Forget-me-nots are those charming spring bloomers we all love to see in garden beds or patio pots. You’ll often spot them in cute indoor floral arrangements during the spring, too. But can you actually keep forget-me-nots as permanent houseplants? Let’s dig into why that’s a bit tricky.
Why Forget-Me-Nots Aren’t Great Houseguests
If you buy a bowl of forget-me-nots for your living room, they’ll usually only look good for a few days. The truth is, these spring beauties just aren’t built for indoor life. Our homes are generally too warm, the air is too dry, and those decorative pots are often way too cramped. In a typical arrangement, several plants are squeezed together, but forget-me-nots actually need about 6 to 8 inches of breathing room to thrive. Without that space, they’re prone to fungal diseases that can quickly spread to your other houseplants. If you can, it’s always best to move them outdoors as soon as possible.
If you don’t have a balcony or a garden, you might have to treat them like a temporary bouquet and toss them once they start to fade to prevent any pests or diseases from moving in. They’ll be much happier if you can get them into a window box or a garden bed!
- How to Transplant Your Forget-Me-Nots
These plants love a spot with partial shade and rich, slightly acidic soil (rhododendron or azalea potting mix works wonders). Make sure your container has drainage holes so the roots don’t sit in water. I always recommend adding a layer of broken pottery or gravel at the bottom for extra drainage. Here’s the best way to get them settled:
- Fill your pot about two-thirds full with soil.
- Place your forget-me-not in the center.
- If planting more than one, keep them about 6 inches apart.
- Fill in the rest of the soil.
- Press down firmly and give them a good drink.
- Keep the soil consistently moist (but not soggy!).
Ongoing Care Tips
If you want your forget-me-nots to come back next year, make sure to deadhead the faded blooms. This prevents them from dropping seeds everywhere. On the flip side, if you *want* them to spread, you can collect the seeds and plant them yourself in the summer or early fall.
One quick tip for winter: if you’re keeping them in pots outside, they’ll need a little extra protection. Because the soil in containers freezes much faster than the ground, the roots can get damaged. Move the pots to a sheltered spot, wrap them in burlap or bubble wrap, and cover the plants with some evergreen branches to keep them cozy until spring!
