What kind of growing environment is suitable for Calceolaria?

Calceolaria is also known as the pocketbook flower. Its flower shape is unusual: the corolla has two lips, resembling two swollen pouch-like structures, with the small upper lip extending forward like a lid and the large, swollen lower lip like a pouch. When the flowers are in full bloom, the entire plant is covered with strings of small lotus-like flowers, which is why it is also called the pocketbook flower. There are many varieties of Calceolaria, with vivid colors including yellow, pale yellow, milky white, purple and orange-red, and the petals are marked with spots and markings in orange-red, purplish red and dark brown.

Suitable growing environment for Calceolaria:

1. The potting soil should be a loose, fertile growing medium with good air permeability and good drainage. Generally, 40% leaf mold and 40% garden soil can be mixed evenly with 20% river sand, plus a small amount of bone meal as a base fertilizer. The growing medium must be strictly sterilized at high temperature before use. If some charcoal powder can be mixed into the growing medium when preparing it, it can enhance the disease resistance of the root system and prevent pathogens from infecting the plant.

2. Calceolaria likes a cool environment. If the weather is hot and stuffy, and the potting soil is too wet, the basal leaves are easily rotted, so at noon when the sunlight is intense it should be moved to a ventilated, cool place. During the seedling growth period, especially after flowering and during seed ripening, even more attention should be paid to ventilation, and the strong midday light should be shaded to help the seeds ripen.

3. The optimum growth temperature for Calceolaria is 13-15 degrees. If the temperature can be lowered to about 8 degrees when it is flowering, the flowering period can be extended.

What flowers are suitable for planting in spring, ornamental plants suitable for growing in spring

Spring is a very suitable season for planting flowers. Below, Xuexila editor introduces several flowers that are both beautiful and easy to grow.
Isn't it a very interesting thing to plant a beautiful pot of flowers in spring? Spring has arrived, and which flowers are suitable for planting at the beginning of spring? Today, the editor of Huahui Potted Plant Network brings you an article about what green plants are suitable for planting at the beginning of spring. Flower lovers who like them, come and take a look.

Planting “primrose” is also a good choice. The flowers of primrose look very beautiful, and also give a brilliant feeling, with vivid colors and charming beauty.

In spring, primrose is exactly very suitable; even the name says so. It grows easily and is easy to care for.

It is suitable for planting in a moist environment with a cool climate and good drainage.

Geranium has strong adaptability, vivid flower colors and a long flowering period. It is suitable for indoor placement, flowerbed arrangement and so on.

This one is best planted on the balcony; it is very beautiful, and spring is exactly the time to start planting it.

It has many flower colors, a light fragrance, and is a very easy-to-care-for flower. Planted in spring, it sprouts quickly, and its meaning is very good too. Let life be full of sunshine.

Potted plants beautify the living room, balcony and windowsill. The stems and hanging tendrils trail outside the pot. They open toward the sun, like brocade and embroidery, most abundant at noon, each flower straining to open, fully enjoying the warmth given by the sun, adding infinite charm and a unique style to the room.

Spring rain is very abundant, which is exactly suitable for the growth of Calceolaria. When the sun appears, this flower begins to bloom.

Leaf by leaf, they spiral around in sequence, looking very delicate and very beautiful. When it blooms, it is even more beautiful and charming.

It is said to be very auspicious; in many places pomegranate flowers are used as an auspicious flower of the season. Planted on the balcony, it can grow very well without much watering.

Echeveria does not need too much water. It likes sunlight; placed in a sunny spot, its flowers open more easily.

Known as the queen of flowers, also called “Yueyuehong”, it is an evergreen or semi-evergreen low shrub that blooms in all four seasons.

Generally red, or pink, occasionally white and yellow. It can be used as an ornamental plant and also as a medicinal plant, also called Chinese rose. The Chinese rose is beautiful and elegant, with diverse colors and forms, blooming in all four seasons, and is deeply loved by people.

When planting crabapple in spring, neutral to slightly alkaline soil should be chosen, with a pH value not lower than 7. The soil should be loose, but not too fertile; too fertile soil easily causes excessive vegetative growth and fewer flowers.

It is best to plant it with a soil ball, and water thoroughly after planting. If planting in the ground, because it dislikes waterlogging, it should be planted in a slightly higher, sunny place that is not prone to accumulating water. If potted, it should be placed in a place with sufficient light.

Planting “butterfly flower”, that is, “pansy”, to add colorful and lively beauty, is also a good choice.

The colors on the petals form lovely little patterns, and the whole flower looks like a butterfly. It is suitable for planting in an environment with good light, fertile soil and good drainage.

The flowers of the daisy are slightly semicircular, and the upright flowers look very spirited. The flowers are red, white and yellow. It likes a moist, cool and fertile environment.

A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part One)

1．What are the benefits of growing flowers？
With their gorgeous elegance, flowers decorate nature with extraordinary beauty and give people enjoyment of beauty. Growing flowers can enrich and regulate people's cultural life, add pleasure, cultivate temperament and improve health; it can also increase scientific knowledge and raise cultural and artistic literacy. Growing flowers can green and beautify the land of the motherland, protect and improve it, purify the air, and enable people to work and study in a beautiful environment, making life better. Growing flowers is not only for ornamental purposes; it also has many important economic values. Flowers are an important part of Chinese herbal medicine. Honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, wintersweet, hibiscus, rhododendron, Chinese rose, lotus and so on are all commonly used Chinese medicinal materials. Fragrant flowers are widely used in food, light industry and other fields. For example, osmanthus can be used as a food flavoring and for brewing wine; jasmine, white orchid, daidai and Zhulan can be used to scent tea; chrysanthemum can be made into high-grade foods and dishes. White orchid, jasmine, rose, wintersweet, narcissus and so on can be used to extract essence. Growing flowers can also earn foreign exchange and accumulate funds. For example, the high-grade essence extracted from roses, rose oil, is regarded in the international market as "liquid gold", and its value is even more expensive than gold.

2．What categories are flowers divided into？
Our country has long had the reputation of being the "Mother of Gardens" in the world, with abundant flower resources and a great variety of species. In order to facilitate cultivation, management and use, it is necessary to understand the knowledge of flower classification. Because the bases of classification are different, the classification methods also vary. According to the morphological characteristics of flowers, they are usually divided into two major categories: herbaceous flowers and woody flowers. Those with soft stems are called herbaceous flowers, and those with hard, woody stems are called woody flowers. According to growth habits and morphological characteristics, flowers can generally be divided into herbaceous flowers, woody flowers, succulent flowers and aquatic flowers. Herbaceous flowers, according to differences in their growth and development cycles, can be further divided into annual herbaceous flowers, biennial herbaceous flowers, perennial flowers, bulbous flowers and lawn plants. Woody flowers, according to differences in trunk height and crown size, can be further divided into trees, shrubs and vines. Succulent flowers have thick, fleshy stems and leaves, store abundant water in their bodies, and some have leaves reduced to needles or feather-like forms; their forms are unusual, so they form a category of their own in horticultural cultivation. Aquatic flowers grow year-round in water and marshy areas, and most belong to perennial plants. According to the ornamental part, flowers can be divided into flower-viewing types (mainly for enjoying flower color and flower shape, such as chrysanthemum and Chinese rose), foliage-viewing types (mainly for enjoying leaf color and leaf shape, such as croton and Caladium), fruit-viewing types (mainly for enjoying fruit, such as kumquat), stem-viewing types (mainly for enjoying branches and stems, such as pencil cactus and Cereus) and bud-viewing types (mainly for enjoying buds, such as silver willow). According to use, flowers can be divided into cut flowers (such as carnation and calla lily), indoor flowers (such as clivia and Monstera), courtyard flowers (such as Chinese rose and chrysanthemum), medicinal flowers (such as peony and honeysuckle), spice flowers (such as white orchid, jasmine and rose) and edible flowers (lily, daylily and pomegranate). In addition, based on the climatic conditions of the places where flowers originate and according to natural distribution, flowers can be divided into tropical flowers, subtropical flowers, warm temperate flowers, temperate flowers, subfrigid flowers, alpine flowers and so on. This classification method can reflect the habits of various flowers and the conditions that need to be met for their growth and development during cultivation.

3．What are bulbous flowers？

Bulbous flowers refer to perennial herbaceous flowers whose underground stems or roots have become modified and take a spherical or similar form. According to the morphological structure of their underground stems or roots, they can generally be divided into 5 major categories: (1) Bulb type. The underground stem is scale-like. Those covered outside with a papery skin are called tunicate bulbs, such as tulip, narcissus and amaryllis; those with no outer skin covering the scales are called nontunicate bulbs, such as lily. (2) Corm type. The underground stem is spherical or flattened spherical, covered outside with a leathery skin, such as gladiolus and freesia. (3) Rhizome type. The underground stem is thickened and root-like, with obvious nodes on it, and new buds are borne at the tips of the branches, such as canna, ginger lily, lotus, water lily and hosta. (4) Tuber type. The underground stem is irregularly block-like or strip-like, such as calla lily, cyclamen, gloxinia and tuberose. (5) Tuberous root type. The main underground root is thickened into a block form, and the root system grows from the end of the tuberous root, such as dahlia.

A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part One)

7．What effect does water have on the growth and development of flowers？

Water is an essential condition for the growth and reproduction of flowers. It has a great influence on the growth and development of flowers. Because if water absorption exceeds consumption, there is too much water in the flower plant, the plant becomes especially slender and weak, cold resistance declines, and stress resistance weakens. If there is too much water for a long time, it will cause root rot, leaf drop, and even death. If water absorption is less than consumption, due to lack of water, flowers appear wilted, and severe water shortage will cause flowers to wither and die. There are many varieties of flowers, and their water requirements also differ. Even for the same kind of flower, water requirements differ at different stages of growth. According to the different water requirements of flowers, flowers can generally be divided into 3 categories: xerophytes, hydrophytes and mesophytes. (1) Xerophytic flowers. Such as plum blossom, crape myrtle, Malus micromalus, hollyhock, nandina and succulent flowers are relatively drought-tolerant. (2) Hydrophytic flowers. Such as lotus, water lily, calamus and water bamboo. (3) Mesophytic flowers. Flowers that can grow well in moist soil. The vast majority of flowers belong to this type, such as magnolia, white orchid, wintersweet, peach blossom, camellia and redbud.

8．What effect does air humidity have on flowers？

9．Why do flowers die from too much watering？

A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part One)

10．What harm is there in insufficient watering of potted flowers?
Because potted flowers have little soil and do not store much water, during the growing season they need frequent water replenishment to ensure normal growth. If the water supply is insufficient, the leaves and petioles will shrink and droop, and the flowers will appear wilted. If flowers are supplied with insufficient water for a long time, the older leaves and the lower leaves of the plant will gradually turn yellow and dry up. If most herbaceous flowers remain in a drought state for a long time, the plants become stunted, the leaves lose their fresh green luster, and even the whole plant withers and dies. Some flower growers, fearing excessive watering, give "half-way water" each time they water, that is, the amount of water given can only moisten the surface soil while the lower soil remains dry. This watering method likewise affects the development of the flower root system and also produces the above adverse phenomena. Therefore, watering should follow the principle of watering when dry and stopping when wet, and when watering, water thoroughly.

11．How to judge whether potted flowers lack water？

A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part One)

13．What kind of water is good for watering flowers？
Water can be divided into hard water and soft water according to the condition of salt content. Hard water contains more salts. Using it to water flowers often causes brown spots on the leaf surface of flowers, affecting the ornamental effect, so soft water is preferable for watering flowers. Among soft water, rainwater (or snow water) is the most ideal, because rainwater is a nearly neutral water, contains no minerals, and also has more air, so it is very suitable for watering flowers. If rainwater can be collected and stored on rainy days for watering flowers, it helps promote the assimilation of flowers, prolong the cultivation period, and improve ornamental value. In particular, flowers that like acidic soil prefer rainwater even more. Therefore, in the rainy season, as much rainwater as possible should be stored for later use. In various parts of Northeast China, snow water can be used to water flowers, and the effect is also very good, but note that the ice and snow must be melted and left until the water temperature is close to room temperature before use. If there is no rainwater or snow water, river water or pond water can be used. If tap water is used, it must first be stored in a bucket (or vat) for 1-2 days so that the chlorine in the water volatilizes before use; this is more reliable. Water used for washing clothes that contains soap or washing powder cannot be used to water flowers, nor can dishwashing water containing grease. For cactus-type flowers that prefer slight alkalinity, it is not suitable to use slightly acidic leftover tea water and the like. In addition, attention should be paid to water temperature when watering flowers. Whether watering flowers in summer or winter, if the difference between water temperature and air temperature is too large (exceeding 5 degrees), it easily harms the flower root system. Therefore, water used for watering flowers should preferably first be placed in a bucket (or vat) and left for a day, then used when the water temperature is close to the air temperature.

14．How should the amount of water for potted flowers be controlled？
Whether the amount of water for potted flowers can be timely and appropriate is the key to success or failure in growing flowers. Based on experience from various places, the amount of water for potted flowers should be comprehensively judged according to the flower variety, plant size, growth and development stage, climate, soil conditions, flowerpot size, placement location and other aspects, to determine the watering time, frequency and amount. Under normal circumstances, moisture-loving flowers should be watered more, drought-loving flowers should be watered less; bulbous flowers should not be watered too much; herbaceous flowers have high water content and also high transpiration, so they should be watered more than woody flowers; flowers with large, soft, smooth, hairless leaves should be watered more, while flowers with small leaves and a waxy layer, fuzz or leathery texture should be watered less; water more during the vigorous growth period and less during the dormant period; water more when the plant is large and the pot is small, and less when the plant is small and the pot is large; water more in hot weather and less in cold weather; water more in dry weather and less on cloudy days, and so on. For general flowers, the water supply through the four seasons is as follows: after the beginning of spring each year, the temperature gradually rises, flowers enter the vigorous growth period, and the amount of watering gradually increases. In early spring, watering should preferably be done before noon. In summer, the temperature is high, flowers grow vigorously, and transpiration is strong, so the amount of watering should be sufficient. Summer watering should preferably be done in the morning and evening. After the beginning of autumn, the temperature gradually drops, flowers grow slowly, and watering should be appropriately reduced. In winter, the temperature is low, and many flowers enter dormancy or semi-dormancy, so watering should be controlled. If the potting soil is not too dry, do not water, so as to avoid root rot and leaf drop caused by excessive watering. Winter watering should preferably be done at 1-2 p.m.

15．What is the function of spraying water？
Spraying water can increase air humidity, lower temperature, wash away dust on the plant and rinse off pests, avoid scorching of tender leaves and early withering of flowers, and keep the plant fresh. This is especially true for some shade- and moisture-loving flowers, such as camellia, rhododendron, orchid and Monstera; frequently spraying water on the leaf surface is very beneficial to their growth and development. After rain in summer, when it suddenly clears, or on stuffy evenings, attention should be paid to spraying water to lower temperature and prevent disease. The amount of water sprayed should be determined according to the needs of the flowers. Generally, if the water evaporates soon after spraying, this amount of spraying is the most suitable. Seedlings and delicate flowers need more spraying, and newly potted plants and cuttings that have not yet rooted also need more spraying. Tropical orchid-type flowers, Araceae and Bromeliaceae flowers need frequent spraying even more. However, some flowers are very sensitive to moisture, such as gloxinia, Calceolaria and begonia. Their leaf surfaces have relatively thick fuzz, and after water falls on them it is not easy to evaporate, causing the leaves to rot, so water should not be sprayed onto the leaves. For fully open flowers, it is also not suitable to spray much water, otherwise it easily causes petal mildew and rot or affects fertilization, reducing the seed-setting and fruit-setting rate. In addition, the leaf buds at the top of cyclamen tubers, the flower buds in the leaf rosette of African daisy, and the pseudobulbs in the center of the clivia leaf rosette all fear moisture. These parts are all easily damaged after spraying with water.

A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part One)

16．How to rescue flowers after they wilt？
For potted flowers, because the pot stores relatively little water, forgetting to water, especially missing watering in hot summer, often easily causes leaf wilting. If not rescued in time, over time it often leads to plant withering. If the rescue is not done properly, sometimes it can also cause the plant to die. The correct approach is: when leaf wilting is found, immediately move the flowerpot to a shady, cool place, spray some water on the leaf surface, and pour a small amount of water. Afterward, as the stems and leaves gradually recover their upright state, gradually increase the amount of watering. If at this time too much water is poured all at once, it may cause the plant to die. This is because after flowers wilt, large numbers of root hairs have been damaged, so their water absorption capacity is greatly reduced; only after new root hairs grow can the original water absorption capacity be restored. At the same time, wilting causes cells to lose water. After encountering water, the cell walls first absorb water and rapidly expand, while the protoplast absorbs water afterward and expands slowly. If at this time a large amount of water is suddenly poured, it will cause plasmolysis, damaging the protoplast and thereby causing the flower to die.

17．What role does soil play in the growth and development of flowers？

19．How to prepare growing medium？
There are many materials suitable for preparing growing medium. At present, the following are commonly used.
(1) Plain surface sand. Mostly taken from riverbanks. It has good drainage performance but no fertility, and is mostly used by mixing into other growing materials to facilitate drainage.
(2) Garden soil. Taken from the surface soil of vegetable gardens, orchards and similar places. It contains a certain amount of humus and has relatively good physical properties, and is often used as the basic material of most growing media.
(3) Leaf mold. Made by composting fallen leaves, dead grass and so on. It has high humus content, strong water retention and good permeability, and is one of the main materials for preparing growing medium.
(4) Mountain soil. It is divided into two types: black mountain soil and yellow mountain soil. It is formed by the long-term accumulation of fallen leaves of trees in the mountains. Black mountain soil is acidic and contains more humus; yellow mountain soil is also acidic and contains less humus.
(5) Peat soil. It is formed by the carbonization of peat moss. Due to different stages of formation, it is divided into brown peat and black peat. Brown peat contains abundant organic matter and shows an acidic reaction; black peat contains more minerals and less organic matter, and shows a slightly acidic or neutral reaction.
(6) Rice husk ash. It is the ash formed after rice husks are burned. It is slightly alkaline, contains potassium, and has good drainage and air permeability.
(7) Barnyard manure soil. Made by mixing animal manure, fallen leaves and other materials with garden soil, sewage and so on, piling and composting them, and it has relatively rich fertility. In addition, pond mud, river mud, coniferous soil, turf soil, rotten wood shavings, vermiculite, perlite and so on are all good materials for preparing growing medium. When preparing growing medium, one should flexibly master it according to the growth habits of the flowers, the properties of the growing medium materials and local conditions. For general potted flowers, the commonly used growing medium ratio is leaf mold (or peat soil): garden soil: river sand: bone meal = 35:30:30:5, or leaf mold (or peat soil), plain surface sand, decomposed organic fertilizer, superphosphate and so on mixed in a ratio of 5:3.5:1:0.5, then sifted and used. The above growing media are mostly neutral or slightly acidic and are suitable for most flowers. For cultivating acid-loving flowers and trees such as camellia and rhododendron, about 0.2% sulfur powder can be mixed in; for cultivating flowers such as cactus, about 10% wall skin soil fallen from lime walls and so on can be added.

20．How to make leaf mold yourself？
Leaf mold is a commonly used material for cultivating potted flowers. Where conditions permit, one can go directly to mountain forests to dig up leaf mold formed by years of weathering. Leaf mold can also be made by oneself. The method is: in autumn, collect fallen leaves of broadleaf or coniferous trees, weeds and other materials, and pile them into a rectangular pit. When piling, first put a layer of leaves, then a layer of garden soil, and repeat this for several layers, then pour in a small amount of sewage, and finally cover the top with a layer of garden soil and other materials about 10 cm thick. In late spring and midsummer of the following year, open it once each time, turn and crush the pile, and then pile it back as before. In warm climate areas, by late autumn these piled materials can mostly be decomposed. At this time they can be dug out, further crushed, sifted and used. When piling, two points should be noted: first, do not press it too tightly, so as to facilitate the penetration of air and create conditions for the activity of aerobic bacteria, thereby accelerating the decomposition of the pile. Second, do not make the pile too wet. If it is too wet, ventilation is poor, and under oxygen-deficient conditions anaerobic bacteria multiply and become active in large numbers, causing serious loss of nutrients and affecting the quality of the leaf mold.

21．How to measure and change the acidity and alkalinity of growing medium？

The acidity and alkalinity of the growing medium directly affect its physical and chemical properties and the growth of flowers. Most flowers grow well in growing medium that is neutral to slightly acidic (pH 5.5-7.0). This is because within this range the nutrient elements absorbed by flowers from the soil are all in a soluble state. Above or below this range, some nutrient elements become non-absorbable, thus easily causing nutrient deficiency symptoms in some flowers. Precisely because of this, before planting flowers it is necessary to measure the acidity and alkalinity of the growing medium. Soil acidity and alkalinity are usually expressed by pH value. A pH value of 7 is neutral, less than 7 is acidic, and greater than 7 is alkaline. If the soil is too acidic or too alkaline, it must be improved in order to grow flowers well. The simplest method for measuring the acidity and alkalinity of growing medium is to buy a box of litmus test paper from a chemical reagent store; the box contains a set of standard color comparison charts. For the test, take a small amount of growing medium and put it in a clean glass, add cool boiled water in a ratio of soil to water of 1:2, and after thorough stirring and settling, put the litmus test paper into the solution, take it out after about 1 or 2 seconds and compare it with the standard color chart. Find the chart number with a color similar to it, and that is the pH value of this growing medium. According to the measurement results, for growing medium with unsuitable acidity or alkalinity, the following measures can be taken to adjust it. If it is too acidic, add a small amount of lime powder and so on to the potting soil; if it is too alkaline, add a small amount of sulfur powder and so on to the potting soil.

As the name implies, soilless cultivation means cultivating flowers without soil, instead using various culture substrates and nutrient solutions. Because soilless cultivation uses a nutrient solution to directly provide the nutrient elements necessary for the growth and development of flowers, it is also called nutrient solution cultivation. It is a new technique in flower cultivation in recent years and has many advantages:
(1) Fast growth and good quality. Because the nutrient solution used in soilless cultivation is carefully prepared according to the needs of flower growth and development, it is beneficial to the rapid growth of flowers, so there are more flowers, larger blooms, brighter colors, a longer flowering period, stronger fragrance, and green leaves that do not fall for a long time. It can not only improve ornamental value, but also shorten the flower production cycle and increase flower yield per unit area.
(2) Clean and sanitary, with few pests and diseases. The purpose of growing flowers is to beautify the indoor and outdoor environment and give people spiritual enjoyment. The fertilizer used in soilless cultivation is a nutrient solution prepared from inorganic elements, and the substrate is disinfected, so it is clean and sanitary and can greatly reduce pests and diseases. Therefore, many countries currently have laws restricting the import of flowers with soil. If our country wants to export flowers in large quantities, it must also adopt the new technique of soilless cultivation.
(3) Saves fertilizer and saves water. Because soilless cultivation uses fixed containers, there is very little loss of fertilizer and water. In soil cultivation, about half of the nutrients and most of the water are lost.
(4) Low labor intensity, saves labor and time. Soilless cultivation of flowers does not require carrying heavy flowerpots. The containers used are mainly plastic, and the substrates used, such as vermiculite and perlite, are all very light, weighing only one-tenth or so of soil. In management, it is only necessary to regularly replenish the pre-prepared nutrient solution and continuously replenish water. The operation is simple and the effect is very good.
(5) Not subject to many restrictions, suitable for indoor use. Soilless cultivation is relatively flexible. Generally, as long as a site has air, water, light, temperature and other conditions, this method can be used to cultivate flowers.
23. What substrate is good to choose for soilless cultivation?
The role of the soilless cultivation substrate is to replace soil in fixing the flower plant in the container, and to retain the nutrient solution and water for the growth and development needs of the flowers. Therefore, it is advisable to choose materials with good water retention, good drainage, no harmful substances, cleanliness and sanitation, and a certain strength. At present, the main soilless cultivation substrates commonly used for home flower growing at home and abroad include sand, gravel, vermiculite, perlite, fiberglass, foam plastic and rock wool.
(1) Vermiculite. It is a mica-type mineral, light in texture and highly porous, with good air permeability, water absorption and a certain water-holding capacity, and contains elements such as magnesium and potassium that can be absorbed and used by flowers.
(2) Perlite. It is a siliceous mineral, stable in nature, firm, light in texture, clean and sterile, with good drainage and aeration, but slightly poorer water and fertilizer retention, so it is best used mixed with vermiculite in a 1:1 ratio.
(3) Foam plastic. It is very light in texture and can hold a large amount of water per unit volume. Generally it cannot be used alone and is often mixed with sand and so on.
(4) Fiberglass. It is clean and sanitary, highly water-absorbent, can store a large amount of air, does not rot with long-term use, and can support the plant's roots so that they do not fall over. Soilless cultivation substrates used for a long time, especially under continuous cropping, often easily cause the breeding of pathogens and harm flower seedlings, so after each cultivation attention should be paid to disinfection treatment. A 1% concentration bleaching powder solution can be poured onto the substrate and left to soak for about 30 minutes, then rinsed clean with clear water to eliminate chlorine; its sterilization effect is good. The disinfected substrate can be used again.

24．How to prepare nutrient solution？

A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part One)

25．How can households carry out soilless cultivation？
For household soilless culture, ordinary pots such as plastic pots and unglazed clay pots can be used. When planting, first mix the various substrates in a certain proportion or put them into a plastic pot separately, then plant the seedlings that have grown 3 to 5 leaves in the center of the pot. Before planting, first put the root system with soil in clean water, gently wash off the root soil, then soak the roots in a solution 5 to 10 times more dilute than the normal concentration of nutrient solution for about 10 minutes, so that they fully absorb nutrients. After planting, cover with a layer of quartz sand or small stones to fix the plant, and immediately pour 0.5-strength nutrient solution from around the container until the nutrient solution flows out from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. After that, water once every 1 to 3 days, apply dilute nutrient solution once every 7 to 10 days, and after the plant resumes normal growth, apply nutrient solution at normal concentration. The frequency and amount of nutrient solution application should be determined according to the flower species, plant size, different growth stages, season, and placement location. Generally, for indoor potted flowers during the growth period, large seedlings are given nutrient solution about once every 7 to 15 days, and small seedlings about once every 15 to 20 days; during the dormant period of flowers, watering about once a month is sufficient. As for the amount of nutrient solution applied each time, generally for sun-loving flowers in pots with an inner diameter of about 20 cm, about 100 ml each time, and the amount for shade-loving flowers should be reduced accordingly. If a slow-release flower fertilizer is used, its amount should refer to the product instructions. For beginners, when applying nutrient solution, pay attention to moderation; it is better to use less than too much. If too much is applied, it often easily causes damage such as leaf scorch. In soilless flower growing, in addition to paying attention to mastering the timing and amount of nutrient solution application, it is also necessary to water promptly according to the water requirements of different types of flowers, so as to keep the substrate often moist, so that the flowers can grow robustly. In order to avoid loss of nutrient solution, it is best to choose a watertight container. A container more suitable for household use consists of two parts: the upper part is a flower pot filled with substrate (with a perforated bottom), into which the flower seedlings are planted, and the upper part is a watertight container holding the nutrient solution. When planting with this kind of container, before the plant roots extend into the nutrient solution, it is necessary to water appropriately, applying a small amount of dilute nutrient solution about once every 5 to 7 days, and after the roots extend into the nutrient solution, switch to normal management. According to the growth habits of the flowers, regularly add nutrient solution and water; generally completely replace the nutrient solution once a month, and wash the container holding the nutrient solution. Usually, the amount of nutrient solution in the container should be about 2/3 of the depth of the container. If too much is put in and no space is left, causing the roots to be fully soaked in the nutrient solution, the air will be insufficient, and root rot is often easily caused by lack of oxygen. For flowers grown with soilless culture, the usual maintenance and management work is basically the same as with soil culture, and it is also necessary to provide environmental conditions such as light, temperature, and humidity suitable for their growth and development according to the habits of the flower species.

26．What are the commonly used fertilizers?？
Commonly used fertilizers include the following two types:
(1) Organic fertilizers. They are usually divided into animal-based organic fertilizers and plant-based organic fertilizers. Animal-based organic fertilizers include human excrement and urine, poultry and livestock feathers, hooves and horns, and bone meal, as well as waste from fish, meat, and eggs. Plant-based organic fertilizers include soybean cake and other cake fertilizers, sesame paste residue, weeds, leaves, green manure, Chinese herbal medicine residue, distillers' grains, and so on. Both types of fertilizers are slow-release fertilizers, with relatively complete nutrients and long-lasting fertilizer effect, and must be fermented and decomposed before use.
(2) Inorganic fertilizers. These are fertilizers rich in mineral nutrients made by chemical synthesis or processed from natural ores. For example, nitrogen fertilizers include urea, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium nitrate, and so on. Phosphorus fertilizers include superphosphate, phosphate rock powder, and so on. Potassium fertilizers include potassium chloride, potassium sulfate, and so on. Chemical fertilizers have a quick effect, but their nutrients are simple; their action is vigorous but not lasting. Except for phosphorus fertilizers, general chemical fertilizers are used as topdressing.

27. How to make fertilizer yourself？
In daily life, many kinds of waste can be used to make fertilizer.
(1) Soaking liquid fertilizer. Use a small vat (or small jar) to put in waste vegetable leaves, melon and fruit peels, chicken and fish offal, fish scales, waste bones, eggshells, and moldy foods (peanuts, melon seeds, beans, bean powder*), add water and sprinkle a little trichlorfon, then cover tightly; after high-temperature fermentation and decomposition, it can be used. When using, take the supernatant and dilute it with water before application. Alternatively, mix the above waste with some old potting soil, add some water, put it into a large plastic bag, tie it tightly, leave it for a period of time, and use it after fermentation.
(2) Waste compost. Choose a suitable place and dig a soil pit 60 cm to 80 cm deep, line it with 10 cm of furnace ash, put rotten vegetable leaves, poultry and livestock internal organs, fish scales, chicken and duck manure, eggshells, meat waste, and crushed bones into the pit, sprinkle some insecticide, cover with a layer of about 10 cm of garden soil, and keep the pit moist to promote fertilizer decomposition. It is best to compost in autumn and winter; after heating up in spring and decomposing without foul odor, it can be mixed into potting soil as base fertilizer; it can also be sifted while moist through a 4 mm sieve and rubbed into granules, with the fine part used as topdressing and the coarse part as base fertilizer.

The Complete Practical Guide to Household Flower Growing (Part One)

28．How to avoid and reduce the odor produced when composting fertilizer and applying fertilizer？
When composting organic fertilizer, an unpleasant odor is often released, polluting the environment; it is very unhygienic and unpleasant. The following is a brief introduction to some small experiences for avoiding or reducing the odor produced when composting fertilizer.
(1) Put a few pieces of orange peel (dried or fresh) into the fertilizer composting container to reduce the odor. This is because orange peel contains a large amount of essential oil, which continuously releases fragrance during the fertilizer fermentation process and can reduce the odor. When the effect of the orange peel decreases, add a few more new pieces of orange peel. Fermented orange peel is also a good fertilizer and can increase fertilizer efficiency.
(2) Use a pickle jar to compost fertilizer. Put household non-staple food waste, such as rotten eggs, animal internal organs, spoiled milk, soybean milk, and so on, into the pickle jar, add an appropriate amount of clean water, be sure to fill the water groove around the jar mouth with water, then add some insecticide, and put on the lid to prevent the odor from escaping. In summer, it can decompose in about 2 to 3 months. When using, take the supernatant and add water at 10 to 20 times, and add a little pesticide such as trichlorfon to the fertilizer water to prevent maggots. Some materials say that adding an appropriate amount of 500 to 600 times diluted rice vinegar solution before applying the fertilizer water can alleviate the odor of the liquid fertilizer.

29.How to prepare alum fertilizer water？

Flower growers in Yanling, Henan, use "alum fertilizer water" to irrigate flowers that prefer acidic soil, with good results. A commonly used preparation method: water 20 kg to 25 kg, cake fertilizer or hoof pieces 1 kg to 1.5 kg, ferrous sulfate (black alum) 250 g to 300 g; put the above materials together into a vat, place in the sun to ferment for about 1 month, then take the supernatant and dilute it with water before use. Soil watered with this kind of water shows a slightly acidic reaction, with a pH value of about 5.8 to 6.7.

The Complete Practical Guide to Household Flower Growing (Part One)

Recommended reading:The Complete Practical Guide to Household Flower Growing (Part Two)

           The Complete Practical Guide to Household Flower Growing (Part Three)