Please help a gardening novice lol!

[fairynuff39]

I recently lost my mam and she was the 'Boss' of the flower planting at my parents home! My dad wants to keep the flowers blooming in her memory but I need some advice please! I brought loads of busy lizzies in, in troughs, do I have to cut them bak or will they die and have to be replanted? I havent done anything with them as yet apart from bring them indoors? Any other advice about what should be planted, simple things though please, would be greatly appreciated? xx

[moonshadow]

Sorry to hear you have lost your Mum fairynuff and glad to know you are keeping an eye on your Dad.It's too early to trim your plants just yet early spring is best when it gets warmer. They will benefit by repotting as well. When you do put them out they like lots of sunshine and keep the soil moist ( a job for your Dad)Don't put them out in cold temperatures it needs to be at least 55f.In summer give them a feed every fortnight, good luck.

[fairynuff39]

thanks very much for ur kind reply, so if i cut the busy lizzies right bak after easter will they return, I dont think dad will bother replanting them I'm afraid and should I be watering them now, sos for my ignorance but its all a mystery to me lol! Would it be geraniums that mam used to plant each year from scratch? I sound really thick, very sorry but its just not my forte, as u can tell lol! xx Thanks for ur help! xx

[moonshadow]

Hi again Fairynuff the busy lizzies will grow if you cut them back but leave some stems.Geraniums are summer flowering only and die off in the autumn. You cut the old foliage and stems back and they will grow back in the spring, if you do buy some get the hardy variety as they resist most pests and diseases better.Busy Lizzies will flower for much longer and are easier to look after.When overwintering them they still need watering but not as often just keep the soil damp with tepid water and they will still need lots of light but not direct sunlight.Why don't you and your Dad go along to your local garden centre together perhaps you will recognise the flower your Mum used to plant , take care.

[katerich48]

The only advice I can give is (living in Central London) I have 6 geraniums on my terrace and 4 are still flowering - and have been all through the winter (not as prolific as the summer obviously) ..but I have never been able to keep busy lizzies alive after the summer...admittedly I have never thought to bring them indoors...I bought lots of Osteospermums last summer and they have just kept on spreading and sprouting the odd flower through the winter - in the summer they are a lovely sight rhodedendrons are a good buy they just get bigger and more flowers every year.

[fairynuff39]

Thankyou both for ur answers, will cut the busy lizzies right bak as soon as pos, make them lazy lizzies lol and take it from there! Thanks for taking the time to answer, much appreciated! xx