New gardener that I am, I could sure use some advise. I have two different annuals that bloom from spring to fall: Bacopa Cordata Sutera and Torenia. Both are excellent for hanging baskets/urns as they trail/spill over the edge with a profusion of beautiful flowers. However, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to dead-head them or not. The Cordata Sutera were FULL of lavender flowers for 3 wks. As the flowers withered, nothing has bloomed. The folliage is still very healthy. I bought three of them and they are all in the same state - no flowers right now. Aren't they supposed to continuously bloom, or does this type of plant re-bloom all at once, around the same time? Is dead-heading necessary for this plant? If dead-heading is necessary, when is it too late to dead-head? When dead-heading, how far down the petal are you supposed to cut/pinch out? Thanks in advance folks! Jim
I haven't got many annuals, but the few I have get extra-special care. I dead-head daily. If you leave the spent flowers, the plants will use all their energy to make seed. Cut off the emerging seed capsules quickly, and they'll probably bloom again for you. I pinch just below the dead flower.
I never deadhead my Bacopa, but find that it has very few blooms when the weather gets very hot. It usually blooms again when it cools off a bit. I believe that the Torenia needs regular deadheading.
deadheading... Hey Netty & Droopy, Thanks to both of you. That really helps a lot. The bacopa is blooming again and I've realized that the disappearance of blooms coincided with a 1.5 wk heat wave w/high humidity. The Torenia, I've begun to dead head every day. It has also begun to show blooms again. Thanks for the advise! PJJim
deadheading I deadhead a lot and it seems to help, although I'm not familiar with those two plants. Perhaps check with a local nursery.
I never know when or if I should deadhead. I'm actually not to sure where to pinch or cut. I am growing two different flowers... first time for each of these... and truly haven't a clue how to care. Sure and I read the little tag it came with, but it doesn't give much explanation other than watering and sun exposure. I can't remember the name of the daisy I have. It has a long thick stem... with really big green leaves. I was told to pinch right under the flower bloom... and I was also told to cut at the base of the stem. ???????? The million bells I just made a post about that flower. Some say to deadhead it... and others says you don't have to.. ??????? Love the site and the education...
I try to deadhead plants that I don't want to gather seeds from. It strengthens the plant and also makes it look tidier. I also cut just below the flower. I think some plants just bloom in waves. Gardengater
I think your Daisy is a Leucanthemum. If that's the right spelling I'm surprised, but close. I bought this plant at a nursery and it bloomed beautifully at first, but now it grows very slowly. I've been told these are difficult to start so let us know how it does for you. Gardengater
I google the flower I have and its a "gerbera daisy" When I first planted them... LOTS of flowers, as the weather gets hotter the fewer the flowers. I suppose I should have stated the flower looks more like a sunflower... (but in different colors). (I have 2 pots of them)(mixed colors). Last week, I didn't have one flower... last night I checked them... and I noticed in one of the pots.. a few new blooms. Nothing in the others.
No, I haven't fed them anything more than what I planted them in. It had fertilizer in the bag????? *ponders*
My bacopa in previous years has been so lush and full of flowers, never had a time when it was bare . It is bare right now, not all of the plants but most of them. I do use bloom booster like I always did....I was wondering if they needed bees. I have some bees but not even a 1/4 of what I normally have had. I think we are going to be in for some big changes in nature. I have never deadheaded them all of the years I have had them. I will let the winds take care of that.... I planted them for the bees because I love to watch them buzzing around. I am posting last years picture of the 2 colors of bacopa. Bacopa ( photo / image / picture from Sherry8's Garden )
blackthumb...this is my first year with the Gerbera daisy. They were so beautiful in the nursery...full of blooms and then a few weeks after I planted them the flowers faded so I cut them off and nothing for over 3 weeks now....if I don't get blooms soon, it will be the last time I use them. I like color all of the time and don't want to wait a month in between blooms. Our growing season is too short here in Wisconsin.
