Keeping live plants around the house or in the backyard can completely liven up the space. It can be so frustrating when you buy a beautiful blooming plant from your local grocery store or nursery only to have it wilt or turn yellow a week later. When the blooms drop off or shrivel up, it can feel like a waste of time and money. If you want to get the most out of your potted plants, try these tips to keep the flowers blooming as long as possible.
Choose Wisely
When buying your plants, make sure to pick ones that are green but have no flowers on them yet. They will acclimate to the garden or the pot better than plants that are already blooming. Make sure to transplant them soon after purchasing and don’t let them outgrow their pots. These young plants will adjust better to their new environment and bloom longer.
Deadheading
Deadheading is the process of removing dead blooms from the plant. This will stop the plants from putting energy into making seeds and cause them to make new blossoms instead. Plants that will especially benefit from deadheading include geraniums, marigolds, pansies, petunias, snapdragons, sweet peas, and zinnias.
Disbudding
Disbudding is a process that helps dahlia and rose plants and also works with camellias and peonies. This process encourages blooms to grow larger and last longer. To disbud a plant, remove all of the lateral buds as soon as they appear, focusing all of the plant’s energy on the terminal buds.
Feed Often
Annual plants spend a lot of energy making buds and producing blooms. In order to support them in their efforts, feed them water-soluble fertilizer every three to six weeks. The fertilizer will make sure that the plants have enough energy and nutrients to keep growing.
Pinching Back
Pinching a plant back will keep it from getting too tall and encourage it to grow bushier and produce more flowers. Generally, pinch back plants when they’re around four to six inches tall, snapping off as much as one-third of the upper part of the plant right above a node. Mums, asters, petunias, and zinnias will benefit from pinching back.
Water Well
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Annual plants don’t have deep roots, so they will need to be watered whenever the top inch of the soil is dry in order to keep it alive and healthy. In the hottest parts of the summer, some plants in especially warm areas must be watered multiple times a day. However, make sure not to overwater, as the roots will rot.
Weed Often
Make sure to weed the pots or garden beds frequently. The weeds will steal vital nutrients from your plants, making it more difficult for your plants to grow and produce flowers. Keeping the area free of weeds will ensure that your plants have enough energy to reach their full potential.
If you want to decorate your home or garden with fresh flowering plants this season, get the most out of them by keeping the flowers around as long as possible. By following these tips, you may be able to keep the blooms around much longer. No matter what kinds of flowers you’re growing, they will thank you for keeping them healthy and strong.
