Marigold is a popular garden annual in India, both for decorative purposes and for commercial cultivation. Marigold plants, with their lovely yellow-orange flowers, bloom for a long time and the flowers last a long time when cut.

In this blog, we will discuss how to care for the marigold plant:

Marigold Care Instructions

Marigolds are simple to grow, inexpensive, and bloom continuously throughout the summer, with only minor pest and disease issues. They are a popular warm-season annual with long-lasting, bright blooms. When it comes to marigold care, less is more. A few simple care instructions will keep your flowers happy and healthy throughout the summer:

Pruning

Pruning will enhance the plant’s appearance and encourage more blooms later in the season. Pinching young plants encourages bushy growth. Pinch and remove new growth at the plant’s crown as close to the next leaf node on the stem as possible.

Soil

Marigolds are not fussy about their soil, but will thrive in moderately fertile, well-drained soil. They may not perform as expected if planted in clay soil or in an area that does not drain well.

Fertilizers

A 5-10-5 fertilizer can be added when transplanting, but it is entirely optional. Marigolds grown in the ground do not generally require fertilizer.In fact, foliar growth can be promoted at the expense of flower production if fertilizer is applied during the growing phase. Marigolds in containers can sometimes benefit from the addition of a diluted liquid fertilizer to the water.

Watering

Water marigolds from the bottom of the plant rather than from above. Excess moisture causes dense double flowerheads to rot. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings, but water frequently in hot, dry weather. Marigolds grown in containers should be watered on a daily basis because they dry out quickly.

Propagation

Allow the ends of the flowers to wither and dry out on the plant to save seeds. When it is completely dry, remove the petals and seeds. Not all flowerheads will produce seeds, but the majority will.