What are the precautions for watering flowers in high summer temperatures?

Entering July, the weather enters the hottest season of the year. At this time the sunlight is the most intense and the temperature is the highest, and with the slightest carelessness flowers will die from sun scorching or drought. Caring for flowers and plants during this period also requires some methods.

Flower species that enter a semi-dormant state at high temperatures, such as red wood sorrel (Oxalis), geraniums (Pelargonium), fuchsia, clivia (Clivia miniata), calla lily (Zantedeschia), begonias (Begonia), sedum (Sedum), kalanchoe (Kalanchoe blossfeldiana), cacti (Cactaceae), Haworthia cooperi, Stapelia grandiflora, string of pearls (Senecio rowleyanus), Dischidia nummularia, Daphne odora, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Portulacaria afra, aloe (Aloe) and so on, because the temperature is too high, their growth activity basically stops and their metabolic level is very low, so watering should be reduced

, keeping the potting soil moist, and paying attention to shading and ventilation to create a relatively cool environment for them. If watered too much, it easily causes root rot in the plants and also seriously affects their recovery growth after autumn.

Flower species that enter a deep dormancy state at high temperatures, such as cyclamen (Cyclamen), Lycoris, Persian buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus), bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) and so on, in July show withered above-ground stems and leaves, and the underground nutrient fibrous roots die off, surviving the summer dormant in the soil as underground stems or tuberous roots. For deeply dormant flowers, watering should be stopped, they should be moved to a cool place, and the potting soil should just be kept from becoming too dry.

For vigorously growing flower species, especially foliage plants, such as sago palm (Cycas revoluta), cast-iron plant (Aspidistra elatior), Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa), rubber tree (Ficus elastica), white orchid (Michelia alba), jasmine (Jasminum sambac), Aglaia odorata, Chloranthus spicatus, Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla), Calathea, Syngonium, red (green) gem, green giant, green king, green queen, pink-striped leaf, Brazilian iron, money tree (Pachira aquatica), camellia (Camellia japonica), sasanqua camellia (Camellia sasanqua), Aucuba japonica, firethorn (Pyracantha), bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), lemon (Citrus limon), Buddhist pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus), pomegranate (Punica granatum),

redbud (Cercis chinensis), wisteria (Wisteria), Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis) and so on, not only should the amount of watering be increased and the number of waterings be raised, but the leaves should also be given appropriate spraying, combining spraying and watering. Especially when consecutive cloudy days occur, because the temperature is relatively high and the air is dry, watering and spraying should likewise be given, and carelessness must not be allowed. Once the potting soil is found to be too dry and the leaves wilted, first spray the leaves, and after the leaves recover and stand up, then water the roots; the roots must not be watered heavily, otherwise it very easily causes woody flowers to drop green leaves, or leads to rotting of the plants' nutrient fibrous roots, and even causes the plants to die.

For potted plum (Prunus mume) specimens, since July to August is their flower bud differentiation period, appropriate water restriction should be given to promote normal flower bud differentiation. The method is: keep the leaves of the potted plant slightly curled inward on both sides to control vegetative growth; if the vegetative growth of the branches cannot be controlled, when the second new shoot puts out 2 to 3 leaves, keep only one leaf at the base and then pinch it off, and flower buds can still differentiate in the leaf axil of this leaf.

In July, when watering potted flowers, the few hours before and after noon should be avoided; watering before 10 a.m. and after 4 p.m. is preferable, so as to avoid too great a difference between water temperature and soil temperature, which affects the growth of potted ornamental plants. This month, if continuous rainy weather occurs, the flower pots should be checked promptly after the rain, and any accumulated water found in the flower pots should be poured out promptly; after the potting soil is slightly dry, loosen the soil once more, so as to avoid root rot in the potted plants.