Are there any taboos about keeping hibiscus at home? Does it represent death?
Hibiscus is a plant that blooms with red flowers, a single bloom is quite large, and many people like it. So, are there any taboos about keeping hibiscus at home? Does it represent death? Are there any taboos about keeping hibiscus at home? There are no taboos about keeping hibiscus at home
Hibiscus is a plant that blooms with red flowers, a single bloom is quite large, and many people like it. So, are there any taboos about keeping hibiscus at home? Does it represent death?
Are there any taboos about keeping hibiscus at home?
There are no taboos about keeping hibiscus at home.
Cultivation notes:
1. Hibiscus is a sun-loving species; in the later stage, fertilizer should be reduced to avoid producing autumn shoots, which lowers its cold resistance in winter.
2. The temperature requirement for hibiscus should be no lower than 5°C, to avoid frost damage; and no higher than 15°C, to avoid affecting dormancy.
3. Hibiscus requires a flower pot that is sufficiently breathable; when choosing a pot for it, select an unglazed clay pot or wooden bucket pot with good enough breathability. As for fertilizer requirements, a single type of fertilizer should not be applied; instead, rich and varied nutrients should be provided.
4. In early May, it should be moved outdoors to a spot with ample sunlight. This is the growing season for hibiscus, so management work such as fertilizing and watering, loosening the soil, and weeding should be strengthened to give it a good growing environment.
Does hibiscus represent death?
Hibiscus has nothing to do with death.
"Sang" and "sang" (mourning) are homophones. So people think this flower is unlucky.
Hibiscus can be grown at home. If giving flowers in China, it is still better not to give hibiscus, even though its flower language is quite good.
A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part Two)
61.Where should small and medium-sized foliage plants be placed indoors?？Generally, plants under 1 m are called small and medium-sized foliage plants; the small and medium-sized ones mentioned here do not include hanging foliage plants.
Small and medium-sized foliage plants are much richer in both variety and color than large plants. They mainly include: various ferns, Peperomia, red mulberry, poinsettia, clivia, wax begonia, coleus, clearweed, dieffenbachia, anthurium, caladium, umbrella plant, cast iron plant, asparagus fern, echeveria, jade plant, purple velvet plant, sedum, aloe, syngonium, asparagus, bromeliads, maranta, snake plant, and so on.
For these plants, according to their ecological conditions and the size and shape of the plants, they can be placed on windowsills, flower stands, tea tables, writing desks, and other places. Do not place too many, otherwise it gives people a dizzying feeling. In young people's rooms, more brightly colored plants can be placed, such as coleus, caladium, and purple velvet plant; in elderly people's rooms, choose more plants with fresh and elegant tones, such as syngonium, philodendron, and Peperomia. If in a room where children are active, placing a pot of mimosa can better satisfy children's innocent and curious minds and, consciously or unconsciously, increase their knowledge. But note that the sap of dieffenbachia is somewhat toxic and should not be placed where children can touch it.
62.What is the relationship between flower growth and environmental conditions?？
Most amateur flower growers carefully tend their flowers as if they were their own treasures. Yet even though they all grow flowers, some grow them with abundant flowers and lush leaves, while others often fail to bloom or end up killing them. So people say that growing flowers requires "flower qi." In fact, the so-called "flower qi" is the environmental conditions suitable for flower growth. These environmental conditions include 6 aspects: temperature, light, water, air, soil, and fertilizer. Each kind of flower has its own unique requirements for these environmental conditions. Only by understanding their habits and, according to the temperature, humidity, light, and other conditions of their places of origin, creating as much as possible an artificial, suitable micro-environment, can the various organs of the flowers grow and develop healthily and greet guests with graceful beauty.
63.How can flowers be grown well?？
The factors for growing flowers well are many-sided, and especially growing potted flowers well on a home balcony involves even more aspects. To grow flowers well, at the very least the following three aspects of basic knowledge are needed.
(1) Understand the functions of the various organs of flowers and trees. Flowers and trees generally have 6 organs: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds. Roots can fix the flowers and trees in the soil and absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Stems can support leaves, flowers, and fruits, and transport the water and nutrients absorbed from the roots and the organic nutrients made by the leaves. Leaves can make organic nutrients and also perform respiration and transpiration. Although the functions of the three organs roots, stems, and leaves are different, they are related to the nutrition of flowers and trees, so they are all vegetative organs.
After flowers and trees grow and mature, they bloom; after the flowers fade, they bear fruit, and the fruit contains seeds. Mature seeds fall into a suitable environment and grow into new flower and tree bodies. Flowers, fruits, and seeds are all related to reproducing offspring, so they are all reproductive organs.
(2) Understand the growth habits of flowers and trees. Some flowers and trees like sunlight, some tolerate shade; some like warmth, some tolerate cold; some fear cold, some fear heat; some like sunlight in winter but need shading in summer; generally flowers and trees like loose soil, but a few like heavy clay soil; some flowers and trees have strict requirements for soil acidity and alkalinity, while others do not; generally flowers like fertilizer, but a few flowers do not.
(3) Understand what characteristics the climate, soil quality, and other conditions of the places of origin of various flowers and trees have. What influence do these characteristics have on their growth habits? How were they introduced? What changes occurred after introduction? Once these situations are clear, you can choose flowers and trees suitable for your local area to plant, and can also artificially create for different flowers and trees a special microclimate environment and soil type that meets their needs. In this way, you will not plant jasmine in a shaded window or plant hosta on a sunny balcony. Otherwise, even if the grower works tirelessly, the flowers cannot be grown well.
Once you have clarified the functions of the various organs of flowers and trees, and also understood their growth habits and their relationship with external environmental conditions, you can follow their laws in planting and achieve the expected goal of growing flowers well.
A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part Two)
64.Which foliage plants most dread low temperatures?？
Many plants can only live in medium-temperature or high-temperature environments, and they are least able to endure low temperatures; otherwise they will suffer various kinds of frost damage, or even die. Therefore, special attention should be paid during cultivation.The optimum growth temperature for Alocasia lowii is 20--30°C, and the winter room temperature cannot be lower than 18°C; croton drops its leaves when it encounters cold; ferns also dread low temperatures, but among them maidenhair fern can endure a temperature of 10°C; maranta plants most dread low temperatures, and if the ambient temperature is below 15°C, the leaves will curl, shrink, turn yellow, and even fall off, among which Calathea roseopicta and Calathea leopardina require even higher temperatures; syngonium, golden pothos, and others grow poorly when the temperature is below 10°C for a short period, and may even develop yellow leaves and leaf drop; Peperomia species will suffer frost damage below 10°C, and black spots often appear on the leaves. In addition, philodendron, white-veined net leaf, and others all dread cold environments.
Therefore, if the indoor temperature in winter is often or occasionally below 15°C, then you should be very careful when buying foliage plants.
65.What light requirements do flowers have?？
The growth and development of flowers have two aspects of light requirements, namely light intensity and length of time.Flowers are usually divided into two types: sun-loving and shade-loving. Those that need to be cultivated in light to grow well, such as Chinese rose, pomegranate, chrysanthemum, narcissus, scutellaria, oxalis, lotus, and so on, are sun-loving flowers. If these flowers are placed in a shaded environment where light intensity is insufficient, they often produce slender branches, elongated internodes, thinner leaves, and poor leaf color, and are also prone to attack by pests and diseases. Shade-loving flowers refer to flowers that originally grew on shady slopes or in relatively shaded and moist forest environments; most do not like direct strong light, especially in hot seasons when they need varying degrees of shading, and attention should be paid to appropriately increasing air humidity. Shade-loving ones include wax begonia, maidenhair fern, impatiens, asparagus fern, fuchsia, orchid, clivia, rhododendron, Monstera deliciosa, and dieffenbachia, etc.
66.What should be done when indoor light is insufficient when cultivating foliage plants?？
Because of the limitations of sunlight exposure, plants placed indoors cannot get the most ideal light. But artificial methods can be used to make up for the lack of light.
If you think the daytime light period is too short, you can use a fluorescent lamp or incandescent lamp every evening to add several hours of light, and the light they emit can also enable plants to carry out photosynthesis. But the light intensity is limited, so place the fluorescent lamp or incandescent lamp close to 30-40 cm from the plant. For example, African violet needs ample sunlight; placed under a desk lamp indoors every night, it can have abundant flowers and lush leaves. But even so, this is only about 5%-10% of sunlight.
Some people also place a mirror beside a sunny window to refract the light into dark indoor areas, letting plants placed in the dark grow by the refracted light. This can also play a role in strengthening light.
A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part Two)
67.Why is watering the key to growing flowers?？
A flower proverb says: "Whether it lives or not depends on water; whether it grows or not depends on fertilizer." Watering is the key to success or failure in growing flowers. Many beginners in flower growing are mostly puzzled by the question of how much to water: "The book says it should not be too much, and not too little, so what counts as neither too much nor too little?" In fact, how much to water first depends on what kind of flower is being grown, and whether this flower likes dryness, likes moisture, or is semi-dry. By no means should all flowers be treated the same, watering 10 pots of flowers at home together when watering and letting them dry together. Water is the source of plant life, but an overly moist soil environment will prevent the root systems of some drought-loving flowers from breathing, and then the roots will rot and die; if the roots die, of course the flowers cannot survive either. Therefore, if you want to grow flowers well, the first step is to understand clearly each flower's water requirements. First it must survive, and only then can blooming be discussed.68.How should potted flowers be watered?？
Potted flowers are limited by specific environmental conditions, and watering operations are not only troublesome but also the key to success or failure. To water just right, you must first understand the natural habits of different flower varieties and how much water they need at each stage of growth and development; you must also consider whether the weather is cloudy or clear, the temperature and humidity levels, the type of flower pot, the size of the plant, and the texture of the potting soil.Watering potted flowers roughly includes the following situations and methods:
(1) Watering. In spring, summer, and autumn, water before 10 a.m.; in winter, water at 2 p.m. Make sure the water temperature is close to the soil temperature, slightly higher in winter and slightly lower in summer. But the temperature difference between water and soil should not exceed about 5°C, and the amount of watering should be based on the potting soil being uniformly moist from the surface to the bottom. Watering must avoid "waist watering" (wet on top, dry below) and "pocketing water" (water accumulating at the bottom of the pot), and also avoid soil and fertilizer being lost through the drainage hole, causing hollows in the center of the pot, which seriously affects the growth and development of potted flowers. When watering, note that drought-loving flowers can have their water amount controlled, keeping the potting soil slightly moist, with the surface soil showing a whitish dry look but not completely dried out. Moisture-loving flowers should keep the potting soil moist at all times, with no whitish dry look on the surface soil, but there must not be standing water or prolonged moisture.
(2) Supplemental watering. In dry weather, at 15:00-16:00, inspect the potting soil's dryness and moisture and supplement an appropriate amount of water as needed, to keep the potting soil moist. When the weather changes suddenly and special circumstances require water, watering is not limited by time or frequency.
(3) Heavy watering. During the vigorous growth period of potted flowers, in order to promote shoot growth, plant development, flower forcing, and fruit enlargement, combined with topdressing, the amount of watering can be increased, keeping the surface soil without a whitish dry look and the leaves without wilting.
(4) Restricted watering. During the dormant period or in low-temperature seasons, or to control seedling growth, promote flower bud formation, prevent excessive vegetative growth, and correct the phenomena of yellow leaves and bud drop caused by excessive water, the amount of watering should be appropriately controlled, keeping the potting soil merely moist, combined with loosening the soil to preserve moisture.
(5) Misting. In dry seasons in spring and autumn, in addition to normal watering and supplemental watering, water should be sprayed on the leaf surfaces and around the flower-growing area to increase environmental humidity, prevent young leaves from scorching and flowers from fading early, and keep the plants fresh; especially for southern flowers, more attention should be paid to environmental moisture. After summer rain when it suddenly clears or on stuffy hot evenings, water should be sprayed to lower the temperature and prevent disease; whenever spraying water, the leaf surfaces should be sprayed clean to prevent residual water droplets and dust on the leaf surfaces from forming stains that are not easy to remove.
69.How should the potted flower watering principles such as "water thoroughly after drying out" and "water when dry, stop when wet" be mastered?？
These watering principles are all summarized according to the water-loving habits of flowers and trees. For example, potted flowers such as wintersweet, plum blossom, hydrangea, dahlia, and geranium, which like dryness and fear waterlogging, should be watered according to the principle of "water thoroughly after drying out." Only when the surface of the potting soil is completely dry should you water. "Water thoroughly" means do not give "half watering"; the potting soil should be watered through and moistened from top to bottom. If not watered thoroughly, the root tips cannot absorb water, which affects growth. But watering thoroughly does not mean watering until it leaks; if it often leaks, too much fertilizer is lost, which also affects growth.For flowers such as rhododendron, camellia, Chinese rose, gardenia, Aglaia odorata, nandina, hydrangea, and dieffenbachia, which like moisture but cannot tolerate heavy watering, water according to the principle of "water when dry, stop when wet": water when the potting soil turns whitish, and stop once it is moist. Do not wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering, and do not give heavy watering. The potting soil should be sometimes dry and sometimes wet; it should neither be dry for a long time nor often soaked through, but alternate between dry and wet.
A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part Two)
70.Why is it not easy for water to seep down when watering potted flowers?？
When watering potted flowers, water accumulates on the surface of the potting soil and does not seep down easily for a long time. There are the following reasons:(1) The potted flower has not been repotted for many years, and the root fibers have filled the pot and formed a dense mass, making it difficult for water to seep down.
(2) The tile over the drainage hole at the bottom of the flower pot is improperly placed and blocks the hole, or the gravel layer at the bottom of the pot is too thin, or no gravel drainage layer is laid, so water seeps poorly.
(3) The newly added potting soil is clay soil and contains no organic matter or fine sand, so it is very difficult for water to seep through.
In the above situations, use loam rich in organic matter; if it is clay, appropriately add some fine sand, repot, and prune away excess fibrous roots. Otherwise, over time the leaves will turn yellow and fall off, and water accumulation will rot the roots and cause death.
71.How should flowers and trees be pruned to promote flowering and fruit setting?？
When cultivating flowers for flower appreciation or fruit viewing, the plant shape should be graceful, the flowers luxuriant and the leaves lush, and the fruits abundant, for timely viewing. Therefore, in addition to water and fertilizer management, pruning methods should also be used to regulate the relationship between branch and leaf growth and the development of leaves, flowers, and fruits, so as to promote flowering and fruiting. First consider the number of flowers and fruits and the leaf area, and maintain an appropriate ratio, so as to fully carry out photosynthesis and produce enough nutrients to meet the needs of flowering and fruiting. Especially for fruit-viewing plants, even more attention should be paid to retaining enough leaves. The time for flowers and trees to bloom and bear fruit varies, so the favorable timing for pruning must be grasped. Generally, for those that bloom in early spring, the flower buds are roughly formed on the previous year's branches, so during the winter dormant period, heavy pruning is not suitable; for example, ornamental peach and plum blossom can only have the autumn shoots without flower buds pruned off, but after flowering, a shaping pruning should be done.For flowers that bloom on current-year branches, such as crape myrtle, Chinese rose, oleander, poinsettia, and kumquat, heavy pruning should be carried out during the winter dormant period, so that nutrients are concentrated and more strong branches can be produced in the following spring. Some flowers and trees generally do not need frequent pruning, such as rhododendron and camellia; in order to keep the tree shape beautiful and symmetrical, part of the branch tips can also be appropriately pruned off, but heavy pruning should not be done. Vine flowers generally do not need pruning; only overaged branches, densely growing branches, pest- and disease-damaged branches, and blind bud branches should be pruned off to maintain ventilation.
There are also flowers such as hydrangea, which in winter need all branches and leaves cut off, so that its stem base sends out new branches and buds, promoting flower bud formation and making the plant neat and robust. Amaryllis can have all its leaves cut off after autumn; when brought indoors it should be placed in a sunny spot, with room temperature kept at about 20°C, and it can bloom around the Spring Festival. For common herbaceous flowers such as dianthus, after blooming in June, cut off the aboveground part, and in autumn they can bloom for another round.
72.How should balcony potted flowers get through the summer?？
From June to August, temperatures gradually rise and there is more rain, which is favorable for potted flower growth, but some flowers and trees cannot tolerate high temperatures and their growth stagnates. Especially on home balconies, the area is small, ventilation is poor, and it is easy for them to become hot; in the rainy season humidity is high and it is stuffy and hot, which easily causes potted flowers to grow poorly or even become diseased and die. Therefore, management should be strengthened in aspects such as shading, ventilation, and water and fertilizer.In mid to late May, place bamboo blinds for shading on sunny windowsills, and place shade-loving rhododendron, camellia, orchid, Daphne, hosta, and Chloranthus under the bamboo blinds on flower stands for care, and frequently spray water on leaves and sprinkle water around the windows to increase air humidity. Sun-loving succulents and jasmine, Aglaia odorata, crape myrtle, pomegranate, and others are still placed on balcony flower stands for cultivation. Chinese rose, gardenia, wax begonia, geranium, and others also need shading during the hot hours of 12:00-14:00. And clivia, asparagus fern, water bamboo, and spider plant are placed in ventilated indoor spots, and direct sunlight should be prevented.
In the plum rain season in June, do not let potted flowers be exposed to rain and lose fertilizer. If water accumulates in the pot because of rain, lay the flower pot on its side to facilitate drainage; otherwise, because too much water suffocates the root system, the roots will rot and the plant will die. When humidity is high and temperature is high, pay attention to observation and strengthen the prevention and control of pests and diseases.
Except for jasmine, Aglaia odorata, crape myrtle, wax begonia, and others that can still bloom in hot seasons and can continue to be fertilized, other potted flowers should stop being fertilized. For fuchsia, Lycoris, cyclamen, geranium, poinsettia, calla lily, and Epiphyllum, which are dormant or semi-dormant in summer, fertilization is even more out of the question.
Watering should follow the principle that in the rainy season evaporation is low and the potting soil should be on the dry side. As the temperature rises, the amount of watering should also increase; at high temperatures, water thoroughly both morning and evening. Loosen the soil frequently, so that water can seep through easily and the potting soil's breathability is also good, which is favorable for plant growth. While watering, also do a good job of sprinkling water in the surrounding environment to lower the temperature.
In addition to strengthening environmental ventilation, for potted flowers with luxuriant branches and leaves, some overly dense small branches and leaves should be thinned out, so that ventilation and light transmission are favorable for growth and also favorable for the prevention and control of pests and diseases.
A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part Two)
73.How should foliage plants overwinter?？
The most valuable thing about foliage plants is that they can remain evergreen through the four seasons, so they have ornamental value all year round, but their best viewing period is the severe winter season when everything looks bleak. At this time, outside the window, the cold wind is biting and everything is desolate; inside the window, patches of emerald green are full of vitality. Therefore, in winter the decorative role of foliage plants is even more important.To help foliage plants overwinter successfully, first you must understand and master the ecological habits of the foliage plants you keep. Foliage plants mostly originate from tropical and subtropical regions; if the room can maintain 20--25°C, the plants can grow normally. But if they encounter low temperatures, the plants will suffer frost damage in mild cases and die in severe cases. The day-night temperature difference in the room should be as small as possible. During the day, the room temperature should be at least no lower than 18°C, and at night the room temperature should be at least no lower than 8°C. If the indoor temperature is within this range, most foliage plants can overwinter safely, such as ivy, cordyline, spider plant, and Dracaena.
In addition, light and the air humidity around the plants are also important factors. In winter, sunlight slants, and light intensity is half that of summer, so some sun-loving foliage plants should be placed near a south-facing window. Under sufficient light, foliage plants can also keep their branches and leaves green in winter. If light is insufficient, the leaves will become thinner and turn yellow. If indoor air humidity in winter is below 50%, it not only affects plant growth and the appearance of the leaves, but may also lead to pests and diseases such as red spider mites.
It is best not to place the plants on the windowsill, where the temperature is low and they will also be attacked by cold wind.
In the interiors of modern buildings, both temperature and light can allow foliage plants to overwinter safely. What should be noted is maintaining indoor humidity.
74.How can herbaceous flowers in flower beds be made to bloom uniformly?？
The basic requirement of a flower bed is continuous blooming through the four seasons, especially for large flower cluster beds. Therefore, for the design of flower cluster beds, there should be a careful arrangement of flowering periods.To ensure the ornamental effect of flower cluster beds, it is not allowed to sow and raise seedlings directly in the flower bed until they bloom. Because doing so makes it impossible for the seedlings to grow uniformly and for planting distances to be equal, and it also leaves the flower bed occupied by seedling raising for a long time with nothing to view. Therefore, the flower seedlings used to arrange flower cluster beds should be specially cultivated in a separate flower nursery, that is, through the process of sowing and transplanting; if conditions permit, they can also be potted for care, which is more reliable. When the flowering period approaches and the buds are about to open, select seedlings that grow well and are uniform in height, transport them in pots to the flower bed, and plant them all at once with soil according to the specified dimensions. If planting in the ground, the flower seedlings should be transported to the flower bed with soil balls for planting, so that the plant shape and height can be better ensured to be uniform and the blooming uniform.
The planting distance for flower cluster beds is based on the standard that the branches and leaves of the seedlings touch each other and do not expose the soil surface; generally, triangular planting is advisable.
75.What are soilless cultivation and soilless seedling raising?？
At present in China, the vast majority of potted flowers and trees are cultivated with soil. That is to say, through nutrients in the soil being absorbed by the roots, flowers and trees are prompted to grow, bloom, and bear fruit. In some foreign countries, materials such as hemp fiber and vermiculite, with liquid fertilizer added, have already been used as media for flower cultivation. Now in some regions of China, this soilless cultivation method has also begun to be used.Soilless seedling raising refers to not using soil as the medium for cuttings and other seedling propagation, but using river sand, rice husk ash, vermiculite, water, and so on as seedling media; this is called soilless seedling raising. This method is currently widely used in various places in China.
A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part Two)76.How is soilless cultivation carried out?？
Not using soil, but instead using other substances to replace soil as a culture medium for potted flower planting is called soilless cultivation. Although no soil is used, it can likewise cultivate brilliantly colorful flowers and trees. It has the advantages of retaining water and fertilizer and being easy to handle, and does not have the disadvantages of mud stains and soil being too heavy, so it is currently gladly used by people. There are many soilless cultivation methods, but most formulas are rather cumbersome and the raw materials are hard to gather completely, so they are not suitable for home flower growing. Below are two simple and easy soilless cultivation materials.Sawdust medium: Mix 70% sawdust and 30% poultry manure, or crushed cake fertilizer, evenly, pile them up, add some human excrement and urine, and after full fermentation, it can be used to cultivate flowers and trees. If some coal ball ash is added, the breathability and water seepage performance will be even better.
Vermiculite medium: Vermiculite is a lightweight mineral substance, used industrially as insulation material. Mix vermiculite and fermented horse manure in a ratio of 4:1 and stir evenly, and it can be used as a medium to cultivate flowers and trees. Horse manure is acidic, so it is suitable for cultivating southern flowers and trees that like acidic soil.
These two media are both very loose, both breathable and water-permeable, will not become compacted, and have strong water- and fertilizer-retaining capacity, which is favorable for flower and tree rooting and development. When transplanting and repotting, they are easy to handle and will not damage the roots. Because they are light in weight and the raw materials are not hard to obtain, they are very suitable for home potting.
77.What substrates are commonly used in soilless cultivation?？
The cultivation substrate mainly plays the role of fixing the plant, retaining moisture, storing nutrients, and increasing air content. After the substrate is selected, attention should be paid to disinfecting it. At home, methods such as pouring hot water, steaming in a pot, stir-frying in a pan, or spraying several times with a 0.2% potassium permanganate solution can be used.78.Are there flowers that can be cultivated indoors without soil?？
Aglaonema modestum can be cultivated indoors without soil. It is a perennial evergreen herb, with jointed stems that do not branch, so it is also called bamboo-joint dieffenbachia. The leaves are ovate or elliptic-ovate, 10-20 cm long and 4-8 cm wide, emerald green and clustered. There is also a variety with irregular golden-yellow spots scattered on the leaves; both are good indoor foliage varieties.The stems of Aglaonema modestum root very easily. Placed in a bottle of clear water, it can not only be viewed for its leaves for a long time, but will also grow tender roots and become a new plant. Its stem and leaf sap is toxic; when cutting and dividing plants, never let the sap splash into the mouth or eyes. For potted plants, use fertile, loose, slightly acidic soil; as long as intense sunlight is avoided and the potting soil is kept moist, no special management is needed.
79.Can foliage plants grow in water?？
Some foliage plants can also grow completely submerged in water like aquatic plants, for example Aglaonema modestum, syngonium, peace lily, Peperomia species, and Brazil wood can all grow well in water. Planting them in transparent glass containers has an unexpected ornamental effect.Many foliage plants originate from high-temperature, high-humidity tropical rainforests and love hot and humid environments, and do not adapt to the dry conditions in home rooms. Therefore, some botanists also call this type of plant amphibious plants that grow on land during the dry season. Planting them in water is therefore very natural and very much in line with the needs of this type of plant.
A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part Two)
80.How should nutrient solution be used correctly?？
The containers filled with nutrient solution should be made of ceramic, plastic, or glass materials; iron products cannot be used, otherwise the nutrient solution will become ineffective. It is best to prepare it as you use it.Spring and summer are the vigorous growth periods for plants, and the fertilizer requirement is relatively large, so generally fertilize once every half month. By autumn, the amount of fertilization should gradually decrease, and applying once every 1--2 months is enough. In winter, because of low temperatures, the plants enter dormancy and stop growing, so there is no need to fertilize.
But if the plant has already taken shape, even in the vigorous growth season, only occasionally irrigate with a small amount of nutrient solution; applying once every 3--6 months is enough. If fertilized too frequently, the plant will continue to grow, thereby destroying its original shape.
Because the substrate of soilless cultivation itself has no nutrients, it can only rely on irrigating nutrient solution to supply plant growth. Nutrient solution is both scientific and hygienic, and cannot be replaced by other fertilizers.
81.How should flower seeds be collected and stored?？
When collecting herbaceous flower seeds, you must first master the seed maturity period and degree of maturity. When seeds are mature, the petals dry up and the seeds are firm and glossy. At the same time, collection should be timely, so as to avoid rotting from cloudy rain or scattering and loss. On the same plant, choose seeds from early-flowering and early-maturing plants to keep for seed; if variation is found in flowers or color, they should be collected separately and planted separately. The method of collecting flower seeds varies with the type of herbaceous flower. For some, the entire flower can be picked off and air-dried to obtain seeds, such as cockscomb and salvia; for others, the fruit can be rubbed and washed to remove the flesh, then sun-dried to separate out the seeds, such as Jerusalem cherry and winter cherry. There are also some seeds whose fruit skins easily split and scatter after maturity; these should be collected in time when the fruit changes from green to yellow and the seeds can be felt to be loose by hand, such as garden balsam and pansy.Commonly used methods for storing flower seeds include dry storage, sand storage, and water storage.
Dry storage: Most flowers can have their seeds dried in the shade, cleaned of debris, and put into bottles or thick paper bags, such as salvia and cyclamen. Place them in a ventilated room, and the room temperature should not vary greatly (5--10°C).
Sand storage: Bury the collected seeds in moist sandy soil, keeping the soil temperature at 0--5°C. This type of seed naturally has a dormant period under natural conditions; take them out one month before sowing, such as tree peony and Chinese peony.
Water storage: Some seeds should be soaked in water after collection, such as water lily; the water temperature should be kept at 5°C.
All kinds of seeds should not be exposed to the sun; they should be stored in a dark place, with attention to moisture prevention and rodent damage.
A Practical Guide to Home Flower Growing (Part Two)
82.What methods are commonly used for sowing herbaceous flowers?？
Sowing herbaceous flowers commonly uses broadcast sowing, drill sowing, and dibble sowing.Broadcast sowing: Often used for smaller seeds, such as aster, Michaelmas daisy, and snapdragon. Before sowing, first break up the soil finely and level it, water thoroughly, and after 1--2 hours, evenly scatter the seeds in the seedbed or flower pot, and cover with fine soil to the extent that the seeds cannot be seen. For seedbed sowing, in spring it is best to cover with plastic film and reed blinds; in autumn cover only with reed blinds. Before sowing, water thoroughly; generally no watering is needed before emergence, and if necessary a fine-spout watering can may be used to spray water. For pot sowing, cover with glass and newspaper to retain moisture and heat; if necessary, immerse the pot to let water seep up, and do not water directly, otherwise the seeds will be washed out or silted to one side and the germination rate will be affected. After the young shoots emerge, gradually remove the covering. For especially tiny seeds such as gloxinia, calceolaria, and wax begonia, the seeds should be mixed with 3--4 times their amount of fine sand and broadcast in the flower pot, with no further soil covering.
Drill sowing: Open shallow furrows in the seedbed or potting soil, sow the seeds into the furrows and press level; other management is the same as for broadcast sowing. Drill sowing is mostly used for taproot flowers that are not suitable for transplanting, such as corn poppy and morning glory.
Dibble sowing: Large seeds can be sown one by one, such as four o'clock flower and nasturtium; the soil covering thickness is about 3 times the seed diameter.
After the seeds germinate, appropriately restrict watering to control seedling growth, and thin the seedlings in time if too dense, maintaining ventilation and light transmission. When 2--3 true leaves have grown, divide and transplant; those tolerant of transplanting can be moved 1--2 more times, such as aster and garden balsam, and then set in flower pots or flower beds and other places. Some herbaceous flowers are not suitable for transplanting, such as corn poppy and cypress vine; it is best not to transplant them.
Correctly mastering the sowing time for various flower seeds is very important. Calceolaria and cineraria grow well when sown in autumn; zinnia has a long growing period and is suitable for spring sowing.
The Practical Complete Guide to Growing Flowers at Home (Part 2)83.How to sow seeds when growing flowers at home？
Asparagus fern, clivia, and annual or biennial herbaceous flowers are propagated by sowing. Choose plump, fresh seeds from superior mother plants. Some seeds need treatment because their seed coats are hard, to make germination easier. For example, lotus seeds have hard shells, so the top must be filed until the seed coat shows before sowing; seeds such as cyclamen, wintersweet, and wisteria should be soaked for 1--2 days before sowing to promote germination. To prevent the spread of pests and diseases, seeds should be disinfected by soaking in 0.1% mercuric chloride, 0.3% copper sulfate, or 1% formalin solution for 5 minutes, then rinsed clean with water before sowing. As for sowing time, spring sowing should not be earlier than the last frost; in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, mid-March is suitable, and autumn sowing can be done in September. Home flower growers sow only a small quantity, so a sowing pot can be used. If an ordinary clay pot is used, its diameter must not be less than 12cm, as a pot that is too small dries out easily. The growing medium used for sowing should drain well and must be sterilized with steam beforehand. At the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot, cross two arched shards to cover it, then fill with crushed stone or gravel 2--3cm, add 5 cm of growing medium, and on the top layer spread 1 cm of washed river sand as the sowing layer. After sowing, cover with fine sand at 2--3 times the diameter of the seeds. Do not water directly; water by the immersion method to avoid washing away the seeds. Cover the pot with a piece of glass, and cover the glass with newspaper to shade it, so as to maintain temperature and humidity inside the pot, turning the glass once a day to allow ventilation and remove water droplets from the glass. The sowing pot should be placed in direct sunlight and kept at a room temperature of 15--25°C to aid germination. If the temperature is too high, the seedlings tend to grow leggy; if the temperature is too low, the seeds rot easily. After the seedlings emerge, remove the glass and newspaper, gradually move them to a spot with ample sunlight, water according to whether the potting soil is dry or moist, and transplant when the seedlings have grown 2--4 true leaves
84.What propagation work can be done for flowering shrubs and trees in spring？
Between March and April, before the new buds of flowering shrubs and trees sprout and while the sap is not yet flowing, this is the suitable season for propagation, and the survival rate of propagation is high. For example: asparagus fern, broadleaf lady palm, heavenly bamboo, jasmine, and orchids can be divided for propagation when repotting in spring. Spider plant, lotus, bamboos, and the like can be propagated by cutting off new shoots on the creeping stems. Canna, dahlia, iris, and the like can be propagated by dividing tuberous roots or tubers that bear buds. Lily, gladiolus, narcissus, and the like can be propagated by taking the small bulbs produced by their bulbs or corms. Osmanthus, Chinese rose, lilac, and the like can be propagated by grafting their branches. Pomegranate, crape myrtle, honeysuckle, Chinese rose, and the like can have their branches cut; chrysanthemum, wax begonia, saxifrage, and the like can have their leaves cut, for propagation by cuttings. However, cuttings root easily only when the soil temperature is higher at the end of April. Annual herbaceous flowers such as ornamental pepper, scarlet sage, purslane, and China aster can be propagated by sowing.85.Why do some flowers and plants need asexual propagation？
Asexual propagation uses branches, buds, leaves, root suckers, tubers, bulbs, and the like from the mother plant, and carries out propagation through cuttings, grafting, layering, division, and other methods to cultivate new plants.Many flowers and plants cannot set seed because their ovaries have degenerated, such as poinsettia and Chinese hibiscus. Some flowers and plants native to tropical and subtropical regions also find it very hard to flower and fruit in the north, such as Swiss cheese plant, orchid tree, and jasmine. These flowers and plants therefore need asexual propagation.
Many flowers and plants are superior varieties selected through cross-breeding, and the superior traits of these varieties can usually be preserved only by adopting asexual propagation methods.
Asexual propagation methods can enhance stress resistance and increase ornamental value. For example, many varieties of ball cacti have relatively weak root systems of their own; when grafted onto the more vigorously growing triangular cactus, they grow and propagate relatively quickly.
86.What are the benefits of using vermiculite and perlite for rooting cuttings of flowering shrubs and trees？
Vermiculite and perlite were originally lightweight insulating building materials, with properties of drainage, insulation, moisture retention, many pores, and good aeration, which are exactly the conditions needed for cuttings of nursery stock to root. Practice has proved that using these materials for cuttings of flowering shrubs and trees brings fast rooting, little damage to roots when potting up, and a high survival rate.When using vermiculite and perlite for cuttings of flowers, water must be properly controlled to avoid excessive dryness or moisture. When taking cuttings in summer, shading is needed, and in the north plastic film should be used as a cover.
Although using these materials for cuttings of flowering shrubs and trees brings fast rooting, because vermiculite and perlite contain no nutrients, the rooted cuttings should be potted up promptly after they survive; otherwise the new roots quickly become "rusty" (that is, change from white to yellow) and gradually die
The Practical Complete Guide to Growing Flowers at Home (Part 2)
87.Is there a convenient and easy simple method for small-scale cuttings when growing flowers at home？
To ensure that cuttings survive, the cutting medium and the air must be kept moist, requiring frequent watering and spraying. For small-scale cuttings at home, pot cuttings can be used, but watering and spraying add quite a bit of trouble. Here is a convenient and easy cutting method that does not require frequent watering and spraying.Use a large clay pot with a diameter greater than 20 centimeters. First place a 8cm-thick layer of small stones, then add a layer of coarse sand as a drainage layer. In the center of the pot, place a small clay pot with a diameter of about 9 centimeters; the drainage hole in the bottom of the small clay pot should first be plugged with a cork. Outside the small clay pot and inside the large clay pot, fill in fine sand, vermiculite, or rice husk ash and other cutting media, insert the cuttings into the medium, then fill the small clay pot with water, and put a plastic film bag over the large clay pot, with a few small holes cut in the two upper corners of the bag for ventilation. Because the water in the small clay pot continuously seeps through the pot wall into the surrounding medium, the cutting medium can remain moist for a long time. And because the mouth of the large clay pot is covered with a plastic film bag, sufficient air humidity is also constantly maintained. This saves the troublesome work of uncovering the bag, watering, and covering the bag to retain moisture every day, while likewise creating environmental conditions in which the cuttings root easily.
88.Which foliage plants can be propagated by leaf cuttings？
Leaf cuttings are a unique propagation method, and not every kind of plant can be propagated from leaves. Foliage plants that can be propagated by leaf cuttings include: umbrella plant, saxifrage, strawberry begonia, violet-flowered gloxinia, peperomia species (watermelon peperomia, peperomia, tricolor peperomia, glossy-leaved peperomia, etc.), foliage begonia species (iron cross begonia, rex begonia, etc.), African violet, aloe, succulents, variegated snake plant, and so on.89.What is called layering propagation？
Bending down the branches on the lower part of the mother plant and burying them in the soil, prompting the adventitious buds at the nodes or internodes to sprout and grow new roots, then cutting them away from the mother plant and planting them separately, thereby forming a new plant: this propagation method is called layering propagation.Layering propagation is mostly used for flowering shrubs with a strong clumping habit or vines with soft branches. For some tree and shrub species that root with difficulty, the air layering method can also be used to let branches in the crown root before separating from the mother plant, providing more propagation opportunities for flowering shrubs and trees.
The advantages of layering propagation are that it survives easily, produces seedlings quickly, and is simple to carry out; a layered living branch can be layered again the following year, without wasting propagation material. The disadvantages are that the plant's organism cannot be completely renewed, growth is not vigorous, and the number of seedlings produced is relatively small, so it is not suitable for use in large-scale nursery stock production.
90.What is the air layering method？
Some woody foliage plants do not root easily when propagated from stem cuttings, and at this time the air layering method can be used for propagation. First make a ring of bark removed from the branch, then wrap it with moist sphagnum moss or cotton, and tie it firmly with plastic film or string. If the branch is soft, a bamboo stick can be used to support the layer to prevent lodging and breaking. About one month after layering, when roots grow at the ring-barked part, it can be cut off and planted separately. Carrying out air layering propagation between April and August each year is most suitable. But for the part taken as the air layer, do not choose old branches; a one-year-old young branch is best.The Practical Complete Guide to Growing Flowers at Home (Part 2)
91.How are flower and plant diseases caused？
The causes of flower and plant diseases: first, poor cultivation environmental conditions, such as excessive or insufficient water, light that is too strong or too weak, temperature that is too high or too low, insufficient or unbalanced nutrients, as well as diseases caused by smoke, dust, and harmful gas pollution; this is also called physiological disease. This type of disease affects the growth and development of flowers and plants, but is not contagious. Second, infection by pathogens, such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses invading the plant body, among which diseases infected by fungi are the most common. This type of disease can spread and become contagious rapidly under suitable environmental conditions.For diseases caused by poor environmental conditions, as long as cultivation management is improved in time to meet the requirements of the flowers' growth and development, they generally recover and become vigorous naturally. Diseases infected by pathogens, however, must be controlled in time. But these two types of disease are closely connected and mutually cause and effect. When flowers and plants grow weakly, they are often prone to diseases; sometimes when flowers and plants suffer insect pests, this can also lead to the occurrence of diseases.
92.What symptoms do physiological diseases of flowers and plants have？
Diseases caused in the course of the growth and development of flowers and plants by unsuitable environmental conditions are called physiological diseases. Diseases caused by insufficient nutrients are mainly stunting and chlorosis. If a plant lacks nitrogen, its height growth cannot be ensured; because the soil is too alkaline (in the north) or too acidic (in the south), the plant becomes weak and the leaves scorch; deficiency of phosphorus, potassium, and other trace elements can also cause flowers and plants to become chlorotic and wither. Lack of water during the growth and development of flowers and plants causes withering and stunting; too much water obstructs root respiration and causes root rot, and the plant also turns yellow and withered. Therefore, when leaves turn yellow and wilt, a careful diagnosis should be made before taking measures.
Recommended reading:The Practical Complete Guide to Growing Flowers at Home (Part 1)
The Practical Complete Guide to Growing Flowers at Home (Part 2)