Annual Flowering Plants In India

Introduction to Annual Flowering Plants in India: Annual plants are a great way to change the look of your garden from year to year, and they tend to have a longer flowering period compared to perennials. Annual plants sprout, bloom, produce seeds, and die all in one growing season, unlike perennials which live for more than 2 years. Annual plants live to provide quick, easy, colorful, and long-blooming colors. In this article we also covered the below topics about Annual flowering plants in India;

• Tips on how to make annuals bloom
• The difference between annual and perennial flowers
• Which annuals should you plant
• Why choose these 365 days Indian plants
• 365 days flowering plants in India
• What flowers stay in bloom all year
• How do you keep annuals blooming
• How many times do annuals bloom
• Flowers that bloom in all seasons
• Growing and Care of Annuals

A Step by Step Guide to Annual flowering plants in India

Generally, annual flower plants germinate, grow, and flower, set seed, and then die all in one growing season. You can also choose annuals for your garden based on characteristics other than flower color. There are tall annual plants, medium, short, or climbing; ones that prefer either full sun or partial shade; and those with special virtues, such as delightful fragrance or attractive foliage.

Flower plants from various regions are recognized for their diversity and characteristics. India is also known for its vibrant flowers. India provides thousands of flowering plants due to its varied climate conditions and colossal area. Annual flowers in India are not only beautiful, but they also carry religious and cultural significance. They use flowers to decorate their cultural and religious activities and their affection for their gods. These beautiful Annual flowers are found throughout the year in India.

You can plant some annuals from seed. There is a method known as “direct sowing” where you plant your seeds in the garden. The top seeds to try this are zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, and nasturtiums. Also, by planting annual flowers from seed you can grow some unique varieties that the nurseries don’t sell as starts, and a seed packet is way cheaper than a bunch of 4-inch or cell packs.

Annual flowers should be in the ground or pots as soon as possible after being purchased. And don’t purchase annuals bursting at the seams of their plastic pots or let them outgrow the pots as this weakens and stresses them. Also, when selecting annuals in the store look for young plants not flowering as they will acclimate better to their newly planted location. Water the plants immediately and thoroughly after planting even if rain is expected. A lot of energy is spent on setting buds and blooming, so even if annuals are in organically rich soil, they still appreciate being fed every month with a water-soluble organic fertilizer. Annual plants are also thirsty because they aren’t blessed with a deep root system so even water-conscious annuals bloom better with regular water. When the soil feels dry about 1 inch below the surface, it’s time for a drink. Annuals are a great way to change the look of a garden from year to year, and they tend to have a longer flowering period than perennials.

Types of Annuals

Not all annuals are equal and they are typically subdivided into three groups:

Hardy or cool-season annuals – Hardy or cool-season annuals thrive in the cool to moderate temperatures of early spring and fall and can tolerate exposure to light frost without being protected. Hardy annual plants are those that can stand the coldest and can tolerate cold soil, cool air, and light frosts without being damaged.

Tender or warm-season annuals – Tender or warm-season annuals, such as marigolds and petunias, are native to tropical or subtropical climates and require heat to grow and thrive, often growing poorly during cold weather conditions. To ensure their survival, it’s best to wait until the late spring season to add these plants to your garden beds or containers. Tender annuals require both warm soil and warm air temperatures to grow well. These are best put out on or a few weeks after the frost-free date when both soil and air temperature levels warm.

Half-hardy annuals – Half-hardy annuals are common and fall in the middle-of-the-road. They tolerate a wide range of temperature levels, including periods of cooler weather near the beginning or end of the gardening season. These can tolerate cool soils and cool air but are damaged by frost.

Conditions Required for Annual Flowering Plants In India

• Choose Plants Carefully – When sleeting annual flowers for maximum blooming, look for young, bushy plants with no flowers. Then, these will acclimate better in the garden than plants that have become pot-bound or that are already going to seed. Always choose flowering plants for your growing conditions. Don’t try to fudge it with limited sun or overcook flowers that need partial shade and new plants aren’t established enough to take that kind of stress.
• Soil preparation and planting – Generally, annual plants prefer well-drained soil with a pH between 6.3 and 6.7. Digging in a good quantity of peat moss or compost will help to build up the soil’s organic matter and then allow the plants’ roots to spread quickly and get off to a good start. Set out young plants at the recommended plant spacing, to prevent them from crowding each other once they have grown and matured. Fertilize at planting time by using an organic or slow-release fertilizer.
• You need to pay attention to whether a particular flowering plant is hardy, half-hardy, or tender before deciding when to transplant it. Some nurseries sell these plants with labels that identify hardiness; when in doubt, put annuals out after all danger of frost has passed. Another crucial factor is whether a particular plant prefers sun or partial shade.
• Plant them quickly – Get the new flower plants in the ground or pots as soon as possible after purchasing them and don’t let them outgrow their pots. Give the plants time to get adjusted to being in the ground while they are young and growing. Water the flower plants immediately after planting, even if rain is predicted.
• Pinch to encourage growth – Before planting, pinch the growing tip of the plant back to a leaf axil. This will encourage new and compact growth.

Care Required for Annual Flowering Plants In India

• Once they start blooming, most annual plants will flower all season long, until cold temperatures or frost put an end to their display. Though, to keep them flowering and looking good, you will need to perform some simple but easy maintenance.
• Deadheading is the most important task, and mainly it involves pinching off old flowers just as they begin to fade. The reason for doing this is simple and annuals live to flower quickly, produce seed and die. So long as you keep deadheading blossoms, the flowering plants will continue to produce flowers; and once you stop, the plants will reduce flowering, and then put their energy into maturing seeds. Pinching off spent blooms is quick and easy, and then it ensures season-long bloom.
• If you’ve fertilized at planting time as recommended with a granular, organic, and slow-release fertilizer, you shouldn’t have to fertilize annuals again during the season. With annuals, the flowers are the thing, and the over-fertilizing plant can lead to lush foliage growth, which is really beside the point. The primary exception is container-grown flower plants, which need to be fertilizing with a water-soluble fertilizer every couple of weeks to maintain a colorful show.
• Annuals have shallow root systems and so require a regular water supply. And, avoid overhead watering if possible, which can stain some types of flowers, and make them look unattractive. It also can contribute to a buildup of botrytis fungus, which can affect flower plants such as Zinnias, Geraniums, and Marigolds. For best results, use a soaker hose or a drip irrigation system, or direct watering can right at soil level.
• Water Well – Always water annual plants after planting. By using a watering can or hose-end sprayer or watering wand that delivers a gentle shower of water. Soak the soil thoroughly and add a mulch layer to slow water evaporation from soil and help reduce weeds.
• Annual plants don’t have deep root systems. Even drought-tolerant annual plants will bloom better if they get regular watering.
• Heat can leave annuals wilting every afternoon. Giving them a good and deep soaking in the morning will prepare them to handle the afternoon sun. Even then, there will be days when plant leaves will become crisp and dry. Don’t be afraid to cut these off and prune the plants back to healthy plant leaves. They will regrow quickly.  However, just because water is vital doesn’t mean that plants should sit in wet soil, as it can cause the roots to rot. Plant them in well-draining soil, and which means that the soil holds the water long enough for the roots to soak it in while allowing the excess water to eventually drain off.
• Mulching mainly helps keep the shallow roots of annual flowers cool and moist. The main drawback to mulching is that it inhibits re-seeding, so try not to mulch until the volunteers from last season are up and growing.
• Feed Often – Annual plants expend a lot of energy setting buds and blooming. Even if the plants are in soil rich in organic matter, and it helps to feed them every three to six weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer.

Why Choose Annual Plants?

• Growing annual plants can be a great way to take gardening one year at a time; and with new plants and color schemes without making a long-term commitment.
• Add annuals to a vegetable garden for a splash of color, to fill in gaps when early-season crops are harvested, and then attract pollinators to increase the production of edible crops.
• Annual plants provide nearly instant gratification, maturing faster than perennials or biennials, and bloom from planting time until frost, and in some cases beyond.
• If you want a lot of blooms, annual plants are the answer. They put all of their energy into developing more flowers.

Advantages of Annual Flowering Plants

Annual flower plants grow quicker and bloom longer. Annuals come in a multitude of colors and another of the benefits to growing annuals also stems from their short lives. Annual blooms are bright. The plants need to attract pollinators and they don’t have time to waste. You can count on filling up empty beds quickly and then dramatically with annuals, mixing colors and heights to create the palate you want.

Annual flower plants are not expensive. Annuals cost less compared to perennials, whether you buy them as seeds or seedlings. Then, that makes sense when you consider that perennial roots live for two or more seasons. But it also means that for a lot less money, you can fill the garden with bright annual blooms. And change your color design year after year.

• Annual flowers grow quicker and bloom longer
• Annuals come in a multitude of colors
• Annual plants are not expensive
• Many types of annual also self-seed
• Annuals are so easy to grow
• Cost can add up year after year
• Most annual plants cannot take cold
• They can help fill out your perennial flower bed by filling blank areas near the front of the bed while perennials are starting to grow in the background.
• You can use them to carry out the color scheme of your garden.
• They produce lots of beautiful flowers all season long and this helps keep the garden looking lush and colorful.
• Have few pests and disease problems

Popular Annual Flowering Plants In India

Annual flowers are those that live for only one growing season before producing seeds and dying. Then, this means that these flowers live and die all in the same year. This allows you to try out different flowers to see what you like best. Also, it allows you to keep a variety in your garden every season. These blooms tend to grow fast and then flower for a long time. Annuals flower throughout the entire season, but are sensitive to different climates. Popular annual flowers include Petunias, Marigolds, Zinnias, and Impatiens, etc.

#1 Marigold

Marigolds are one of the easiest to cultivate due to their wide adaptability. The plants with their attractive yellow-orange color flowers bloom for long period. Marigold plants are very prolific and easy to grow an annual flower. Give them full sun and well-draining soil and watch them bloom from late spring until the fall season.

Most marigold plants prefer to be located in an area with full sun but will tolerate some shade. During times of extreme heat conditions, some afternoon shade is beneficial. It is best to water marigold plants at the base of the plant and not from overhead. The densely double flower heads will tend to rot with excess moisture. Allow the soil to dry somewhat between watering, but do water regularly in high heat or dry weather conditions. Marigolds growing in containers must be watered daily as containers dry out quickly. Marigold plants are one of the most popular annual flowers.

#2 Geranium Cranesbill

Cranesbills are also known as hardy geraniums, are perennial species of the Geraniaceae family. This beautiful plant is very easy to grow and can thrive in almost any soil. It favors dark, moist, and humus-rich soil that is slightly moist and drains well not soggy or heavily saturated. Cranesbills mainly prefer the light shade provided by high treetops and will do well in areas with part shading or full morning sun. Once grown, they require minimum care and regular watering.

#3 Cosmos

A delightful annual, the plant is about 50 to 120 cm tall and bears Rose, Pink, Crimson, Purple, and white large flowers with yellow center on long stalks. It is a genus consisting of flowering plants in the sunflower family. Cosmos are annuals with colorful flowers that sit atop long and slender stems. The plant leaves grow opposite on the stems and are either deeply lobed, pinnate, or bipinnate and feathery, depending on the species.

#4 Salvia

The Salvia plants may be tall or dwarf and bushy. Salvia is heat- and drought-tolerant, making them survivors in the summer garden. They grow about 18 inches to 5 feet tall, depending on the variety. Salvia plants also grow well in containers. Take care when choosing salvia plants, because not all plants are hardy in all regions; some are best treated as annuals, but perennial varieties are also available.

#5 Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum plant is the best 365 flowering plant in India and then blooms lots of beautiful flowers. Propagated this plant in 10 to 12 inches flowering pot and this needs proper sunlight on daily basis. When buds are visible add liquid fertilizer to the plant once a week. After every 15 to 20 days adds liquid fertilizer. It is a member of the Compositae family and is available in a wide range of colors, shapes, and sizes.

Chrysanthemum flowers are two different types of florets. They are ray and disc florets. Ray florets are traditional as the petals, while the disc florets create the center buttons. When the florets are all clustered together, and they give us what we know and love as a mum bloom. Mums prefer a sunny spot in the landscape. Chrysanthemums will grow in partial shade but can get leggy when reaching for sunlight.

#6 Hibiscus

The Hibiscus flower is also famous as rose mallow, is known for its vibrant and beautiful flowers in white, yellow, and red shades. It blooms all year, making it an excellent upgrade to the garden. This flower can be used to decorate a home or garden, but they are also used medicinally. Hibiscus plants are known for their show-stopping big beautiful flowers that come in a different variety of colors.

Growing hibiscus plants need plenty of nutrients and use either slow-release or water-soluble fertilizers but make sure the nutrients are balanced. For example, use a 20-20-20 or 10-10-10 fertilizer. You can use a diluted liquid fertilizer once a week or a slow-release fertilizer 4 times a year means early spring; after the first round of blooming; mid-summer; and early winter season. Though hibiscus plants are more demanding than some other common flowers, learning the basics of hibiscus plant care isn’t challenging, and the colorful blooms are well worth the additional effort. The initial principle of hibiscus plant maintenance is to water them with warm water when it comes to sunlight, hibiscus plants like a lot of it. The more visible sunlight they get, the better they’ll grow; and aim for at least 8 hours of direct sunlight a day.

#7 Ixora

Ixora plant exists in a range of colors, including red, yellow, and neon orange, and proliferates with little effort. While planting an Ixora bush, it needs very little care. The Ixora plant has oval-shaped, shiny, leathery leaves that are rigid. Ixora plant grown in the full sun produces the most delicate flower displays. Growing an Ixora bush needs well-drained soil with a mild to mildly acidic pH level. Ixora plants are easy to grow plant; a beginner can easily propagate this plant. A potting mix of the Ixora plant will be like an equal portion of sand, vermicomposting, soil.

Ixora plant is a tropical to semi-tropical evergreen shrub. The plant is grown as an annual in temperate and cooler climate conditions. Started and grown year-round indoors, Ixora plants feature large clusters of red, yellow, white, or orange color flowers that emerge like puffballs from the evergreen leaves continuously throughout the year. Also, Ixora plants need good airflow to avoid black sooty mold, which can dull their shiny leaves and eventually affect the plant’s growth. Ixora plants like bright light, so put them somewhere in the home where they can get at least eight to 10 hours of sunlight a day. Keep them away from harsh direct rays in the summer season, which can dry out and burn the leaves if you’re not careful. For the healthiest Ixora plant possible, plant it in a soil mixture that is rich in organic matter. Additionally, Ixora plants love soil that has a slightly acidic pH level between 5.5 to 6.5.

#8 Cockscomb

Cockscomb is very popular and easy to grow to branch annual. It mainly produces feathery flower spikes in a pyramidal fashion resembling Ostrich-plumes, in various colors of golden yellow, silver red, and orange. Cockscomb is a common garden plant of the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae). Cockscombs are tender perennials but are grown as annuals in cooler climates. The cockscomb flower can also be fat and spiky little plant, growing in colors other than the vibrant red. This cockscomb is called plume celosia (Celosia plumosa). This is useful in garden borders or planted between taller plants in the garden to add a spike of color near ground level.