Several Issues to Note When Raising Southern Flowers in the North
The editor will talk about the planting knowledge of flower care, several issues to note when raising southern flowers in the north, and the editor will explain in detail for you next.
How to raise southern flowers well in the north is a frequently discussed topic among northern flower enthusiasts. The author believes that in order to raise southern flowers well in the north, one must first understand the natural conditions of the original habitat of the flowers, and then create a suitable microenvironment for their growth according to the ecological habits of each flower, supplemented by careful and meticulous care, which will certainly make the flowers bloom as desired and compete in beauty. Here are some issues that should be noted when caring for southern flowers in the north for reference.
I. Choose Suitable Cultivation Soil
Most southern flowers raised in the north are transported from the south, and bare-root seedlings should be immediately potted, and those with original pots should also be repotted after one year of cultivation in the north. So what kind of soil should be chosen as the cultivation soil? Based on practical experience, the cultivation soil for southern flowers should have an acidic or neutral reaction and good permeability. The specific type of soil suitable for different flowers should be treated differently. For example, white orchids should use plain sandy soil, azaleas should use orchid soil, and milky, gardenia, and jasmine can use a mixture of decomposed leaf soil, garden soil, and coarse river sand in a ratio of 5:3:2 to make the cultivation soil, but it must be disinfected before use.
II. Control Temperature and Light
Southern flowers prefer a warm environment, and high or low temperatures are not conducive to their growth. Based on the author's experience, it is best to move various flowers outdoors after Guyu (Grain Rain) in spring, when there is no more late frost and the temperature is relatively stable, with little temperature difference between day and night. In early October, all kinds of flowers can be moved indoors one after another, but must be completed before the first frost. The general order is: white orchid, laugh orchid, azalea, gardenia, milky, jasmine, cassia, daisy, and kumquat. The room temperature in winter must be kept between 10°C to 18°C, with a day-night temperature difference of about 4°C to 6°C. Too low temperatures can cause frostbite, while too high temperatures can affect dormancy and consume nutrients, which is not conducive to blooming the following year. Insulating in early spring is also very important, as many flower enthusiasts have ignored it, causing many flowers to survive winter but not spring.
Of course, with the rise in temperature, it is also necessary to open windows for ventilation and hardening seedlings appropriately, but do not suddenly cut off the heat source, as this can easily cause the plants to catch a cold, or even”全军覆没”. In the summer, the temperature in the north is relatively high, exceeding 30°C, and flowers like azaleas enter a dormant state and should be kept in a cool and well-ventilated place. If kept in a greenhouse, measures such as shading, misting to increase humidity, and ventilation should be taken to lower the temperature. Milky, white orchid, gardenia, and jasmine are in the peak growing and flowering season, and as long as there is enough water and they are not exposed to the scorching sun, they are not afraid of high temperatures and can safely survive the summer.
Light control is a key factor in raising southern flowers in the north. Generally speaking, southern flowers prefer light but are afraid of direct strong sunlight. The weather in the north in summer is dry and sunny, with strong UV radiation, so proper shading is very important. However, excessive shading is not conducive to budding and flowering, and even if there are flowers, they are not fragrant. Gardenia, milky, jasmine, and white orchid should be shaded by 50% of the light, especially avoiding direct sunlight at noon, as it can easily cause the leaves to turn yellow and burn the edges. From the time flowers are moved outdoors in spring until mid-May and after mid-September, various flowers can accept full sunlight. In winter, when kept indoors, more light should be provided.
III. Strengthen Water and Fertilizer Management
Most southern flowers prefer a humid environment but are generally afraid of waterlogging. Therefore, watering them requires mastering the right amount and water quality. The time and frequency of watering should be treated differently according to the season. Generally, the frequency of watering before the beginning of spring and after the end of autumn is the same (for outdoor cultivation), and water can be given every 3 days. In summer, water should be given thoroughly every morning and evening, but less or no water should be given on cloudy or rainy days. If rain-soaked, the accumulated water in the pot should be promptly drained to prevent root rot. In winter, watering should be controlled to keep the potting soil slightly moist.
It is worth mentioning that azaleas should control watering during the flowering period, while white orchids, milky, and jasmine are in full bloom in summer and require more water, as mentioned above, water should be given thoroughly in the morning and evening. The water in the north is more alkaline and long-term use can cause soil compaction and yellowing of the plants. Rainwater or snowwater can be used for home care, but it is not suitable for large-scale care, so improving water quality is very important. The main measures to improve water quality are: adding an appropriate amount of ferrous sulfate or white vinegar to the water, making it acidic.
Also, due to the dry weather in the north, it is also necessary to spray the plants regularly. This can effectively increase the humidity of the air and wash off dust on the leaves, which is beneficial for photosynthesis. Generally, once a day in spring and autumn, once every two days in winter, and twice in summer, morning and afternoon. When spraying in winter, attention should be paid to water temperature and time, and it should be done at noon when the temperature is higher, and the water temperature should be close to the room temperature.
Fertilizing southern flowers should follow the principle of”frequent application of thin fertilizer” and absolutely prohibit the use of concentrated or raw fertilizer. Liquid fertilizer is best for southern flowers, which can be made by soaking and fermenting sesame paste or horse hoof slices in water and then diluting it. It can be applied once every 10 days during the growing period and alternated with potassium dihydrogen phosphate. This not only balances the nutrition of the plants but also makes the flowers large and colorful. In addition to azaleas, flowers that bloom multiple times in summer, such as white orchids and milky, should adjust the frequency of fertilization according to the number of flower buds to provide the nutrients needed for flowering in time, but water should be applied promptly after fertilizing. Generally, no fertilizer is applied in winter.
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