Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Plants Blooming Longer
How many times have you spent tens or hundreds of dollars on plants, seeds, vegetables, bushes and trees only to have them quit blooming a few weeks after you spent all that money on making your garden look amazing? I know I have and I keep continuing to do it year in year out. This year I am on the tightest budget imaginable but I still want to plant a pretty garden too.
Well, I have searched the internet for some tips and tricks on how to keep your plants blooming longer so you don’t have to spend more money on more flowers throughout the year. Check them all out and if you have any other tips and tricks that work for you, please send them in and I will get them put on here.
Pinch Method
Image Credit: chelseagreen.com
Many plants benefit from pinching back. This helps the plant to stimulate growth form the side shoots and generally results in a bushier plant. To pinch back a plant, remove the top third of a stem, right above a node (the part of the plant where the leaves emerge).
Deadheading Method
Image Credit: Google CC Search
Remove the flowers off of plants as soon as they fade. Deadheading helps encourage the development of new flowers. It helps with the overall appearance of the plant and discourages the flower from setting seeds. When the plant goes into seed-making mode, flower production shuts down. Make cuts low enough to avoid too much stem from sticking up.
Use Nails
Image Credit: Pixabay.com
This may be unconventional, but for plants that love iron-rich soil, just let some nails soak in their water beforehand. Once you go to water, you can remove the nails, but the iron from the metal will still be in the water. Ingenious!
Water Tip
Image Credit: Flickr CC
One of the biggest causes of plant failure is over-watering. Plants have different water requirements, so be sure to read the informational tag. Typically, plants in raised beds dry out faster than plants in the ground. Also, in the hottest part of the day, plants will wilt due to transpiration (moisture loss from leaves) and normally bounce back when the sun goes down. The best way to test if the plant needs water is to feel the soil.
Fertilizer Tip
Image Credit: freestockphotos.biz
Plants need to eat to make pretty flowers. There are a few ways to feed a plant. Add an inch of compost to the base of the plant. You can use a diluted liquid base fertilizer to a watering can or hose attachment or sprinkle a granular, slow release fertilizer that will dissolve slowly. Whichever method you employ, the plant will bloom when it receives the correct amount of nutrients. Don’t be tempted to over-fertilize; too much can harm the plant as well.
Soak Seeds In Tea
Image Credit: wikipedia
Before you even plant, consider soaking your seeds in tea. Tea can actually provide essentials that allow your seed to germinate better and soak in certain nutrients that keep it healthy. This is a great tip, just make sure the tea isn’t boiling when you soak the seeds.
Shear Method
Some plants respond well to shearing. Shearing means to remove a large section of plant in one swoop. This will result in a second flush of blooms. Wait until most of the flowers fade, and then shear with hedge clippers. Don’t get too crazy with this method; try to stay with the natural growth habit of the plant. This will help it stay attractive until more flowers set in.
Use Curry Powder
Image Credit: picserver.org
Insects are about the worst pest for gardens; don’t let all your hard work get eaten by something else. Curry is incredibly effective in warding off ants and some other insects. Same goes for cinnamon.
Use Banana Peels
Image Credit: Wikipedia
If you have plants that love potassium, then give them the gift of a banana peel. Simply bury the peel in the ground around the plant, and nature will do the rest! Repeat as necessary. This will also help make the soil more nutritious because worms will eat the peel and create worm castings.
Use Milk
Image Credit: Google Image CC Search
I guess humans aren’t the only ones who like and need milk. Milk is actually an awesome fertilizer for your plants since it’s full of nutrients. Simply add a little bit of milk to your water and let your plants sip it up.
Thanks for reading and be sure to share this info with your friends using the social share buttons below. Talking about social stuff, consider liking our Facebook page to keep up to date with our articles. Check out our other articles for more mental scoops!
