How should summer-dormant flowers be cared for so they sleep better?

The heat of summer is arriving, and some flowers are about to enter dormancy. Are you worried about how to manage these dormant flowers so they bloom more brightly in the next flowering season? Today we bring you some tips for the management and care of summer-dormant flowers, so our beautiful dormant flowers can sleep more soundly and better in summer.

First, let us understand what dormant flowers are, what benefits dormancy brings to flowers, and which flowers have a dormant period. Dormancy is a continuation of a plant's life activities and a special form of adaptation to unfavorable environments. After a flower enters dormancy, all physiological activities slow down or even temporarily stop. Under normal circumstances, evergreen flowering plants must have the temperature controlled within their required optimal growth range; only when they are not suited to their environment do they show a brief dormant state. Most tropical plants belong to this category, while temperate plants are completely dormant, and if they do not receive sufficient dormancy, their growth and development will be adversely affected. There are two types of flower dormancy: one is a temporary halt in growth caused by adverse external factors, called enforced dormancy; the other is a stagnation or cessation of growth shown at a certain period caused by the plant's own physiological characteristics, called natural dormancy. Within a year's growth cycle, plants always have periods of dormancy and semi-dormancy. Some flowers that are fully dormant in summer enter dormancy earlier, mostly beginning in early summer, retaining only the roots with all leaves shed, such as cyclamen, Lycoris aurea, and Lycoris radiata. Semi-dormant flowers begin dormancy in midsummer, with growth almost stopping or slowing and accompanied by leaf withering and shedding, such as dianthus, fuchsia, begonia, southernwood, geranium, and carnation. In summer care and management, it is necessary to target this physiological characteristic and provide careful maintenance so that they can pass the summer safely. Therefore, the following should be done:

1. Control watering and prevent rain exposure. For summer-dormant flowers, the amount of water must be strictly controlled. At this time, if watered too much and the potting soil is too wet, root rot easily occurs; if watered too little, the plant's roots easily shrink. Therefore, ordinary watering should be done sparingly according to the dryness and wetness of the potting soil, preferring slightly dry over slightly wet. At the same time, midsummer is a rainy season, which is very unfavorable for dormant flowers. Therefore, avoid exposing them to rain, and if water accumulates in the pot, use methods to control the pot so that the flower roots do not rot due to excessive water.

2. Pay attention to shading and ventilation. After summer begins, sunlight is intense and temperatures are relatively high, so shading measures should be taken. Dormant flowers should be placed in a ventilated, shady place, avoiding direct sunlight. If conditions permit, a sunshade can be built. At the same time, it is advisable to frequently spray water on the leaves of potted flowers to lower the temperature of the plant and around the pot, so as to help them get sufficient rest.

3. Pay attention to restricting fertilization. Shortly before potted flowers enter dormancy, a phosphorus-containing fertilizer may be applied once, but fertilization should stop for flowers that have already entered dormancy. Because the plant's physiological activities weaken and it consumes very few nutrients, no fertilizer is needed; otherwise, root rot or bulb rot easily occurs, or even the entire plant dies. In addition, after the tubers or bulbs of bulbous flowers such as cyclamen, hyacinth, tulip, and freesia go dormant, their bulbs can be dug out, dead leaves and soil removed, and stored in a ventilated, cool, dry place for the summer (lilies and others are buried in river sand). When the weather turns cooler and temperatures gradually drop, these summer-dormant flowers will quickly perk up and begin new growth.

4. Pay attention to leaf removal. In midsummer, for flowers that have entered dormancy or semi-dormancy, removing dead leaves and pruning old branches and weak, damaged branches is not only beneficial to the flowers' dormancy but can also help break dormancy earlier, favoring abundant flowering later.

5. Pay attention to pest and disease control. In midsummer, if dormant potted flowers are placed in an improper location, combined with hot weather and poor ventilation, they are also often prone to black spot disease, scale insects, and other pest and disease damage. Once discovered, promptly use Bordeaux mixture, fungicide, dimethoate, and other chemicals (use according to the instructions) for spraying and control.