How to Grow and Care for the Primrose Flower in Containers
Intro: Blooming in early spring, the primrose flower is one of the first flowers to bloom after winter. And, luckily, the primrose treats container gardeners with a flowering encore and blooms again in the fall. There are many varieties of primrose that can grow in plant containers, and flower colors include blues, pinks, reds, yellow, orange and purple. Many primrose plants have a bright yellow color in the flower’s center. These are easy container garden flowers that will delight you with beautiful blooms twice a year.
Scientific Name: Primula vulgaris
Plant Type: Perennial flower (treated as an annual in colder areas)
Light: Primroses do best in partly shady balcony gardens sun with morning sun. Avoid intense midday sun.
Water: When it comes to watering the primrose plant, make sure it has consistently moist potting soil. Do not let this flower dry out, but also do not overwater.
Zone: 5 to 9
Temperature: In the garden, this container plant can tolerate freezing temperatures up to 80 degrees. Primrose flowers to best in cooler weather.
Fertilizer: Fertilize the primrose flower once a month while the plant is growing. Do not fertilize during the winter, when the plant is dormant.
Pests and Diseases: Whitefly, leaf spot and Botrytis fungus may affect your primrose flower plants.
Propagation: Propagate the primrose plant through division. When growing from seed, chill the seeds in the fridge for a month, and then keep them at about 70 degrees until they germinate. Then start the seeds inside and plant the seedlings outdoors in the balcony garden when they are 2 inches tall.
Misc. Info: Plant the primrose flower so the crown is right at soil level. The flowers and leaves are edible, tasting like bitter lettuce. Primrose plant leaves harvested from the garden can also be used to make tea.
