If you’re searching for Bidens, because you are interested in growing them, or want to attract butterflies and birds to your garden, this guide is for you. If you want to learn more about the Bidens flower family and what they do, read on.
Bidens Flower Family Plant Care
The Bidens Flower is an annual or perennial plant (depending on the type) and belongs to the Asteraceae or Aster family. It is native to Mexico, Central America and western South America. Bidens Flower has been used in traditional medicine by indigenous peoples in Latin America for thousands of years. Bidens Flower is also known as Mexican beggar ticks, Spanish needles, tickseed sunflower and black jar.
If you’re planning to grow Bidens, take a look at some of the plant care requirements:
- Light: full sun to partial shade.
- Soil: well-drained soil rich with organic matter will be suitable for Bidens flower plant care.
- Water: water regularly during the growing season but do not overwater it as this may cause root rot problems. The soil should be kept moist at all times during the growing season but allow it to dry out between watering sessions.
- Fertilizer: use a balanced fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season or apply an organic mulch around the base of the plant every spring to supply nutrients over time without disturbing its growth.
Bidens Blooming Tips
Bidens are easy to grow, but they can be slow to germinate. They are best started indoors and planted out in the spring or fall. The easiest way to get Bidens to bloom is to buy a plant that already has flowers on it. This will ensure that you have a plant that is already acclimated to your growing conditions and ready to flower.
If you want to start from seeds, look for the ones that have been treated with cold treatment (stratified). Cold treatment allows them to stay dormant longer than untreated seeds. This means they’ll be ready when it’s time for them to grow!
Beggarticks Properties
Bidens plants are one of the most beautiful flowers. They grow in tropical and subtropical regions and their leaves are used as a green vegetable. The leaves of these plants are said to hold several medicinal properties and can be used for healing wounds, diabetes, skin diseases, stomach aches, colds, and flu. The flowers have been used for their nutritional values as well as ornamental purposes. They are available in different varieties and colors.
Our Favorite Types of Bidens
Bidens plants can be grown in containers indoors or outdoors depending on the climate conditions. When grown indoors, they require ample sunlight so that they can bloom beautifully. Here are some popular varieties of Bidens plants with their characteristics, growing tips and care requirements so that you can grow them at home easily:
- Bidens alba, is a passing perennial that grows up to 5 feet tall with large white flowers all summer long. It has dark green leaves and grows well in almost any soil type as long as it’s sunny and well-drained. It prefers semi-shade in warmer climates, but will tolerate full sun if there’s plenty of water available. Furthermore, it’s ideal for planting under trees, as it doesn’t mind being shaded out by taller plants around it!
- Bidens ferulifolia is yet another beautiful variety and a proven winner among all of them! The fern-leaves beggarticks are native to Mexico and will be the perfect decoration for your terrace or balcony. They grow and spread really fast, so never place them next to slow-growing plants. Full sun or partial shade will make your yellow gem happy.
Common Problems While Growing Bidens
Bidens flowers are susceptible to fungal diseases such as leaf spots and powdery mildew. Use a fungicide when these diseases appear on your plants. Aphids, spider mites and Japanese beetles all attack Bidens flowers. Spray your plants with an insecticide at the first sign of infestation.
To avoid these destructive diseases, you should also maintain the perfect growing conditions for your Bidens, i.e. keep the soil moist but not soggy and add compost or manure once a year. Water deeply once a week during dry spells, but do not over-water; do not allow plants to sit in water after watering them. Last, but not least, do not allow plants to dry out completely.
