- Deadhead the old blooms to keep the plant blooming.
- You may need to stake tall plants to keep them from flopping over under the weight of their blooms.
- Balloon flowers like moderate temperatures in the range of 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in a hotter climate, be sure they get afternoon shade.
- Balloon flowers can stand up to humidity without succumbing to mildew or fungus.
- Once established, balloon flowers won't need a lot of water from you. They can handle short dry spells.
- Fertilize them in the spring, before they bloom.
- Work compost into the soil around their roots in the fall to replenish them after a season of growth.
- Pinch back plants when they are about 6 inches tall so they'll grow into stocky, sturdy plants.
How do you care for a balloon flower?
To properly care for the plant, it will need:
- Soil – These plants prefer rich soil that is well-drained.
- Sunlight – These plants prefer full sun, but they grow well in part shade as well.
- Water – They require regular water, but the soil should never be wet to the touch.
How do you plant a balloon flower?
How do you prune balloon flowers?
- Inspect the plants once a week during the flowering season.
- Grasp the stem under a spent or wilting blossom between your forefinger and thumb.
- Trim off any dead or damaged leaves from the balloon flowers with a small pair of shears.
How to grow and care for balloon flowers?
#6 How To Care a Balloon Plant
- Light. The balloon flower plant prefers full sun to grow flowers in big clusters. ...
- Soil. Balloon flower plants grow ideally in a well-drained, mildly acidic soil with pH in between 5.8 to 6.8.
- Water. You need to water the plant initially when it is growing. ...
- Fertilizer. The balloon flower plants don’t need to be fed heavily. ...
- Temperature And Humidity. ...
How to plant and grow balloon flower?
- Dig a hole that is the same depth and a little wider than the rootball, and place the plant in it.
- Backfill with soil and firm around the area gently, to avoid damaging the roots.
- Water in well.
How do you get balloon flowers to rebloom?
Deadheading a balloon flower is a worthwhile chore. In summer, you can prune further down and remove up to one-third of the branches for a total rebloom. Deadheading a balloon flower doesn't take long, but your efforts will be rewarded largely with a bounty of blooms.
Do balloon flowers bloom all summer?
Instead, puffy, balloon-like buds swell up to produce the 2- to 3-inch star-shaped flowers. This easy-grower blooms all summer long with intense blue-violet flowers, but there are also cultivars with white and pink blooms.
Should I prune my balloon flowers?
Pruning Balloon Flower Kansas State University Research and Extension describes balloon flower as a floppy perennial and recommends cutting them back after new growth emerges in spring, which will help keep the stems from bending over by reducing their weight.
Will balloon flowers spread?
Balloon flower is such a solid performer in the garden that most gardeners eventually want to propagate the plant to create more of them for their yard. Like most perennials, propagating balloon flowers can be done in more than one way.
How do you overwinter balloon flowers?
Typically, you can simply cover the plant in an inch or two of mulch to protect it, but you can also use compost or leaves that fall from the trees to cover the plants and keep them moist and warm all winter.
Can you grow balloon flowers in pots?
Balloon flower does well in containers and is great for cut flowers. It attracts butterflies and is a magnet for birds. The plant looks great as a border plant and is lovely in rock gardens.
Why is my balloon flower leaves turning yellow?
Dehydration: The most typical reason your plant's leaves turned yellow is because of water, but it's tricky to understand whether you are over-watering or under-watering the plant. Often the leaves of plants that are under-watered will be crispy with a slight curl to the leaf while over-watered leaves will be limp.
What does the balloon flower symbolize?
Balloon Flower Meaning & Symbolism In the language of flowers, balloon flowers stand for endless love, honesty, and obedience. To the Victorians, a gift of balloon flowers may also symbolize the desire for a friend to return.
Is balloon flower a perennial?
Balloon Flowers are easy to grow, long-lived perennials. Long-lasting star-shaped flowers emerge from balloon-like buds in summer. Balloon flower plants will occasionally repeat bloom in the fall when old flowers are removed.
What pairs well with balloon flowers?
Blue balloon flowers look lovely with the pale yellows of lilies and yarrow. Pink and white balloon flowers pair nicely with ornamental grasses and spiky plants like celosia, liatris and yucca.
Do balloon flowers need full sun?
It will thrive in sun or partial shade. It likes well-drained, slightly acidic soil; and although the balloon flower plant will tolerate dry conditions, it prefers (and needs) plenty of moisture. This cold hardy plant also prefers cooler conditions in summer, so afternoon shade is a good idea for warmer regions.
How tall do balloon plants get?
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.
How much sun do balloon flowers need?
You will get the most flowers if you plant balloon flowers in full sun (at least six hours of sunlight on most days). However, they will be fine in part shade and might actually prefer some shade from where the afternoon sun is especially hot.
What temperature do balloon flowers need to grow?
Balloon flowers are hardy and do well in USDA growing zones 3 to 8. Their ideal temperature range is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit , but they can withstand higher temperatures if they have some shade in the afternoon. Frost can kill young plants and will cause established plants to die back into the ground in the fall. Balloon flowers tolerate both humid and dry air conditions, provided they have the right amount of soil moisture.
What type of soil do balloon flowers like?
Balloon flowers prefer organically rich, loamy soil that has good drainage. They don’t grow well in dense soil, such as clay. They like a soil pH in the 5.5 to 7.5 range.
Why are balloon flowers so popular?
They are so named because puffy, balloon-like buds swell up to produce the 2- to 3-inch star-shaped flowers. Balloon flower is a very easy to grow perennial, but tall plants may need staking to keep them from flopping. Blooming all summer long, it is an excellent plant for border gardens or rock gardens, and it freely self-seeds in the garden.
How to root a sage plant?
Use a rooting hormone on the bare stem if you wish, and then pot it in moist soil.
Can balloon flowers be slugged?
Balloon flowers generally attract slugs and snails, as do many other outdoor bloomers, which can be coaxed off the plants with bait. However, the plant may become afflicted with crown rot, root rot, botrytis gray mold, powdery mildew, or fungal leaf spot. Crown and root rot may cause plants to die over the winter. Leaves presenting powdery spots, mottling, or blotching can usually be treated with a fungicide. Quickly discard plants with gray mold so it doesn't spread, then use a preventative fungicide on remaining plants. 2
Can balloon flowers be used indoors?
Many people grow balloon flowers as houseplants and use them in indoor container gardens. Put balloon flowers in a cool and bright spot to watch them bloom.
How to keep flowers blooming all season?
You can keep your plants bursting with blooms all season by using this technique of balloon flower pruning along with some deadleafing (removal of spent leaves). This keeps more flowers coming if you remove the fading bloom before it goes to seed, along with the top leaves.
Can you fertilize a deer resistant plant?
You can also take this opportunity to fertilize your plants to speed up their growth and get the biggest flowers possible. Be sure to water before feeding. It is also a good time to check for pests on your plants. Pests are rarely a problem on this specimen and they’re deer resistant, but it never hurts to be vigilant.
Can you deadhead balloon flowers?
In summer, you can prune further down and remove up to one-third of the branches for a total rebloom. Deadheading a balloon flower doesn’t take long, but your efforts will be rewarded largely with a bounty of blooms. Check weekly to find drooping blooms on your balloon flowers and remove them.
Do Balloon Flowers Need Deadheading?
You may ask, do balloon flowers need deadheading ? The answer is yes, at least if you want to take advantage of the longest bloom period. You can let the flowers go to seed early if you want to feature other blooms in the same area.
Propagation
Balloon flowers are usually propagated from seed. It can also be propagated from cuttings but is not suitable for dividing as the long taproots are sensitive to damage.
Planting
The early spring is the best time to plant these flowers in your garden.
How to Grow
When growing Platycodon Grandiflorus, there’s no “simple” way to make flowers that grow beautifully. Your plants need the right combination of light, water, soil, climate, and fertilization. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to grow these flowers successfully in your garden in each category.
Care
Some maintenance is involved for keeping balloon flowers visually appealing.
Varieties
Double flower varieties of balloon flowers are popular for their fluffy petaled look.
Plant Uses
Other than looking beautiful in gardens, the roots of the balloon flower are used in recipes and for medicinal purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Platycondons are quite hardy and can withstand colder temperatures, growing in USDA Zones as low as 3. They do not do well in higher temperatures and handle cooler weather better.
What Are Balloon Flowers?
Although P. grandiflorus is not a native blue flower, its hardy, disease-resistant nature and vibrant perennial blossoms have made it a jewel of American gardens.
How to keep weeds from growing in my garden?
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.
What is the name of the flower that bursts into a starry bell?
A member of the Campanulaceae family that includes bellflower and lobelia, its common name derives from the puffy balloon-like buds that burst open into starry bell-like blossoms. In this article, you will learn how to grow and care for balloon flower in your landscape. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products.
What color are the flowers on the sage?
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.
When to propagate P. grandiflorus?
P. grandiflorus may be propagated from seed, by stem cuttings, or from nursery starts in the spring.
When to start nursery plants?
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.
Does a low maintenance plant need intervention?
This low-maintenance plant does well on its own in ideal conditions and requires very little intervention once established .
What flowers go well with blue balloons?
Blue balloon flowers look lovely with the pale yellows of lilies and yarrow.
How do balloon flowers get their name?
Balloon flowers get their name from their buds, which look like little hot air balloons before they open into star-shaped flowers of blue, pink or white. Don't let the delicate-sounding name fool you, though. Balloon flowers are tough plants that need little help from you to thrive. Photo by: Shutterstock/Deep Green.
What are the different types of balloon flowers?
Recommended Varieties of Balloon Flowers. Astra series have double flowers in blue, pink or white. Fuji series are the most common varieties sold in nurseries. They're the tallest, too, reaching heights of 30 inches with flowers in blue, pink or white. 'Komachi' has purple-blue flowers that look like little pillows.
What is the name of the perennial flower that attracts butterflies, bees, and birds?
Common Coreopsis: How to Grow and Care for Coreopsis. This deer-resistant, long-blooming perennial flower — also known as tickseed — attracts butterflies, bees and birds. Learn How to Plant and Grow Spider Lily.
Why do you stake tall plants?
You may need to stake tall plants to keep them from flopping over under the weight of their blooms.
When do plants bloom?
You can start with plants or seed, but know that seed-grown plants won't bloom until their second year of existence.
Can balloon flowers stand up to humidity?
Balloon flowers can stand up to humidity without succumbing to mildew or fungus.
What is a balloon flower?
Image by nickkurzenko. Balloon flower ( Platycodon grandiflorus) is one of those fun plants to grow in the garden with kids. Balloon flowers get their name from the unopened buds, which swell up prior to opening and resemble little hot-air balloons.
Can balloon flowers be fertilized?
Not only are they easy to grow, but these plants are easy to care for as well. If desired, they can be fertilized with a slow-release fertilizer in spring. From there, you simply water as needed. With exception to occasional bouts of slugs or snails, balloon flower pests are few.
Is a balloon flower hardy?
The balloon plant is easy to grow and hardy in USDA Zones 3 through 8. It will thrive in sun or partial shade. It likes well-drained, slightly acidic soil; and although the balloon flower plant will tolerate dry conditions, it prefers (and needs) plenty of moisture. This cold hardy plant also prefers cooler conditions in summer, so afternoon shade is a good idea for warmer regions.
Can balloon flowers be taken in spring?
Balloon flower plants don’t really like being disturbed and although division can be done, it’s often difficult. Therefore, propagation by seed is better or cuttings can be taken in spring, if desired. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 07/24/21.
Can you put succulents in cut flowers?
Of course, they may require staking if falling over. You can also add them to cut flower arrangements. Since the succulent stems have milky sap, you’ll need to lightly singe the cut ends with a candle (or match) immediately after cutting to make them last longer.
How to inspect balloon flowers?
Step 1. Inspect the plants once a week during the flowering season. Look for wilting flowers and forming seed heads. Also examine the balloon flowers for dead or damaged leaves.
Why do balloon flowers open?
These flower buds open to reveal blue, pink or white star-shaped blossoms throughout the summer. Balloon flowers benefit from deadheading. This process removes the spent blossoms before they begin producing seed, encouraging the plant to produce more flowers.
How long does it take for balloon flowers to bloom?
Flowering usually resumes within two weeks. Tip. If you go on vacation or otherwise miss a few weeks of deadheading, cutting back the balloon flowers usually helps them return to abundant flowering, even if they have started seed production.
What happens if you deadhead a flower?
Remove the dead leaves and flowers from the garden after deadheading. Not only are they unattractive, they can become a breeding ground for pests and disease.
What is the purpose of pruning balloon flowers?
Pruning is a vital part of balloon flower care, helping to control its size and improve its blooming. Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) earned its common name with its unusual, balloon-shaped flower buds, which pop open to reveal star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, blue, purple and white.
How tall is a balloon flower?
Balloon flower height varies between 6 inches and 3 feet depending on the cultivar. Kansas State University Research and Extension describes balloon flower as a floppy perennial and recommends cutting them back after new growth emerges in spring, which will help keep the stems from bending over by reducing their weight.
How to sanitize pruning shears?
Once the pruning shears are clean and free from debris, it's time to sanitize the blades. University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management recommends pouring rubbing alcohol over the blades to sanitize them. Let the solution dry and dissipate and then wipe the blades with a clean paper towel.
How to make a cage for bamboo plants?
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.
Why cut perennials back?
Cutting perennials back can help strengthen the stems, allowing the plants to stay upright for the rest of the growing season. It also helps create a bushier shape without the leggy or weedy growth that balloon flowers sometimes develop over time.
How to get a second flush of flowers?
It’s possible to coax your flowering bushes into the second round of flowering if the climate stays favorable. Just shear them every once in a while. Shearing refers to removing one-third section of plants in one swoop. Plants like Salvia, Foxglove, Delphinium, etc. have a bottom layer of foliage from which flower stalks appear. Old flowering spikes need to be sheared off before new ones can appear from the base. Other plants like Coreopsis and geranium also produce a second flush of flowers when you trim them to the ground. Shearing should be done only when most of the flowers have faded. Also, don’t go overboard with this technique; ensure to stay true to the growth habit of the plant. This will maintain the beauty of your garden until new flowers kick in.
How to bloom profusely?
There are many ways to feed plants. One way is to add a layer of compost to the bottom of the plant. Alternative ly, you can use a slightly diluted liquid base fertilizer every once in a week. Another good idea is to sprinkle a powdery, slow-release fertilizer that dissolves slowly. Balanced fertilizers work well for most of the plants, but a high-phosphorous formula helps plants divert their focus from vegetative growth to flowering. Also, don’t go overboard with fertilizing as you may end up harming the plants.
Why pinch off first blooms?
However, pinching off blooms actually promotes sap flow in the plants, and encourages more blossoms to appear,. This process works best for annuals.
Why do plants pinched back?
Pinching back plants is an effective way to activate growth from the dormant lateral shoots and result in bushier plants. This process is somewhat similar to deadheading, though it serves a separate purpose. Pinching back also helps to maintain a compact structure of plants and prevent them from growing too tall.
How to keep weeds out of my garden in summer?
Mulching. Using a layer of bark mulch during the long, hot days of summer will help keep the weed levels in check and retain moisture by lowering soil temperatures. Mulching around annuals and perennials keeps heat stress at bay, which assist in extending the flowering season by a good few weeks.
What pests are bad for flowers?
Common summer pests such as slugs and aphids often pose serious health risks to plants and reduce their propensity to produce a second or third flush of blooms in the same season. Moreover, insects and bugs love chewing away on flowers and thus impact the health and production of blooms.
Why do plants bloom when water is not available?
Water-deprived plants tend to produce an intense burst of flowers before perishing altogether. This is a survival strategy to ensure production of the next generation of offspring before death. Don’t use this instinct to your advantage; else you will end up with a bed of wilted plants early on in the season. Maintaining an optimal level of soil moisture ensures both bloom production and longevity of the plant. Usually, water only ( not suitable for moisture-loving plants) when the top surface of the soil seems slightly dry, both in garden beds and containers.
