Forget-me-nots are both beautiful and easy to care for.The seeds can be planted indoors or outdoors.Blue, pink, or white flowers can be grown from forget-me-not seeds.
Step 1: Start the seeds in an area that gets 3-6 hours of sunlight per day.
Forget-me-nots thrive in areas of the garden that don't get a lot of sunlight.When it comes to sunlight, some forget-me-not species are more hardy than others.If it is partial to full sun or partial shade, take a look at your seed variety.
Step 2: The garden soil needs to have a pH of at least 7.5.
Forget-me-nots can live anywhere in the pH range.The exact number can be obtained with a commercial soil pH tester.
Step 3: Before planting, water the soil.
You want to start the seeds in a wet environment.Use a hose or watering can to get the planting bed moist.
Step 4: You should sow your seeds 12 inches apart.
Sprinkle your seeds on the surface after you have prepared the soil.If you are going to let them reseed naturally, you want them to be at least six inches apart.Forget-me-nots will bloom for you in the spring if you plant them during the fall.It's a good time to plant daffodils and tulips.These flowers will rise above the blue forget-me-nots and add a gorgeous pop of color to your garden.
Step 5: Add a few inches of mulch.
The organic mulch mimics the forget-me-not's natural environment.To keep the soil moist, place 2 to 3 inches of fine mulch or up to 10 cm of larger material on top.The mulch will regulate the seeds temperature.
Step 6: There are drainage holes in the pot.
The pot must have holes on the bottom.You don't want forget-me-nots to drown.A pot with holes will allow water to drain out once it has run all the way through the soil, and prevent pooling around the plant's roots that can lead to mold or fungus.
Step 7: The container should be filled with light mix and water.
It's fine to use a regular, light soil mixture for potted plants because forget-me-nots are not very picky.Compost can be used to enrich the soil.You would do the same with an outdoor crop.For forget-me-nots to thrive, your soil should have a neutral pH between 5 and 7.5.
Step 8: You can plant a few seeds in a pot.
Put down a few seeds at a time if you are planting multiple seeds.Plants will crowd one another if you grow more in the same pot.
Step 9: The pot should be placed in a place with an average temperature of 65 to 70 F.
You want to place your plant in a place that is warm but not hot.The seeds should grow in 1 to 4 weeks if you keep them in this temperature range.You can encourage plant growth by rotating the pot regularly.
Step 10: The top 3 inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
You don't want forget-me-nots to be in dry soil.Depending on the climate you live in, this may mean watering more or less than once a week.
Step 11: Feed with food in the spring.
You don't want to feed forget-me-nots too often in the wild because they survive on moderate to poor soil.In the early spring, apply a slow-release, granularfertilizer to your plants.Refer to the product instructions for the correct dose.If your plants aren't growing well or have yellowed flowers, you may not need to usefertilizer.Fertilise once a month if that is the case.
Step 12: Adding 2 to 4 inches of mulch to outdoor plants will give them extra protection.
You can protect your growing forget-me-nots with mulch.It keeps the plants cool by trapping the water in the soil.The mulch should be kept away from the base of the plants.Grass clippings, shredded leaves, compost, and pine straw can be used for mulch.It is possible to feed earthworms and reduce weeds by placing mulch.
Step 13: Dead flowers should be trimmed to encourage growth.
Cut off the spent flowerhead at the base of the stem with a pair of hand pruners, scissors, or fingers.Cut off the stalks from where the flowers grow at the base.As long as you deadhead regularly, your forget-me-nots will send out new flowers.If you want to reseed naturally, don't deadhead.If you want the plants to flower again, leave them there.During this period, the flowers are dropping seeds to reestablish their cycle of life.
Step 14: If you find pests, spray or trap them.
There aren't many pests that go after forget-me-nots.They are easy to control if you spot them.Water can be sprayed on your plants to control pests.An insect won't be able to make it back onto the plant after being knocked down.If you fill an aluminum pie pan or cat food can with beer, you can make a trap.The lid should be level with the ground by burying the pan or can.The pests will head straight for the beer bath.Place one for every 3 metres of affected plants.Flea beetles can cause holes in plants.The insects cause little damage, but it is difficult to get rid of them.You can vacuum them up for an immediate solution, but make sure to prevent them from coming back next season by keeping your garden clean, laying down mulch, and weeding frequently.
Step 15: Remove any plant parts that have spots.
It is an easy fix if your forget-me-nots have developed tan spots on their leaves.Cut off any affected parts of the plant with a pair of hand pruners.Make sure to follow the instructions on the label when treating your plants with a fungicide.Plants with thin, cobweb-like strands around the base are more prone to crown rot.If you want to stop the spread of this disease, dig up any affected plants and get rid of them.Disinfectant wipes, rubbing alcohol, or soaking them in a solution of bleach to water can be used to clean your hand pruners.This will stop the spread of infections to your plants.