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Gardening is more than just a hobby these days. Not only does it enhance the beauty of the surroundings, but it is also proven to be relaxing while helping nurture nature around you. Flowers are actual mood lifters. The vibrant aura around flowers and the distinct soothing smell of soil and flowers never fails to ease your mind. You also get emotionally attached once you invest in growing and nurturing a plant.
One flower that has been gaining quite a lot of attention these days is the geum flower. Its beauty and easy-growing nature make it a must-have for gardening enthusiasts. Geum flower, also known as Avens, is a seasonal plant that brings new sets of flowers and plants to cherish every new season. Now, after all this information, you may have questions about their growth, requirements, and more but worry no more because we have got you covered.
Keep reading this article to understand all about their cultural requirements for growth.
What are Avens?
Do not get surprised by the name Avens or geum flower. While some of you may not have heard the term before, you may have seen these colourful flowers somewhere around you.
Avens are perennial and reward you with eye-catchy red, yellow, and orange flowers during spring and early summer. Sometimes, they may also come out during autumn. It can grow to a height of up to 6 inches. This is the reason why people also use adorn vases in their homes. Geum flowers are a perfect flower to be combined with others to decorate your home. If you love gardening or are fond of taking care of flowers and plants, geum flowers can be something of your interest.
You can plant it on your garden’s borders or any way you like. These can also be grown along with other flowers in the garden. The foliage has a golden colour. The layers of the petals of geum flowers sometimes even resemble single roses. The vibrant and different colours further add to the beauty.
There are different types of geum flowers depending on their colour, size and season of growth. Seeing different shades of red, orange, and yellow geum flowers are a treat to the eyes.
How to Grow Avens?
Some of you might have been amazed by the sight of geum flowers and may want to make it a part of your garden. So, do not delay anymore and begin the preparations soon. However, before you indulge in nurturing a plant that you haven’t planted before, it is always important to have sufficient knowledge about it before beginning the process.
Geum flowers are perennials, as stated above, and so tips on growing and caring for avens are also different. With the right process, you can end up having vibrant hues in your garden. Here are the things required to grow a beautiful Geums ‘Avens’-
Sunlight
The requirement for sunlight is one of the most basic needs of the geum flowers. These flowers grow best result best in full sun exposure. If that’s not possible or is difficult for you because of their location and everything, it is best to offer them at least part shades.
The absence of proper sunlight can negatively impact the growth of the plant.
Soil Requirement
The soil you choose to grow Avens must be able to drain well. Soggy soil may prove to be fatal for your plant. So plant them in well-drained soil.
If you live in a warm zone, try to keep the plant where it receives sufficient afternoon shade. Excessive heat and humidity are not the ideal environments for geum flowers.
Watering
Once you have planted geum flowers, the next important step is watering. How much water should be provided and when to water the plants are two quintessential questions.
Over-watering or under-watering can force your plant to die or become weak enough. As aforementioned, avens are not plants that can survive either extreme heat or extreme moisture due to soggy soil. So the ideal time to water the plant is to check if the upper layer of the soil is dry.
By touching the soil, you can better understand if the soil is dry. If so, water the plant well. Under favourable conditions, watering once may be sufficient for 3-4 days. In hot weather, it may last up to 2-3 days. So, keep checking and water accordingly. Make sure the soil can drain itself.
Fertilisers
You may choose to fertilise geum flowers. But you must keep in mind that you should avoid fertilising it in the first year of planting. After it completes one year, you may fertilise it once every spring season. A slow-release fertiliser can be the best option as it can keep the plant healthy and going until the next spring season.
Caring Tips for Avens
A plant is like a baby. You have to pay constant need to let it nurture at its best. For this, you must be aware of the caring tips so you can perform your best.
1. Timely Pruning for Proper Growth
Pruning means cutting off the dead and faded parts of the plant. Pruning is very important for any plant, including geum flowers, since it accelerates its growth. If you do not trim the dead parts, it may affect the healthy parts as well. Just like any other living thing, plants also react to sick parts. So, it is only wise to keep pruning from time to time.
If you spot yellowish or faded leaves or flowers, you must remove them using the pruning tool. During winter, the flowers may all die, and you must prune the deadheads to keep them healthy.
Make sure you use the right pruning tools and not your fingers for the task of pruning. If you try to pull out the dead or faded parts of the plant using your hand, you may end up hurting the healthy parts of the plant as well.
2. Choosing the Right Pots
If you are growing geum flowers in a pot, it is vital to use the right pots. Plastic pots look quite attractive, but since avens need well-drained soil, you may want to use a traditional pot made of earthen clay. It retains moisture when needed and also helps in the proper drainage of the soil. It has better breathability functions as well. Choose the right size of the pot, so the plant can grow freely.
3. Nurturing Your Avens in Winter
During winters, the plant may show no flowers. It is the time when you need to be extra careful. Trim as and when needed and keep it healthy until the next spring when it will be able to retain itself on its own.
Common Problems While Growing Avens
With any responsibility comes a few problems and limitations as well. However, do not let these problems hold you back. Rather find the solution to cure them. A few problems that you may come across while growing geum flowers are:
1. Brown/Crunchy Leaves
One common problem that many geum flower owners go through is the brownish leaves. Faded or brown leaves are a result of either Over-watering or under-watering. When you do so, the leaves become crunchy and brown. They may also fall on their own sometimes. When you leave the soil dry for a long time, the leaves become crunchy. So, keep watering properly.
2. Division of Stem
Avens grow happily when you take care of them. However, you may also notice that slowly the plant will grow into several stems, and there will not be enough space left in your pot for each stem. This is the time when you have to divide the stems.
However, trying to divide the stems during their blooming phase may not be the best time. Divide stems during fall when there is no chance for blooming of the plant.
3. Dying Plant or Insufficient Growth
Depending on the region and the environment of the plant, you may experience other problems. You may witness that the plant is dying even when you are giving your best.
In such a situation, you change the pot (if potted) to see if it works. If you haven’t used, fertilisers may use them. Try to change the place of the pot. These tips may help the plant retain its lost glory.
Conclusion
There is no denying that Geum flowers add an extra layer of vibrant vibes to your garden, and the best part is you can grow them easily. However, your constant support and participation in their growth processes can help them be at their best possible state. This article has helped you understand all about their requirements and ways to overcome the major problems in their growth.
You can keep following us for more gardening tips and techniques.
Also, comment below and let us know your plans for growing Avens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Geum Flowers Have More Than One Stem?
Yes. Avens grow multiple stems with age. However, these plants are fast growers and, thus, take vigorous shapes, which is why it is suggested to divide their stems adequately at proper intervals.
Can Geum Flowers Survive Direct Sunlight?
No, exposing them to direct sunlight is harmful to geum flowers. It is only advisable to keep geum flowers in the afternoon shade. Excessive sunlight may kill the plant.
Are Fertilisers a Must for Geum Flowers?
No, fertilisers are unnecessary if your plant is already doing its best. However, adding fertilisers after one year of planting avens may have positive results. It means you can decide on the use and need of fertilisers following your plant’s growth.
Should I Prune Avens During the Spring Season?
No, it would be best if you avoided pruning avens during spring. This is because the spring season is the blooming season for the plant, and pruning may interrupt its blooming process. Instead, it would be best if you pruned during the fall.
