Flowers in Florida – Annual Flower Beds
Growing flowers is different in Central Florida, because of the climate. Florida only has three seasons. Winter weather consists of cool nights and an occasional freeze. Spring has some cool nights without any freezing. High night temperatures and high humidity along with heavy rains characterize much of the summer and early fall.
Perennials are plants that can grow for several years without replacement. Flowers that don’t fit that requirement are called bedding plants or annuals. Bedding plants are replaced at the beginning of each season with varieties that fit the specific conditions of that season. Perennials typically bloom only part of the year, annual beds can offer almost continuous blooms.
Growing flowers in Central Florida brings good news and bad news. The good news is that there is lots of sunshine and winters are mild. The bad news includes lots of pests, heavy rains and sandy infertile soils. That means flower beds require more maintenance than normal. The time needed to scout for and treat pests will increase.
Success with bedding plants in Central Florida requires matching the flowers to the right set of conditions. Pansies, petunias and snapdragons thrive in cool night temperatures, so they’re best planted in the fall, winter and early spring. Gazanias, marigolds, celosia, amaranthus, coleus, crossandra, impatiens, and vinca do well in higher humidity and warmer conditions. Some bedding plants like salvia and wax begonias do well throughout the year.
Planning the use of flowers in the landscape is important. Bedding plants should be used only as an accent, not as a central feature. The use of annuals should harmonize with the rest of the landscape, the home and other flower beds. Use of too many different colors or kinds of flowers will diminish the appearance. Flower beds consisting of only one type of flower are common.
Before the plants are purchased, prepare the beds by adding several inches of organic matter such as peat or compost. Then turn the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches. If possible, plant the flowers immediately after purchase. Holding flowers in their containers increases the chance of problems. Annual beds can be fertilized after planting and then on a monthly schedule.
When buying, look for high quality plants. The right plants will have dark green leaves and will be free of disease and insects. Good quality plants do not need to be blooming when purchased. Plants that have been neglected or abused are not bargains no matter how low the price. These plants will never recover fully and will not match the performance of healthy plants
Flowers are most often sold in either 4-inch pots or in flats, also called cell packs. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. The primary advantage of the cell pack is that they are cheaper. The plants however are smaller. The larger size of the 4-inch posts means that they will bloom sooner, cover the flower bed sooner and produce flowers for more of the growing season.
