Keep the blooms coming

CORPUS CHRISTI - Lots of flowering plants may bloom steadily in early spring but sometimes their flower power begins to fizzle as temperatures rise.

There are multiple factors that could be affecting flower production including temperature, light levels, fertility, water, and internal hormones. Taking a careful look at one or more of these factors may keep your plants blossoming longer.

- TEMPERATURE: Some plants, like roses, bloom vigorously in moderate temperatures but heat will reduce flower production. Fortunately, the cool weather earlier this week should allow for another burst of blooming for some of our favorite plants.

- SUN: If you have plants that are not blooming consistently, check for light levels. Most blooming plants prefer brighter light to promote blooming. Even if a plant doesn't like full sun, it will usually benefit from bright indirect light compared to heavy shade.

Shade tolerant and shade loving are two different things. Plants near the edge of a patio often will bloom more than those plants placed in a deep, recessed corner. Similarly, a potted plant under the dappled shade of a mesquite usually blooms more than one placed in dense shade of an oak tree.

- FERTILIZING: Nutrient deficiencies often are a major problem that reduces flowering in plants, especially annuals. If you planted annual color, you need to have a regular fertilizing plan in place because flower production requires a lot of carbohydrates and nutrients that will have to be replaced.

You can apply liquid fertilizers every week or use a slow release fertilizer that applies a little each time you water for a couple of months.

Super phosphate and triple superphosphates are known as the flowering fertilizer and goes by names that imply vigorous blooming. Adding superphosphate is common in potted plants to keep them flowering, but is less frequently applied to flowers planted in beds because phosphorus often is present in garden soils.

Phosphorus is not the only nutrient that can affect flowering so using a complete fertilizer including micronutrients is important to provide plant vigor.

A healthy plant will have efficient photosynthesis to support both new leaf and flower production. A plant suffering from lack of nitrogen will often drop lower leaves, directing remaining nitrogen to new growth, often resulting in reductions in both leaf and flower bud number and size.

Micronutrients like zinc and iron also are critical for healthy growth with more leaves to support new flower production and development.

- WATERING: Everyone knows that plants need water, but many forget that letting plants dry out excessively may reduce the life of individual blossoms on some plants. Flowers are often the first thing to wilt on a plant, so pay extra attention to watering of your flowering plants.

A plant that dries out may even shed flower buds and blossoms to conserve water for survival. It takes a lot of energy from stored carbohydrates to make more flower buds, so drying out plants often drain plant resources.

Some gardeners may say that water stress can be beneficial to some plants, but typically this stress tactic is used to shock a plant that is not flowering to blossom, such as with bougainvillea. However, if plants are already flowering, you need to provide adequate water to prevent flowers from drying out.

- DEAD HEADING: The removal of spent blossoms is important to produce more flowers. Hormonal changes may occur in some plants after flowering. Removing dying flowers will often stimulate new flower bud production, particularly in annuals and roses.

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