The kisses are these colorful flowers that are everywhere and are present on the edges of gardens and windows throughout the summer. They are beautiful, resistant and come in many different colors, which makes it possible to plant them in order to obtain a beautiful visual effect. Read on to learn how to grow and care for them and make them bloom healthy and eye-catching.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Getting ready to plant little kisses
Step 1. Buy little kisses at a garden store near your home
During spring, most of these stores and breeders have many seedlings of kisses, in various colors, which makes it easy to buy some trays of your favorites. Buy flowers of only one color or combine and mix flowers of different colors to make your garden colorful.
- There are three common varieties of kisses, the color and size of the petals of each one varying slightly. The colors of the kisses-de-monkey are large and have strong colors; those of balsamines, in turn, have pastel tones or are red and orange, with spiral marks on the petals.
- Planting kissing seedlings is quite simple, but it is also possible to plant seeds. To do this, put them in a germination solution in August so that they are ready for spring planting. Press them lightly into the mixture and keep the trays moist and at about 20°C.
Step 2. Keep the seedlings wet before planting
Kisses wither quickly when they don't have enough water. It doesn't matter if you bought seedlings or chose to plant seeds, it is necessary that they stay moist until they can be placed in pots or planted in the ground.
Step 3. Find a good place to plant
Kisses grow well in pots, trays and flower beds and like shady places. Therefore, try to choose a spot that has a little shade throughout the day. The soil should be moist but not retain much water, as standing water causes mold on these plants.
To find out if an area doesn't hold a lot of water, check it after heavy rain. If there are puddles and standing water, it may be necessary to add peat or other material to decrease retention. If the water is absorbed, the location is probably good for planting
Step 4. Try to plant when the soil is warm
Kisses should not be placed in the ground or planted in a pot until the frosts are gone, the ground is hot and there is no longer any risk of them freezing. Planting them too early can cause them to wither or even die before the weather gets hot.
Step 5. Prepare the land for planting
These flowers like nutritious, moist land. It is possible to prepare it by plowing it to a depth of 30 cm and putting some organic compost or fertilizer on it. If planting in pots, buy nutrient-rich soil.
Part 2 of 2: Planting and taking care of little kisses
Step 1. Dig holes and plant the kisses
They should be as deep as the root clods and be 3 to 12 inches apart from each other, however you prefer. Gently squeeze the soil around the base of the stems and water well after planting.
- The kisses can be planted in conglomerates to form beautiful borders in a flower bed. You can place some in a container, 5 cm to 7.5 cm apart from each other.
- You can also plant them in hanging baskets instead of containers. The kisses will soon grow and join together to cover any patch of empty soil between them.
Step 2. Always keep them moist
They will soon wither if the soil dries out. Water around the roots in the mornings every few days. Avoid watering in the afternoon and leaving them wet throughout the night, as excessive moisture helps mold formation.
Soil from pots and other containers dries out more quickly than soil, so it may be necessary to water more often in these cases
Step 3. Fertilize the kisses
You can opt for a slow-acting fertilizer, following the directions on the package, or add a liquid fertilizer every few weeks.