What to Do When Flowers and Trees Fear the Cold? A Detailed Guide to Cold and Frost Protection Methods
Every winter is a rather distressing season for flower growers, because temperatures drop quickly in this season, and flowers and trees that "fear the cold and frost" will be frostbitten or frozen to death. What methods should flower growers adopt so they do not have to watch helplessly as their flowers and trees suffer from the cold?
One: Prune the Branches
As the weather turns colder, some flowers enter dormancy. For flowers and trees that bloom at the tips of branches, such as Chinese rose, jasmine, hibiscus, Hibiscus mutabilis and pomegranate, they should be "given a makeover" before being brought indoors: cut away old, weak, diseased and dead branches as well as leggy, overly dense branches. This helps air circulation, encourages new branch growth, reduces nutrient consumption, and lays a foundation for better overwintering.
Two: Expand Pots and Add Soil
For flowers and trees entering the growth period, such as poinsettia, clivia, cyclamen and rhododendron, which have passed dormancy and are beginning their peak growth season, the pots should be appropriately enlarged, soil added, and organic flower fertilizer applied before bringing them indoors, to provide sufficient nutrients for the flowering period around the Spring Festival.
Three: Prevent and Control Pests and Diseases
Some flowers and trees, after being scorched by high summer temperatures and then suffering damage from pests and diseases such as aphids, red spider mites and whitefly in autumn, must undergo a thorough pest and disease control treatment before being brought indoors. Never bring pests into the room.
Four: Improve the Environment
In northern winters, indoor conditions for growing flowers are relatively poor. Before bringing them indoors, you can, according to the habits and characteristics of the flowers and trees, create a "microclimate" indoors suited to the growth of different flowers and trees, based on their respective needs for temperature, light and ventilation, whether they are dormant, in peak growth, or budding and blooming. For example, set up an insulated balcony and keep the temperature above 5°C, so that dormant flowers and trees can overwinter normally; or make full use of windowsills and floor-to-ceiling doors and windows to set up flower racks, plastic film shelters, etc., creating a good growing environment for the flowers and trees.
In winter, flower growers should promptly move potted flowers placed outdoors in courtyards, flower beds, windowsills, balconies and other places indoors. But before bringing them indoors, the preparatory work must be done well in order to truly prevent flowers and trees from suffering frost damage.