- Discard biennial plants after flowering
- Cut back faded flowers
- Caring for faded forget-me-nots
- Caring for faded forget-me-nots in pots
Unfortunately, the pretty mostly blue flowers of the forget-me-not only last a short time. After a few weeks, the flowering period of the spring bloomer is over. This also applies to perennials that flower later. What to do when the forget-me-not has withered?
Without flowers, the forget-me-not looks very inconspicuous
Discard biennial plants after flowering
Most forget-me-nots grown in the garden are biennials. They are brought forward in the first year and flower in the second year. A second flowering is unlikely, so you can uproot and discard the plants after flowering. This also applies to balcony plants that you bought in stores.
Forget-me-not self-seeds. If you want to grow new plants, leave a few forget-me-not plants with faded flowers. It takes some time for the seeds to mature.
The seeds are spread by animals. If you want to sow the plant yourself, cut off the faded inflorescences and scatter them in the desired location. You can also sow them in pots or tubs to provide new floral arrangements next spring.
Cut back faded flowers
To prevent self-seeding, you must cut off the faded flowers immediately. Do not dispose of them in the compost heap, as the seeds will germinate there too and the forget-me-not will then spread again.
Pruning is also recommended because the faded plants are quickly attacked by gray mold and powdery mildew. Fungal diseases can thus spread throughout the garden.
Caring for faded forget-me-nots
Some species, such as the marsh forget-me-not, can be kept in the garden for several years. You do not have to cut the faded flowers. That would be quite difficult anyway, because these varieties prefer to grow in swamps at the edge of a pond.
Caring for faded forget-me-nots in pots
Keep perennial forget-me-nots in pots, cut off faded inflorescences, because they no longer look so decorative.
Set the pot aside. Don't forget to water the forget-me-not regularly. When the soil dries out, the plant dies.
tips
Perennial forget-me-nots are cut back in autumn. The plants are hardy and do not need to be protected from frost.