How to Grow Gaillardia: Growth Guidelines and More

Anyone who wants to learn how to grow Gaillardia in a backyard garden or a hobby greenhouse is a few steps closer to enjoying a blanket of flowers in their outdoor or indoor spaces. Gaillardia, discovered by the French Magistrate M. Gaillard, is commonly known as blanket flowers because of its bright flowers that once resembled the pattern of a cloth that was of Native American origins.

 

How to Grow Gaillardia: Growth Guidelines and More

What are the 3 Gaillardia Species?

Although these wildflowers are short-lived, they are easy to take care of. Gaillardia also comes in three different species – Gaillardia Aristata, Gaillardia Pulchella, and Gaillardia x Grandiflora.

While Gaillardia Aristata is usually spotted in the prairies across the United States, Gaillardia Pulchella is an annual that’s mostly grown in the Southeastern part of America. In case you’re not aware, this species is often bred with Gaillardia Aristata to create the third Gaillardia species.

Gaillardia x Grandiflora is the hybrid result of G. artistata and G. pulchella. You can usually find this type of Gaillardia species in garden centers and greenhouses.

All three species typically have the same growth requirements. This is what makes the plan an ideal addition in the gardens of growers who want to effortlessly add beauty into their gardens.

 

Growth Guidelines for Gaillardia A.K.A. Blanket Flowers

There are two ways to grow blanket flowers in your garden. You can either choose to grow it from seeds, or you can buy a seedling that is already planted in a container and bring it home and continue to grow and care for it.

When planted in the right type of soil and given the requirements they need, Gaillardia seeds won’t have a hard time thriving. While they will practically take care of themselves, it doesn’t help to give it a little bit of TLC here and there. Here are some of the guidelines you need to keep in mind when growing blanket flowers:

 

Light

Gaillardia, no matter the species, love being exposed to full sun. Although they can thrive in areas where they receive partial shade, the flower production will be affected. As a result, your gaillardia plants won’t be able to produce as much flower as they would in full sun and the plant would limp and become floppy.

 

Water

If you’re planting from seeds or taking care of a seedling, you may need to water your plant frequently. Ideally, you should water it every other day. Once the gaillardia plants establish themselves and start maturing, they will develop high resistance to drought.

A lot of people who grew blanket flowers admits that most of their plants have survived with only rainwater sustaining them. This proves to show just how tolerant the plants are of the dry season. However, to make sure that your plant survives, there’s no harm in checking on its moisture now and then and giving it water whenever needed.

 

Soil

Gaillardia plants grow best in well-draining soils but will die in heavy clay soils. It’s also not particular when it comes to soil pH. When planting from seed, ensure that the soil is always moist and make sure that the soil won’t dry up until the plants are fully established.

 

Fertilizer

One of the perks about this type of plant is it doesn’t need fertilizing. In fact, fertilizers may even produce detrimental results for gaillardia plants. Many growers have seen their plants grow leggy and fall over after applying fertilizer on their gaillardia plants.

 

Temperature

Gaillardias love full sun and can tolerate even the hottest days of summer. They don’t exactly need to be in a humid environment, but they do well in hot and dry climates.

 

Greenhouse Gardening Benefits

If you’re having a hard time growing the plants you want in your garden, there might be one alternative solution for you: hobby greenhouses. There are a lot of benefits that come with greenhouse gardening. Here are some of them:

 

Benefit #1. Enjoy an Extended Growing Season

When you have a hobby greenhouse, you won’t have to depend on the current season or weather in your area. If it’s almost the winter season, you can place your warm-season plants inside the hobby greenhouse and let it grow continually. With a hobby greenhouse, you can use different techniques, like fans and heating pads, to keep the temperature around your plant stable and ideal for its growth.

 

Benefit #2. Plant Any Type You Want

When you have a hobby greenhouse, you can plant anything you want. Whether you’re planning to grow a crop that isn’t known to survive on your area or planning to grow a cold-season plant at the start of spring throughout the summer, you can trust a greenhouse to provide your plants with whatever temperature and humidity requirements it needs to grow. Plus, your chances of success may even increase if you plant your crops inside a hobby greenhouse.

 

Benefit #3. Prevent Plant Destruction

If you’re worried about pests, diseases, and harsh weather conditions, one way to make sure that your plants stay safe is to place them inside a hobby greenhouse. For one, it protects from pests and diseases thanks to its plastic film or fiberglass covering. Two, securing your plants inside the enclosed hobby greenhouse ensures that it won’t get damaged by harsh weather conditions such as heavy rains and strong winds.

 

Last Words: How to Grow Gaillardia

If you’re looking to grow low-maintenance, but beautiful plants in your garden, Gaillardia plants are definitely a good choice. Learn how to plant gaillardia plants successfully by taking note of its requirements mentioned above. If you incorporate some care tips with it, it won’t be long until your Gaillardia flowers start filling your garden or greenhouse.

 

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