From our perspective, the timing for your nutritional support begins not when you see our first green shoots, but when we feel the consistent warmth of spring soil. This warmth is our signal to break dormancy and initiate our root and foliage growth. An early application of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer (something like a 12-6-6 or 10-10-10 formula) worked gently into the soil around our base provides the essential nitrogen we crave for building strong, lush leaves and stems. This initial meal fuels our entire framework for the season. Please avoid fertilizing us in the height of summer's heat, as this can force tender new growth that is highly susceptible to scorch and stress, diverting energy from our true purpose: flowering.
Our most crucial feeding occurs as the long days of summer begin to shorten. This change in light is the undeniable trigger for us to shift our energy from vegetative growth to reproductive development—the creation of our flower buds. This typically happens in mid-to-late summer. At this stage, we require a significant shift in nutrients. We need less nitrogen and more phosphorus and potassium. Phosphorus is vital for promoting strong root systems and, most importantly, for encouraging abundant bud set and flowering. A fertilizer with a higher middle number, such as a 5-10-5 or 0-20-20 blend, is ideal. This "bloom booster" applied as we begin to form buds provides the precise resources we need to develop a spectacular display of color.
How you feed us is as important as when. We prefer a gentle, consistent supply of nutrients that our fibrous root system can easily access. Whether using a granular or water-soluble fertilizer, always ensure our soil is moist before application. Applying fertilizer to dry soil can shock and burn our delicate roots, causing more harm than good. For granular, slow-release types, sprinkle it around our drip line (the circumference of our foliage) and lightly scratch it into the soil, followed by a deep, gentle watering to help carry the nutrients down to our root zone. For liquid fertilizers, dilute them as directed and apply to the soil, not our leaves, ensuring a thorough and even distribution.
As our magnificent blooms begin to fade and the air turns crisp, our internal processes start to slow down. We are preparing for our winter rest. Fertilizing us after our flowers have faded or within about six weeks of your area's first expected frost is counterproductive and can be detrimental. The boost of nutrients, especially nitrogen, can stimulate a late flush of tender new growth that will not have time to harden off before winter, making us vulnerable to frost damage. At this stage, we need to channel our remaining energy into our roots for storage to survive the winter and emerge strong again next spring. Please allow us to enter our dormant period naturally.
