Marigold not flowering can easily be remedied by providing it with the proper care conditions and fertilizing correctly. In this article, our gardening experts suggest more ways on how you can get marigolds to bloom nonstop.
Continue reading to know the dos and don’ts of growing a happy and healthy marigold plant.
Contents
How To Make Marigolds Flower?
Providing the proper growing environment, fertilizing correctly, and adding mulch are some effective ways to make marigold plants flower. Aside from these, you can easily make a marigold flower by paying heed to a few gardening techniques.
The marigold flowering season can last through summer until the autumn frost. These are hardy plants and to keep them this way and get more blooms, here is what you need to do.
– Place Them in Sunlight
Move your marigold plants to the sunniest spot in your garden, patio or deck. They will not only adorn the spaces beautifully, but the plants will get their quota of sunlight. The ideal environment would be six hours of direct sunlight throughout the day.
For marigolds in the ground, prune back shrubs and bushes that may be casting a shadow on them. The plant may occasionally produce blooms in the shade, but exposure to full sunlight throughout the day is undisputedly the best.
– Provide Well-drained Soil
Marigolds are hardy plants that thrive in any soil. However, it has to be well-draining. Ensure the drainage holes are not clogged and the water can run out freely.
– Water Them Right
Water the plant deeply once every seven days at the base of the plant. Water to just moisten the soil about six to eight inches deep. This will encourage rooting and improve marigold vigor and health. Avoid overwatering as it may lead to root rot and diseases.
Marigolds don’t need misting, so keep the foliage dry and the soil lightly moist.
– Prevent Pest Infestations
Tackle pests with proper care and an insecticidal spray. Wipe any dust settlement, which will otherwise attract spider mites, gently with a damp cloth.
– Fertilize Them Right
Unlike many other flowering plants, marigolds do not require as much over the top fertilizers. The plant can easily produce blooms in low-nutrient soil. If you have them planted in moderately rich soil, completely avoid any fertilizer use.
In case of poor soil or potting mix, lightly fertilize the soil occasionally. You can use a diluted liquid fertilizer when the plant starts to bloom. Avoid chemical fertilizers, instead, opt for organic liquid ones.
– Use Earthen Clay Trays for Seedlings
Growing your seedlings in a healthy way is vital to ensure that the flowers bloom big and healthy. An interesting way to achieve this is to use earthen clay seedling trays that are easily available at most gardening stores. They help in regulating the right temperature required for the seedlings.
– Choose the Right Potting Soil
Marigolds are light feeders. The best potting soil to use for them is a mix of coco-peat and vermicompost along with regular soil.
Sprinkle a bit of anti-fungal powder in it as well. Also, adding a spoonful of mustard powder with water in the soil can give you bigger flower blooms.
– Remove Spent or Dead Flowers
Cut spent or dead flowers as soon as you see them wilting. Deadheads utilize the energy of the plant, which can otherwise be channelized on producing younger seeds and blooms.
Snip them off gently with a garden pruner and you will have more blooms sprouting in a short time.
– Use Mulch
Add a layer of mulch to the soil. This not only helps to keep the soil lightly moist but also prevents weed growth around the plant.
Bloom Indoors
As mentioned above, marigolds are sun-loving plants and making them bloom indoors can become quite a challenge. Here are tips to achieve this and have beautiful blooms indoors as well.
– Move Them to the Sunniest Spot
As marigolds require full sun to produce blooms, move them close to the window where they can receive direct sunlight throughout the day.
The right place would be near a southern-facing window where you can provide them with adequate exposure. For winter months, use artificial grow lights directly over them.
– Monitor Watering
Water the plant indoors only when you notice that the soil is dry. Marigolds detest wet soggy soil, so be prepared to water them accordingly.
– Prevent Root Rot
A perfect way to prevent root rot, especially when the plant is indoors, is to practice watering them from the bottom of the pot or container.
Place a tray with water below the marigold pot. Ensure the pot has drainage holes at the bottom. The soil needs to be filled from the bottom as well, instead of gravel or pebbles. The dry soil will slowly absorb water from the tray, channelizing it towards the roots.
– Choose the Right Indoor Marigold Variety
Some marigold varieties thrive well indoors. Tagetes Erecta and Tagetes Tenuifolia are perfect plants to grow indoors as they are capable of tolerating more dry conditions.
Both of these varieties grow to a height of around 4 feet. Their pretty blooms can make quite a statement in closed spaces.
Why Are My Marigolds Not Blooming?
Your marigolds may not be blooming due to conditions such as improper watering, incorrect soil conditions and lack of sunlight. The common reasons that may be hampering the buds and the blooming of marigold flowers are detailed below.
– Over-Fertilizing
A marigold plant with an over-fertilized potting mix can be the most common reason for marigold buds not blooming. A fertilized soil may aid in increasing the foliage and keeping it green, however, they prevent the plant from producing healthy and big blooms.
– Lack of Sunlight
You may find your marigolds not blooming if it is not receiving adequate sunlight. Marigolds are sun-loving, hardy plants. They do manage to keep their green foliage intact under shade, however, you wouldn’t find flowers or buds sprouting. The flowers bloom and thrive well under the sun rather than in the shade.
– Soggy Soil
Soggy soil is a complete deterrent to marigold flowers blooming. This condition can result in root rot and eventually kill the plant as well. Overwatering and improper drainage are the common causes of this condition.
– Pest Infestation
Pests such as spider mites are attracted to marigold plants. In a dry and dusty environment, these pests thrive feeding on the foliage and buds of marigolds. You will seldom have many buds left in this case for thriving blooms.
– Too Many Dead Heads in the Plant
Have you left the wilted dead flowers on the plant? These can slow down further blooming as they take up energy that can otherwise be used for producing fresh blooms. Your marigold can stop blooming if you have not removed wilted and dead flower buds.
When Do Marigolds Bloom?
Marigolds bloom when the temperature is warm with some humidity in the air, usually from early spring to the first frost of fall.
– Marigold Blooming Season
Although they can bloom from early spring right through the first frost of fall, they start budding when the temperature goes above 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The blooms remain until the temperature reaches around 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The summer season is the best for these perennial flowers and you get to see them in their full form.
– Marigold Blooming Time of Day
Most marigold varieties bloom early in the morning. They open up completely under the direct sunlight of the day and the flower remains fresh on the plant for up to a week.
When to Plant
You can plant marigolds when the harmful effects of frost have gone by.
- Season: Plant marigolds in early spring through mid-summer months. They will mature slowly and bloom well in the bright sun of the warm months ahead.
- Soil: Sow directly in the soil when the warmth of the sun is present. If the soil remains cold, germinate the seeds indoors before moving them outdoors. In warm weather, sprouts will occur in eight weeks.
- Germinating: When planting marigolds, lace seedlings in a smaller container first. Keep these seedlings under shade or indirect sunlight for ten days. Move healthy seedlings into deeper soil after this.
FAQ
Why are my Marigold flowers growing but not blooming?
Marigold flowers may not bloom due to insufficient sunlight, poor soil quality, or inadequate watering. Conduct soil tests and increase sunlight exposure.
Will deadheading Marigold promote blooming?
Deadheading Marigold helps promote blooming by removing dead flowers, encouraging the growth of new ones. Do this regularly for best results.
How do I keep Marigold blooming all summer?
To keep Marigold blooming all summer, provide proper care including regular watering, fertilization, and deadheading. Plant in well-draining soil and provide ample sunlight.
Conclusion
Marigolds are an easy-to-grow flowering plant that is a favorite among many gardeners. Let us wrap up our learning with this quick summary:
- Give them adequate sunlight, at least six hours throughout the day.
- Remove any deadheads and wilted buds that may otherwise hamper fresh blooming.
- Keep the soil well-drained.
- Fertilize the plant lightly.
- Tackle pest infestations with a soapy insecticidal spray.
- Use a layer of mulch to keep the soil moist and prevent unwanted weeds.
- The right time to plant marigolds and witness fresh blooms will be in early spring.
- You can see your marigolds thrive well with full blooms in the warm spring and summer months.
Now that you have read how you can keep your marigolds blooming, you can make your garden look vibrant with colors. Give these beautiful plants some care and sunlight and watch them bloom from spring until late autumn.
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