If you manage to accidentally kill a few plants in your garden, it does not mean you should write yourself off as having a brown thumb. Even experienced gardeners make mistakes sometimes. It’s part of the learning process and it’s part of being human.
A common mistake is when a novice gardener gets a little over zealous. They are excited about what their garden might produce, and as a result they give their plants a little too much attention. This is often in the form of overwatering or over fertilizing.
Protect your flowers from dying by following these steps.
Water Appropriately.
Flowers in your garden are as particular about their watering needs as they are about sun exposure and fertilization. Before finding your flowers a permanent home in your garden, you should take the time to learn about how much water the particular flowers you are growing prefer.
You will want to choose a soil or potting mix that retains water appropriately. Some plants, like succulents for example, don’t like to have their roots wet for long and prefer a well draining sanding soil. Other plants, like those from the tropics, prefer their roots to be constantly moist, and prefer a loamy soil that retains water well.
Next you’ll want to keep in mind how frequently you should be watering. Some plants like to be watered a few times per week, and others prefer even less than once per month! Watering too infrequently can cause your flowers to wilt and produce few blooms while over watering can cause fungal disease and ultimately drown your plants. Remember to listen to your plants! They will show you warning signs when they are being over or underwatered.
Since young flower transplants are very prone to stress, water them daily for the first week to sustain growth to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Some green thumbs even suggest using a mister or spray bottle to wet the soil to ensure that you don’t accidentally give them too much water. To encourage deep root growth, cut back watering the flowers after seven days to the recommended interval.
Add Nutrients (or Stop).
Your flowers are living things, and therefore they need nutrition and sustenance to thrive. If your flowers have a nutrient deficiency, it can lead to stunted growth. Fertilizers and minerals are essential in boosting the growth of your flowers. While plant food is important for healthy plant growth, too much of a good thing can be harmful.
Research your flower’s nutrient requirements at each stage of growth and make sure you feed them accordingly. If you are using a good quality soil may not need to feed your plants for quite a while, if ever at all. If you notice stunted growth or discoloration of leaves, these can be signs that your flowers are hungry. But go easy! While underfeeding will gradually kill your flowers, overdoing it can cause chemical burns and may kill them even faster.
Get Rid of Pests.
Pests and bugs can wreak total havoc on your flowers and kill them quickly. Some types of pests bore into the stems, or eat away the or flowers. Certain flowers can be more vulnerable because they provide so many places for pests to hide. To prevent an infestation, you should check for signs of pests frequently. These may include folded leaves, deformed and discolored leaves, holes in leaves, and the presence of bugs.
Keeping your soil healthy will ensure your flowers have better resistance to any damage incurred by pests. Additionally removing weeds regularly reduces the places where the pests or bugs might be hiding. There are also many different types of pesticides you may consider using to combat and control unwanted pests.