Strawflower is a heat-loving,
drought-tolerant plant and is valued for its charming, straw-like blooms in
bright shades of orange, red, pink, yellow, purple, and white. Strawflower is a
dependable annual, and is easy to get along with, and it will also reward you
with non-stop blooms from summer until the first hard frost.
Strawflowers growing conditions
This plant is a member of the daisy
family and the growing conditions are similar. Strawflowers are well-suited for
the sunniest spot in the garden. Strawflowers are heat tolerant and they grow
in nearly any well-drained soil.
Steps on how to grow Strawflowers
Actually it is very easy to plant
strawflower seeds directly in the garden after you are sure all danger of frost
has passed. Just dig the soil to a depth of at least eight to ten inches
(20.3-25.4 cm.). This plant doesn’t require rich soil but they will be happy if
you dig in two to three inches (5.0-7.6 cm.) of compost before planting. You can
sprinkle the seeds lightly on the surface of the soil. Make sure you water them
lightly with a spray attachment, but do not cover the seeds with soil.
Thin the
plants to a distance of at least ten to twelve inches (25.4-30.5 cm.) when the
seedlings are two to three inches (5.0-7.6 cm.) tall. Make sure you don’t crowd
the plants; strawflowers really require an excellent air circulation to prevent
mildew and other moisture-related diseases. You can also plant strawflower
seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost. Fill a planting tray with a
lightweight commercial potting mix and then sprinkle the seeds on the surface
of the mix. Make sure you water carefully to ensure the seeds make firm contact
with the potting mix, but don’t block sunlight by covering the seeds with soil.
You can cover the tray with clear plastic to keep the environment warm and
moist, and then remove the plastic as soon as the seeds germinate. You can transplant
the seedlings to individual pots when they have at least 1 or 2 sets of true
leaves (leaves that actually appear after the tiny seedling leaves). Make sure
you place the tray in a sunny room where the temperature is cool at night. You can
water as needed to keep the soil slightly moist but never soggy, and also you
can feed the seedlings with a weak fertilizer solution every 2 weeks. You can plant
the strawflowers outdoors when all danger of frost has passed.
How to care for Strawflower
Actually strawflowers require very
little care. Make sure you water the plants only when the soil feels slightly
dry. Try and avoid wet, soggy soil, as the plants are prone to rot in wet
conditions. If possible, you can water with a hose or drip system to keep the
foliage dry. Or else, maintenance of the plant involves simply pinching off
faded flowers to promote continual blooming throughout the season.
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