Houseplants are all killed by overwatering: a summary of 6 key points and methods for watering flowers

Watering potted flowers is a routine management task in the process of growing flowers. It is both ordinary and yet very important, and should be taken seriously by flower growers. One particularly important point is this: when watering, you should grasp the principle of the potting soil "drying and wetting alternately," which not only satisfies the flowers' water needs but also maintains the oxygen content in the soil, allowing the flowers to grow and develop normally. Specifically, when watering flowers, you must master the 6 key points in this article.

1. Water quality

Water is divided into hard water and soft water according to its salt content, and soft water is preferable for watering flowers. Among natural waters, rainwater (or snow water) is the most ideal, because rainwater is a nearly neutral water that contains no minerals and also contains more air, making it the most suitable for flower growth. Next best is river water or pond water. If using tap water, it must first be stored for 1-2 days to let the chlorine in the water dissipate before use. Note that you must not use laundry water containing soap or washing powder, or dishwashing water containing oil and grease, to water flowers.

2. Water temperature

When using well water or tap water to water flowers, in summer it should first be stored for 1-2 days, which can raise the water temperature and reduce the temperature difference between the water and the potting soil. If cold water is poured directly under the scorching sun, the soil temperature suddenly drops, stimulating the root hairs, which hinders the normal absorption of water, leading to "physiological drought," causing the leaves to scorch, and in severe cases causing the plant to die.

3. Water according to the season

In spring and autumn, water at 10-11 a.m. or 3-4 p.m.; in summer, water in the morning or evening when the temperature is low; in winter, water between 1-2 p.m., and it is better to choose a sunny day. The amount of water should be such that the soil is uniformly moist from the surface of the pot all the way to the bottom. The water temperature and soil temperature should be kept close; slightly higher in winter and slightly lower in summer, but the temperature difference between water and soil must not exceed 5°C. If the water temperature is too low, it easily inhibits the normal growth of the roots, especially when the flowers are growing vigorously, the growth of the root system is inhibited, which will cause the flowers' physiology to become disordered, growth to stop suddenly, and cause leaf drop, flower drop, and fruit drop.

4. Water according to the climate

When the temperature is high or on windy days, water more; when the temperature is low or on cloudy days, water less; on rainy days, water less or not at all; when there is too much rain, potted flowers should be covered; when water accumulates, tip the pot to drain the water. Some flowers' leaves and leaf clusters need to be dry, so watering should be done when there is light or when the temperature is relatively high, so that the water stuck on the leaves can evaporate quickly, but most flowers have no special requirements.

5. Water according to the flowers' habits and growth conditions

Some heat-fearing flowers (such as cyclamen, fuchsia, etc.) and shade- and moisture-loving flowers (such as rhododendron, orchid, camellia, etc.) need frequent spraying of water on the leaves and the surrounding environment to keep the air at a considerable humidity as well, which is very beneficial to their growth and development. Tropical orchids, Araceae, Bromeliaceae flowers, and ferns also need frequent spraying. Some flowers are very sensitive to moisture, for example gloxinia, calceolaria, etc., whose leaf surfaces have a thick fuzz, so water falling on them is not easily evaporated and easily causes the leaves to rot. In short, moisture-loving flowers can be watered more; drought-tolerant flowers should be watered less; flowers with large, soft leaves should be watered more; flowers with small, waxy leaves should be watered less; herbaceous flowers should be watered more, woody flowers should be watered less.

Seedlings and delicate flowers, as well as newly potted cuttings that have not yet rooted, should all be sprayed with a suitable amount of extra water. Water more during the vigorous growth period; water less during dormancy and slow growth periods; water more when buds are forming; water less at full bloom.

6. Never water too much

If potted flowers are watered too much, the water fills the soil gaps, the soil air is replaced by water, causing a lack of oxygen in the soil, and the root tissue will, due to the lack of oxygen, suffer from breathing difficulty,

its metabolic function decreases, and water and fertilizer absorption is hindered; over time the flowers will suffocate and die. Scientific experiments show that if the oxygen content in the soil is below 10%, it will inhibit the absorption of the flower root system, and further affect the physiological function of the whole plant. At the same time, due to the lack of oxygen in the soil, the normal activities of aerobic microorganisms such as nitrifying bacteria and ammonifying bacteria, which decompose organic matter in the soil, are hindered, and they cannot effectively decompose the organic matter in the soil, thereby affecting the supply of mineral nutrients. Due to the lack of oxygen in the soil, anaerobic microorganisms such as butyric acid bacteria multiply and become active in large numbers, producing a series of toxic substances that directly poison the roots, and can also cause the root system to die from poisoning.