How to Grow and Care for Balloon Flowers

How to grow and maintain balloon flowers

A unique flower balloon flower that comes to mind when I was a child growing up in my mother's garden. I remember the flowers “blooming” to burst into beautiful purple, pink or white flowers, and as I grew up, I wanted to add these beautiful plants to my garden and did not know how to maintain this. Wonderful plants. Since this plant originates from Asia, I thought it might be common among gardeners in the states, so I decided to create this guide to explain how to care for, grow, and grow a healthy balloon plant.

Growing Zone and Facts

The balloon flower is a hardy plant that can grow in both dry and cold climates. Typically, they are found in three to nine growing zones, covering most of the United States. Properly covered, it will withstand plenty of adverse conditions. The plant begins to bloom in late July or early August.

These plants are non-invasive, which means you can plant them in your garden without worrying about other plants. You can make your garden beautiful and vibrant, crush the leaves and use it as a supplement with many health benefits. However, the leaves at the base of the plant are said to be slightly toxic, so only the upper leaves should be used in cooking.

How to plant and maintain

When you plant balloon flowers from one seed, you will not see any flowers in the first year of their growth, but with patience and proper care, in the second summer, you will see some wonderful flowers. The seed should be planted in the spring of the year and it should be started indoors until the seed germinates. If you press the seed on top of the moist soil, it will get a lot of light to grow. After a few weeks, you can transplant the flower in a small pot or in your outdoor garden.

To properly maintain the plant, it will require:

Soil - These plants prefer well-drained fertile soil.

Sunlight - These plants prefer full sun, but they grow well in partial shade.

Water - They need regular watering, but the soil should not be too wet to touch.

Fertilizer - Fertilizer is not required, but it helps to replenish some of the energy expended during the flowering process. The slow-release of fertilizer in spring will help the plants to grow and flower.

Growing in containers

Because these flowers have a complex root system, it is difficult to transplant them from one container to another after growing to a certain height, but in the first and second years of growth, these plants thrive in medium size. Pot. They need a lot of suns, especially in the north, and need to be watered on a regular basis. If you live in the southern part of the country, the afternoon sun will suffice. Once the plant starts to grow, you need to punish them for support. Once they become so large, it is recommended to grow them in the garden because it is a plant that does not want to be disturbed.

Pruning

To get started, you may want to soak your pruning shears in a bleach solution to make sure they do not carry a disease from your other plants to your balloon flowers. Pruning should be done in early spring when new growth is seen. Old and dying stems should be removed at the base, but be careful not to cut the crown of the plant. In terms of height, you need to cut the plant in half at its height so that it grows very compactly and does not require follow-up. Do not forget to pinch the dead flowers, so the plant does not stop blooming prematurely.

Winter

Once the flowering plant is one year old, it is pruned, and a few inches of growth will be sticking out of the soil, so you need to prepare the plant for the colder winter months. Generally, you can cover an inch or two of mulch to protect the plant, but you can also cover the plants with compost or leaves that fall from the trees and keep them moist and warm throughout the winter. When spring comes, cover it so that the plant starts to grow.

Spreading

Can be propagated using seeds found in dried flowers. Inside each brown pod are hundreds of seeds that can be allowed to fall to the ground and trust that new plants will grow or break off the pods and place in a brown paper bag until it is completely dry. Seeds should be planted in spring.

Because balloon plants have a long, intricate root system, splitting a plant can be a very difficult option and it does not want to be disturbed. Therefore, the best way to separate the plant is to cut off a part of the plant without plucking it completely. The plant needs at least half an inch of root to take root.

Common problems

Although snails and snails are annoying from time to time, there are not many pests on the balloon plant. Root rot in these plants can become a problem, especially if the soil planted in the winter does not drain it in the spring or summer. Adding sand to the soil will help to filter it well. The leaves of the plant can be affected even if it is very wet, so making the plant thinner will help the wind to circulate better. If pale spots appear on the leaves, they should be removed from the plant.