Flowering Annuals--let Them Bloom!

It is impossible to resist those flowering annuals at the garden center this time of year—and why should you? Buy annuals early in the year so you can enjoy them all season long. Here are a few tips:

Choose annuals that are not yet in full bloom. Those colorful flowers may lure you into the nursery, but you want young plants with plenty of life still ahead.

Pinch off some blooms to encourage more green growth. This way, you’ll get larger, fuller plants and more flowers later on.

Carefully slide one or two plants out of their pots to check the root system. If the roots are wrapped in a tight, dense ball, the plant is potbound and may not grow much beyond its current size. Look for sturdy, healthy roots that can easily spread out into the surrounding soil.

Use a premium planting mix like Fox Farm Original Planting Mix or, in the case of containers, Ocean Forest Potting Soil. Flowering annuals need the very best soil in order to keep looking good all season long.

 

Start with our Peace of Mind Starter or Happy Frog Jump Start fertilizer, working into the soil according to package directions when you plant. Continue with Peace of Mind Fruit & Flower throughout the growing season, scratching it into the soil and watering well about once a month. If you’d rather use a liquid fertilizer, try our fabulous organic Big Bloom.

Throughout the growing season, continue to pinch off spent blooms to encourage more flowering, and make sure container plants get plenty of sun on hot summer days.