Our do not forget me They are small plants, with flowers of very showy colors that brighten up any corner. Their care is easy, so much so that whether or not you have experience taking care of plant beings, you will surely not have any (or almost no) problems with them.
Even so, if you have questions about its maintenance, do not worry. Next I will tell you what their preferences are and, in addition, I will give you many tips about their care that may be useful to you.
Origin and characteristics
Our protagonists are annual or perennial plants depending on the climate and the variety belonging to the genus Myosotis, which is composed of about 50 endemic species especially from New Zealand, but there are some that are European, such as Myosotis sylvatica. They are popularly known as miosotis, desperate love, eternal lover or forget-me-not.
They reach heights between 30 and 80 centimeterswith green and lanceolate leaves, and flowers up to 1cm in diameter composed of five blue or pink petals.
Main species
The most popular are:
- myosotis arvensis: it is an annual herb up to 40cm tall that produces bluish flowers. It is common in Great Britain, but it is also found in the rest of Europe.
- Myosotis alpestris: known as alpine forget-me-not, it is a perennial herb up to 30cm tall that produces blue flowers. It is native to the cold-temperate regions of Europe.
- Myosotis scorpioides: known as forget-me-not or water forget-me-not, it is a perennial herb that reaches 70cm in height and produces pink flowers. It is native to Eurasia.
- Myosotis sylvatica: known as forest forget-me-not or wood forget-me-not, it is a perennial or biennial herb that reaches a height of 15cm and produces blue flowers.
What are their cares?
How to have a very healthy specimen in the garden or patio? Well, very simple. For that you just have to follow our advice:
Location
They are plants that must be outside, in full sun or in semi-shade. If you opt for this last option, it is important that you place it in an area where it receives at least 3-4 hours of direct light so that it can flourish without problems.
Earth
- Flower pot: plant in a substrate rich in nutrients, such as the universal one (buy it here!) mixed with mulch (for sale here!) and, in case it did not have, pearlite (like this one from here!). Everything in equal parts.
- the garden: grows in soils rich in organic matter, with drainage. In this link you have information about the importance of this for plants.
Irrigation
The frequency of irrigation will vary a lot throughout the year: while in summer it will be necessary to water very often to prevent it from drying out, in spring and especially in autumn / winter it will hardly be watered as the soil will take longer to lose moisture.
The nemolvids they can’t stand drought, but too much water also hurts them. Taking this into account, the ideal is to check the humidity before proceeding to add water, for example with a digital humidity meter or with the classic thin wooden stick (if when you insert it it comes out with a lot of adherent soil, do not water).
Another option to know if they need water or not is by weighing the pot once it is watered and again after a few days. Since wet soil weighs more than dry soil, you can be guided by this difference in weight.
And if you still have doubts, you should know that they are watered an average of 4 times a week in summer, and an average of 1-2 times a week the rest of the year.
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Apart from water, if you want it to be beautiful and produce a lot of flowers, it is necessary that you pay it in spring and summer a little bit of compost, guano, manure, humus o any other that is natural.
You can use compound (chemical) fertilizers too, like this, but you have to know that there is a high risk of overdose and that they can harm the environment if they are used incorrectly.
Pruning
There’s no need. You just have to cut the dry leaves and the withered flowers.
Multiplication
Forget-me-nots multiply by seeds in spring. The step by step to follow is as follows:
- The first thing to do is put the seeds in a glass of water for 24 hours. The next day you can discard those that have not sunk, as they may not germinate.
- Then, it is time to fill a seedbed, such as a flowerpot, milk containers, or glasses of yogurt, or whatever else you have on hand that is waterproof and has (or can be made) a hole for drainage, with growing substrate universal.
- Next, place the seeds on the surface of the substrate, as far apart from each other as possible.
- Then, cover them with a thin layer of substrate, and introduce a label where you will have written the name of the plant and the date of sowing. Thus, you will have a better control of the germination of the seeds and you will not lose the seedbed.
- Finally, water conscientiously. If you want, place a plate under the seedbed and fill it with water. Do not forget to do it again if you notice that the substrate has not been completely moistened.
Keeping the substrate moist but not flooded, they will germinate in 2 or a maximum of 3 seeds.
Planting or transplanting time
In springwhen the risk of frost has passed. If it is kept in a pot, as they are small plants, it will be enough to transplant it when you buy one of about 25 or 30cm in diameter, or choose to plant several in planters.
Plagues and diseases
It is very resistant, but if the growing conditions are not suitable it can be affected by:
- Mealybugs: cottony or limpet-like. The dry and warm environment favors them, since it is when they take the opportunity to feed on the sap of the leaves.
They are fought with anti-mealybug insecticides or paraffins. - Mollusks (snails and slugs): They love to go out shortly after it has rained to feed on any tender shoots they find.
They are fought with beer, taking them and taking them far (more than 50 meters) or protecting the plants with mosquito netting (for sale here!).
Rusticity
It depends a lot on the species, but in principle they can be grown in climates with minimum temperatures down to -5ºC.
What did you think of the forget-me-nots?
