Best Tips to Keep Your Forget-Me-Not Plant Blooming

Romantic and wild, the forget-me-not plant is a beautiful species. We'll show you how to care for specimens of this plant species here.

The forget-me-not plant captivates with its colorful flowers, subtle appearance, and the elementary care it requires. Just its ease of care alone makes it a favorite for gardens or for the interior of the home.

This plant, also called “raspilla”, stands out for its ability to withstand harsh environments. This is a quality that tends to be underestimated due to its compact and decorative appearance.

The attractiveness isn’t exclusive to the appearance; behind its name, there’s a romantic story that, to this day, attracts lovers of floriculture. Let’s learn more about it.

Forget-me-not, a plant full of meanings

“Forget-me-not” is the name of the flowers that sprout from the genus Myosotis, belonging to the family Boraginaceae. The name comes from the German legend that tells the story of two lovers.

According to the popular story, a lady saw a beautiful flower floating in the waters of the Danube, so she asked her suitor to rescue it and bring it to her. Without hesitation, the man entered the river in search of that flower; he reached it, but did not manage to get out of the water. Just before drowning, he is supposed to have shouted to his beloved: “Vergis mich nicht!“, which in English means “Don’t forget me”.

Another denotation originated in the Masonic lodges of Germany, which gave the flower of this plant the symbolic character of the resistance against Nazism. They adopted as their emblem the 5 blue petals of “forget-me-not”.

The features and benefits of the ‘forget-me-not’ plant

The Virtual Herbarium of the Western Mediterranean draws the plant as a branched herb, foliose and with some hairiness. It consists of leaves longer than wide ranging from 2 to 13 centimeters in length.

There are at least 100 species of raspillas that, according to Flor de Canarias, are differentiated by their tone. Likewise, the varieties created by Myosotis breeders evidence singularities of cultivation according to the colors of their petals.

For example, the white alba and indigo blue are for pots or borders; the dark blue and mauve pink are for pots, borders or rock gardens; while the light pink is for rock gardens or borders.

The flowering of “forget-me-not” Can be either annual or perennial, the latter occurring in spring. The plant does not exceed 80 centimeters in height, while the flower itself measures approximately 1 centimeter.

In terms of benefits, the Journal of Plant Physiology highlights the potential of natural oil extracts from Myosotis to create essences that contribute to the inhibition of bacterial microorganisms.

Recommendations for beautiful flowering of forget-me-not

Although this plant doesn’t require intensive care, it’s worth knowing what are the tips that favor its development and bushy flowering. Let’s take a look.

Lighting

For bushy flowering, it’s best to place the plant in an area where it gets sunlight or semi-shade. Remember that this is a wild-rooted species, so it does well outdoors.

But if you are going yo have it indoors, put it near a window, on the balcony, or take it out in the sun for at least 3 hours. Low-light environments affect its flowering.

Multiplication

Reproduction of the forget-me-not is done through seeds that should be sown in early spring, either directly in the ground or in a pot. Before planting, let them soak in water for 24 hours; after this time, remove those that do not float, because this means they won’t germinate.

Then, take the seeds to a small container that serves as a seedbed and that is perforated on the walls so that the water drains. Add substrate and insert the seeds 1 centimeter deep.

Water and wait 2 weeks to watch for germination. Once the plant has risen by at least 10 centimeters, transplant it to its final location.

Fertilization

The forget-me-not plant requires nutrient-rich fertilizer, preferably organic. Some favorable preparations for the soil are those containing worm castings.

Moreover, diluting fertilizers with potassium in the irrigation, every week and a half, enhances flowering. In the winter, however, stop completely or reduce fertilization with special substances.

Watering

In spring and summer hydrate the plant every 2 days or advance the process according to the characteristics of the soil. In winter and autumn, water twice a week, so as not to waterlog the soil or make the shrub sick.

The purpose is to keep the substrate moist, but without excesses. To find out if it still has plenty of moisture, insert a wooden stick in the soil and if it comes out muddy, it’s because it has enough water.

Temperature

Forget-me-not plants can withstand low temperatures. However, it’s best to protect them from the wind.

Disease prevention

Like any plant, forget-me-nots are not exempt from getting sick. Snails, slugs, and powdery mildew are frequent afflictions of this species. Not reacting in time increases the probability that the specimen will wither.

To prevent the invasion of the fungus, first try homemade preparations that mix baking soda, liquid soap, and water; when the disease progresses, it’s best to prune the infected parts and spray fungicide. As for the removal of mollusks, the appropriate thing to do is to apply molluscicide.

Extra care for the forget-me-not plant

It’s not necessary that the plant is infected to remove wilted leaves. In fact, frequent pruning aids in the preservation of nutrients required for flowering.

This is an additional, species-favoring care. The success of this tip lies in executing the cuts above a quarter of the leaves; thus, the buds of this beautiful variety of plant will look lush.