Come springtime, forget-me-nots are the absolute stars of garden beds, patio containers, and window boxes. Most balcony gardeners treat these blue beauties as annuals—once the blooms fade, they usually clear them out to make room for the summer lineup.
Forget-Me-Nots: The Low-Maintenance Balcony Favorite
If you’re looking to brighten up your balcony, I definitely recommend buying established plants from your local nursery. Starting them from seed can be a bit of a project! If you’re feeling adventurous and want to propagate your own, you can take cuttings during the summer, let them root in a glass of water, and then pot them up. Just keep in mind that these young “babies” will need a frost-free spot to spend their first winter.
Location and Care Tips
The great thing about forget-me-nots is that they aren’t divas. A spot with dappled shade is perfect, as they aren’t big fans of harsh, direct afternoon sun. Maintenance is a breeze, but here are a few golden rules to keep them happy:
- Make sure your pot has plenty of drainage holes.
- Avoid “wet feet” at all costs—standing water is a no-go.
- Add a drainage layer (like gravel or clay pebbles) at the bottom of your window box.
- Use rhododendron soil; these plants love that slightly acidic vibe.
- Space them about 6 inches (15 cm) apart.
- Water regularly but moderately.
- Skip the fertilizer for now.
Growing Forget-Me-Nots as Perennials
Believe it or not, forget-me-nots are actually hardy and can be grown as perennials in containers. Choose a semi-shaded to shady spot with good airflow. If the air is too humid or stagnant, you might run into issues with powdery mildew or gray mold.
Again, rhododendron soil is your best friend here because of that acidic pH. For container plants, a little liquid fertilizer once or twice a year is plenty. Better yet, just refresh the soil in the spring before the new growth kicks in, and you won’t need extra fertilizer at all. Keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy—the roots are prone to rot if they sit in water. Once the flowers fade, give the plant a little trim and remove the spent blooms to keep things tidy.
Overwintering Your Forget-Me-Nots
In the ground, forget-me-nots are tough as nails and usually survive just fine with a light blanket of autumn leaves. However, plants in pots need a little extra TLC because the containers can freeze all the way through, which is bad news for the roots. Here’s how to tuck them in for the winter:
- Move your pots to a sheltered spot, like right up against the house wall.
- Place the pot on a piece of Styrofoam or wood to insulate it from the cold ground.
- Wrap the container in bubble wrap, burlap, or garden fleece.
- Cover the top of the soil with leaves or evergreen branches for an extra layer of warmth.
