It's the right time for flower care - don't miss these tasks before Qingming Festival

As we approach the Qingming rainy season, temperatures are rising accordingly. Although cold air still reaches the north, it is already quite weak, so you can now do some things for your potted flowers.

1. Repotting

Warmth-loving flowers such as Milan, jasmine, epiphyllum, spider plant, Monstera deliciosa, bird of paradise, sago palm and arrowroot can be repotted and given fresh soil, with dead branches and leaves pruned, and the soil loosened and weeds removed or fertilizer applied. For some cold-tolerant flowers, fertilizer can be applied along with repotting, soil replacement, pruning and loosening the soil. For example, Chinese roses are growing branches and leaves and developing buds, so a fertilizer combining nitrogen and phosphorus can be applied once every 10-15 days, while also thinning the buds appropriately.

2. Propagation

This month is an important period for flower propagation. Flowers such as canna, gladiolus, dahlia and caladium can be propagated by division of roots; water bamboo, palm bamboo, bamboo fern, spider plant, hosta and clivia can be propagated by division of clumps. When dividing dahlia roots, each plant should carry 1-2 sturdy buds. For caladium, the tubers can be taken out and the corms divided for planting: plant 1 large tuber per pot, or 2-3 small tubers per pot. Alternatively, when the tubers begin to sprout and grow leaves, cut the large tubers apart with a sharp knife and plant them separately, coating the cut surfaces with plant ash to prevent rot. Division propagation is generally carried out together with repotting. When dividing, be sure to leave some roots on the daughter plants to help their future growth.

3. Fertilizing

For flowers that bloom in winter and spring, such as camellia, Christmas cactus and Daphne odora, because blooming consumes a large amount of nutrients, a nitrogen-based fertilizer should be applied when growth resumes in the warm spring to promote their growth. For flowers currently in bloom, such as clivia, amaryllis and banana shrub, fertilizing should be stopped to prolong the flowering period.

4. Watering

In April, many succulents enter a period of vigorous growth. Watering can be adjusted according to the variety: fast-growing varieties can be watered more, while slow-growing varieties should be watered less. In short, you must both meet the plants' water needs for growth and avoid waterlogging, so for succulents that are growing, follow the rule of not watering until dry, and watering thoroughly when you do.

5. Succulent growth

In April the weather turns warmer, and succulents enter the golden season of growth for the year. Plants that have not been repotted can be repotted, given fresh soil, and propagated by division. Indoor plants can gradually be moved outdoors to receive sunlight and the spring breeze. If there is continuous rainy weather, be careful to prevent them from being exposed to rain for long periods, so that low temperatures and dampness do not cause the plants to rot.