Can You Grow Bee Balm In A Pot

Can you grow bee balm in a pot

Bee balm is a hardy perennial plant that requires little care. Whether planted in a garden area or in a container, it will return each season and will have likely spread. A few easy steps will prepare the plant for the cold weather. Cut the plant to the ground in mid-autumn.

Does bee balm like sun or shade?

Bee balms perform best in moist, well-drained soils in full sun. The planting site should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Plants won't flower as heavily and are more susceptible to powdery mildew when grown in partial shade.

How many bee balm plants per pot?

Bee balm will be planted 1 per square foot. We like to put them into Smart Pot containers because they can be invasive and grow quite large if not pruned regularly. Bee balm will require full sun and regular watering. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below.

How many years does it take for bee balm to bloom?

Plant Type:	Herbaceous perennial	Red, pink, light to dark purple
Hardiness (USDA Zone):	3-9	Drought
Bloom Time / Season:	Summer	Average
Exposure:	Full sun to partial shade	6.0-7.0
Time to Maturity:	110-120 days	Well-draining

Can bee balm survive the winter in a pot?

Winter Care For Bee Balm in Pots Outdoor container bee balm will die back in cold weather. The container can be moved indoors for the winter, but it most likely will not flower. You can easily winterize bee balm. In the fall, trim the plant stems back within 2 inches of the soil.

Is bee balm toxic to dogs?

Are Bee Balm Poisonous to Dogs? Bee balm's tall stalks, colorful flowers, and aromatic scent are attractive for your playful dog to roll around or rub against. The plant is considered safe for canines.

Should I deadhead my bee balm?

When you deadhead the plant, the nutrients, energy, and strength used to make new seeds generates into making more flowers instead. Deadheading is the term used for removal of wilted or dead flowers from a plant. If your goal is to encourage more blooming with bee balm, then yes, you will want to deadhead it.

Do hummingbirds like bee balm?

Bee Balm (Monarda) As its name suggests, this perennial plant attracts bees, but it's also a hummingbird magnet.

What bugs does bee balm keep away?

Common Pests or Diseases on Bee Balm:

Aphids.
Whiteflies.
Spider mites.
Stalk borers.
Thrips.

Does bee balm come back every year?

Bee balm plants are perennial, coming back year after year to add cheerful color to your garden.

Should I cut back bee balm in the fall?

In the fall or winter, you should prune bee balm after it has died back. Take it back down to just above the soil's surface. This allows you to clean up the dead plant material, prevent powdery mildew, and perennial varieties will begin to show signs of new growth in the late winter or early spring again.

Does bee balm spread easily?

Dividing and Transplanting: Bee balm spreads rapidly, and dividing it regularly is one of the most important things you can do to ensure its vigor and that of the plants around it. Simply dig it up, discard the woody center, make small divisions of the newer shoots and roots, and replant.

Can bee balm get too much sun?

Bee Balm thrives in moist, well-draining conditions with full sun. They do best with at least 6 hours of sun each day. These plants do grow in partial shade, but won't produce as many flowers, and may be susceptible to powdery mildew.

Where is the best place to plant bee balm?

Plant bee balm in spring or fall, once all chances of frost have passed. Space bee balm plants 18 to 24 inches apart in an area with full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.7.

Will deadheading bee balm produce more flowers?

Deadheading bee balm will encourage the plant to produce more blooms. It will also keep the plant thick and lush.

Can you cut back bee balm before it blooms?

And it bloomed beautifully about three weeks ago but the blooms are pretty much spent right now and

Why did my bee balm not come back?

Bee balm prefers evenly moist soil with good drainage, so it's also possible to overwater plants, especially if you have clay soil, which holds water well. This can cause fungal issues, as alluded to above, including powdery mildew and root rot. More on these below.

What animal will eat bee balm?

A perennial favorite native to North America, bee balm (Monarda spp.), aka wild bergamot, flowers in mid- to late summer—and is beloved by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies! Here's how to plant and grow bee balm in the spring or fall!

Is bee balm invasive?

If you're asking whether bee balm can be aggressive, then the answer is yes – especially in its ideal growing environment with moist soil in a full sun to part shade location. However, it is not technically deemed invasive everywhere.

Is bee balm good for anything?

Bee balm is used in modern herbal medicine to expel gas, to relieve nausea, in menstrual cramps, and as an expectorant to soothe sore throats (Foster 2006). Scientific research on the clinical effects of Monarda is lacking, but several of the components found in the essential oil from some species, such as M.