Once gardeners have chosen the plants to put in their gardens, the next question is which specific plant should they choose? The big tall one with all the blooms or the short full plant that hasn’t started to bloom? Most people will choose the blooming one. The lure of beautiful flowers is hard to resist but this is not the best plant to choose. Learn why the shorter, wider plant that hasn’t begun to bloom is a better choice for transplanting. Also, learn tips for planting taller, blooming plants when there is no other choice.
Blooming Plants Aren’t the Best for Transplanting
Garden retailers know a blooming plant sells better than one that isn’t blooming. They will make sure most plants are in bloom when gardeners come to buy. For most people, it is much easier to envision a plant in the garden when it has flowers on it. The crux of the situation is that a tall, blooming plant isn't the best plant to transplant into the garden. While it will definitely grow, chances are the plant will not flourish to its full potential. Gardeners will sacrifice many more blooms later for a few blooms now.
At the point a plant is blooming, its energy is being put into growing buds and flowers. When the plant is moved from the greenhouse and transplanted into the garden, it needs to put its energy into establishing a root system in its new environment. If the plant is blooming at the time of transplant, energy will not be diverted as efficiently to setting down roots. This results in a plant that may grow tall and leggy with fewer blooms. Because the plant doesn’t get properly established, it doesn’t grow to its full blooming potential.
Selecting Healthy Plants for Garden Planting
When choosing plants at the greenhouse, look for plants that are wider at the crown, or base, of the plant. The plant should ideally have several shorter stem rather than one really tall stem. While it’s easy to be swayed by beautiful blooms now, choosing a more compact, non-blooming plant has a greater potential for more blooms later and throughout the season. The plant should look full and lush, with perhaps some buds but hasn’t begun to bloom.
Choosing plants at this stage growth allows the plant to put down roots with less transplant shock. In the long run, this is the plant that will bloom more and longer because it will have a stronger root system. A tall blooming plant will continue to put its energy into flowering and producing seed. Because the root system is weaker, as the season wears on the plant will produce fewer and fewer blooms.
Transplanting Blooming Plants
Because retailers know blooming plants sell better, most often plants for sale at garden centers are in bloom when gardeners are ready to buy. This doesn’t mean these plants won’t transplant well or that gardeners will have to sacrifice future blooms. Transplanting correctly will force the plant to establish roots and bloom well later.
As stated earlier, gardeners should choose the bushiest plant available. When transplanting blooming or spindly plants, simply remove the blooms or pinch the plant back to the next set of leaves. With the blooms removed the plant will put its energy into putting down roots and sending up more stems. In as little as a week, the plant will begin once again to set buds and begin flowering even more profusely than before.
Although it’s easy to be swayed by a blooming plant, sacrificing early blooms will yield a healthy plant and more blooms throughout the gardening season.
Paula Lovgren - Paula is a freelance writer, gardener, garden designer and mother to two children and three cats. She has previously worked as a marketing ...
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