To help me produce the most magnificent blooms, you must first understand my natural annual cycle. I am a perennial plant with distinct phases of growth, dormancy, and renewal. My blooming effort in late spring and early summer is an immense energy expenditure. After this, I focus on building strong roots and storing carbohydrates in my fleshy tuberous roots for the next year. Fertilizing me at the wrong time is wasteful and can even be detrimental. The key is to support me during my critical growth and energy storage periods, not when I am entering my dormant slumber.
My dietary needs are specific. I crave a balanced meal to support my various functions. The three primary macronutrients I need are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).
Nitrogen (N): This is crucial for my leafy, green growth, which is the engine of my photosynthesis. However, too much nitrogen will encourage me to produce excessive foliage at the expense of your desired blooms. It can also make my stems weak and floppy.
Phosphorus (P): This is the star nutrient for blooming! Phosphorus is essential for healthy root development, strong cell formation, and most importantly, for the initiation and development of my flower buds. A deficiency here directly results in fewer or absent blooms.
Potassium (K): Often called the "health" nutrient, potassium strengthens my overall system. It improves my disease resistance, aids in water regulation, and ensures the general vigor needed to support large, heavy flowers.
I also benefit from secondary nutrients and micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, and iron, which are often present in quality garden soil and compost.
My feeding schedule is simple and aligns with my growth cycle. I require two main meals per year.
First Feeding (Early Spring): As the soil warms and my red shoots (often called "eyes") begin to emerge from the ground, a gentle, balanced fertilizer can give me a boost for initial growth. A formula like 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 is ideal, as it is lower in nitrogen and higher in phosphorus and potassium. Alternatively, a top-dressing of well-rotted compost or manure provides a slow-release nutrient source.
Second Feeding (Post-Bloom - Mid Summer): This is the most critical feeding! After I have finished blooming and you have deadheaded the spent flowers, I immediately begin the process of creating next year's flower buds within my roots. Applying the same low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer (or compost) now provides the direct energy required for this vital task. This meal ensures the buds are well-formed and plentiful for the following spring.
Please be gentle when applying my food. Scatter granular fertilizer or compost in a ring around my drip line (the circumference of my foliage), but keep it several inches away from my crown (the base of my stems). Fertilizer directly touching my crown can cause rot and damage. Always water the fertilizer in thoroughly after application to help the nutrients percolate down to my root zone. Avoid fertilizing me after mid-summer, as late-season growth stimulated by fertilizer will be too tender to survive the winter frosts.
