Gaillardia plant grow and care – herbaceous of the genus Gaillardia also known as Blanket flower, Gaillardia perennial evergreen or deciduous plant and also can grow as annual plant, used as ornamental plant for the flowers, as ground cover, the plant attract pollinators and can be drought tolerant plant, can grow in temperate, subtropics or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 3-6 as annual and 7-11 as perennial and with the right overwinter care in hardiness zone 6.
Leaves color green in lanceolate shape, sometimes the plant create shape of ball.
Flower color can be: yellow, orange, red or pink mostly two colors on the same flower the inner darker (stamen can be dark color but also can be the inner circle yellow) the outer part yellow, create pattern of discs color that change.
How to grow Gaillardia growing condition and care:
Well-drained soil, mulch, the plant doesn’t like high humidity
How to care: When the plant deciduous better to cover mulch in the winter and also in hot location in the summer better to put mulch it’s keep the soil moist, better to fertilize in the spring before blooming season
What is the best way to start growing? Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction
How to propagate by division: Propagating by division – before start division it’s better to water the ground for few days it’s make easier to move the soil, dig the plant with the hand (better not to destroy the roots system) in the connection between the plant better to use cutter to cut the root connection
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No it’s easy to start from seeds, propagating by division easier and can ensure the color of the flowers
Difficulties or problems when growing: ?
Planting season – When to plant: Spring as annual or in hardiness zone 6-8, spring to summer in hardiness zone 9-10a, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 10b and planting all year but better not in the summer in hardiness zone 11
How to plant: Dig a hole bigger than the root ball at least 50-150% bigger, if it’s heavy soil make bigger hole and add the light soil to make the drainage better, add organic matter, dead leaves, compost and humus.
Pests and diseases: Powdery mildew, slugs, mealy bugs
Pruning season: All year
How to prune: Dead leaves and deadhead, unless there need for the seeds
How to deadhead blanket flower: Deadheading flowers as the flowers color fade away cut off the flower stem above the leaves.
Size of the plant: 20-90 cm, 8-36 inches
Growth speed in optimal condition: Fast growing / Medium growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water, can grow in small amount of water and the plant can survive drought but better to give the plant regularly water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun, can grow in less than full sun but will bloom less
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in a pots, planter, flowerpot, containers: Yes, start with pots that bigger than the root ball at least 100-200%, possible to grow the plant in pot of 10-15L (2.5-4 gallons), use potting mix or peat soil with perlite and mix it with humus and organic matter, if use bottom for the pot let the bottom of the pot fill in water but dry in the same day, drainage of the soil is important and need to make enough holes, when the plant grow in the same container few year need to consider to switch the soil usually potting mix or other kind of soil lose their viability and also the soil become heavier and prevent the drainage of the soil
Blooming information
Bloom season: Most of the year
General information about the flower Yellow, red, orange or pink mostly two colors on the same flower the inner darker (stamen can be dark color but also can be the inner circle yellow) the outer part yellow, create pattern of discs color that change.
How to grow Gaillardia plant from seeds
Sowing requirement: Soil with good drainage (important) temperature 15-24C (60-75F)
Saving seeds and care until sowing: Dry and dark location
Sowing season – When to plant: Spring (better in the spring) possible in the summer not in location with temperature above 40C
How to plant: Better to use potting mix or even better peat soil with mix of vermiculite
Planting spacing: 30*40cm (12*16 inches)
Depth of Sowing: Better to put the seeds on the soil and another option to cover lightly 2mm (0.01 inch)
Conditions for seeds germinate: Lightly moist soil, sunny location, well-drained soil, temperature 15-24C (60-75F), but better around 20C (68C), keep light humidity
Watering requires for Seeds: Small amount of water to average amount of water, don’t let it dry and don’t overwater, keep the soil lightly moist, and when the seeds not cover need to keep humidity by spray water
Germination time: 2-4 weeks
Condition of seedling: Full sun and light moist soil and when after the 4th leaf reduce the moist and let it almost dry between watering
