Bloom Tips for Chinese Forget-Me-Nots

Forget-Me-Nots

• Chinese forget-me-nots are nonnative plants introduced to all states except Alaska. They grow quickly from 12 to 36 inches in USDA climate zones 2 to 10. Clusters of five-lobed flowers are similar to true forget-me-nots (Myosotis sylvatica ), especially the original blue flower varieties. They have been hybridized to produce pink and white flowers. To grow forget-me-nots (Cynoglossum amabile) as annuals, gardeners allow them to seed into the garden before the last frost or grow them indoors in the winter. Seeds will germinate in four to 10 days in the dark. Planted eight weeks before mid-spring, they can be transplanted outdoors a foot or so apart. To prolong blooming, gardeners sow more seeds outside when they transplant the seedlings into flower beds, which provides a succession of blooming plants during the growing season.

Growing Conditions

• Chinese forget-me-nots grow in both full sunshine and light shade. They are best grown in well-drained beds with a mildly acidic soil of 6 to 7 pH. They naturally flower from late spring to mid-summer when they stop unless encouraged to continue blooming. To encourage flowering, fertilize sparingly. Fertilizer encourages Cynoglossums to produce foliage at the expense of flowers. Check Cynoglossum amabile plants for stem rot, root rot and powdery mildew, which will adversely affect flowering unless treated.

Flower Production

• A tip to get Chinese forget-me-nots to flower continually is to deadhead them, which means removing all spent blooms promptly. Gardeners pinch old flowers from the stems as often as every day or two so plants won't waste energy producing seeds. Deadheading makes the plant pour its energy into flower production. Chinese forget-me-nots are drought tolerant once established; however, watering them deeply during dry periods will stimulate flower production.

Seeds

• Forget-me-nots will spread rapidly if seeds are allowed to drop to the ground. Seeds have hooks that allow them to hitchhike on passing animals and clothing. Remove flowers before seed production begins to control their spread, especially at the end of the growing season if you don't want them to self-sow.