What to Do When Flowers Suffer Fertilizer Burn? A Detailed Guide to First Aid

If flowers are over-fertilized or given organic fertilizer that has not been fully composted and fermented, the roots are often burned, causing fertilizer burn symptoms such as yellowing and dropping leaves.

After fertilizer burn occurs, the following measures should be taken:

1. Immediately move the plant from sunlight to a shaded place; for plants grown in the open ground, provide shade.

2. First spray water on the plant to keep the branches and leaves from wilting.

3. Then pour a large amount of water into the pot so that the fertilizer solution is flushed out of the pot. For plants grown in the open ground, when watering heavily, dig drainage ditches around them so the fertilizer solution can drain away. The soil can be washed 2-3 times a day.

If the fertilizer burn is severe, the following measures for washing the roots and changing the soil are also needed:

1. Gently pull the plant out of the pot (or the ground) and soak the roots in clean water for 2-3 hours to thoroughly wash away the fertilizer solution from the roots.

2. Cut off the vast majority of the leaves and prune away most of the branches. Plants that tolerate pruning can be cut back more, while those that do not tolerate pruning should be cut back less, so as to reduce the plant's burden of nutrient supply.

3. If there are rotten roots, cut them off and wash the roots with a diluted solution of potassium permanganate, carbendazim, or thiophanate to disinfect and sterilize them.

4. Plant the plant in sterilized plain sandy soil, cover it with a plastic bag to reduce water evaporation, then place it in a shaded area for care. Every day, uncover the plastic bag for 1-2 hours to ventilate and prevent mold.

5. When new vitality appears on the branches and the buds are growing well, the plastic bag can be removed and the plant returned to normal care.