Balloon flower rarely suffers from serious issues, but mildew can occasionally develop if excess moisture is on the leaves, so water at the base of the plant rather than from overhead. Let the soil dry out in the top 1 to 2 inches between waterings. Staking is a common care requirement for standard or tall varieties of balloon flower such as Fuji Platycodon grandiflorus 'Fuji', USDA zones Insert three slender bamboo stakes into the soil in a triangle pattern around the base of the plant.
Tie jute string between the stakes to create a cagelike enclosure around the plants. Make sure the stakes are about 6 inches shorter than the plant will be at maturity. Sasha Degnan is a freelance writer and educator specializing in gardening and horticulture. She has nearly 25 years of experience in the propagation and care of plants. By Sasha Degnan Updated November 25, Also called common, Chinese, or Japanese bellflower, P. The two- to three-inch flowers bloom in various shades of blue, as well as pink and white.
Some have prominent veining of the petals. There may be one or more blossoms on each upright stem. In the bud stage, they resemble little balloons begging to be popped. When they open up, they resemble star-like upturned bells. The leaves are thick, and green to blue-green in color. They are lance-shaped with serrated margins. It has fleshy taproots that are easily damaged if plants are disturbed. The roots are not aggressive, but this plant self-sows with vigor, spreading via new shoots that pop up in the fertile ground each spring.
Plant sizes vary. The true botanical species, as found in the wild in its native lands, may reach or even exceed 36 inches tall and 18 inches wide at maturity. Cultivated varieties include dwarf plants that are four to six inches tall and equally wide, as well as medium-sized specimens that measure 12 to 18 inches tall and wide. The edible roots have long been pickled and preserved, and used in herbal remedies and dietary supplements, to provide anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and digestive benefits.
Some folks try to divide P. However, the divisions are rarely successful due to the inevitable root damage. As the roots are fragile and resistant to transplant, this method may not be worth the investment, especially when plants are so easy to direct sow and grow from seed. Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks prior to the last average spring frost date for blooms in the first year.
When the seedlings have two sets of true leaves and the danger of frost has passed, you may gradually acclimate them to the outdoors. Give them a few hours of fresh air and sunlight each day for about three to five days. After hardening off, you can transplant the seedlings to the garden, taking care not to disturb the fragile roots. Keep the soil surface of the seedling even with the ground soil surface, neither burying nor elevating the seedling, to minimize transplant stress.
You may also direct sow seeds outdoors after the last average spring frost date, or at any time during the growing season, but they may not produce flowers until the second year. Moisten the soil and sprinkle your seeds every few inches throughout the planting area.
Do not cover them. For both methods, maintain even moisture but avoid oversaturation while seeds germinate and plants become established in the garden. You may plant nursery starts at any time during the growing season to ensure flowers in the second year.
When you transplant, dig a hole the same depth and width of the root ball, and be sure to keep the pot soil level even with the ground soil level.
Use clean, sharp pruners to cut off about four inches of a stem. Pinch off enough foliage to reveal about two inches of bare stem at the bottom. Dip the bare stem in powdered rooting hormone and then place it into a container of potting medium. Maintain even moisture, but do not overwater.
Balloon flowers require a full sun to part shade location. The ideal soil is organically-rich and loamy , with a pH that falls between about 5. You may conduct a soil test to determine the characteristics of your earth. Add lime to lower acidity, or sphagnum peat moss to increase it, as needed. The soil should be well-draining. Work the soil to a depth of about 10 to 12 inches, amending it as needed to achieve the appropriate pH and good drainage.
For nursery starts, seedlings, and rooted cuttings, space plants to allow for their mature dimensions. Take care not to disturb the taproots during transplant. You may apply an all-purpose slow-release granular fertilizer at the time of planting if desired. A layer of mulch may help to retain moisture, with the bonus of inhibiting weeds that may compete for water and nutrients.
For container gardening , cultivate dwarf varieties. Select pots that are at least two inches wider than the mature widths of the plants, and with a depth of at least 10 to 12 inches to accommodate the taproots.
Be sure the pots drain well. Prune the spent flower stems to the ground. Is a balloon flower a perennial? Balloon Flower Plant Features The pure blue flowers of balloon flower are a welcome sight in the late summer. Once established, balloon flower is a long-lived, deer-resistant perennial that you can rely on for many years.
Hardy from zones Are balloon flowers edible? Edible parts of Balloon Flower: Young leaves - cooked. Root - cooked. Eaten in soups as a tonic vegetable. It is also peeled and pickled or preserved in sugar. Do platycodon come back every year?
Platycodon 'Astra Double Blue' is a hardy disease- and pest-resistant perennial that blooms all summer. Why is my celosia dying? Celosia Plants Dying from Fungus If fungal leaf spot is left to spread too much, it can kill the plant by destroying enough plant tissue that the plant cannot properly photosynthesize.
Increasing air circulation, sunlight and watering the plant at the soil level can help prevent leaf spot. What is balloon flower root? Deadheading balloon flowers. I am new to gardening, so maybe I am missing something. Email Save Comment 4. Sort by: Oldest. Newest Oldest. Like Save. Related Discussions Q. When selecting upholstery, accent, and drapery fabrics, choose those that work well together, but do not necessarily match.
It sounds like that is what you have done here. Can chocolate brown accents tie this room together? If the color can't do it, consider scale.
Scale is the size of an object or element in relation to other objects in the room. For design purposes, scale is generally labeled as small, medium, or large. Large-scale items need to be matched with small-scale pieces for balance, and vice versa.
Most rooms look best when objects and furnishings vary in scale. Landscape ideas Q. I would LOVE to get rid of the ivy but my husband loves it. We had a specialist look at our trees last year and had 4 huge oaks removed.
There are 2 trees up front we plan to have removed this year along the driveway. I want them removed before hurricane season starts!!! I don't think hurricanes and trees go well together! We just planted these beauties last year and I am so happy that they are blooming like crazy! Can I deadhead the spent flowers? Will they rebloom? Hydrangea flowers turning brown Q. Hello, Houzz user. You did not say if these were planted this year or are well established, if there are watering or wilting issues so, I am assuming they are new shrubs.
Sunlight: I would aim for sun in the morning hours only; shade in the afternoon and in the evening hours. Or dappled sun. The further you stay away from direct 12pm sun, the better.
It is too strong, makes you water a lot and the temps get too hot for these guys. I aim for shade starting at 11am, as best as I can though. I even have few in full but bright shade. A few hours of early morning sun does not impact bloomage much. Light summer winds can make those large leaves loose moisture slowly and steadily in the summer. If I have a windy location, I look for an alternative location before planting them there. If the plants were in obvious distress now, I would transfer them into pots, keep them in pots until they go dormant in December and then plant them somewhere where they get less sun.
The reason?
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