How to Plant Forget Me Not Seeds

Co-authored by Lauren Kurtz

Last Updated: June 5, 2022 References

Both beautiful and easy to care for, forget-me-nots are a popular flower choice for amateur gardeners. The seeds can be planted either in outdoors in your garden or in indoor pots. Properly cared for forget-me-not seeds will mature into stunning blue, pink, or white flowers.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Method 1: Planting Forget-Me-Not Seeds in a Garden

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Pick an area that gets 3–6 hours of sunlight per day to start the seeds. Forget-me-nots tend to thrive in partial to dappled shade, so choose an area of your garden to plant them in that doesn't get full sunlight.^{[1]
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- Some forget-me-not species are more hardy than others when it comes to sunlight and grow better with more than 6 hours of sunlight. Take a look at your specific seed variety and look up whether it’s partial to full sun or partial shade.^{[2]
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2
Test your garden soil for a pH of 5.5-7.5. Forget-me-nots can live anywhere in the 5.5-7.5 pH range.^{[3]
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Research source} You can use a commercial soil pH tester to get the exact number.

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3
Water the soil before planting. Forget-me-nots love moisture, so you want to start the seeds out in an already-wet environment. Use a hose or watering can to get the planting bed moist but not soggy.
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Sow your seeds 6-12 inches apart. Once you’ve prepared the soil, sprinkle your seeds onto the surface. You want them to be at least 6-12 inches apart, especially if you’re going to let them reseed naturally. If you’re planting forget-me-nots in the fall, they will bloom for you in the spring.^{[4]
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- This might be a good time to plant other spring flowers, like daffodils and tulips. These flowers will rise up above the layer of blue forget-me-nots and add a gorgeous pop of color to your garden.
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Add a few inches of organic mulch for protection. Mulch made of organic material helps mimic the forget-me-not’s natural environment.^{[5]
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Research source} Place 2 to 3 inches (5.1 to 7.6 cm) of fine mulch or up to 4 inches (10 cm) of larger material on top of the soil to keep moisture in until the seeds germinate. The mulch will also regulate the seeds’ temperature.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Method 2: Potting Forget-Me-Not Seeds Indoors

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Select a pot with drainage holes. Whatever pot you decide on, it must have holes on the bottom. While forget-me-nots need proper moisture, you don’t want them to drown.^{[6]
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Research source} A pot with holes will allow water to drain out once it has run all the way through the soil, and prevent pooling around the plant's roots that can lead to mold or fungus.
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Fill the container with light potting mix and water it. Forget-me-nots are not very finicky, so it’s fine to use a regular, light soil mixture designed for potted plants.^{[7]
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Research source} You may also choose to enrich the soil with an organic material, such as compost.^{[8]
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Research source} Wet the soil afterwards as you would with an outdoor crop.
- Your soil should have a neutral pH somewhere between 5.5-7.5 for forget-me-nots to thrive.^{[9]
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Plant a couple of seeds per pot. If you’re planting multiple seeds in a pot, only put down a few at a time. If you grow more in the same pot, the plants will crowd one another and potentially develop mildew.^{[10]
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Place the pot in a place with an average temperature of 65 to 70 °F (18 to 21 °C). Whether your plant thrives in sunlight or shade, you want to place it somewhere that is warm but not hot. If you keep the seeds at in this temperature range, they should germinate in 1 to 4 weeks.^{[11]
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- You can rotate the pot regularly to encourage even plant growth.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Caring for Forget-Me-Not Plants

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Water when the top 3 inches (7.6 cm) of soil feel dry to the touch. You never want forget-me-nots to be in totally dry soil. Depending on the climate you live in and how you’re growing your plants, this may mean watering more or less than once a week.^{[12]
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Feed with fertilizer once each spring. In the wild, forget-me-nots survive on moderate to poor soil condition, so you don’t want to feed them too often. Apply a slow-release, granular fertilizer to your plants in early spring. Refer to the product instructions for the exact dosage.^{[13]
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- You may not need fertilizer unless your plants aren’t growing well or have yellowed, malnourished flowers. If so, fertilize once a month.^{[14]
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Add 2 to 4 inches (5.1 to 10.2 cm) of rich, organic mulch to outdoor plants for extra protection. Mulch is a great protective agent for your growing forget-me-nots. It traps the moisture forget-me-nots need in the soil and can keep the plants cool.^{[15]
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Research source} Keep the mulch 1 or 2 inches (2.5 or 5.1 cm) away from the base of your plants.^{[16]
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- Wood chips are a popular choice for mulching, but you can also use grass clippings, shredded leaves, compost, or pine straw.
- Mulch placement can also feed earthworms and reduce weeds, both of which will help keep your forget-me-nots thriving.^{[17]
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Trim dead flowers and stems to encourage growth. Use a pair of hand pruners, a pair of scissors, or your fingers to trim off each spent flowerhead at the base of its stem. If a whole stalk of flowers needs to be removed, cut off the stalk from where it grows at the base.^{[18]
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Research source} Your forget-me-nots will naturally send out new flowers as long as you deadhead regularly.
- Don’t deadhead if you want your forget-me-nots to reseed naturally. Leave the plants if you want them to flower again next year. While they may look a little unsightly during this period, these flowers are dropping seeds to renew their cycle of life.
5
Trap or spray away pests as soon as you find them. There are few pests that go after forget-me-nots. Luckily, they are pretty easy to control if you spot them right away.
- Spray water on your plants regularly to control aphids. Once knocked down, an aphid usually won’t be able to make it back onto the plant.^{[19]
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- Make a trap for slugs and snails by filling an aluminum pie pan or cat food can with beer. Then, bury the pan or can so the lid is level with the ground. The pests will bypass your plants and head straight for the beer bath. Place one for every 3 metres (9.8 ft) of affected plants.^{[20]
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- Holes in your plants might be due to flea beetles. These insects are difficult to get rid of, though they cause little damage. You can vacuum them up for an immediate solution, but make sure to prevent them from coming back next season by laying down mulch, weeding frequently, and keeping your garden clean during and after growing season.^{[21]
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Remove any plant parts with mildew or spots. If your forget-me-nots have developed fuzzy white mildew or tan spots on their leaves, it’s an easy fix. First, snip off any affected parts of the plant with a pair of hand pruners. Then treat your plants with a fungicide, making sure to carefully follow the instructions on the label for safe and proper application.^{[22]
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- Wilted, dying plants with thin, cobweb-like strands around the base have a more serious problem called crown rot. This fungus is fatal, so dig up and get rid of any affected plants and ones nearby to stop the spread.^{[23]
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- Clean your hand pruners thoroughly with disinfectant wipes, rubbing alcohol, or soak them for at least a minute in a 1:5 solution of bleach to water. This will prevent the spread of infection to your healthy plants.^{[24]
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Community Q&A

Question

Why are they called forget me nots?

Christy

Community Answer

The name forget-me-not comes from a Greek word meaning mouse's ear, which is descriptive of the shape of the flower. This word first came from the German term Vergissmeinnicht.
Question

What time of the year should I plant forget me nots?

Chris

Top Answerer

You should aim to plant them in the beginning of autumn. The forget me nots should bloom in the following spring.