Grasp the stem under a spent or wilting blossom between your forefinger and thumb. Pinch off the blossom head with your fingers, ¼ inch above the nearest set of leaves on the stem. Trim off any dead or damaged leaves from the balloon flowers with a small pair of shears.
Should balloon flowers be cut back?
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.
Do you pinch balloon flowers?
From Cuttings. In the spring, you can take soft cuttings of growing stem tips to root and plant out. 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.
How do you keep balloon plants blooming?
Keep the soil of young plants consistently moist but not soggy. Once established, balloon flowers like a moderate amount of moisture in the soil, but they can tolerate short periods of drought. They won't need a lot of supplemental watering unless you have a long period without rainfall that causes the soil to dry out.
How do you winterize 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.
Should I deadhead my balloon flowers?
New branches grow and sprout more flowers. 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.
Why is my balloon flower not blooming?
Balloon flowers don't tolerate cold, soggy soil. It causes the plants to rot at the base or die over the winter. They become more vulnerable to fungal diseases. Add organic matter and sand to lighten soil texture, or remove surviving plants to a better-drained location.
Do balloon flowers reseed themselves?
Part of problem is that balloon flowers self-seed very fast. The plants could be deadheaded to prevent self-seeding but this is a nerve racking, time consuming task. Each single seed pod has to be clipped off in order to leave the remaining buds or open blossoms.
How do you look after a balloon plant?
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 you split balloon flowers?
Balloon flower propagation can also be done by dividing the plants. Dividing balloon flower can be a bit tricky because it has a very long taproot and doesn't like being disturbed. If you want to try it though, choose the best, healthiest plant you have.
How do you deadhead a balloon flower?
0:081:58Deadheading Balloon Flowers | The Hypertufa Gardener - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey have this little brown tip that you want to cut off. And so what you want to do is separate outMoreThey have this little brown tip that you want to cut off. And so what you want to do is separate out that Brown tip.
Are balloon flowers annual or perennial?
perennialsBalloon flowers are tough plants that need little help from you to thrive. They're hardy perennials that will grow in sun to partial shade. They're long-lived, don't need to be divided and are resistant to diseases and becoming dinner for a deer.
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.
Should I deadhead my bee balm?
When bee balm blooms droop and wilt, the blooming process is halted, allowing seeds to grow. Regular deadheading transfers the energy that goes into producing seeds to the formation of more flowers and continuous blossoming. You should definitely deadhead your bee balm if you want to encourage more blossoming.
Should I deadhead my Shasta daisies?
So yes, deadheading Shasta daisies (and other varieties) is a good idea. Deadheading daisies not only improves their overall appearance but will also inhibit seed production and stimulate new growth, which encourages additional blooms. By deadheading regularly, you can extend the flowering season.
How do you deadhead bellflowers?
0:000:49How to Deadhead Campanula - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHave dried up and what you want to do is you want to take it all the way down to the base. If youMoreHave dried up and what you want to do is you want to take it all the way down to the base. If you could see down here where there's new foliage down at the bottom. You're going to cut.
How do you properly deadhead?
Deadheading flowers is very simple. As plants fade out of bloom, pinch or cut off the flower stem below the spent flower and just above the first set of full, healthy leaves. Repeat with all the dead flowers on the plant. Sometimes it may be easier to deadhead plants by shearing them back entirely.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Do balloon flowers need sun?
Balloon flowers require a full sun to part shade location.
How to clip dead flowers from balloons?
Use small scissors to clip the dead flowers from the stems of your balloon flower plant. Clip the spent flower directly under the bloom. New buds are developing right below the dead balloon flower, so you do not want to clip off any of the stem. Cutting off the stem of your balloon plant will be cutting off the new blossoms.
How to make balloon flowers?
Mix compost or organic matter into the removed soil. Place a little of this mixture to the bottom of the hole and put the plant in; add the remaining soil around the plant and carefully tamp it down to remove air pockets. Water thoroughly to settle the soil. Select a site in the flower garden for the balloon flowers.
What zone do you plant balloon plants in?
The balloon plant is a popular favorite perennial for gardeners in USDA zones 3 through 9. New buds are developing right below the dead balloon flower, so you do not want to clip off any of the stem. Dip your scissor tips into some rubbing alcohol after you clip off the deadhead to clean off the sticky sap of the plant and keep your scissors sharp.
How to grow balloon flowers in a garden?
Dig a hole that is deeper than the root system. Water the balloon flowers daily for two weeks, until the flower is established in the garden and new growth appears. After that, water the bedding plants regularly, especially during dry spells in the spring and summer. Apply a complete plant food once new growth appears.
When do balloon flowers bloom?
Balloon plant flowers are pink, blue or white and will begin to bloom by mid-summer and continue into the fall, particularly and prolifically if you deadhead spent blooms and do not allow the plant to develop seed pods. Use small scissors to clip the dead flowers from the stems of your balloon flower plant. Clip the spent flower directly ...
How big do balloon plants grow?
It is available in a dwarf size, but most gardeners prefer the true balloon plant, which can grow to 2 1/2 feet.
How to keep balloon flowers moist?
Cover the planting site with mulch or well-rotted compost. You can also rake decaying leaves over the balloon flowers. This will enrich the soil and keep it moist and warm through the winter months.
