Detailed explanation of key technical points for indoor management of potted flowers

For potted flowers grown at home, the quantity is relatively small, and overwintering is mostly combined with indoor beautification, placing them in a study or living room; parks, botanical gardens, and industrial and mining units have more potted flowers, and most build greenhouses of a certain area for the flowers to overwinter. In addition to providing winter overwintering for cold-intolerant flowers, many small potted flowers that prefer shade and humidity, are intolerant of strong light, and are afraid of rain are generally cultivated in greenhouses. The winter and summer management techniques for greenhouses are described separately below:

1. Winter management of greenhouses

Heat preservation The temperatures required by flowers originating from tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate zones, or required for forced cultivation of flowers, are all different. Only when the temperatures they need are met can the flowers grow well and overwinter safely. For potted flowers, besides air temperature, this also includes soil temperature and irrigation water temperature.

Soil temperature The level of soil temperature directly affects the normal growth and development of flowers. If the soil temperature is too low, it will prolong the growth period of the flowers. Therefore, in winter, potted flowers should be placed where the potting soil can receive sunlight.

(1) Irrigation water temperature In winter, irrigation water for potted flowers in greenhouses must be brought into the greenhouse 24-48 h in advance for storage, and used only after the water temperature rises. It is forbidden to irrigate with cold water that is more than 10°C lower than the air temperature.

(2) Lighting Light-loving flowers can be placed directly under the light conditions in the greenhouse for cultivation. For shade-loving flowers, shading should be adopted. In order not to affect the glass's absorption of solar radiant heat during the day to raise the indoor temperature because of covering the outside of the greenhouse with curtains, tropical and subtropical native trailing flowers can be planted along the walls inside the greenhouse, allowing the branches and vines to climb all over the roof frame, creating a shady environment below.

(3) Air humidity Apart from succulent flowers, most flowers native to tropical and subtropical regions are not tolerant of the dry winter climate of the north. In order to cultivate such potted flowers well, creating a relatively moist environment is extremely important. To keep the air in a heat-preservation greenhouse moist, water can often be sprinkled on the ground and more water storage tanks can be built; artificial misting is best installed. In addition, according to the natural phenomenon that water temperature higher than air temperature produces large evaporation, using solar energy or warm steam return pipes passing through the water tank to raise the water temperature and produce a large amount of mist is even more beneficial for maintaining moisture for potted flowers.

(4) Ventilation and air exchange The air in the greenhouse must always remain fresh and circulating to facilitate flower growth. Therefore, at noon in winter when the temperature is relatively high, doors and windows should be opened for appropriate ventilation and air exchange.

(5) Watering In winter, potted flowers overwintering in greenhouses are mostly in a state of dormancy or slow growth and do not need a large amount of water, so watering should be controlled. Strictly grasp the principle of "water thoroughly only when dry." As for the forced cultivation of various flowers, watering should be the same as in the summer open-air placement season.

(6) Other matters Potted flowers overwintering in greenhouses in winter, because growth stops or slows, do not need many nutrients, so generally no topdressing is carried out. General management work such as intertillage and weeding, and clearing dead branches and fallen leaves, is also less than in summer.

2. Summer management of greenhouses

Many small potted flowers that prefer shade and humidity and are afraid of rain can generally be cultivated in greenhouses year-round. The main management work is:

(1) Cooling In summer, when cultivating potted flowers in greenhouses, cooling is important work. If cooling measures are not taken, excessive sunlight and excessively high temperatures will cause potted flowers to suffer sunscald, burning branches and leaves and even causing death. According to many years of practice, adopting the three-in-one method of strengthening ventilation, covering with curtains, and spraying water on the roof has a very good cooling effect, and can make the temperature inside the greenhouse slightly lower than or equal to the outdoor air temperature. If refrigeration machinery can be installed to lower the greenhouse temperature below 30°C, it is even more beneficial for the safe summering of flowers that are intolerant of high temperatures and native to high mountain areas.

(2) Shading Around noon in summer, cover the outer glass surface of the greenhouse with curtains for shade to weaken the light intensity inside the greenhouse.

(3) Strengthen ventilation In summer, the interior of the greenhouse is obstructed by the building structure, and air convection is often slow, so ventilation should be strengthened to make the air inside the greenhouse flow smoothly.

(4) Pest and disease control In summer, the air in the greenhouse is not circulating enough, the temperature is relatively high, and the humidity is relatively high, often resulting in stuffy and hot conditions. Many pests and diseases are extremely likely to occur, and ventilation and cooling measures should be adopted for prevention. Once discovered, they should be controlled promptly to prevent spread.