How to fertilize potted flowering plants correctly after they develop flower buds
Regarding whether flowering plants can still be fertilized after they have flower buds, opinions online are divided. Some say they cannot be fertilized once they have flower buds, while others say they should be fertilized moderately once they have flower buds. So can flowering plants actually be fertilized after they have flower buds? Personally, I think it depends on what kind of flower it is, what condition the plant is in, and how often it blooms, and cannot be generalized. Regarding the question of whether fertilization is possible once flower buds have formed, let me analyze it for everyone specifically.
If a houseplant blooms only once a year and its flowering period is also short, such as orchids, then as long as it is disease-free and growing normally, before it develops flower buds the plant has already accumulated enough nutrients for bud growth and flowering. Fertilizing again at this point would be somewhat wasteful and would cause excess nutrients, leading to early withering of the buds or a shortened flowering period.
If a houseplant blooms only once a year with a short flowering period, but the plant is not healthy, or usual care has simply not included attention to fertilizing, and the soil has not been changed for many years, then when it grows flower buds it is best to apply light fertilizer frequently, continuing until the buds are about to open and then stopping. This is because the plant has not stored enough nutrients to prepare for flowering. When nutrients are insufficient, the buds will wither early, or the buds will develop poorly and produce deformed flowers, with small blooms and pale color. Timely nutrient supplementation allows the buds to develop fully, which is the only way to ensure the quality of flowering.
If a houseplant blooms multiple times a year and its flowering period is relatively long, such as the representative Chinese rose and bougainvillea, the plant may have relatively sufficient stored nutrients when the first flush of flowers opens. If nutrients are not replenished in time after the consumption of flowering, the second round of flowers will become smaller or their color will fade. Therefore, during the bud stage, a small amount of dilute phosphorus and potassium fertilizer can be applied appropriately. By controlling the concentration and frequency well, the buds will grow no differently from the first bloom, and even if they bloom for a third or fourth flush, they will be just as beautiful. When some flower growers' Chinese roses and bougainvilleas bloom smaller and paler each time, it is very likely caused by fewer and fewer nutrients.
If potted Chinese roses, bougainvilleas, and other flowers with long flowering periods and large flower quantities are themselves unhealthy or lacking nutrients, then from the time they first begin to grow flower buds, light fertilizer should be applied frequently to replenish nutrients in time so they can bloom normally. If nutrients are not supplemented, the excessive consumption of the mother plant's nutrients for flowering may very likely lead to the death of the entire plant. For example, camellias truly bloom with desperate abandon, willing to risk their lives rather than give up their flowers. When there are too many buds while the plant is thin and weak and nutrients are not replenished in time, it will die from excessive nutrient consumption.
That is the end of the analysis on whether flowering plants can be fertilized after they have flower buds. I believe everyone should now have some understanding of whether flowering plants can be fertilized after they have flower buds. One word of caution for everyone: no matter what kind of flowers or plants they are, it is best not to fertilize during the flowering period, as it will cause the flowers to wither early and shorten the flowering period.