How to plant forget-me-nots
An detailed explanation for netizens on how to plant forget-me-nots and related content about green plants, such as the methods and timing of forget-me-not cultivation. Corrections are welcome if there are any mistakes!
Forget-me-nots belong to the Boraginaceae family and are herbaceous perennials known by various names such as starflower, immortal flower, undying flower, and forget-me-not. They have small and elegant plants, often used for decorating flower beds and gardens in spring or early summer, and can be planted with bulbous flowers to enhance ornamental effects. They can also be grown in pots for display.
Forget-me-nots are native to Yunnan, Sichuan, Jiangsu, North China, Northwest China, and Northeast China. They are adaptable, thrive in dry, cool climates, dislike humidity, prefer sunlight, are drought-resistant, and grow best at temperatures between 20°C and 25°C. They are suitable for growing in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly alkaline soil.
I. Seedling cultivation:
The propagation of forget-me-nots is simple. Besides sowing in autumn, spring sowing is also possible, but the flowers from spring sowing are less ornamental than those from autumn sowing. Sowing usually occurs from September to the following January. First, prepare a seedbed using a mixture of leaf mold, decomposed manure, garden soil, and sand. Before sowing, treat the seeds to improve germination rates. Soak the seeds in water at 30°C for three consecutive days, changing the water daily, then wrap them in damp gauze to germinate. Keep the gauze moist. When the seeds begin to germinate, they can be sown. After sowing, cover with soil, keep the seedbed moist, and ensure the temperature does not exceed 25°C. After germination, provide ventilation, keeping the temperature between 15-25°C. Seeds can germinate in about 10 days.
II. Potting soil preparation: Forget-me-nots can be planted outdoors or in pots. Most people grow forget-me-nots in pots. They thrive in soil rich in organic matter and good drainage, so preparing the potting soil is important. There are limitations to growing flowers in pots, as pots create a unique small environment. No single type of soil can meet the needs of potted plants, so artificial soil preparation is necessary to fix the flowers in the pot. The soil should have good water retention, drainage, and aeration, be loose and fertile, with rich humus content and not too alkaline. The potting soil for forget-me-nots is generally prepared using humus, garden soil, yellow sand, and household waste. Alternatively, a mixture of 75% humus or garden soil and 25% coarse sand, or 50% pond mud, 25% manure, and 25% sand can be used. It is best to sterilize the potting soil at high temperatures or expose it to sunlight to kill germs before use.
III. Potting: Transplant the seedlings when they have more than 5 true leaves. Trim the broken, damaged, or overly long roots of the forget-me-not plants before transplanting them into pots. Place broken tiles at the bottom of the pot, then add some cake fertilizer, bones, fish bones, chicken feathers, etc., as base fertilizer. Fill in the potting soil, place the forget-me-not plant in the center, ensuring the roots are spread out, and fill the soil to half the pot. Then, lightly lift and shake the plant to compact the soil. Do not plant too deep; keeping the rootstock level with the pot opening is fine. Transplanting too shallowly affects survival, and too deeply affects the plant's growth after transplanting. After planting, water thoroughly. After planting, keep the plant in a shaded environment for about a week, then move it to a sunny location for care.
IV. Management: After the seeds germinate, transplant the seedlings when they have 2-3 true leaves for the first time. When they have 5-6 true leaves, plant them in the open ground with a spacing of 30-40 cm. After the first transplant, when the plants have 7-8 leaves, transplant them into pots. Forget-me-nots prefer dry conditions, deep, loose, and well-drained, slightly alkaline sandy loam. Fertilize with decomposed organic matter and slow-release compound fertilizers, mixing them into the soil evenly. Fertilize frequently, applying decomposed thin human waste every week, and top-dress with potassium and boron fertilizers during flowering to improve cut flower quality and yield. Forget-me-nots prefer dry and well-drained environments and dislike waterlogging. During the entire growth period, control the amount of watering to avoid a decrease in flower quality and yield. Keeping the soil moist is sufficient. Protect from sunlight in winter. Potted plants should be kept in a warm bed or buried in soil to overwinter. Outdoor plants need to cover the roots with straw to protect from the sun until March of the following year, when the straw is removed, the soil is cultivated once, and a dilute human waste solution is applied. After that, fertilizing can be stopped.
The above introduction on how to plant forget-me-nots and the methods and timing of forget-me-not cultivation are provided for everyone to learn and understand.