Calendula flowers seem to be floral representations of the sun. Their cheery faces and bright petals are prolific and last well into the growing season. Removing spent calendula flowers can help increase the production of blooms. While calendula deadheading isn't necessary, the process can improve the appearance of plants and make way for new buds to receive the sun's kiss. Some tips on how to deadhead a calendula will have your plant in season-long production, bearing a thick head of golden blooms.
Should You Deadhead Calendula?
Should you deadhead calendula? Honestly, you don't have to, as the spent heads are also rather interesting. However, removing spent calendula flowers will increase air circulation and light penetration, promoting even more of the charming blooms. The process may be a little tedious but all you need are some scissors or garden snips and a little patience. Calendula flowers lose their petals and leave behind interesting heads that will produce numerous seeds and, in some instances, reseed themselves. If you want a steady annual supply of plants, just leave these little heads attached so they can ripen and disperse seed. All you really need is a couple of heads unless you want a field of flowers, so why not remove the spent blooms and let new flowers take their place? Plants will benefit aesthetically from calendula deadheading and removing the spent blooms lets more light in to feed the production of new blooms. It also increases plant health by allowing air in to prevent pest and disease issues.
When to Deadhead Calendula Flowers
Because calendula blooms prolifically and all season long, you will need to look at the plant at least every few days to check for dying blooms. If you are removing spent calendula flowers to prevent the plant from reseeding itself, do so just as the petals fall. For seed head saving, wait until the entire seed head has turned tan and is mostly dry. Allow seed heads to further dry for 5 days before saving them in closed bags and storing in a cool, dry location until the next season. Plants rebloom every two weeks on average, although new flowers arrive daily. If you want to simply shear off the dead heads on the entire plant, do so just above the new buds that are forming.
How to Deadhead a Calendula
There are two ways to deadhead calendula. Which you use will depend upon how neurotic you are about the plant's appearance. If you just want to remove the seed heads, you can simply pinch off the bloom just as it attaches to the stem. This will effectively prevent the plant from over-seeding itself. For true perfectionists, use scissors or snips and cut the entire stem off as far down into the plant as you can, ideally a few inches (7.5 cm.) from the crown. This keeps the plant's appearance neat and tidy without drying, browning stems distracting from the green and gold glory of the plant.
-
Forage For Herbs: 7 Tasty And Safe Wild Herbs To Pick Close To Your Own BackyardIn addition to growing your own herbal staples, did you know there are several wild options out there that are safe and tasty – and free? Try foraging these 7 wild herbs
-
Should You Cut Back Roses In The Fall? – When To Prune Your Prized Shrubs For WinterDiscover whether to cut back roses before the onset of winter – or to leave plants alone until spring.
-
Common Diseases Of Calendula – How To Treat Sick Calendula PlantsUseful to treat a variety of medical ailments calendula may be, but that doesn’t mean calendula doesn’t get its own share of plant diseases. Click this article to learn about diseases of calendula and managing diseased calendula plants.
-
Calendula Winter Care – How To Keep Calendula Over WinterAlthough some varieties are short-lived perennials in zones 8-10, most gardeners grow calendula as annuals. Calendula winter care isn't necessary when they are grown as annuals, but this article will discuss what to do with calendulas in winter.
-
Common Calendula Problems – Learn About Calendula Pests And DiseasesThere are 15 species in the calendula genus, each easy to grow and fairly problem free. That said, even low maintenance calendula has problems and does have its share of pests and diseases. The following article contains information to help with this.
-
Calendula Oil Uses: Learn How To Make Calendula OilCalendula is certainly an important herb to have on hand. One of the simplest ways to take advantage of calendula's healing properties is by making calendula oil. Click on this article to learn how to make calendula oil for health and beauty.
-
Bugs That Eat Calendula – Does Calendula Attract Pests To The GardenWhile calendula grows like crazy with little effort on your part, the plants attract a number of good bugs, and are also susceptible to attack by certain harmful calendula pests. Click this article to learn more about the good, the bad and the ugly.
-
How To Make Calendula Tea – Growing And Harvesting Calendula For TeaA calendula flower is so much more than just a pretty face. Once you learn about calendula tea benefits, you'll have even more reasons to love this plant. If you are considering growing calendula for tea, then the following article will help.
-
Common Calendula Uses: What To Do With Calendula FlowersNative to the Mediterranean, calendula is a plant that has been used medicinally for centuries. It's a pretty plant to grow in the garden, but there are also a lot of calendula uses that you could try. Learn more about what to do with calendula plants in this article.
-
Types Of Calendula Flowers – Learn About Popular Calendula Cultivars And SpeciesCalendulas are a cinch to grow and the bright colors add pizzazz to the garden from late spring to early fall. The hardest part of growing this prolific annual is choosing from more than 100 different types of calendula. Learn more in this article.
