Marigold Flowers: Care and Growing Guide

Marigold flowers of Tagetes spp. are one of the most common and reliable bedding flowers you can have in your home.

These beautiful and cheerful flowers with warm colors and fern-like foliage are true annuals.

Moreover, these flowers complete their life cycle in a single growing season.

The size and construction of the blooms tend to vary considerably, from tiny single-petal flowers of the signet marigold to the large 4-inch double-petal blossoms of the African marigolds.

However, all tend to show their membership in the aster family with flowers showing the characteristic daisy-like appearance.

Furthermore, you can plant marigold flowers from nursery starts or seeds by planting them in the spring after working on the soil

These fast-growing flowers will reach blooming maturity within a matter of a few months when you plant them from seeds.

However, for earlier bloom, you can start the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost.

Keep on reading to learn more about Marigold Flowers.

Fast Facts about Marigold Flower

Marigold Flower Care

One of the interesting things to note about caring for marigold flowers is that they are very low-maintenance once they establish and they are notably pest-free.

In fact, in some cases, you can plant them as a deterrent to pests that attack other plants.

Moreover, marigolds can bloom almost non-stop and will keep on going all summer, until frost.

In order to achieve that non-stop flowering, make sure to keep in mind to deadhead your marigolds.

Flowering can decrease slightly during the heat of the summer, however, generally, it resumes in full force as cooler weather arrives.

Tall varieties of African marigold flowers in some cases can also be planted by stripping off the lower leaves and burying the stems extra deep.

This will encourage an extra sturdy growth system and minimize the need for staking the plant.

Light, Soil, and Water Requirments

For most flowering and the healthiest plants, you should plant your marigolds in full sun.

Shady conditions can cause your plant to become leggy and flower less profusely.

It is important to note that marigolds are not fussy. Any good garden soil along with a little water during dry spells can help to keep them happy, as long as the soil is not too acidic.

Moreover, make sure to keep the soil pH neutral, from 6.0 to 7.0.

They will not need soil that is especially rich in organic matter and will grow better in leaner soil.

When you first plant marigolds seeds or plants, it is important to make sure that you water them regularly.

Do not leave them in dry soil for more than a couple of days.

If it is especially hot and sunny, make sure to water your plants every day.

Once they have had a few weeks to establish a good root system, they will be drought-tolerant, however, they will still bloom best when you water them weekly.

Temperature, Humidity, and Fertilizing Marigolds

Marigolds are heat-loving plants that love to thrive in summers throughout their growing range, i.e. zones 2 to 11.

These true annuals can also become a bit subdued during the height of summer. This is particularly in areas with hot summers.

However, the flowering will pick up again when the weather cools in late summer and fall.

Moreover, marigold flowers can tolerate a wide range of humidity levels, but they can get powdery mildew in damp or humid summers.

Therefore, planting them in full sun and providing room for airflow will help to reduce this problem.

These native plants of Mexico tend to prefer relatively dry air.

One of the important things to note about Marigolds is that they will not need any supplemental fertilizer unless the soil is extremely poor.

The best thing you can do to keep them in flower is to deadhead them regularly.

Types of Marigold Flowers

There are a number of species and divisions of marigolds with a number of cultivators of each.

Most tend to be moderate in height, however, there is a good amount of variety among the different types.

You can also find short bedding marigolds that will grow 4 to 6 inches tall and taller varieties that can reach 48 inches and make nice cutting flowers.

Moreover, the three most common types are African, French, and signet marigolds, representing three different Tagetes species.

Let’s discuss them as follows:

African Marigolds, Tagetes Erecta

With large, pom-pom-like flowers on medium-sized to tall plants, African marigolds or Mexican marigolds are popular for both the border and as cut flowers.

They can grow up to 4 feet tall and have flowers more than 4 inches across, while colors include yellow and orange.

“Antigua” series are African marigolds will profuse blooms.

French Marigolds, Tagetes Patula

French marigolds are popular for their long, prolific blooms.

Moreover, they tend to be short, bushy plants from 5 to 18 inches tall, and have purple-tinged stems with double flower heads in yellow, orange, and mahogany that are 2 inches across.

“Naughty Marietta” is a ruffled, deep yellow French marigold with maroon splashes in the center.

Signet Marigolds, Tagets Tenuifolia

These edible marigolds are signets and look totally different from bedding marigolds with lacy leaves and small, single, daisy-like flowers.

Furthermore, they come in yellow and orange, with fitting cultivator names like:

• orange gem
• tangerine ged
• red gem
• lemon gem

While the “gem” series are single-flowered signets with very-fern-like foliage and have some hybrids on the markets with an expanded palette of colors.

These include shades of cream, burgundy, and bi-colors, however, the flavor is not always equal to that of “Gem” varieties.

It is important to note that there are also hybrid crosses between T. erecta x T. patula that combine the large flowers of African marigolds with the more compact structure of the French marigold flowers.

Pruning and Propagating Marigold Flowers

Pinching back the early flower buds can cause these plants to bush out, thus, resulting in a more dramatic main season of flowering.

Therefore, regular deadheading of spent blossoms can help to keep them from producing new blooms well into the fall.

You can propagate marigolds easily from seed and vegetative propagation is not a very common approach.

However, if you do want to propagate by rooting stem cuttings, it is easy to do.

Follow the steps below:

• use pruners to clip off a 5-ich length of supply green stem, preferably without flowers or flower buds
• pull off the leaves from the lower half of the cutting and remove any flowers and flower buds
• dip the cutting in rooting hormone, then plant it in a about 2-inch deep small pot or tray filled with a porous seed-starter mix or a blend of potting soil, sand, and perlite
• tamp the potting medium firmly around the cutting, moisten and place the pot in a loosely tied plastic bag, thus, creating an informal greenhouse
• place the pot in a warm, bright area, however, keep it away from direct sunlight
• every 4 to 5 days, lightly moisten the potting mix
• when the cutting begins rots, transplant the rooted cuttings into larger pots filled with ordinary commercial potting soil
• let them become well-established before planting them in your garden

Growing Marigold Flowers from Seeds

Marigolds are easy to start from seed. Their large, easy-to-grow seeds can be used for school projects with children.

For the earliest blooms, you can start the seeds indoors, about 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date.

However, marigolds tend to germinate quickly outdoors when you sow them into the garden soil directly.

You may find that the marigolds of the last year to self-seed so readily that is not necessary to plant new ones.

However, if you choose to start the seeds indoors, so them on the surface of strat or small pots with ordinary commercial potting soil, lightly dampened.

Cover the seeds with a thin layer of vermiculite, then cover the tray or pot with plastic.

Then set the container in a warm location, however, light is not important until after the seeds germinate and sprout.

When the seeds sprout which takes about 4 to 5 days, remove the plastic and move the container to a location that gets 4 to 5 hours of good light daily.

While you can artificial light as well.

Keep the potting mix moist but not sopping. In order to avoid damping-off fungus, make sure to water from below, by allowing the tray or pot to absorb water from the tray.

When the seedling begins to vigorously generate new leaves, you can transplant them outdoors, provided all dangers of frost have passed.

Potting, Repotting, and Overwatering

Marigolds tend to make excellent outdoor container plants.

You can use ordinary commercial potting soil in your container like clay pots makes a good choice.

However, no repotting is necessary, as you will discard the plant when the growing season concludes.

Moreover, marigolds are annuals that you can pull and discard when cold temperatures finally cause them to die.

It is fine to leave a few plants to self-seed in the garden.

Birds will not get marigold flowers and seeds, though they may tear apart the flower head, which can assist in the self-seeding effort.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Marigolds are in most cases, free from seriuos pests and diseases, however, some problems that may occur are:

Snails and Slugs: They may eat the young plants especially.

If you notice ragged holes in leaves, it is most likely due to them. Make sure to keep the soil free of leaf debris and set out slug and snail traps if you need them.

Aphids: They can in some cases, be a problem, however, horticulture soaps or oils can help handle them.

Powdery Mildew: This one is a fungal disease and you may notice a white residue on the leaves due to fungal spores that splash up from the ground or between affected plants.

Moreover, the disease is unattractive but most are never fetal.

You can prevent it by providing good air circulation between plants and watering the ground with ground soaking rather than overhead spraying.

How to make Marigolds Bloom?

Marigolds will rarely need to be coaxed into bloom, however, there are different cultural practices that can help them flower larger and more prolific.

Make sure that your plant receives plenty of direct sunlight.

Marigolds that grow in shady conditions will flower less robustly.

Moreover, deadhead your plant promptly, and removing old flowers can help stimulate the plant into producing additional buds and blooms

Pinch back the tips of the young plant before they bloom.

While this can delay the onset of blooming, it will also force the plant into bushier growth which will produce many more flower buds and blossoms.

As the buds appear, pinch off half of them to make the remaining buds and flowers larger.

It is important to not overfeed your plants as they need little if any fertilizer and excess of it can reduce flowers.

Thus, forcing the plant to its energy instead of foliage growth.

Common Problems

Apart from common problems with slugs and snails, you may also have other issues like:

Seedlings die shortly after Sprouting

Though marigold flowers are easy to grow from seed,s it is not uncommon to have problems with the seedlings dying off quickly just as they start to grow.

Often when the fragile stem turns black, it withers and dies.

This is a classic example of “damping off disease” which is a fungal disease.

It occurs due to a number of fungal species and there is no cure for damping off disease.

However, you can prevent its occurrence by using:

• only sterile potting mix,
• by using clean pots,
• providing good air circulation,
• and plenty of space between seedlings
• and by watering seedling pots and trays from below than overhead watering

Moreover, damping-off fungi tend to prefer cool conditions, so make sure to keep the seedling tray warm to help prevent it.

Tall Marigolds Flop Over

The tall varieties of these plants can grow to 3 feet tall or more and can also get top-heavy and flop over due to winds and heavy rain.

To prevent this, you can bury the plant extra-deep when planting, stripping off the lower leaves, and planting so these exposed stem nodes are buried.

This will help create an extra-large root system that will be enough to hold the plant upright, even in moderately strong winds.

Moreover, it will help to remove heavy spent flowers after blooming, thus preventing the plant from becoming too top-heavy.

Plant to get Weka in Midsummer

In some cases, marigolds can get sparse and spindly with a reduction in blooming during the hottest parts of the mid-summer.

This is very likely to occur in very hot climates.

Mary garden like to sharply prune back the plants as these hot stretches begin, The plants will come back strong and produce good growth and profuse flowering as the weather begins to cool again in late summer and early fall.