Marigolds are one of our favourite annuals to grow on the farm for many reasons. One of the best summer sun-tolerant flowers, these amazing annuals produce a lot of bright, colourful flowers.
After dying, old blooms look ugly and continue to steal nutrients from marigold plants. Even after the flowers die, the plant sends them more power to heal. It will continue until the old bloom falls off.
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If you remove that bloom when it fades, you can stop power loss immediately. By doing so, the plant will focus on producing and opening new blooms.
The best part: marigolds are easy to deadhead! Simply pinch the blooms behind the flower. The plant's old flower and seed head will easily snap off.
Powering marigolds regularly is also crucial to their productivity.It takes a lot of energy for plants to bloom. Especially when plants repeatedly try to regrow blooms all season. That's why regular plant feeding is crucial.
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The fertiliser and power source also matter. A slow, steady power stream every 10–14 days is better than large intermittent doses once a month.
Marigolds can become overfed with heavy fertiliser applications. It will produce lots of foliage but no flowers. We give our marigolds half-strength liquid fertiliser every ten days.
Last but not least, marigolds need proper watering to thrive. Not just giving your plants enough moisture to thrive, but how you provide it.
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Water marigolds at the base, not the blooms. Watering blooms shortens their lifespan. Moisture penetrates petals and can damage them with spray pressure.
Marigolds need moisture for blooms and root and foliage nutrient absorption. Marigolds in beds need at least an inch of water per week to bloom. Watering by hand or rain.