How to grow pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)? Growing methods and precautions, shade needed in spring, summer and autumn
Pot marigold, anyone who has seen it should be deeply impressed; its flowers are brilliantly colored, dazzling with golden light, just like a golden lantern, and it is deeply loved by flower enthusiasts. In daily life, many people want to bring pot marigold into their homes to decorate their living spaces, so how do you grow pot marigold? Below is a carefully compiled guide to pot marigold growing methods and precautions, very detailed, so anyone who wants to grow it should definitely take a look~
1. How to grow pot marigold: understand its habits

Growing indoors is not the same as growing in the wild. To grow a plant well, we first need to understand its habits. So for how to grow pot marigold, I will bring you the growing methods and precautions for pot marigold from the aspects of soil, light, temperature, watering, fertilizing, pruning and so on. Let's continue reading.
2. Growing methods and precautions for potted pot marigold
1. Soil
For how to grow potted pot marigold, the first thing is naturally choosing soil. According to the growth habits of pot marigold, if you want it to grow well, you had best prepare loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil.
Precautions: Pot marigold has strong adaptability and is not picky about soil. You can also choose ordinary soil, as long as it is not alkaline.
2. Light
In the growing methods for pot marigold, light is something everyone should pay special attention to, especially in spring, summer and autumn, when the potted plant should be kept in shaded conditions. The reason is that pot marigold cannot do without light, but can only take weak light.
Precautions: In spring, summer and autumn, if grown under direct sunlight, pot marigold leaves will turn yellow and fall off, growth will be very slow or the plant will enter a semi-dormant state. In winter, pot marigold should be given direct sunlight to help it carry out photosynthesis, form flower buds, and bloom and set seed.
3. Water/humidity
Pot marigold likes a moist environment, so you should water frequently, but note that during the growing period you should not water too much; keeping the soil moist is enough, and the key point is to pay attention to humidity. When the temperature is relatively high, spray promptly to increase air humidity, and strive to keep humidity at 75-85%.
Precautions: When growing pot marigold, you should spray water promptly to increase humidity, preferably 1-3 times a day. On sunny days, increase the number of sprays; on cloudy and rainy days, reduce spraying. However, with excessive spraying, the heading stage is easily infected by pathogens and rots, so when spraying you should also pay attention to water quality.
4. Fertilizing
Having covered watering, let's talk about fertilizing, which is also very important in pot marigold growing methods. Once fertilizer is sufficient, pot marigold can produce more and larger flowers. The specific amount: during the growing period, fertilize once every half month.
Precautions: Pot marigold likes fertilizer, so fertilization cannot be too little; once fertilizer is insufficient, the flowers will noticeably become smaller and degenerate.
5. Temperature
For how to grow pot marigold, temperature should also be properly controlled, preferably kept at 7-20°C. In winter, when the temperature is above 10°C, pot marigold will grow leggy. In summer, as the temperature rises, stems and leaves grow vigorously, flowers become smaller, and petals noticeably decrease. So neither too high nor too low a temperature is good; it must be suitable.
Precautions: Pot marigold likes a warm environment. Once the temperature is too low, you should add film protection, otherwise the leaves are prone to cold damage. During year-round care, pay attention to controlling temperature well, open windows in time for ventilation, and control indoor temperature by spraying water to cool it down.
6. Pruning
In the growing methods and precautions for pot marigold, the above points must be achieved, while for the following pruning, everyone just needs to pay attention. Specific pruning methods:
①Cut off branches with old leaves and yellow leaves once every two months; as long as the temperature is suitable, it can bloom in all four seasons;
②Do not keep seeds during the flowering period; cut off faded flowers, which helps flower branches sprout, produce more blooms, and extend the viewing period.
7. Pest and disease control
During the growing process of pot marigold, it will inevitably be troubled by pests and diseases, among which the common ones are fusarium wilt and downy mildew. In early summer, as the temperature gradually rises, pot marigold may also develop leaf spot disease. For this, what everyone should do is follow the pest and disease control methods for pot marigold and spray the corresponding pesticide.
How to grow pot marigold? Growing methods and precautions for pot marigold
Pot marigold, also known as golden cup, sober-up flower, longevity chrysanthemum and so on, is an annual herbaceous plant of the genus Calendula in the Asteraceae family. Pot marigold flowers are gorgeous and varied, with high ornamental value, and are often planted in indoor courtyards. At the same time, pot marigold also has effects such as improving appetite and lowering blood pressure, and is therefore deeply loved. So how do you grow pot marigold? The growing methods and precautions for pot marigold are introduced below.
Image: Pot marigold
1. Growing methods for pot marigold
1. Shade in spring, summer and autumn:Pot marigold cannot tolerate strong direct sunlight and needs timely shading in spring, summer and autumn. If the daytime temperature exceeds 25°C, do not place it directly in sunlight, otherwise the leaves will noticeably become smaller, the distance between nodes will shrink, the lower leaves will gradually turn yellow and fall off, and the plant's growth will gradually slow or even enter a semi-dormant state. In winter, because the temperature is not high, direct light can be given to promote photosynthesis, which helps pot marigold form flower buds, bloom and bear fruit. After the plant blooms, it can be kept indoors for 10-15 days, then moved to an outdoor shaded environment for one month. Alternating care like this helps the plant accumulate nutrients and extend the flowering period.
2. Needs warmth, avoid extreme heat:Pot marigold likes a warm climate and fears extreme heat. When the summer temperature is above 34°C, growth will be poor; it is not tolerant of frost and cold, and when the winter temperature is below 4°C, it will enter dormancy or even die. The most suitable growing temperature for pot marigold is 15-25°C. During year-round care, pay attention to controlling temperature well, open windows in time for ventilation, and control indoor temperature by spraying water to cool it down.
Image: Pot marigold
3. Pinching and pruning:Cut off branches with old leaves and yellow leaves once every two months; as long as the temperature is suitable, it can bloom in all four seasons. Before flowering, generally pinch twice to encourage more flowering branches to sprout: one to two weeks after potting, or when the seedlings are 6-10 cm tall and have six or more leaves, remove the top shoot and keep the lower 3-4 leaves to encourage branching. Three to five weeks after the first pinching, or when the side branches grow to 6-8 cm long, carry out the second pinching, that is, remove the top shoots of the side branches and keep the 4 leaves below on the side branches. After two pinchings, the plant shape will be more ideal and the number of flowers will also be greater.
4. Control humidity and spray promptly:Pot marigold likes a moist environment; control humidity at 75-85%, and during care spray promptly to increase humidity, 1-3 times a day. On sunny days when the temperature is higher, appropriately increase the number of sprays; on cloudy and rainy days when the temperature is lower, appropriately reduce the number of sprays. However, with excessive spraying, the heading stage is easily infected by pathogens and rots, so when spraying you should also pay attention to water quality.
Image: Pot marigold
2. Precautions for growing pot marigold
1. Pay attention to water control:During the growing period, do not water too much; keeping the soil moist is enough. When the temperature is relatively high, spray promptly to increase air humidity.
2. Pest and disease control:Common pests and diseases of pot marigold include fusarium wilt and downy mildew. Spray a 500-fold dilution of zineb wettable powder promptly for control. In early summer, as the temperature gradually rises, pot marigold often develops leaf spot disease; spray a 2000-fold dilution of carboxin wettable powder for control.
[Editor's conclusion]Pot marigold likes an environment with ample sunlight and grows well in sunny and fertile areas, so attention must be paid during the planting process. The above has introduced the growing methods and precautions for pot marigold. Has everyone learned them?
Growing methods and precautions for pot marigold
Growing methods for pot marigold
Shade in spring, summer and autumn
Pot marigold cannot tolerate strong direct sunlight and needs timely shading in spring, summer and autumn. If the daytime temperature exceeds 25°C, do not place it directly in sunlight, otherwise the leaves will noticeably become smaller, the distance between nodes will shrink, the lower leaves will gradually turn yellow and fall off, and the plant's growth will gradually slow or even enter a semi-dormant state.
In winter, because the temperature is not high, direct light can be given to promote photosynthesis, which helps pot marigold form flower buds, bloom and bear fruit.
After the plant blooms, it can be kept indoors for 10-15 days, then moved to an outdoor shaded environment for one month. Alternating care like this helps the plant accumulate nutrients and extend the flowering period.
Needs warmth, avoid extreme heat
Pot marigold likes a warm climate and fears extreme heat. When the summer temperature is above 34°C, growth will be poor;
It is not tolerant of frost and cold, and when the winter temperature is below 4°C, it will enter dormancy or even die.
The most suitable growing temperature for pot marigold is 15-25°C. During year-round care, pay attention to controlling temperature well, open windows in time for ventilation, and control indoor temperature by spraying water to cool it down.
Pinching and pruning
Cut off branches with old leaves and yellow leaves once every two months; as long as the temperature is suitable, it can bloom in all four seasons.
Before flowering, generally pinch twice to encourage more flowering branches to sprout: one to two weeks after potting, or when the seedlings are 6-10 cm tall and have six or more leaves, remove the top shoot and keep the lower 3-4 leaves to encourage branching. Three to five weeks after the first pinching, or when the side branches grow to 6-8 cm long, carry out the second pinching, that is, remove the top shoots of the side branches and keep the 4 leaves below on the side branches. After two pinchings, the plant shape will be more ideal and the number of flowers will also be greater.
Control humidity and spray promptly
Pot marigold likes a moist environment; control humidity at 75-85%, and during care spray promptly to increase humidity, 1-3 times a day. On sunny days when the temperature is higher, appropriately increase the number of sprays; on cloudy and rainy days when the temperature is lower, appropriately reduce the number of sprays. However, with excessive spraying, the heading stage is easily infected by pathogens and rots, so when spraying you should also pay attention to water quality.
Precautions for growing pot marigold
Pay attention to water control
During the growing period, do not water too much; keeping the soil moist is enough. When the temperature is relatively high, spray promptly to increase air humidity.
Pest and disease control
Common pests and diseases of pot marigold include fusarium wilt and downy mildew. Spray a 500-fold dilution of zineb wettable powder promptly for control. In early summer, as the temperature gradually rises, pot marigold often develops leaf spot disease; spray a 2000-fold dilution of carboxin wettable powder for control.