If you want to make sure your plants’ flowers last longer and are more plentiful, follow these tips to help plants bloom longer.
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1. Defoliate and remove spent flowers
Defloration is the removal of discolored or faded flowers. In addition to improving plant health during stress, this process helps divert plant resources from seed generation to the production of new flowers.
While some flowering plants, such as lilies and impatiens, eventually shed their blooms on their own, most plants, such as marigolds, zinnias, sweet peas, petunias, and hardy geraniums , tend to produce more flowers through defloration.
2. Prune regularly
Pruning plants effectively activates the growth of dormant side shoots and leads to bushier plants. This process is somewhat similar to flower removal, although it has a different purpose.
Pruning also helps keep plants compact and prevent them from growing too tall.
By reducing terminal growth at the ends of branches, plant resources are diverted to lateral growth, resulting in a bushier plant with more flowers.
Keep in mind that pruning is not beneficial for all plants, and when to do it varies. It is advisable to prune perennials when they measure between 10 and 15 centimeters. In addition, this must be done before the appearance of flower buds.
To prune, remove the part of the stem just above the node. Flowers such as asters, petunias and zinnias benefit from this process.
3. Pinch the first flowers
Pushing back the first blooms might seem like an amazing idea, especially when you’ve waited for the dark days of winter for the blooms to appear in your garden.
However, pinching the flowers promotes sap flow in the plants and encourages more flowers to appear. This process works best with annual plants.
It also promotes the development of side flowers and therefore allows the plant to take on a more voluminous appearance.
4. Apply mulch to the ground (mulch)
Using a layer of mulch to cover the soil during long, hot summer days will help control weed levels and retain moisture by lowering soil temperatures.
Mulching around plants keeps heat stress at bay, helping to extend the flowering season by a few weeks.
Rock and stone mulches are particularly well suited to trapping heat from the sun during the day and releasing it at night.
This makes them perfect for growing tropical perennials or annuals, as a little extra heat can go a long way in promoting long-lasting blooms. To look at: Tips for Making and Applying Organic Mulch
5. Give more water on hot days
Spring blooming usually decreases as the summer heat increases, but you can keep the plants a little longer by giving them more water. You will notice your plants wilting in the afternoon and then straightening up overnight.
Repeated wilting shortens the lifespan of plants and they rush to the next stage, producing seeds. That would virtually end the flower show.
Increasing soil moisture and spraying plants with water, especially in the afternoon, increases humidity and cools the environment.
Remember not to water during very hot hours, always do it early in the morning or at sunset. To look at: How and when to water garden and orchard plants
6. Provide shade if needed
Shaded temperatures are a few degrees lower than fully exposed areas. Sometimes providing shade can prevent plants from flowering for a few more weeks.
A better alternative would be to plant summer and fall flowering plants closer to the spring flowers. They will grow tall enough to provide shade when it gets too hot for spring plants.
Likewise, summer flowering plants can be protected from frost and drying winds with cold hardy plants around them.
7. Grow in rich soil
Soil rich in organic matter provides many nutrients to growing plants. Plants tend to thrive in soils enriched with compost and manure. It promotes good root movement and exuberant vegetative growth, which will guarantee abundant flowers and a longer flowering period.
However, there are some exceptions. Some plants, like lavender, seem to prefer light, nutrient-poor soil.
Some plants bloom prolifically when grown in poor soils and drought-prone areas, but the floral show may be too short.
This goes to show that it helps to know the ideal growing conditions for each plant you intend to grow in the garden.
8. Fertilization
Of course, to flourish abundantly, plants need food. There are many ways to feed them. One of them is to add a layer of compost to the bottom of the plant.
You can also use a slightly diluted liquid base fertilizer weekly. Another good idea is to sprinkle in a slow-release fertilizer that dissolves slowly. To look at: How to Make Compost and Liquid Organic Fertilizers
Ideally, start with nitrogen-rich fertilizers to promote early vegetative growth. This should be followed by a formula rich in potassium and phosphorus, which aids in root propagation and flower production.
During the flowering season, avoid high nitrogen fertilizers as there may not be enough time for vegetative growth before the weather changes. Give a phosphorus-rich formula for plants to focus on flowering.
9. Allow full vegetative growth
The length of the growing period plays an important role in determining the productivity of your plants. Good vegetative growth is considered more essential than early flowering of plants.
This is because the more growth you allow, the more leaves and side branches your plants will develop and, therefore, the more flowers they will form.
A sure way to encourage vegetative growth is to initially use a fertilizer and remove shoots from young plants to help focus the plants energy on development.
10. Don’t bet on too big pots
Avoid growing annuals in pots that are too large, as the plant will then focus its energy on growing more roots than flowers.
Keep plants in narrow pots the same size as their root ball, as this will divert energy to making more flowers bloom.
11. Opt for succession planting
Succession planting involves growing the same plant at different times of the season to prolong flowering and enjoy a longer, more reliable supply of flowers.
Sowing the seeds in small successive batches helps lengthen the flowering window and the workload in more manageable ripples.
It is advisable to plant groups of bulbs every week or fortnight. Additionally, mixing early flowering strains with late flowering strains can also make a big difference.
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