How to Grow a Polyanthus Mix

Choose a part sun location with well-draining soil for these flowers. Prepare the soil for planting by turning it over with a shovel, and removing rocks and sticks. Weed the area, if necessary.

Dig one hole for each plant, making the hole twice as large as the root ball. Leave adequate space between plants so they can mature up to 1 foot in height and width.

Remove your polyanthus from its container and gently fluff the root ball before setting the plant in the prepared hole. Spread the roots against the soil and settle the plant at the same depth as it sat in the container. Firm soil around the roots to complete planting, and get all plants in the ground like this.

Water the soil to saturate it. Thereafter, water whenever the soil feels lightly moist. Polyanthus hybrids prefer a moist soil but dislike boggy environments.

Watch out for spider mites and slugs, the main pests of polyanthus. Slugs are large enough to see with the naked eye, and you can control them using beer traps, copper compounds or other methods. Spider mites leave behind a visible web and can be controlled with insecticidal soaps.

Trim down the polyanthus in late fall, as part of your garden cleanup. Cover the stalks with mulch if you do not expect snow cover for insulation. This perennial will emerge again in spring.