The blue flowers have always had a special meaning. We show what you should consider when buying, planting and caring for forget-me-nots.
The forget-me-not (Myosotis) is a very popular garden plant. Is that because of his beautiful looks or because of the meaningful name? Probably on both. What is certain is that the mostly blue, small flowers cut a fine figure both in the tub and in the bed and are easy to grow yourself. You can find out from us what special features there are and what you have to pay attention to when growing in your own garden. We have summarized everything you need to know about the origin, purchase, planting and care of forget-me-nots for you in this article.
Forget-me-not species
Forget-me-not is an entire genus of flowering plants in the borage family (Boraginaceae). There are over 50 different species worldwide that belong to the forget-me-not genus. The following are the most well-known forget-me-not species:
- Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)
- Swamp Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis scorpioides)
- Alpine Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis alpestris)
- Forget-me-not (Myosotis arvensis)
- Forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa)
There is also the Caucasus forget-me-not (Brunnera macrophylla), which does not belong to the Myosotis genus, but its flowers but very similar to those of the other forget-me-not species.
Forget-me-not plants can reach heights of between 10 and 30 centimeters and usually grow as bushy perennials. Even in winter, forget-me-nots keep their green leaves covered with fine hairs. The flowers are fivefold and usually appear in the well-known blue. But there are also varieties that have white or pink flowers.
Forget-me-not: origin and meaning
Since the 15th century theGerman name "Forget-me-not" already attested, but the plant is probably much older. For a long time it was considered a wild plant, until it began to be cultivated as a garden plant in Germany and England in the 19th century. The designation Myosotis is Greek and means mouse ear. This means the leaves of this plant genus, because they are not shaped like mouse ears. There are many myths and stories about the origin of the name of the forget-me-not. One of them says that once a couple of lovers were walking by the river when the girl spotted a beautiful blue flower on the riverbank. As the boy descended the bank to pick the flower for his beloved, he fell into the river and was swept away by the current. The last thing he could say to his beloved was "Don't forget me". Another story says that the blue color of the flowers is reminiscent of the blue eyes of newlyweds, who loved to give the flower as a token of love and fidelity. A third myth tells that the little flower once asked God not to forget her. Hence the name. No matter where the origin of the name forget-me-not lies, the flower is also called that in many other countries. In England, for example, it is called "forget-me-not" and in France "ne m'oubliez pas". And even in China, the flower translates to "Don't forget me".
Buy forget-me-nots
If you don't have a forget-me-not in your own garden yet, you have two options: either to buy a young plant or to grow your own forget-me-not from seeds. You can find forget-me-not seeds and plants in many hardware stores, garden centers or on the Internet.
When buying seeds, you should pay attention to the expiry date, as seeds lose their ability to germinate over time. In addition, the species and variety should play a role when buying, as they determine the location and flower color. In the case of young plants, you should also ensure that the plant is in good he alth.
Plant forget-me-nots
Forget-me-nots grow both in beds and in pots. Below we show what you should consider when planting forget-me-nots
Plant forget-me-nots in the bed
When planting forget-me-nots, the question arises whether you want to grow your own plants or plant purchased plants in the bed. You can prefer your forget-me-nots in theAutumn on the windowsill. These can then be placed outdoors from mid-May next year. You can also plant purchased forget-me-not plants outside in mid-May. Another option is direct sowing in the garden from June to July.
Forget-me-nots have different location requirements depending on the species. The forest forget-me-not prefers a partially shaded, never full sun location. The swamp forget-me-not likes to get its feet wet and therefore prefers to stand in damp locations. Both species like loose, well-drained soil with a pH of at least 6.5 to 7. When planting forget-me-nots, you should prepare the bed by loosening the soil and removing weeds. If you use a high-quality garden soil like Plantura organic potting soil, there is no need to enrich the soil with compost or organic fertilizer. The plants are then placed in the ground and watered with a row spacing of 20 centimeters and a distance of 20 centimeters between the plants.
What is the best way to plant forget-me-nots?
- Best time for sowing: Autumn
- Place plants outdoors: mid-May
- Direct sowing outdoors: From June to July
- Location requirements of forest forget-me-nots: partially shaded
- Swamp Forget-Me-Not Site Requirements: Damp and Wet
- Porous soil with a pH of 6.5 - 7
- Loosen the soil well and enrich it with compost or organic long-term fertilizer
- Row spacing: 20 cm
- Planting distance: 20 cm
Planting forget-me-nots in pots
When planting forget-me-nots in pots, you should make sure you choose a sufficiently large planter with a drainage hole. Normal potting soil or rhododendron soil is suitable as a substrate. The peat-free Plantura organic potting soil is also ideal here. The ideal planting distance in the pot for forget-me-nots is 15 centimetres. Forget-me-nots do not like direct sunlight even in pots and prefer a partially shaded location.
We have prepared detailed instructions for you on how to plant forget-me-nots in the garden and in pots.
Propagating forget-me-nots
If forget-me-not really feels at home in its location and is not cut back too early, it will multiply by self-seeding. This is in the species of forest, Caucasusand swamp forget-me-nots. But of course there are also ways to increase the forget-me-not yourself. Propagation by division and cuttings is ideal for this.
When dividing, a large and he althy clump of forget-me-nots is dug up with a spade after flowering and divided with a sharp knife. Each section should have enough root mass to survive. You can then replant the sections in the desired new location.
Propagate forget-me-nots by division:
- Dig up nest after flowering
- Cut with sharp knife
- Each section must have enough root mass
- Plant section at new location
For propagation by cuttings, cuttings are cut off the forget-me-not plant with a sharp knife between the stem and the root base. Each cutting should therefore have a piece of the root. You can coat the interfaces with some charcoal to protect the area from diseases. The cuttings are then placed in a glass with water, preferably rainwater. Now wait for the cuttings to root.
Tip: To counteract the formation of rot in the water, you can add some wood ash to the water.
As soon as the cuttings are sufficiently rooted, they can be planted in the bed or in pots. It is ideal to cut the cuttings in autumn and overwinter the young plants in a warm place. You can then put the strong young plants outside next spring.
Propagate forget-me-nots by cuttings:
- Cut off the cuttings between the stem and the base of the root
- The cutting must have a piece of root
- Disinfect interface with charcoal
- Place the cuttings in a glass with rainwater
- When sufficient roots have formed, the cuttings can be planted out
Care for forget-me-nots
The forget-me-not is considered very easy to care for. However, there are a few points to keep in mind. Correct watering is the focus of the correct care of the forget-me-not. Regular watering is essential, especially in summer and when cultivating in pots or tubs. However, you should not drown your forget-me-not either. The top layer of soil should always be dry before yourWater forget-me-not again. The fertilization of the forget-me-not is also manageable: In the spring you can fertilize it with compost, horn meal or organic long-term fertilizer. Our Plantura organic flower fertilizer with a long-term effect is ideal for this, as it releases the nutrients slowly and gently to the forget-me-not. Further fertilization later in the year is no longer necessary.
If you want your forget-me-nots to self-seed in the garden, you should prune them back to just above the ground in spring. If, on the other hand, self-sowing is undesirable, then you can start pruning back in autumn after flowering so that the seeds don't spread throughout the garden.
In general, forget-me-nots are hardy and can withstand cold and frost in winter. Nevertheless, frost protection can be recommended if the plants were freshly planted in the bed. Then you can cover your forget-me-not with sticks or straw to protect it from severe frost.
What is the best way to care for forget-me-nots?
- Water regularly
- Fertilize with compost, horn shavings or organic slow-release fertilizer in spring
- For self-sowing, cut back the plants in spring to just above the ground
- To prevent self-seeding, cut back plants immediately after flowering
- Protect freshly planted forget-me-nots from frost with brushwood or straw
Are forget-me-nots poisonous?
The leaves, flowers and stems of the forget-me-not contain very small amounts of tannic acid, potassium and alkaloids. These are poisonous if consumed in excess. However, the concentration of these substances in the plant parts of the forget-me-not is extremely low. So you would have to eat several kilograms of forget-me-not flowers to get poisoned. For this reason, forget-me-not is even safe for small children. Animals can also get poisoned by forget-me-nots. If dogs and cats nibble on it, there is no he alth risk. On the contrary - forget-me-nots were even considered a remedy in the past and are now used in herbal cuisine. Although the flowers have a very low taste of their own, they are a real eye-catcher. The beautiful flowers are therefore wonderful as a decoration on cakes, desserts or in salads.