How to Grow Forget Me Nots Indoors

With their small, blue petals and dazzling yellow centers, forget-me-nots are beautiful additions to your collection of indoor flowers! They should thrive in a partially sunny window in the right conditions and with a little bit of time and care each week. You’ll enjoy seeing your flowers bloom continually all through the spring and summer.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Growing Conditions

1. Use a separate pot with drainage holes for each plant. Putting each plant in its own pot keeps them from getting overcrowded, which helps them stay healthy. The soil needs to be able to drain so the roots don’t sit in water, so make sure each pot has several draining holes on the bottom.^[1]
   
   • You can use all kinds of containers for forget-me-nots! Plastic works well because it doesn’t absorb any moisture, leaving more for the soil. But ceramic or clay pots are perfectly fine, too!^[2]
   • Because you’re putting each plant into a separate pot, and the typical spread of forget-me-nots is , you shouldn’t need to repot mature forget-me-nots in larger containers.
2. Choose a well-draining potting soil with a pH level of 5.5-7. In most cases, the pH level is listed on the front of the bag so it’s easy to see. If the level isn’t indicated, you can assume that the pH level is around 7. Look for a mixture made of soil, compost, and organic matter (peat moss works well, too).^[3]
   
   • If you’re not sure what to buy, ask someone at your local nursery for help. They can point you in the right direction!
   • A well-draining soil is essential so that your plant won’t sit in stagnant water, which could cause rot and disease.
3. Plant your flowers in early spring so they bloom before winter. Winter is the natural dormant time for forget-me-nots, and your flowers won’t produce many (if any) blooms during that time. Planting the flowers in spring as the dormant period ends gives them the longest time to grow and bloom.^[4]
   
   • Since you’re keeping your forget-me-nots indoors, you don’t have to worry about waiting for the last frost to pass.
   • You can plant seeds, but keep in mind that most forget-me-nots won’t flower much their first year. If you want to enjoy blooms right away, opt to buy flowers from your local nursery that are a little more mature.
4. Place the flowers where they’ll get 6 hours of sun each day. These flowers are pretty hardy and thrive in shaded and full-sun conditions, so popping the pots into a window that gets ample light should be good enough for it to grow. If it’s still cold outside and frosting overnight, leave a little space between the plant and the window—otherwise, the cold could transfer from the glass to the plant and stunt its growth.^[5]
   
   • If you don’t have room on the ground for a table or plant stand, consider installing a hanging pot. That way, you can have your flowers indoors but don’t lose any surface area or floor space.
5. Keep the temperature between . Forget-me-nots like a moderate temperature. During the fall, winter, and early spring, make sure your heat is set to at least . In the summer, try to keep the temperature from going too far past .^[6]
   
   • Forget-me-nots don’t do well in super high heat, which is why they need partial shade when they’re outside. Indoors, their environment should be much easier to control.
6. Keep the humidity level below 70% to prevent fungal growth. High heat and humidity levels are forget-me-not's greatest foes. In addition to monitoring the temperature, use a dehumidifier during the summer months if the indoor humidity creeps past 70%.^[7]
   
   • Using air conditioning and ceiling fans is a great way to keep humidity in check if you don’t have a dehumidifier.

[Edit]Maintenance and Care

1. Water the soil when the top feel dry. Test the moisture level by sticking your finger down into the soil up to the middle knuckle. If the soil is dry, add water slowly until it starts to come out of the drainage holes. During the spring and summer, check the soil every few days to make sure the forget-me-nots don’t get too dry.^[8]
   
   • During the dormant months (wintertime), cut back on watering to just once or twice a month. In the spring, as things warm up, water your forget-me-nots more frequently.^[9]
2. Fertilize the soil once per month if the leaves look a little yellow. Use a 5-10-10 water-soluble fertilizer. Mix 1 teaspoon (6 grams) of fertilizer with of water in a clean watering can. Use it to water your forget-me-nots when you notice the leaves starting to fade or once a month during the growing season.^[10]
   
   • There’s no need to fertilize these flowers during the winter months.
3. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage new ones to grow. After the flowers bloom and die, pinch them off where they meet the stem so new ones can come in. Blooms usually only last a few days, so plan on deadheading twice a week during the growing season.^[11]
   
   • You could also use a pair of shears to deadhead, though the flowers should come off easily if you pinch and pull.
4. Prune dead stems and leaves during the dormant season. After the forget-me-nots stop blooming in late fall and winter, cut away any stems or leaves that have died. Use clean, sharp shears, and throw away the debris. You may end up cutting the plant back entirely to the soil, which is okay! It should come back just fine in the spring.^[12]
   
   • To clean your shears or scissors, wipe an alcohol-soaked cotton ball over the blades. This prevents the spread of any diseases.
   • Since you’re growing forget-me-nots indoors, there’s a chance the plant won’t die off completely. Use your best judgment when pruning and try only to cut away stems that have died.
5. Spray your forget-me-nots with an insecticidal spray to deal with pests. Luckily, these flowers don’t attract many bugs or diseases when they’re outdoors, and they’re even less likely to develop problems indoors. Aphids are the most common pest you might encounter, and they’re easily dealt with by spraying your plants with an insecticidal spray.^[13]
   
   • As soon as you notice an issue, get to work! The sooner you address a bug infestation, the more likely your plant will recover and go on to live a healthy life.

[Edit]Tips

• If your forget-me-nots are struggling, check the soil to make sure it’s moist or move them to a new window to see if that helps. Dry soil and too much direct sunlight are the main culprits if your plants aren’t blooming.^[14]

[Edit]Things You’ll Need

[Edit]Growing Conditions

• pots with drainage holes
• Potting soil

[Edit]Maintenance and Care

• Watering can
• Water-soluble fertilizer
• Garden shears
• Insecticidal spray

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-grow-forget-me-not-flowers/
2. ↑ https://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-grow-forget-me-not-flowers/
3. ↑ https://plantophiles.com/gardening/forget-me-not-flowers-care/
4. ↑ https://plantcaretoday.com/forget-me-not-plant.html
5. ↑ https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/myosotis-sylvatica/
6. ↑ https://www.gardeningchannel.com/how-to-grow-forget-me-not-flowers/
7. ↑ https://gpnmag.com/article/myosotis-sylvatica-rosylva/
8. ↑ https://plantophiles.com/gardening/forget-me-not-flowers-care/
9. ↑ https://worldoffloweringplants.com/grow-care-forget-me-not-plants/
10. ↑ https://worldoffloweringplants.com/grow-care-forget-me-not-plants/
11. ↑ https://gpnmag.com/article/myosotis-sylvatica-rosylva/
12. ↑ https://www.nature-and-garden.com/gardening/forget-me-not-watering-planting-sowing.html
13. ↑ https://plantcaretoday.com/forget-me-not-plant.html
14. ↑ https://plantophiles.com/gardening/forget-me-not-flowers-care/

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/38r3Ufo