How to care for summer-dormant flowers? A detailed guide to care and management techniques

Bulbous flowers that love cool conditions and fear heat often adapt to the hot summers of the south through dormancy or semi-dormancy. At this time they grow slowly and their metabolism is weak. After dormancy, some varieties still keep green leaves, such as clivia (Clivia miniata), geranium (Pelargonium) and begonia (Begonia), which is called evergreen dormancy; some flowers lose all their leaves, such as narcissus (Narcissus), cyclamen (Cyclamen) and hyacinth (Hyacinthus), which is called deciduous dormancy. In summer, careful care must be tailored to this physiological characteristic so that they can safely get through the summer. Therefore, the following is required:

(1) Shade and ventilation

After summer begins, dormant flowers should be placed in a cool, well-ventilated spot, avoiding direct sunlight. If the temperature is high, water should also be sprayed frequently around the potted plants and on the ground to lower the temperature and increase humidity.

(2) Control watering

For summer-dormant flowers, the amount of water must be strictly controlled. If too much water is given at this time and the potting soil is too wet, root rot easily occurs; but if too little water is given, the plant's roots easily shrivel. Therefore, it is best to keep the potting soil slightly moist.

(3) Prevent rain exposure

Since the dormancy period of summer-dormant flowers coincides with the rainy season, if the plants are exposed to rain, or if water accumulates in the pots after rain, the roots or bulbs of the plants can very easily rot, causing leaf drop. Therefore, the potted plants should be placed in a spot sheltered from wind and rain.

(4) Stop fertilizing

During summer dormancy, because the plant's physiological activity is weakened and nutrient consumption is very low, no fertilizer needs to be applied; otherwise it easily causes root or bulb rot, or even the death of the whole plant.

In addition, after the tubers or bulbs of bulbous flowers such as cyclamen (Cyclamen), hyacinth (Hyacinthus), tulip (Tulipa) and freesia (Freesia) go dormant, their bulbs can be dug out, the dead leaves and soil removed, and they can be stored in a ventilated, cool, dry place (lilies and others can be buried in river sand). When the weather turns cool and the temperature gradually drops, these summer-dormant flowers will quickly perk up and begin new growth.