How to Care for Your Garden Plants

  From Wildflowers to Gardens  The Journey of Marigolds Marigolds are some of the most popular flowers in gardens today, but they didn’t start in Europe, they began far away in the Americas.  These bright, cheerful flowers have a long history and a journey that’s really interesting to explore. What You will learn in this article  Where did Marigolds come from  How Did Marigolds First Travel Outside the Americas? What Was the Original Name of Marigolds in South America? Which Type of Marigolds Came First The Mystery of the Names  Marigolds in Spanish Gardens   Where Did Marigolds Originally Come From? Marigolds started out as wildflowers in parts of Central and South America, especially in Mexico. They grew in open fields and sunny areas long before anyone planted them in gardens.  The Aztecs were some of the first people to use them.  They loved marigolds for ceremonies, decorations, and traditional purposes, and they may have even started pl...

  A Simple Way to Reuse Water for Porch Flowers Introduction to Porch gardening Porch Container gardening is an easy low maintenance way to bring the beauty of flowers close to home, even if you don’t have a large yard. Over the years I have grown Marigolds and geraniums in the summer and Mums in the Fall, often spreading the plants along the porch windowsills, so each plant has its own space to grow. The care is much simpler because the flowers are nearby. You can check on the plants and watch them grow from inside the house. Reusing water for the flowers is a practical, eco friendly way that saves time, reduces waste, and keeps the seasonal display vibrant throughout the year. What You will learn in this article  • Using Reused Water for Healthy Flowers  • Why Rainwater is Better  • Maintaining the Water • Seasonal Flower Care  • Benefits of Reusing Water  Using Reused Water for Healthy Flowers To water my porch flowers, I used an older cooler filled half...

How to Grow Marigolds in Pots Marigolds are bright, cheerful flowers that are easy to grow in pots .  With sunlight, warmth, well prepared soil, and light watering, you can enjoy colorful blooms all season.  Follow these steps to grow healthy marigolds in containers. What You will learn in this article  • Choose a Container  • Prepare the Soil  • Plant the Seeds  • Temperature and Light  • Watering • Germination • Seedling Identification • If Moving the Marigolds outdoors 1. Choose a Container Picking the container gives your marigolds the best start. Starting seeds indoors protects them from cold weather and being washed away by spring rain. You can skip temporary trays and plant directly into their final decorative home, whether it's a large planter or a small, portable pot. This allows roots to grow undisturbed and saves you the work of transplanting. While indoors is safer in early to mid spring.  Marigolds can also be started outdoors once th...

  How to Transplant Small Marigold Plants into Bigger Pots Marigolds are easy flowers to grow, but small plants sometimes need to be moved into larger pots so their roots have more room to grow. Transplanting them at the right time and handling the roots carefully helps the plants adjust quickly and continue growing strong. These simple tips can help make transplanting marigolds easier and safer for the plants. What You will learn in this article  Signs Your Marigolds Need a Bigger Pot Choosing the Right Container and Sunlight Spot How to Lift and Handle Small Marigold When and How to Plant Marigolds in Bigger Pots Post transplant care Growth and benefits  Signs Your Marigolds Need a Bigger Pot Before you begin, it is important to know if your plant is ready for a new home. If a marigold stays in a small container for too long, it can become root bound, which stops it from growing and blooming. • Roots at the bottom The drainage holes of your current pot could b...

  How to Save Your Own Marigold Seeds for Easy growing Flowers Next Year Saving marigold seeds is an easy and rewarding way to grow healthy flowers year after year. With just a little time and proper storage, you can collect seeds from your own plants and be ready for the next growing season. What You will learn in this article • When and how to harvest Marigold seeds • What's the easiest way to dry Marigold seeds • How should Marigold seeds be stored • How long saved seeds last • Common mistakes to avoid When and How to Harvest Marigold Seeds Wait for flower heads to dry Marigold seeds are ready to collect once the flower heads are completely dry and turn brown while still on the plant. This usually happens throughout the season from late spring through early fall. Break them apart Gently break open the dried flower head to reveal the thin, pointed seeds hiding inside the center. Identify the seeds The seeds are very thin black on one end and white or tan on the othe...

  How I Revived a Dried Up Mum  A Fall Gardening Story One cool fall morning, many years ago, I was driving down a side road in the early morning hours after finishing my paper routes. In the middle of the road, just sitting there in a plastic pot, were some mums. All the flowers, stems, and leaves were dry, and I thought they were dead ready for the trash, which is what most people would have done. I decided to take them home and try to revive them. What You will learn in this article  Assessing the dried Mum Encouraging Root Growth Transferring to a Small Pot Planting in the Garden How to Secure Newly Planted Flowers When Watering Deadheading and Maintenance Assessing the Dried Mum When I got the pot into my backyard, I dumped out the plant, loosened the soil, and inspected the roots. Most of the plant was dried up, but I found a tiny portion of the roots still looked alive. I carefully removed all the dried stems, leaves, and dead root parts, leaving just the small bot...