Things you don’t know about growing flowers in autumn, practical and a must-read!

NO1 Increase light

In autumn, the amount of light exposure for flowers should be increased. Flowers placed in the shade in summer, such as bamboo palm, Brazilian iron tree, rubber tree, monstera, asparagus fern, etc., should be moved to a place with sunlight in the morning and evening in autumn. At the same time, apply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers mainly composed of nitrogen to the flowers. This will not only make the flowers grow healthily and luxuriantly, but also improve their ability to resist cold after winter.

NO2 Reduce watering

The climate is cool in autumn, with a large temperature difference between day and night, and the moisture in the potting soil evaporates slowly. The frequency and amount of daily watering should be determined according to the climate characteristics and the growth habits of the potted flowers. It is better to keep the soil in the pot alternately moist and dry.

As the temperature gradually drops, except for autumn-sown herbaceous flowers that bloom in autumn and winter or early spring, such as Christmas claw lilies, camellia, azalea, cyclamen, etc., which continue to be watered normally, the frequency of watering for other flowers should be reduced, and watering should not be done unless the soil in the pot is dry, so as to avoid excessive water and fertilizer, root rot, yellowing and falling leaves, or excessive growth of branches and leaves, which will affect the differentiation of flower buds and overwintering.

NO3 Pruning and shaping

In autumn, potted flowers have many tender buds, which cannot be left to grow freely. Weak branches should be pruned off appropriately to avoid wasting nutrients. The branches that should be retained should be treated with bud removal. For potted flowers that are forming flower buds in summer and autumn, such as plum blossoms, wintersweets, and azaleas, heavy pruning is not recommended to protect the already formed flower branches. Pruning can be done by pinching the tips.
Most flowers can be pruned and shaped in autumn, by cutting off diseased branches, dead branches, overcrowded branches, taboo branches, and overgrown branches, and performing coiling and shaping, laying a good foundation for the potted flowers to overwinter and grow the following year.

NO4 Repotting and changing soil

Autumn is a good time to repot potted flowers and change the soil. If the pot is small and the roots of flowers and trees grow densely on the pot wall, you can repot and change the soil or switch to a larger pot to facilitate growth.

NO5: Harvest and storage

Autumn is the season when herbaceous flower seeds mature, and the seeds should be harvested and stored in time. When collecting seeds, you should choose mother plants that are healthy and have good flower color and shape. They must be dried, wrapped, and placed in a ventilated, dry, low-temperature (0℃ to 4℃) environment for storage to prepare for next year's use. Sow snapdragons, gloxinia, tulips, etc. in time, especially begonias, primroses, and gerberas whose seeds easily lose their germination ability should be sown in autumn.

NO6 Seeding and cutting

The best time to sow herbaceous spring flowers such as cineraria and hollyhock is from September to early October. Remember to spray water after planting to keep it moist, and thin out the seeds in time after they emerge. September and October are also the best times for cutting, dividing, layering and grafting of flowers such as roses, jasmine, peony, peony, Milan, honeysuckle, magnolia and golden osmanthus.
For canna, dahlia, etc., you can cut off the above-ground stems and leaves before frost, dig out the rhizomes, remove the old soil, and place them in a pot with sand after drying for 1 to 2 days. If the soil in the pot is too dry, water it in small amounts, but don't make it too wet, so as to avoid premature germination and weak spring seedlings.

NO7 Disease prevention and pest control

Autumn is a good time to prevent and control diseases and pests of flowers and trees. Before bringing potted flowers indoors, you can spray them with preventive drugs to prevent overwintering pathogens and insects. If pests and diseases have been discovered, they must be treated thoroughly and in a targeted manner to prevent them from entering the house and harming the flowers and trees.

NO8 Enter the room at the right time

The time to bring potted flowers indoors should vary according to different flowers. Flowers that prefer warmth, such as Milan, jasmine, and asparagus fern, can be brought indoors early; flowers that are slightly or relatively cold-resistant, such as kumquat and plum blossom, can be brought indoors later. Except for cold-resistant flowers that overwinter outdoors, such as pine, cypress, holly, etc., and flowers such as red leaves and cotinus that can be appreciated after frost, it is best for most flowers to be brought indoors before the frost.

Five principles of fertilization in autumn

NO1 Apply fertilizer at the right time

After the beginning of autumn, the weather gradually turns cooler. For some foliage flowers, such as asparagus fern, spider plant, cycad, etc., generally apply thin liquid fertilizer once every half a month to keep the leaves green and improve their ability to resist cold; for chrysanthemum, camellia, azalea, etc. that bloom once a year, it is necessary to apply liquid fertilizer mainly composed of phosphorus fertilizer in time to ensure sufficient nutrients so that they can bloom more and larger; for rose, Milan, jasmine, etc. that bloom several times a year, they should be supplied with sufficient fertilizer and water to keep them blooming continuously; for some fruit-viewing flowers, such as kumquat, bergamot, pomegranate, etc., they should be applied with thin liquid fertilizer mainly composed of phosphorus fertilizer 1-2 times.

NO2 Appropriate fertilization

In autumn, fertilizing flowers should be combined with watering. According to the principle of "applying thin fertilizers frequently", thin fertilizers should be applied generally once every half a month. It is divided into base fertilizer, top dressing and foliar fertilization. The base fertilizer is added with the soil when potting or repotting. Top dressing is generally liquid fertilizer, such as bean cake water, etc. Foliar fertilizers generally use quick-acting fertilizers with a concentration of 0.1%~0.2%, such as potassium dihydrogen phosphate, urea, etc.

When fertilizing potted flowers, the principle of "eat less and more meals" should be followed, that is, fertilize more often but with a small amount of fertilizer each time. Generally, apply thin fertilizer water every 7-10 days, and once 15-20 days after the "Beginning of Autumn". As the flowers and trees grow bigger, the fertilizer concentration gradually increases. For example, the urea concentration increases from the initial 0.2% to 1.0%; the phosphorus and potassium fertilizers increase from 1.0% to 3.0-4.0%.

NO3: Fertilize according to the season

In spring and summer, flowers grow fast and vigorously, so you can apply more fertilizer. After autumn, the temperature gradually drops and the growth of flowers weakens, so less fertilizer should be applied. Fertilization should be stopped from late August to early September to prevent a second growth peak, otherwise the flower tissue cells will become tender and make it difficult to overwinter. For overwintering flowers, fertilization should be stopped as they are dormant in winter.
For potted flowers that bloom in autumn, such as dahlias, chrysanthemums, orange flowers, and cyclamen and Clivia that bloom in winter, more nitrogen fertilizers, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be applied to promote their lush flowering and leafing. For foliage-oriented plants such as conifers, cycads, bamboo palms, spider plants, and asparagus ferns, top dressing should be applied 1-2 times. This will not only keep the leaves green, but also increase their ability to resist the cold after winter. Generally speaking, before the Descent of Frost, flowers that need to spend the winter outdoors should stop applying fertilizer to avoid frost damage.

NO4 Control the temperature

It is not advisable to fertilize potted flowers around noon when the temperature is high or on rainy days, as fertilization at this time can easily damage the roots. It is best to fertilize in the evening. After autumn and winter, the temperature is low and the growth of flowers is slow, so no fertilizer is generally applied. In summer, the temperature is high and the flowers grow vigorously, so more fertilizer should be applied. When the temperature is high, the concentration of topdressing should be low and the amount should be small. Use dilute fertilizer water and apply topdressing several times.

NO5 Mixed application of pesticide and fertilizer

If pests and diseases occur during fertilization, appropriate amounts of agents can be added to the fertilizer solution, which can play a dual role of fertilizing and preventing pests and diseases.