Detailed Guide to the Care Essentials and Methods for Courtyard Flowers
Courtyard flowers cover a wide range of species, and because their places of origin differ in environmental conditions, their water requirements differ as well. Suitable soil moisture is an important guarantee for the growth of flowers and trees. Generally speaking, soil moisture is best at a water content of 60%-70%. Above 80%, the soil air content is low, root respiration is inhibited, and flower growth will be affected. But for flowers with strong drought resistance, such as Yucca gloriosa (Spanish dagger), dragon fruit, Pelargonium grandiflorum, and Robinia pseudoacacia 'Golden', if the soil water content is too high, it instead affects the growth and development of the root system.
How to judge when to water: when leaves droop, it is the most obvious sign of water shortage, and water must be replenished promptly at this time. When leaves wilt and droop, their growth will weaken, which is not conducive to the normal growth of the plant. Water must be replenished promptly and moderately before the leaves droop. To know for sure whether the flowers need watering, insert a bamboo pole deep into the soil, leave it for 1 minute, and then pull it out. If there is soil stuck to the bamboo pole or water marks that cannot be seen, there is no need to water; if there is no soil stuck to the bamboo pole or no water marks can be seen, then watering is needed.
Courtyard flowers involve many kinds, and together with differences in tree age, geographical location, and orientation, their water requirements also differ. According to seasonal changes.
A brief explanation is as follows:
Watering flowers in spring:
Although the temperature gradually rises, there are often unstable fluctuations, rising and falling. Water should be supplemented appropriately according to temperature changes. For trees and shrubs already growing normally and bulb flowers planted in the ground, special watering is generally not needed, unless there has been no rain for a long time and they are at the stage of sprouting new buds or forming buds; then appropriate watering is beneficial for new leaf growth and flowering. For newly planted trees and shrubs, in order to ensure survival, timely watering is needed to keep the soil moist. But the soil must not be too wet; as long as the soil is slightly dry, water it. However, the temperature of the water must not differ too much from the soil temperature; too high or too low will damage the roots.
Watering in summer:
As the temperature rises, the water demand of courtyard flowers increases accordingly, and leaf water shortage and wilting must be prevented. Early summer is in the plum rain season, with ample rainfall, so woody flowers generally do not need watering. Be careful not to let the soil become waterlogged, and drain promptly. In midsummer, if there are continuous high-temperature days, evaporation is high; for some trees and shrubs that cannot tolerate drought and high temperatures, pay attention to supplementary irrigation and spraying water on the leaves in the morning and evening to keep the leaves fresh and upright. For herbaceous flowers, the soil still needs to remain moist. Some bulb flowers whose leaves have withered and entered dormancy do not need watering; keeping them dry is sufficient.
Watering in autumn:
The temperature begins to drop, the daily temperature difference gradually increases, rainfall clearly decreases, and the number of clear days increases. In early autumn, the temperature is sometimes still relatively high and the air is relatively dry. For most courtyard flowers, this is the stage of the second rapid growth period, so the soil must remain moist. Water can be sprayed appropriately on the leaves; never spray water on flowers or on hairy leaves. Maintaining relatively high air humidity is very beneficial to the growth of flowers and trees.
Watering in winter:
Outdoor temperatures change markedly. In early winter, in the north, the temperature has already dropped to around 0 degrees, and frost will occur in the Yangtze River basin region. Most courtyard flowers basically stop growing, and some bulb flowers planted in the ground are in the process of rooting. At this time, watering is usually stopped to prevent the soil from becoming excessively wet, which would cause root rot. Entering the severe cold of winter, rainfall decreases and snowfall increases. At this time, soil moisture is not a problem. But prevent branches from breaking due to accumulated snow.