How to Keep & Care for Forget-me-Nots

Planting

• 1

  Visit your local nursery at the beginning of spring. Purchase a resilient forget-me-not seedling that is at least two months old.

• 2

  Check the plant for spider mites (yellow insects fond of forget-me-nots) before you make the purchase. If your plant has the mites, they will spread and cause damage to your garden.

• 3

  Scout through your yard for a partially shady spot for your flowers. If you don’t have a spot in your yard with partial shade, the forget-me-nots will grow well in the sun if you provide enough water.

• 4

  Till up the earth where you want to plant the flowers. Mix in fertile soil that drains well. Dig a hole in the freshly turned soil deep enough to accept your forget-me-not seedling.

• 5

  Soak the seedling in lukewarm water to loosen it from the nursery container. Gently pull the forget-me-not free from the pot and place it in the hole. Press the loose soil around the forget-me-not to hold it in place.

Care

• 6

  Check on your forget-me-not often to monitor its moisture levels. Water it if the topsoil surrounding the flower feels dry. Add soluble fertilizer to the water once a week to give your flower the extra boost.

• 7

  Check the soil around the plant during the spring. Forget-me-nots drop their seeds in the spring. Collect the seeds and distribute them around your garden, leaving at least 6 inches of space between each seed.

• 8

  Spray the leaves of your forget-me-nots with warm, soapy water to protect against spider mites. Trim away any browning you see after spraying the leaves.

• 9

  Remove the dead plants in the late fall. Cut them down or dig into the soil to remove the entire root ball depending on your preference.