When the temperatures begin to drop, the autumn flowers become silent protagonists of our gardens and balconies. Resistant, colorful, but also vulnerable, especially in the face of the first cold shots that come suddenly and without invitation.
Some seem to keep up with sparkling air, but other flowers give way to the first freezing gust. A gesture as simple as it is decisive, such as moving a vase or covering a plant, can make the difference between a flowering that turns off and one that resists with pride. There is no need to be experts or have green cover ings. Sometimes a glance is enough, a small idea, a caring touch to save the beauty of a season that still wants to be watched.
That mild perfume in the morning, when the window opens, deserves to last a little longer. And after all, the colors also speak: if they remain alive, we remain a little too.
Practical ideas to defend the flowers from the cold without upsetting the balcony
The first cold is like a silent thief: it does not make noise, but it can take away a lot. When temperatures go down below 10 degrees, many begin to suffer. That’s why it is useful to play in advance. Moving the vases is the simplest move and often also the most effective. Approach them to the wall, especially if exposed to the south, can offer a few more degrees during the night. If then there is a porch, a roof or even just a more repaired wall, the microclimate immediately becomes more welcoming. Another ally is the non -woven fabric. Light, breathable and very easy to use, it wraps around the plant protecting it from frost without suffocating it. It is not elegant, true, but effective yes. And after all, who has never preferred practicality to aesthetics to save their flowers?
Those who have more space can evaluate mini greenhouses or transparent plastic bells. They are easily found online or in the Garden Center, and the folding ones are also enough to make miracles. The most apt similarity? How to put a duvet to a plant. Finally, attention to the harm. In autumn, the less it is better. The cold and humid roots are the ideal soil for mold and rot. Better to wait for the soil to be dry before wet.
The most sensitive flowers (and those who resist most)
Not all flowers react in the same way to change the season. Some seem to ignore the cold, others collapse in the first stroke of an icy wind. Knowing them is the first step to really protect them.
For example, they are among the first to suffer. As well as the impatienssplendid but delicate. Also the Petunie Autunnalialthough more robust than the summer ones, they begin to perish with the first Brown.
I am cyclamenundisputed queens of autumn, seem almost to rejoice in fresh. They resist well, as long as the ground is not too humid. Also the pansy he is ornamental cabbage they hold the comparison with winter without too many problems.
Those who want to add color without worries can focus on:
- : rustic and decorative, loves fresh climates
- Calluna: similar to erica, it also resists at high altitude
- Skimmia: glossy leaf and red berries
- Chrysanthemums: explosion of autumn colors
- Geraschea: colorful leaves all year round
- Gaultheria: small red berries that last until Christmas
Having a mix of more and less resistant flowers also allows you to calibrate care. And if someone can’t do it, it’s not a failure: it’s part of the seasonal game.
Small nursery tricks (which really work)
There are little known precautions that the most experienced gardeners use every year. No particular tools are needed, but only attention and constancy. Some seem minimal, but make the difference between prolonged flowering and a vase to be emptied at the end of October.
One of these is wind control. The dry cold, combined with the breeze, dehydrated more than the low degrees itself. Creating a barrier, even with larger empty boxes or planters, helps protect the lower plants.
The watering time also matters: never in the evening, because the ground remains cold too long. Better in the morning, when temperatures start to climb and the plant can absorb water without stress.
Then there is the question of the soil. The too compact substrates retain more humidity, worsening the risk of rot. Mixing some sand or perlite makes the drainage more effective and the most “lighter” pot even in the cold.
Finally, don’t forget to observe. Plants often communicate the first signs of suffering with crumpled leaves, dull colors or soft stems. Acting immediately is better than running for cover later.
Sometimes, a flower that resists even just one week more is that extra touch that changes the mood of the short and gray days.
Like a small lantern that continues to shine in the twilight of the season.
Photo © Stock.adobe
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