Recommended Flowers and Plants to Grow in Summer and Their Care Methods
In the scorching summer, choosing some flowers and green plants can add a touch of coolness to your home. So what flowers and plants should you choose in summer? And how should you care for them? There is quite a lot to learn. If the flowers are bright and vivid, they are more likely to give people an intense impression and make them restless, so for summer potted flowers it is best to choose light-colored flowers with a longer flowering period, or you can also choose some understated green plants as accents.
1. Mint. The leaves of mint grow in opposite pairs at the stem nodes, and can be ovate, elliptical, and so on, with leaf colors including green, dark green, and gray-green. Mint has a fresh fragrance with a slight spiciness. In summer it can drive away indoor dampness and miasma, and has the effect of refreshing the mind and repelling mosquitoes and flies.
Care points: Mint likes bright light but not direct sunlight, and at the same time needs plenty of moisture. For watering, it is recommended to water when dry and let it dry between waterings ("water when dry, let dry between waterings" is a common term in flower growing, meaning to water thoroughly each time, then wait until the soil is almost completely dry before watering a second time; its purpose is to prevent root rot caused by overwatering and pests and diseases caused by dampness). Another thing to note is that it cannot be determined whether potted mint sold at flower markets has been sprayed with pesticides, so it is best not to eat it.
2. Lavender. Lavender flowers are shaped like wheat ears, the narrow leaves are gray and downy, and the flowers are blue-purple, growing on slender stems. Although it is not blooming now and grows best in August and September, it has a unique herbal scent, so it can also be chosen at this time. The cultivation of lavender was already quite widespread in Roman times, and it is called the "queen of herbs." Its fragrance can refresh the mind and brighten the eyes, make people feel comfortable, relieve anxiety, and also repel mosquitoes and flies.
Care points: Lavender needs plenty of sunlight and a suitably humid environment; an environment that can provide full sun is better. It is semi-heat-tolerant, prefers coolness, and likes warm winters and cool summers. In summer, at least 50% of the sunlight should be blocked, and ventilation should be increased to lower the ambient temperature. Lavender does not like water to remain around its roots for long. After watering thoroughly once, you should wait until the soil is dry before watering again. For the second watering, it is best to do it when the soil surface is dry, the interior is moist, and the leaves are slightly wilted.
3. White Phalaenopsis. Phalaenopsis has broad, large leaves, and one to several arching flower stems. The flowers are large and shaped like butterflies, with graceful flower forms. It is a treasure among tropical orchids and has the reputation of being the "queen of orchids." Phalaenopsis comes in many colors. In summer, white is suitable; white is a cool color that looks refreshing and elegant, calm and quiet. Care points: Phalaenopsis likes shade, and room temperature should not be too high. It likes a ventilated, humid environment, requires air humidity to remain around 60%-80% regularly, and needs air circulation, preferably with a gentle breeze. It dislikes hot dry winds, and there should not be too much water accumulation in the pot.
When choosing Phalaenopsis in summer, you can focus on two points: first, there should be many buds, and second, the petals should be thick, so that the flowering period can be maintained for a relatively long time.
4. Jasmine. Jasmine has emerald-green leaves and pure white, elegant flowers. There are single-petaled, double-petaled, single-leaf, and compound-leaf types. Its floral fragrance is fresh and striking. It blooms every year in late spring and early summer, and its flowering period is from July to October. Care points: Jasmine likes fertilizer, especially because its flowering period is long, so it needs more fertilizer. During the growing period, apply a thin cake fertilizer once a week. It likes warmth and humidity, and grows best in a well-ventilated, semi-shaded environment. In midsummer, water it every morning and evening. If the air is dry, supplementary misting is needed.
5. Golden-edged snake plant. The rhizome is roll-shaped, the leaves are sword-shaped, the leaf edges are wide yellow borders, and the center of the leaf has green-white horizontal stripes alternating in a wave pattern. Care points: Golden-edged snake plant is a perennial herbaceous plant. It is evergreen all year round and will grow taller year by year. If cared for properly, it will also bloom. Golden-edged snake plant likes sun, so it can be placed in sunny places such as a balcony or sunroom, and watering once every two or three months is enough.
6. Pothos
A climbing vine foliage plant. The leaves are heart-shaped with yellow spots, and the stems are slender and soft. As it "ages," the rhizomes gradually grow longer and can reach the ground.
Image and text source: Internet
Care points: Pothos is also evergreen all year round and shade-tolerant, so do not place it in a strong-light environment. If the growing medium or nutrient granules feel dry to the touch, it needs watering. It can be allowed to climb onto a column wrapped with palm fiber and placed in an entrance hall, or trained into a hanging form and placed in a study or on a windowsill. On top of furniture cabinets, place a cachepot high up and let its vines hang down freely, or after the hanging vines grow too long, loop and hang them into a ring, just like an emerald relief.