What is the flower language of cotton? A complete guide to the correct care methods and techniques
In our daily outfits, we certainly cannot do without clothes, coats, underwear and so on made from cotton. Although it is so close to us, quite a few people still do not recognize it. Cotton is in fact not a flower, but the fruit of the cotton plant, and its true flower changes color over time: in its early stage it is milky white, then turns pink, red, purplish red, and finally brown. The flower language of cotton is very romantic: it means cherishing the people around you, and giving it to the one you love most in your life is more appropriate than anything.
Walking into a flower market, cotton is mainly available as fresh cut flowers and as potted plants. Let's talk about fresh cut flowers first: what you usually buy is cotton in the fruit stage. After buying it, you only need to cut off about 1 cm of the green stem at the base at an angle, then you can take out your favorite bottle and put it in. At this point no water is needed; just care for it as a dried flower, and finally place it in a suitable spot indoors.
As for potted plants, cotton likes a sunny, well-lit environment. When caring for it, it is best to place it somewhere it can receive more than 6 hours of light, and it must not be placed in a relatively dark place, because insufficient light will affect its growth and flowering.
The suitable daily temperature for cotton is 20 to 25°C. If the overall temperature exceeds 35°C, its growth is inhibited and it enters a dormant state. If the low temperature falls below 10°C, growth will likewise be hindered. It is advisable to pay more attention to temperature changes, and promptly add shading tools or move it indoors to a suitable temperature for care.
The growth of cotton not only needs suitable temperature; humidity is also a crucial factor. It prefers a high-humidity environment, and the ideal air humidity should be kept between 60%-70%. As long as humidity conditions can be guaranteed, its leaves and flowers will have a fresh and tender appearance later on. Therefore, when it comes to watering, the best approach is to follow a slightly moist soil state. Before watering, you can touch the potting soil with your hand; if it is slightly dry, you need to water it thoroughly in time.
Fertilizing is an indispensable action when growing flowers and plants. For cotton, fertilization can be based on its growth stage and the soil fertility conditions, choosing compound fertilizers such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.