Key Points for Sowing Flowers in Different Seasons and Scientific Fertilization Methods

Many people like to grow flowers. If you want the flowers you cultivate to have lush branches and leaves and brilliant colors, fertilization is a very important step. China Agricultural Technology Network introduces scientific fertilization methods for you.

First, look at the season. In winter, the temperature is low, plant growth is slow, and most flowers are in a state of stagnant growth, so fertilization is generally not applied; spring and autumn are both peak periods of flower growth, with roots, stems, and leaves growing, flower buds differentiating, and young fruits expanding, all of which require more fertilizer, so more topdressing should be applied appropriately; in summer, the temperature is high, water evaporates quickly, and it is also a period of vigorous growth for flower plants, so the concentration of topdressing should be lower and the frequency can be somewhat higher. At the seedling stage, more nitrogen fertilizer can be applied to promote rapid and robust growth of seedlings; at the bud stage, more phosphorus fertilizer can be applied to promote larger flowers and plump seeds; at the early fruit-setting stage, fertilization should be appropriately controlled to help fruit setting.

Second, look at the variety. Different varieties of flowers have different fertilizer requirements, so different fertilizers should be applied. For example, osmanthus and camellia prefer pig manure and avoid human feces and urine; southern flowers such as rhododendron, camellia, and gardenia avoid alkaline fertilizers; flowers that need heavy pruning every year require an increased proportion of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote the sprouting of new shoots; for foliage-oriented flowers, more nitrogen fertilizer can be applied; for flowers with large blooms, such as dahlia and chrysanthemum, an appropriate amount of complete fertilizer should be applied during the flowering period so that all flowers can open, with beautiful shapes and vivid colors; for fruit-oriented flowers, water supply should be appropriately controlled during the flowering period, and sufficient complete fertilizer should be applied during the fruit-swelling stage to achieve the expected effect; for bulbous flowers, more potassium fertilizer should be applied to help the bulbs become plump; for fragrant flowers, when they enter the flowering period, applying more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can promote a rich floral fragrance.

Third, look at the growth condition. Especially for potted flowers, fertilization should be based on growth condition to determine the amount. Adhere to the principles of four more, four less, and four no, namely: apply more when yellow and thin, apply more before germination, apply more at the bud stage, and apply more after flowering; apply less when vigorous, apply less at germination, apply less during flowering, and apply less in the rainy season; do not apply when there is excessive vegetative growth, do not apply when newly planted, do not apply in extreme summer heat, and do not apply during dormancy. At the same time, attention should be paid to four taboos: first, avoid concentrated fertilizer; second, avoid raw fertilizer (organic fertilizer must be fully decomposed before application); third, avoid hot fertilizer (in summer at noon, soil temperature is high, and fertilization easily damages roots); fourth, avoid sitting fertilizer, that is, when planting flowers, do not place the roots directly on the base fertilizer at the bottom of the pot, but add a layer of soil on top of the fertilizer and then plant the flowers into the pot.

In short, flower fertilization should be applied flexibly according to the type of flower and its growth condition. It is worth noting that fertilization is not suitable when the temperature is relatively high around noon, and base fertilizer should be applied when repotting or transplanting flowers.