Stokesia
Success with annuals and perennials
Their basic needs
Annuals are defined as plants that usually complete their life cycle within a year or in a seasons time. They germinate from seed, grow, bloom, produce seed and die.
Perennials are plants that live from year to year coming back from their root system after a resting period. Some perennials will live 10 years or more and others may comeback for only a few years. There are many instances and conditions when perennials can act like annuals and vice versa.
As always, success with all plants starts with the soil. It is the foundation and a plant that has a good healthy root system has the best chance to give you what you expect from it. For more information please read our article titled Flowerbed Soil Preparation.
Sucess starts
with good soil
As always, success with all plants starts with the soil. It is the foundation and a plant that has a good healthy root system has the best chance to give you what you expect from it.
Cleome--Spider Flower
LIGHT
Placement of plants in the proper light conditions is critical. If a plant does not receive the right light no additional fertilizer or water will make up for that. Plants that take full sun rarely need it all day long. If they get from 5 - 6 hours of full sun and bright shade the rest of the day they should do just fine. Plants that get too little sun tend to stretch and do not grow thick and lush and flower very little. Plants that get more sun than they want get sunburned or bleached out and stay wilted. Be sure of your light conditions and match them with the right plants.NUTRITION
Proper fertilization and soil pH is important to maintain the vigor of these plants. Most annuals and perennials do best in the 5.7 to 6.5 pH range. If you are fertilizing according to label directions and the plants are not greening up your pH may need to be adjusted.The water in Houston is usually alkaline. If we are in a dry period the soil will tend to become less acidic because of this water. The plants will not be able to fully take up the nutrients in the soil. You can adjust the pH to the proper levels with aluminum sulphate or products labeled "soil acidifiers". Consider buying a pH meter. It will tell you what your pH is. It will let you know if you are making progress raising or lowering the acidity.
Annuals and perennials are high energy plants. They grow quickly and flower for sustained periods. That requires replenishing fertility levels. There is a huge selection of fertilizers to chose from. Granular, lIquid and water soluables. Slow release or quick release. Organic or synthetic.Granular applications are usually more economical and easier to apply. You can meet your plants nutritional needs with whichever kind that you choose. Always apply the fertilizers according to the label directions.
HEIGHT CONTROL
Pinching , dead-heading and pruning are very important to increase fullness and flowering.Pinching is done by literally pinching the end of the stems with your fingers. This is usually done before blooming when they are small. This will force growth lower and increase the number of stems thus helping the plant fill out. A fuller plant has more flowers than a spindley one.
Dead-heading is the removal of spent flowers. This will increase the number of flowers because you are not letting the plant produce seeds. Producing seed takes time and energy and if you remove that burden the plant will then spend it's energy producing more flowers for you.
Pruning is recommended when the plant loses it's shape, grows too tall or has dead or dying foliage that needs to be removed. Be careful pruning annuals back dramatically. Try not to cut back more than 40% at a time.
DIVIDING PERENNIALS
Dividing perennials is maintenance that will pay big dividends. Many perennials will need to be dug up, divided and replanted every few years. Over time they get crowded in an area and will need more space. If your perennials are not flowering like they have in the past then try dividing them. Fall is the best time to divide.