Hello! I am a Coreopsis plant. You might know me as Tickseed. From my perspective, I am a child of the sun, thriving in open prairies and meadows where the soil is well-drained and often a bit lean. My very nature is one of rugged simplicity. I do not require rich, heavy meals to perform. In fact, an overabundance of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, is more of a hindrance than a help. It encourages me to focus my energy on producing vast amounts of soft, leafy growth at the expense of the very thing you love: my vibrant, cheerful blooms. My goal is to produce a spectacular show of flowers, not an award-winning canopy of leaves.
If you wish to offer me a supplemental meal to encourage more prolific blooming, the type of fertilizer is crucial. Look for a blend where the middle number (the phosphorus percentage) is higher than the first number (nitrogen). A formula like 5-10-5 or a balanced 10-10-10 used very sparingly is ideal. Phosphorus is the nutrient that directly supports strong root development and, most importantly for you, prolific flower production. It's the signal that tells my system, "All systems go for blooming!" A light side-dressing of compost in the spring is also a wonderful, gentle way to provide me with slow-release nutrients that mimic the natural enrichment of my native habitat.
My feeding schedule is not a frequent one. I need sustenance at the start of my active growing season. A single, light application of a bloom-boosting fertilizer in early spring, as I am just emerging from my winter rest and beginning to put on new growth, is perfectly timed. This gives me the resources I need to launch into a strong flowering period. If I am a perennial variety and you have deadheaded me after my first major bloom to encourage a second show, a second, even lighter application can be beneficial at that time. However, please refrain from feeding me in late summer or fall. This could stimulate tender new growth that will be easily damaged by frost, weakening me for the following season.
While a thoughtful fertilizing routine helps, the true secrets to my most vibrant display are simple. First, I must have full sun. Without at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight, I simply cannot produce the energy required to create my brilliant flowers. Second, your practice of deadheading is the most effective "fertilizer" you can provide. By consistently removing my spent blooms, you prevent me from going to seed. This tricks my biological programming into thinking I must try again to reproduce, leading me to channel all my energy into producing more and more flowers to achieve that goal. This, combined with well-drained soil and a light hand with the fertilizer, is the true recipe for a season-long spectacle of vibrant color.
