Tips for Great Blooms
Quality Blooms Begin With Great Soil
A good foundation is key to beautiful blooms.
Amend soil by applying a few inches of quality compost on top.
Remove big rocks and roots when building new beds. While tillers are needed for some soil situations, recent studies show that in most cases soil health will be much better in the long term if you disturb the soil less. So, spread that compost on top and let it sit. Less work for better flowers sounds like a great win on our book!
Photo of rocky soil.
Great Blooms Prefer Good Nutrition
Water when the top 1-2 inches of your soil is dry. Fertilize weekly with a quality fertilizer.
We use and recommend organic fertilizers as they are beneficial to long term microbial and soil health.
Lisianthus bouquet
Blooms Like it Cool
Harvest flowers early in the morning or in the evening during golden hour.
Harvest blooms at correct stage. For example, zinnias and dahlias should be harvested when just fully open as they will not open more after cutting whereas roses and bachelor buttons will continue to open when their buds are just starting to show color.
Cut stems at an angle and place into prepped cool water immediately.
Preserving Blooms
Cut flowers prefer dry leaves so remove any from stem that are below the water level.
Keep vases out of direct sunlight and away from bananas.
Change the water daily and feed with floral preserve.
Homemade recipe: 1 tsp sugar, 1 tsp bleach, 2 tsp vinegar, 1 qt water.
This recipe also works well at harvest.
Close up of warm toned zinnias.