in the evening to prevent the plant from wilting
Summer flower cultivation and management methods
Summer is hot and rainy with plenty of sunlight; it is the peak growing season for some flowers, while other flowers are in a dormant period. To help flowers pass through this stage smoothly, management should be strengthened in aspects such as watering, shading, and pest and disease control.
General care measures - watering: Summer's high temperatures and intense sunlight greatly accelerate the transpiration of water from potted flowers, making drought very likely. Therefore, reasonable watering of potted flowers in summer is especially important.
At noon in summer, the temperature of the pot soil is relatively high and the roots absorb water relatively quickly. If cold water is poured at this time, the pot soil temperature will drop suddenly, affecting the normal function of the root system; the roots will have difficulty absorbing water, disrupting the balance of the plant's water metabolism and instead causing the plant to wilt and affecting growth. Therefore, watering potted flowers in summer should be done in the morning or evening. Generally do not water when the pot soil is not dry; when it is dry, water thoroughly, and never water only half of the pot soil. If watering is often not thorough, it will cause poor aeration of the pot soil, directly affecting the normal physiological activity of the root system, and in severe cases can lead to root rot. In summer, pot soil often cracks due to being too dry, so watering cannot be completed all at once; otherwise water will leak straight through the soil cracks to the bottom of the pot, while most of the pot soil remains very dry, and the next day the plant will still be severely short of water, causing wilting. Therefore, generally after the first watering, wait a moment for the pot soil to swell and loosen, and after the soil cracks close, water once more.
When potted flowers wilt, first move the wilted plant to a wind-protected, shady place, spray a small amount of water on the leaves and pot soil, and after the plant has somewhat recovered, water thoroughly.
Fertilizing: In high-temperature seasons, apart from vigorously growing flowers such as jasmine and Chinese rose, it is generally not advisable to fertilize, especially for azaleas entering semi-dormancy, as well as bulbous flowers such as cyclamen and freesia.
Shading: For some half-shade and shade-loving flowers, high temperatures and direct sunlight must be strictly avoided in summer. Shading measures should be taken, and water should be sprayed to lower the temperature. Even for extremely drought-tolerant plants such as cacti, when the temperature exceeds 38°C, there is still a risk of sunburn. Summer often has many rainstorms; after the pot soil becomes waterlogged, nutrients are easily lost, so after rain the pot should be tilted to let the rainwater run off.
Pest and disease control: The stuffy, hot summer is a season with a high incidence of pests and diseases. Promptly remove diseased branches and dead leaves, supplemented by chemical control.
Orchid shading - Orchids are half-shade flowers, so in midsummer they should be properly shaded and kept away from strong light. It is best to use a shade net for shading, and place the orchids in a spot near water or with fresh air and good ventilation.
Fertilizing should follow the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently. It should be determined according to the orchid variety, whether the weather is sunny or cloudy, the temperature level, and the growth vigor of the plant. Under normal circumstances, in summer apply nitrogen and potassium fertilizer to Cymbidium goeringii; apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to sword-leaf orchids; and no fertilizer at all may be applied to Cymbidium kanran. In addition, do not fertilize weak plants on cloudy days or when the temperature is too high.
Watering - Although orchids have fleshy roots, in summer with strong light and high temperatures their water requirements increase relatively, and sufficient water must be ensured. In addition to normal watering, spray the leaves at noon to increase humidity.
Spraying chemicals - Orchids are prone to anthracnose during the plum rain and high-temperature seasons. In addition to improving ventilation and light conditions, timely control should be carried out when disease occurs. Spray Bordeaux mixture or thiophanate-methyl once every 10 days to control leaf anthracnose; spray 40% omethoate and dicofol once every half month to kill scale insects and mite pests.
Protection from rain - Summer is windy and rainy, especially with rainstorms, which will not only break orchid leaves but also splash bacteria-laden soil from the pot surface onto the orchid heart or orchid leaves, leading to brown spot disease in orchid plants. Therefore, appropriate rain protection is needed when heavy rain occurs.
Pruning - Orchid leaves that have been damaged by pests should be cut off promptly to prevent transmission to other orchid plants. At the same time, orchids that bloom in summer should also have their faded flowers and dead leaves cut off to avoid consuming too many nutrients.
Wax begonia - The suitable temperature for the growth and flowering of wax begonia is around 23°C. In summer it likes a half-shade, cool and well-ventilated environment, and avoids high temperatures, waterlogging and direct strong light. When caring for it in summer, one must follow its "temperament."
Shading and ventilation - Adjust the light duration to create an environment suited to its growth. It should be shaded. Plants grown indoors should be placed in a spot with scattered light and air circulation, and windows should be opened at night for ventilation and air exchange.
Moderate watering - Wax begonia likes a moist environment, but in the hot summer it is better to keep the pot soil slightly moist. Do not fix watering to several times a day or once every few days; instead, always observe the dry and wet condition of the pot soil, and water when the pot soil looks pale; the amount of water should not be too much. The best watering time is around 9:00 in the morning; as much as possible, do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when watering, but do not wait until it is completely dry before watering.
Fertilizing by category - Summer fertilizing of wax begonia should be treated differently according to new and old plants. For new plants propagated in the previous autumn, after each flush of flowers apply some thoroughly decomposed, thin cake fertilizer water, with a fertilizer-to-water ratio of 1:5, once a week, applying twice in a row, and after 2 weeks they can bloom again. For perennial old plants or weak-growing plants, when the temperature is above 25°C, fertilization must be stopped, and fertilizing resumed after the dog days are over, to welcome the second peak flowering season.
Lowering temperature and increasing humidity - Sprinkle water around the plant and on the ground several times a day to lower the temperature and increase air humidity. If conditions permit, a sand bed can be set up in a corner of the balcony or a corner of the courtyard, placing the plant on the sand surface, and while watering the plant, also wet the sand, which can play a good role in cooling and humidifying.
Disease and pest control - Under conditions of high temperature and high humidity, wax begonia is highly prone to bacterial spot disease. At first, dark brown spots appear on the leaf surface and gradually spread into dark brown concentric rings. Before onset, Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed for prevention, and attention should be paid to improving cultivation conditions and management methods. In the early stage of onset, promptly remove and burn diseased leaves to prevent further spread. Summer is a period of high incidence of aphids and red spider mites, and non-polluting pesticides should be used promptly for control.
Clivia - Reduce fertilizer amount; too much fertilizer will make the roots unable to absorb it. This causes the fertilizer to ferment and generate high temperatures, burning Clivia's roots.
Control light - Around June each year, adjust the sun-facing side once to ensure the leaves grow evenly and neatly. In midsummer, let Clivia receive 2 hours of morning light every day.
Ventilation and cooling - In summer, special attention should be paid to placing Clivia above a water pond or water basin.
Proper watering - Although the amount of watering in summer is greater than in other seasons, the principle of "do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when watering" should still be adhered to. When watering, be careful not to let water run into the leaf heart, otherwise the leaves are prone to rot.
Chinese rose - The reason potted Chinese roses die in summer is mostly because the pot soil was not mixed well, the pot was not repotted and the soil not changed in spring, and the nutrients in the original pot soil were largely exhausted. In this way, the Chinese rose cannot withstand the high temperature and dies. Chinese roses are almost in a semi-dormant state during the high-temperature summer season. Some growers, seeing that the Chinese rose does not bloom or blooms little, think it is due to insufficient fertility, and therefore apply more fertilizer and concentrated fertilizer. Coupled with the high summer temperatures accelerating fertilizer fermentation, the Chinese rose's root system will be burned.
Repotting and changing soil - After changing the soil, place it in a cool place for about a week before carrying out normal cultivation. Remove the compacted soil and replace it with loose potting soil.
Controlling fertilization - Apply a dilute fertilizer solution once every 15 to 20 days, and increase the fertilizer amount in late summer. For Chinese roses that have already shown signs of dying, immediately wash the roots and change the soil, cut off some branches, and place them in a cool place for care.
In addition, in summer, spray water on the leaves of Chinese roses more often; watering should be done in the morning and evening; the branches should not be heavily pruned; also pay attention to preventing pests and strengthen light and ventilation.
Azalea cooling - Create a ventilated and cool environment for the flowers. It is best to place them in a ventilated, shady spot indoors or outdoors and let them breathe fresh air.
Moisture retention - First, persist in spraying water on the leaves 4 to 5 times a day. At the same time, during the day, place a basin of water under the flowerpot, set up on wooden strips so that the flowerpot sits above the water basin; in this way, with the help of high-temperature evaporation, the water can create the air humidity needed when azaleas bloom.
Light exposure - The petal growth of azaleas is often inversely proportional to light; especially for flowers blooming in high-temperature seasons, upon seeing even a little strong light, the petals will wither. Yet as far as plant growth is concerned, they cannot go without sunlight. To solve this problem, persist in placing the flowers on the balcony from 5:30 to 7:30 every morning to receive light, so as to meet the needs of plant growth.
Supplementing nutrients - When azaleas bloom, one should neither supplement nutrients heavily nor fail to supplement nutrients at all, and especially in high-temperature seasons one must be even more cautious. Spray a tiny amount of monopotassium phosphate solution on the leaves once a week. In addition, using watermelon juice to spray the leaves and water the roots has a good effect.
Summer flower cultivation and management methods
News from the China Landscape Web on July 15: Summer is hot and rainy with plenty of sunlight; it is the peak growing season for some flowers, while other flowers are in a dormant period. To help flowers pass through this stage smoothly, management should be strengthened in aspects such as watering, shading, and pest and disease control.
General care measures - watering: Summer's high temperatures and intense sunlight greatly accelerate the transpiration of water from potted flowers, making drought very likely. Therefore, reasonable watering of potted flowers in summer is especially important.
At noon in summer, the temperature of the pot soil is relatively high and the roots absorb water relatively quickly. If cold water is poured at this time, the pot soil temperature will drop suddenly, affecting the normal function of the root system; the roots will have difficulty absorbing water, disrupting the balance of the plant's water metabolism and instead causing the plant to wilt and affecting growth. Therefore, watering potted flowers in summer should be done in the morning or evening. Generally do not water when the pot soil is not dry; when it is dry, water thoroughly, and never water only half of the pot soil. If watering is often not thorough, it will cause poor aeration of the pot soil, directly affecting the normal physiological activity of the root system, and in severe cases can lead to root rot. In summer, pot soil often cracks due to being too dry, so watering cannot be completed all at once; otherwise water will leak straight through the soil cracks to the bottom of the pot, while most of the pot soil remains very dry, and the next day the plant will still be severely short of water, causing wilting. Therefore, generally after the first watering, wait a moment for the pot soil to swell and loosen, and after the soil cracks close, water once more.
When potted flowers wilt, first move the wilted plant to a wind-protected, shady place, spray a small amount of water on the leaves and pot soil, and after the plant has somewhat recovered, water thoroughly.
Fertilizing: In high-temperature seasons, apart from vigorously growing flowers such as jasmine and Chinese rose, it is generally not advisable to fertilize, especially for azaleas entering semi-dormancy, as well as bulbous flowers such as cyclamen and freesia.
Shading: For some half-shade and shade-loving flowers, high temperatures and direct sunlight must be strictly avoided in summer. Shading measures should be taken, and water should be sprayed to lower the temperature. Even for extremely drought-tolerant plants such as cacti, when the temperature exceeds 38°C, there is still a risk of sunburn. Summer often has many rainstorms; after the pot soil becomes waterlogged, nutrients are easily lost, so after rain the pot should be tilted to let the rainwater run off.
Pest and disease control: The stuffy, hot summer is a season with a high incidence of pests and diseases. Promptly remove diseased branches and dead leaves, supplemented by chemical control.
Orchid shading - Orchids are half-shade flowers, so in midsummer they should be properly shaded and kept away from strong light. It is best to use a shade net for shading, and place the orchids in a spot near water or with fresh air and good ventilation.
Fertilizing should follow the principle of applying thin fertilizer frequently. It should be determined according to the orchid variety, whether the weather is sunny or cloudy, the temperature level, and the growth vigor of the plant. Under normal circumstances, in summer apply nitrogen and potassium fertilizer to Cymbidium goeringii; apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to sword-leaf orchids; and no fertilizer at all may be applied to Cymbidium kanran. In addition, do not fertilize weak plants on cloudy days or when the temperature is too high.
Watering - Although orchids have fleshy roots, in summer with strong light and high temperatures their water requirements increase relatively, and sufficient water must be ensured. In addition to normal watering, spray the leaves at noon to increase humidity.
Spraying chemicals - Orchids are prone to anthracnose during the plum rain and high-temperature seasons. In addition to improving ventilation and light conditions, timely control should be carried out when disease occurs. Spray Bordeaux mixture or thiophanate-methyl once every 10 days to control leaf anthracnose; spray 40% omethoate and dicofol once every half month to kill scale insects and mite pests.
Protection from rain - Summer is windy and rainy, especially with rainstorms, which will not only break orchid leaves but also splash bacteria-laden soil from the pot surface onto the orchid heart or orchid leaves, leading to brown spot disease in orchid plants. Therefore, appropriate rain protection is needed when heavy rain occurs.
Pruning - Orchid leaves that have been damaged by pests should be cut off promptly to prevent transmission to other orchid plants. At the same time, orchids that bloom in summer should also have their faded flowers and dead leaves cut off to avoid consuming too many nutrients.
Wax begonia - The suitable temperature for the growth and flowering of wax begonia is around 23°C. In summer it likes a half-shade, cool and well-ventilated environment, and avoids high temperatures, waterlogging and direct strong light. When caring for it in summer, one must follow its "temperament."
Shading and ventilation - Adjust the light duration to create an environment suited to its growth. It should be shaded. Plants grown indoors should be placed in a spot with scattered light and air circulation, and windows should be opened at night for ventilation and air exchange.
Moderate watering - Wax begonia likes a moist environment, but in the hot summer it is better to keep the pot soil slightly moist. Do not fix watering to several times a day or once every few days; instead, always observe the dry and wet condition of the pot soil, and water when the pot soil looks pale; the amount of water should not be too much. The best watering time is around 9:00 in the morning; as much as possible, do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when watering, but do not wait until it is completely dry before watering.
Fertilizing by category - Summer fertilizing of wax begonia should be treated differently according to new and old plants. For new plants propagated in the previous autumn, after each flush of flowers apply some thoroughly decomposed, thin cake fertilizer water, with a fertilizer-to-water ratio of 1:5, once a week, applying twice in a row, and after 2 weeks they can bloom again. For perennial old plants or weak-growing plants, when the temperature is above 25°C, fertilization must be stopped, and fertilizing resumed after the dog days are over, to welcome the second peak flowering season.
Lowering temperature and increasing humidity - Sprinkle water around the plant and on the ground several times a day to lower the temperature and increase air humidity. If conditions permit, a sand bed can be set up in a corner of the balcony or a corner of the courtyard, placing the plant on the sand surface, and while watering the plant, also wet the sand, which can play a good role in cooling and humidifying.
Disease and pest control - Under conditions of high temperature and high humidity, wax begonia is highly prone to bacterial spot disease. At first, dark brown spots appear on the leaf surface and gradually spread into dark brown concentric rings. Before onset, Bordeaux mixture can be sprayed for prevention, and attention should be paid to improving cultivation conditions and management methods. In the early stage of onset, promptly remove and burn diseased leaves to prevent further spread. Summer is a period of high incidence of aphids and red spider mites, and non-polluting pesticides should be used promptly for control.
Clivia - Reduce fertilizer amount; too much fertilizer will make the roots unable to absorb it. This causes the fertilizer to ferment and generate high temperatures, burning Clivia's roots.
Control light - Around June each year, adjust the sun-facing side once to ensure the leaves grow evenly and neatly. In midsummer, let Clivia receive 2 hours of morning light every day.
Ventilation and cooling - In summer, special attention should be paid to placing Clivia above a water pond or water basin.
Proper watering - Although the amount of watering in summer is greater than in other seasons, the principle of "do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when watering" should still be adhered to. When watering, be careful not to let water run into the leaf heart, otherwise the leaves are prone to rot.
Chinese rose - The reason potted Chinese roses die in summer is mostly because the pot soil was not mixed well, the pot was not repotted and the soil not changed in spring, and the nutrients in the original pot soil were largely exhausted. In this way, the Chinese rose cannot withstand the high temperature and dies. Chinese roses are almost in a semi-dormant state during the high-temperature summer season. Some growers, seeing that the Chinese rose does not bloom or blooms little, think it is due to insufficient fertility, and therefore apply more fertilizer and concentrated fertilizer. Coupled with the high summer temperatures accelerating fertilizer fermentation, the Chinese rose's root system will be burned.
Repotting and changing soil - After changing the soil, place it in a cool place for about a week before carrying out normal cultivation. Remove the compacted soil and replace it with loose potting soil.
Controlling fertilization - Apply a dilute fertilizer solution once every 15 to 20 days, and increase the fertilizer amount in late summer. For Chinese roses that have already shown signs of dying, immediately wash the roots and change the soil, cut off some branches, and place them in a cool place for care.
In addition, in summer, spray water on the leaves of Chinese roses more often; watering should be done in the morning and evening; the branches should not be heavily pruned; also pay attention to preventing pests and strengthen light and ventilation.
Azalea cooling - Create a ventilated and cool environment for the flowers. It is best to place them in a ventilated, shady spot indoors or outdoors and let them breathe fresh air.
Moisture retention - First, persist in spraying water on the leaves 4 to 5 times a day. At the same time, during the day, place a basin of water under the flowerpot, set up on wooden strips so that the flowerpot sits above the water basin; in this way, with the help of high-temperature evaporation, the water can create the air humidity needed when azaleas bloom.
Light exposure - The petal growth of azaleas is often inversely proportional to light; especially for flowers blooming in high-temperature seasons, upon seeing even a little strong light, the petals will wither. Yet as far as plant growth is concerned, they cannot go without sunlight. To solve this problem, persist in placing the flowers on the balcony from 5:30 to 7:30 every morning to receive light, so as to meet the needs of plant growth.
Supplementing nutrients - When azaleas bloom, one should neither supplement nutrients heavily nor fail to supplement nutrients at all, and especially in high-temperature seasons one must be even more cautious. Spray a tiny amount of monopotassium phosphate solution on the leaves once a week. In addition, using watermelon juice to spray the leaves and water the roots has a good effect.