How should summer flowers be managed? These few key points need to be mastered

(1) Strengthen the management of shade and sun exposure. In summer, many flowers need shading, while some need sun exposure.

Plants that need sun and not shade include: jasmine, white orchid (Michelia alba), Aglaia odorata, pomegranate, Chinese hibiscus, purslane, zinnia, cockscomb, night-blooming jasmine, pine, cypress, plum, peach, Chinese rose, grape, and plants of the Rutaceae family, etc.

Plants that need light but not direct sun include: asparagus fern, clivia, spider plant, camellia, and succulents, etc.

Plants that need shade and not sun include: Chloranthus spicatus, rhododendron, orchid family plants, foliage plants, etc.

(2) Grasp the characteristics and treat them differently. Because of differences in the ecological conditions of their places of origin and in their varietal characteristics, various flowers respond differently to the summer heat of the cultivation area, so specific analysis and differentiated treatment are necessary.

Bulbous and corm flowers native to regions with warm, humid winters and cool summers, such as cyclamen and fuchsia, fear the hot summer of Wuhan the most; when the temperature exceeds 30°C, they often shed their leaves and go dormant, thereby delaying flowering and fruiting, so they must be placed in a cool, ventilated spot with frequent misting of the leaves. If they do enter dormancy due to heat, watering should be restrained, and only after the temperature turns cooler and new buds sprout may water and fertilizer be gradually increased. Among cactus family plants, tall columnar varieties and varieties with flattened stem segments can endure strong sunlight and high temperature with drought; spherical varieties and succulents, however, need appropriate shading to grow well. Various begonias basically stop growing in summer; but herbaceous wax begonias placed in a bright spot can still grow vigorously; sun-loving plum, peach, wintersweet, Aglaia odorata, and jasmine can be moved outdoors to a spot with ample sunlight in summer; if there is continuous rain, especially midday showers, potted flowers should be laid on their sides to prevent water from accumulating in the pots. Lilies need a cool, ventilated spot; orchids, camellias, clivia, rhododendrons, and banana shrubs all need shading and also require increased air humidity; chrysanthemums, Chinese roses, osmanthus, and gardenias can all be placed in the open air to spend the summer; flowers that go dormant in summer, such as cyclamen, fuchsia, calla lily, geranium, and gladiolus, should be placed in a cool, ventilated spot, avoiding direct sunlight, with watering controlled to prevent the soil from being too wet, and fertilizing strictly prohibited.

(3) Reasonable watering. Summer temperatures are high, plants grow vigorously, transpiration is high, and water demand is relatively great. Generally, herbaceous potted flowers have a high water demand and must not be allowed to dry out in the pot; large woody flowers should have their water supply controlled; tropical wetland plants have a relatively high water demand; plants from arid desert regions have a relatively low water demand; those with large, soft, smooth, hairless leaves have a relatively high water demand. Those with small, waxy, fuzzy, or leathery leaves have a relatively low water demand.

(4) Timely pruning. In summer, because of high temperature, high humidity, and strong light, plants are driven to develop vigorously, with luxuriant branches and leaves and rapid growth. If this is not suppressed, strong branches stand tall, the main root grows excessively with few fibrous roots forming, affecting flower buds; in mild cases there are no flowers, and in severe cases the plant dies. Therefore, summer flowers should be pruned at the appropriate time. Pruning methods:

① Thinning branches: all kinds of dead branches should be cut off immediately; if branches and leaves are too dense and intertwined, affecting sunlight penetration and air circulation, and making pests and diseases highly likely to occur, their weak branches and residual branches should be cut off so that branches and leaves no longer touch each other, sunlight can reach them all, and air can circulate freely.

② Pinching: when new shoots have not yet become woody, remove their tips to suppress excessive terminal growth, make the branches sturdy, and promote larger flowers and fruit.

③ Tip pruning: when spring branches have already aged or excessive water sprouts have grown, cut off part or all of the branch tips.

④ Bud removal: thin out new buds and keep strong buds to save nutrient consumption.

⑤ Leaf removal: remove leaves that are too dense and useless, leaves that obstruct flowers and fruit, leaves that affect ornamentation, etc.