Unfortunately, the pretty, mostly blue flowers of the forget-me-not only last for a short time. After a few weeks, the spring bloomer's blooming period is over. This also applies to perennials that bloom later. What should you do if the forget-me-not has faded?
What should you do when the forget-me-nots have faded?
When a forget-me-not has finished flowering, remove all inflorescences from biennial plants to prevent self-seeding and disease. For perennials, you can cut back spent flowers and continue to care for the plants.
Dispose of two-year-old plants after flowering
Most forget-me-not species grown in the garden are biennials. They are grown early in the first year and bloom in the second year. A second flowering is unlikely, so you can pull up and dispose of the plants after the flowering period. This also applies to balcony plants that you have bought in stores.
Forget-me-not sows itself through the seed. If you want to grow new plants, leave a few forget-me-not plants with dead flowers. It takes some time for the seeds to ripen.
Seeds are spread via animals. If you would like to sow the plant yourself, cut off the spent inflorescences and scatter them in the desired location. You can also sow them in pots or containers to create new floral displays next spring.
Cut back spent flowers
To prevent self-sowing, you must cut off the spent flowers immediately. Do not dispose of them in the compost heap, as the seeds will germinate there too and the forget-me-nots will then spread again.
Pruning is also recommended because the withered plants are quickly attacked by gray mold and powdery mildew. Fungal diseases can spread throughout the garden.
Caring for faded forget-me-nots
Some species such as the swamp forget-me-not can be kept in the garden for several years. You do not need to cut the faded flowers. That would be quite difficult anyway because these varieties prefer to grow in the swamp at the edge of the pond.
Caring for faded forget-me-nots in the pot
Trow perennial forget-me-nots in pots, cut off spent inflorescences because they no longer look so decorative.
Place the pot slightly apart. Do not forget to water the forget-me-not regularly. If the soil dries out, the plant will die.
Tip
Perennial forget-me-nots are cut back in autumn. The plants are hardy and do not need to be protected from frost.
