Let’s be honest: hollyhocks aren’t always lucky enough to land in a spot with perfect soil. Since these beauties grow those massive leaves and tall flower spikes, they need plenty of fuel to look their best. If your garden soil is a bit lacking, don’t worry—you can easily give them a boost. Here is the lowdown on when and how to feed your hollyhocks for the best results.
When to Fertilize Your Hollyhocks
You actually don’t *always* need to fertilize hollyhocks. If they are planted in a great spot in your garden with rich soil, they might be perfectly happy on their own. However, if you are growing hollyhocks in pots or if your garden soil is feeling a bit “tired” and depleted, you’ll definitely want to step in.
You can start nourishing them right at planting time with:
- Horn meal or bone meal
- Fresh compost
- Well-aged horse manure
For hollyhocks in a good garden spot, a simple layer of compost in the spring and another in the fall is usually plenty. On the other hand, if your plants are in containers or poor soil, you should give them a little “snack” every two weeks. Basically, how you grow them determines how much you need to feed them—definitely something to keep in mind when you’re planning your garden!
Choosing the Right Fertilizer
Picking the right “food” is key to a healthy plant. If you use the wrong type of fertilizer, you might end up with a giant plant but very few flowers—and nobody wants that! We want to see as many beautiful hollyhock blooms as possible.
The best choice for hollyhocks is mature compost or well-rotted manure. You can mix these right into the hole when you are planting or transplanting your hollyhocks. This ensures the roots have immediate access to nutrients. If you’ve opted for the every-two-weeks feeding schedule, a high-quality liquid fertilizer is your best bet. Just mix a bit into your watering can, and you’re good to go!
