Fertilizing Windflower

Windflowers are a diverse group of colorful spring or fall flowering perennials. Overall, windflowers require minimal maintenance and are not very fussy. They prefer an evenly moist, well-drained substrate to grow in. 

High organic matter in the soil is important to hold moisture, but fertilizer is not required for windflowers to thrive. The best time to fertilize is during planting and is certainly not required after planting, but bone meal or a low dose of all-purpose liquid fertilizer may be applied once a year (during the planting season in successive years if desired).

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How to Fertilize Windflowers

During planting, add 1 teaspoon of bone meal for each corm/root clump (or a rate of 10 pounds per 100 square feet). Mix the bone meal and organic matter into the soil well. 

To fertilize established plants, sprinkle 0.5-1 teaspoon of bone meal or bulb fertilizer around the base of each plant.

Best Time To Fertilize Windflowers

Even though it is not required, the best time to fertilize windflowers is while planting. After loosening the soil, add some bone meal or bulb fertilizer with the desired organic matter, then mix the soil, fertilizer, and organic matter together to create the ideal substrate for windflowers. 

Due to low fertilizer requirements, yearly fertilizer applications are not required or recommended for windflowers (especially if fertilizer was applied during planting). However, if desired, bone meal or a low dose of bulb or all-purpose fertilizer may be applied once a year. The ideal time of application depends on the variety of windflower, but in general, spring-flowering varieties should be fertilized in the fall, and fall-flowering varieties should be fertilized in the spring.   

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Best Fertilizer For Windflowers

The most recommended fertilizer for windflowers is bone meal. However, a low dose of a bulb or all-purpose fertilizer with an NPK ratio similar to bone meal is also acceptable (3-15-0).

Windflower Fertilizing Tips

  • The best time to fertilize windflowers is during planting
  • Bone meal or bulb fertilizer are the best fertilizers
  • Fertilize spring-flowering varieties in the fall and fall-flowering varieties in the spring

Warnings

-Always wear protective gloves and a face mask when handling chemical fertilizers.

-Closely follow all directions and storage guidelines that are on the fertilizer label.

 

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Author Chris Link - Published 07-21-2022