How to Grow Beebalm (Monarda) in Pots: Cultivation Methods and Precautions
Beebalm (Monarda) is a perennial herbaceous plant with rich varieties and high ornamental value. Many people love the fresh fragrance of mint and are willing to grow a pot at home. Beebalm is somewhat different from ordinary mint; its adaptability to the environment is very strong, and its flowers are bright with a long blooming period, so it is not merely a foliage plant. So what are the cultivation methods for beebalm?
How to Grow Beebalm in Pots
1. Light
Mint likes abundant sunlight, and sunlight helps form the mint fragrance. If you keep mint indoors, you should move it to a sunny spot every 3 days for 1-2 days, then move it back indoors.
2. Temperature
Mint likes a warm climate, and the most suitable temperature for growth is 20-30 degrees. It is also very cold-resistant; even if the winter temperature drops to around 2 degrees, the plant begins to wither and enters dormancy, yet the following year it can still sprout new branches from the rhizome and grow again.
3. Watering
Mint likes a moist soil environment and is fairly tolerant of moisture. During the growing period, water it adequately to keep the potting soil moist. But avoid waterlogging; excessively wet potting soil will cause the plant to grow leggy, the leaves to become thinner, and the lower leaves to drop off, and it makes the plant prone to disease infection.
4. Repotting
Because mint grows quickly, it should be repotted once every spring. Mint is not strict about soil, but it likes fertile, well-drained neutral or alkaline soil. The potting medium can be made from materials such as leaf mold, garden soil, rice husk ash or coarse sand.
5. Pruning
Each spring, prune once together with repotting to promote the growth of branches and leaves. If the plant's growth vigor is not strong, renewal pruning is needed to restore strong growth. In summer, when the stems are too tall and affect the ornamental look, you can pinch out the growing tips, or spray the leaves with a paclobutrazol solution to control the height.
Beebalm Cultivation Methods and Precautions
I. Beebalm Cultivation Methods
1. Temperature requirements
Beebalm likes a warm environment and is also fairly cold-resistant; in winter it can overwinter outdoors. It needs no warming in the four seasons and no cooling, just normal care. Unless you put beebalm in a cold storage at minus 30-40 degrees C, beebalm will not die no matter how you grow it.
2. Light requirements
Beebalm likes abundant sunlight and is slightly shade-tolerant. Potted beebalm should be placed in a sunny spot; insufficient sunlight will cause the branches and leaves to grow leggy, the stem nodes to become thinner, and the plant to be unable to withstand external forces, so even a light breeze may cause lodging. But it also cannot be exposed to strong direct light, and in midsummer it needs appropriate shading.
3. Watering method
Beebalm needs sufficient water for growth and has poor drought tolerance, so watering is very important. During the growing period, water once every 3-5 days to keep the soil moist; for plants in smaller pots, generally water once every 2 days.
The growth of mint seedlings needs sufficient water; only when they drink their fill can they grow quickly, but be sure not to let water accumulate.
4. Fertilizing method
Beebalm grows rapidly, so of course it also needs sufficient nutrients; during the growing season, apply a top dressing once every half month. In spring, the top dressing should be mainly nitrogen fertilizer to promote the growth of branches and leaves. Before flowering in late May, increase phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to promote flowering and also enhance the plant's disease resistance against pests and diseases.
II. Cultivation Precautions
1. Beebalm can also be considered a kind of herb; it tolerates pruning, and the more you prune it, the better it grows. Pinch out the growing tips in time to control height and promote the sprouting of new branches. Prune in May-June to gradually adjust the plant's height and blooming period.
2. After beebalm blooms, the spent flowers remain at the top of the branches; the branches should be cut off 5 cm above the ground, which is beneficial for flowering next year.
What Varieties of Beebalm Are There
1. Garden Red Beebalm
It really is garden red; this beebalm has bright flowers that light up the whole garden when in bloom. The plant is 70 cm tall and blooms from June to September. This inflorescence has about 100-180 small flowers, and the bud color is bright.
2. Coral Red Beebalm
It blooms from June to September and has many flowers; each inflorescence has more than 180-280 small flowers. The petals have relatively large lip-shaped splits, and the flower color is soft pink with a narrow white edge. New flowers are purple and gradually turn purplish red.
3. Prairie Beebalm
The leaves are ovate, the veins are sunken downward, and the leaf underside appears purplish red. The blooming time is June-August; each inflorescence has 160-320 flowers arranged neatly, appearing violet, with white at the edges.
4. Fireball Beebalm
The plant is 40-50 cm tall and blooms from early July to the end of August. The flower color is purplish red, and the inflorescence diameter is about 7 cm.
5. Pink Extreme Beebalm
The plant is 40-50 cm tall and blooms from early July to the end of August. The flower color is deep pink, and the inflorescence diameter is 8 cm.
When Does Beebalm Bloom
Beebalm's blooming period is between June and September each year, which is a fairly long blooming period, so June to September is the time when beebalm blooms.
Beebalm is a flowering plant with many-flowered verticillate inflorescences; its flowers grow densely at the tips of the branches and stems, the corolla is tubular and light purplish red, and the leaves are aromatic and fresh-looking.
Beebalm has high ornamental value and can be potted indoors; it not only decorates the home, but the fresh fragrance that mint has also improves indoor air to a certain extent. Not only that, beebalm also has high edible value and medicinal value.