Amazing tips for growing flowers at home (Continuation)

Turning Sawdust into Treasure

During home renovation, sawdust is often thrown away as trash. In fact, sawdust is very useful for us flower growers. We can turn waste into treasure~~

Cuttings

Sawdust is used as a cutting medium for plants such as roses, gardenias, and pomegranates. The effect is obvious and is far superior to soil or water cuttings. It also roots quickly, has many roots, and makes the plants strong. There is another big advantage: after the plant has taken root and survived, the sawdust can be moved into the potting soil together with the clumps of sawdust. This will not damage the roots, making it easier for the plant to grow and produce flowers and fruits earlier. I have even successfully tried to propagate species such as azalea, which are more difficult to propagate, and the tender tips of crabapples that are an inch long can also take root quickly. The reason is that sawdust has better water retention and air permeability than soil and is rich in oxygen.

Specific steps:

After putting the sawdust into the flowerpot, pour boiling water over it several times to disinfect it thoroughly. After the temperature drops, squeeze out the excess water (make sure that no water can be squeezed out of the wet sawdust), and then you can start grafting. The method is the same as for soil grafting. Keep the sawdust moist after planting and it will soon take root and survive. This method can be implemented all year round, but in winter it needs to be placed on a sunny windowsill with heating in the house.

High pressure dressing matrix

Sawdust is also superior to other substrates because of its loose texture and controllable dryness and wetness. It also grows roots faster, is safer, and has a higher survival rate.

Specific method: After the plant is ring-barked, fill the plastic bag with a substrate made of half wet sawdust and half loess, and then tie the two ends tightly.

As fertilizer

Fertilizer made from wet sawdust is nutritionally complete, economical, simple, clean and hygienic.

Specific method: Mix wet sawdust with an appropriate amount of inorganic fertilizer such as superphosphate, potassium phosphate or urea. It is better if organic fertilizer is added. Put it into a plastic bag and tie the bag tightly. Turn it over every two weeks to speed up its even decomposition. In spring and autumn, it can be used in about six weeks.

Note: 50% soil should be mixed in when using.

The above are just a few points, and I will not elaborate on the rest. In fact, sawdust has more uses than these. You can use your brain and give it a try.

(Oops, I forgot an important point. I'll add it now~~ Sawdust needs to be fermented before use.)

If you want to keep your flowers and trees healthy in winter, leave some grass in the pot

The reason why we say "keep" instead of "plant" is because there are often some weeds in our pots that come uninvited and grow luxuriantly on their own. The general reaction of flower lovers is to be extremely angry and want to get rid of the flowers as soon as possible, which is what is called cutting the grass at its roots.

My trick is not strange. It comes from the fact that flower lovers often point out that it is difficult to master the watering scale in winter. The roots are rotten, the leaves are falling, and Huahua’s life is in danger. Is there any simple way to help us quickly master the scale of watering? Yes, please be merciful and leave some weeds in the pot. Don't cut them completely.

Generally speaking, most varieties of plants are dormant or semi-dormant in winter, so they do not need too much water and the soil only needs to be slightly moist. Many flower lovers often rush to water the flowers when they see the soil turning white, thinking that the flowers may be damaged. In fact, this is not the case. Even if the soil surface turns white, the middle is still very moist. In this case, it would be strange if the flowers and trees do not have problems!

Leave some grass in the pot, not just any grass, but the green grass that can stand tall and resist the cold in winter. It's not that the more the better, three or five are enough.

When is it time to water? When should you not water? Look at the grass! If the grass is still green and standing upright, don't water it; if the grass is wilted and lifeless, water it immediately. The scale is that simple!

There are more benefits to leaving some grass in the pot: it can keep you warm in winter, protect you from the sun in summer, and decorate the surface of the pot - don't you think bare soil will look good? In addition, when loosening the soil, burying the grass in the soil will make green manure, which is enough to compensate for the loss caused by weeds competing with potted flowers for fertilizer.

I have been using this method for watering for more than a year and it has worked every time. If you believe it, you can try it too.

Note: 1. Plants that are still flowering and bearing fruit in winter are not included in this category.

2. This method is also applicable in other seasons.

Burying nodes to propagate bamboo forests

“I would rather eat without meat than live without bamboo.” This was true in ancient times, and it is still true today. When modern families use bamboo as a greening species around their homes or environments, it is natural that bamboo is one of the most popular species. It often takes "ten years" to grow a tree, but planting bamboo can create a shady and evergreen environment in just one or two years. On a moonlit night, the swaying shadows of bamboos outside the window add infinite interest.

Planting a few bamboos in a pot and adding one or two pieces of stone are also the favorite desk items in the hearts of many flower growers.

Bamboo is generally propagated by whips, but a few are also propagated by seeds. My method of propagation is less common (my cousin taught me), but the effect is very good - simple and easy, with a high survival rate. Bamboo lovers may wish to give it a try...

During the rainy season in early spring, select mother bamboos with full buds, and saw them between two nodes (leaving a node in the middle). Then fill moist fine sand into both ends of the bamboo tube, compact it, and seal both ends of the bamboo tube with clay. This is the first step.

Secondly, choose loose and permeable sandy loam. According to the thickness of the bamboo tube, dig a trench about 10 cm deep. Place the processed bamboo tube flat in the trench and bury it with soil. Press it slightly and then water it thoroughly. You're done. Remember to put the buds upward when burying the nodes, and do not knock them over.

Bamboo joints will grow new shoots in about 25-30 days. If you want to make bonsai, you can plant them in the pot during the rainy season.

Key points:

1. Choose thick bamboo for bamboo forest cultivation, and choose thin varieties for potted plants.

2. Be careful when sawing the bamboo tube so as not to crack it to avoid damaging the buds.

3. Water when the soil is dry and when it is wet.

4. After burying, it is best to cover it with some bamboo branches or dead grass to block out some of the sunlight.

Earth-made rooting agent can help you grow roots quickly and effectively

The weather is gradually warming up and the ground temperature is rising. It is a good season for cuttings again. There are many ways to do cuttings, and soil or water cuttings are generally preferred. But everyone's operating methods are different; plus, due to differences in plant varieties, rooting can be easy or difficult, which leads to differences in survival rates. In order to properly solve this problem, people like to use rooting agents such as naphthaleneacetic acid before cuttings. This is indeed effective and the rooting survival rate is also improved. But what if the place is remote and the goods are out of stock and you can’t buy it for the time being? Don't worry, let me introduce you to some homemade rooting agents. They don't cost money, and the effects are just as good as those bought.

Phosphate Fertilizer Liquid

As mentioned above, rooting agents such as naphthylacetic acid are actually a kind of rooting hormone. In fact, liquid phosphate fertilizer has the same effect. Because the substance "phosphorus" can effectively promote the growth and development of plant cells and tissues, and promote plant wound healing and rooting.

Specific method: Before cuttings, dilute the phosphate fertilizer solution with water, the ratio is 70% water to 30% fertilizer, then immerse the pre-treated cuttings (roots) in the fertilizer, with the water part accounting for 1/3 of the cuttings. After 2-3 hours, take out and rinse with clean water, and then cut as usual.

For general varieties such as camellia and rose, this method of cutting can make them take root 10-22 days earlier, with good root development and vigorous growth.

White sugar liquid

White sugar liquid is also a very good rooting agent, and it has been tested by many people and the effect is obvious.

Specific steps: First use hot water to melt the sugar, the ratio is 9 water to 1 sugar. After the sugar water cools down, you can immerse the cut cuttings in it. Take it out after about 40-60 minutes, rinse the incision with clean water, and cut off part of the incision with a sharp knife, and then you can proceed with the cuttings as usual.

After the above treatment, the survival rate of plants is much higher than that of general cuttings. Even for rhododendrons and camellias that are more difficult to root, the survival rate can reach over 90%.

Willow Extract

Willow sap is a very good plant growth agent. Its liquid is rich in growth hormones, so it can survive whether planted upright or upside down and has extremely strong vitality.

Specific method: Take some willow branches and leaves, smash them with a hammer, and then soak them in water. After one day, remove the branches and leaves, and the water is the willow extract.

The next day, you can immerse the cuttings for about 1 day (longer time is fine, willow sap contains ingredients that inhibit bacterial reproduction), and then plant them as usual. The roots grow quickly and in large numbers, and the plants grow healthily.