Principles to Follow in Fertilizing Flowers and Ornamental Plants and Edible Mushroom Cultivation Techniques

1. Do not fertilize newly planted specimens. Newly planted specimens have many wounds; if subjected to external stimulation, they cannot heal and will develop root rot.

2. Do not fertilize during the flowering period. Fertilizing during the flowering period will cause bud drop, flower drop and fruit drop.

3. Do not fertilize during the dormant period. During dormancy, flowers and ornamental plants stop or slow their growth, their metabolism is slow and photosynthesis is poor; if fertilizer is applied, dormancy is quickly broken and the plant is prompted to resume growth, which consumes more nutrients and affects flowering the following year.

4. Do not apply concentrated fertilizer. When fertilizing potted flowers, the concentration must not be too high or the amount too large, otherwise the plants will wither and die. Generally, the principle of frequent application of dilute fertilizer should be followed, with a ratio of three parts fertilizer to seven parts water being ideal.

5. Do not apply raw fertilizer. If fertilizer that has not been decomposed is applied, it will not only easily breed insects and maggots, but often gives off a foul odor that pollutes the environment; moreover, it will ferment upon contact with water and damage the plant's root system.

6. Do not apply nitrogen fertilizer alone. When fertilizing flowers and ornamental plants, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be combined, and farmyard manure such as cake fertilizer, stable manure and compost is best used as the main source.

7. Do not fertilize diseased or weak specimens. The branches of diseased and weak specimens are thin and weak, their photosynthesis is poor, their metabolism is slow, and they cannot benefit from tonics; if fertilizer is applied, it easily causes fertilizer burn.