Aster flowers are showy summer and fall-blooming plants that produce daisy-like flowers in various colors. They are an excellent choice for adding color to the landscape when many other flowering plants have finished blooming.
The name Aster comes from the Greek word for star, referring to the shape of the flower head. Aster flowers look like mini-daisies and form clusters in pink, purple, red, and white shades. They are available in heights ranging from 8 inches to 8 feet, making them suitable for use as borders, edging, bedding plants, and cut flowers.
Let’s learn more about aster plant care, including how to grow asters and tips on caring for aster plants.
Aster Plant Care and Growth
Aster seed is variable in size, shape, and color. Some may be so fine they are almost dust-like. Be sure to plant them very shallowly, as light aids in germination. Start seeds indoors six weeks before the last frost date for your region. It can take a few weeks for aster seeds to germinate, so starting early ensures that you have healthy plants ready to transplant when the soil warms up enough in spring.
Once seedlings have developed their second set of true leaves, transplant them into individual pots or cell packs and keep them indoors under grow lights until temperatures outdoors are between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (18-21 C.). Harden off transplants by gradually introducing them to outdoor conditions; only leave the plants outside overnight if temperatures remain between 50 and 60 F (10-15 C.).
Once established in their growing locations, aster plants require little care other than regular watering during dry spells. You can fertilize with a balanced fertilizer once or twice during the summer, but it isn’t necessary for good growth or flower production. Deadheading spent flowers will help encourage rebloom throughout the season, although not all varieties of aster plants are capable of reblooming.
Growing Aster from cuttings
Aster plants can be propagated from cuttings. Softwood cuttings should be taken in late spring to early summer and are about 6 to 8 inches long. The cutting base should be dipped in a rooting hormone before it is placed into moist soil. The soil mixture should contain peat, sand, and perlite, which will help to hold moisture. Keep the soil moist by misting it regularly until the roots have developed. After several weeks you may transplant your new aster plant into a permanent container or garden space.
Make sure that you choose healthy plants when taking your cuttings. Aster propagation is most successful with young, healthy plants rather than older ones, as older plants are more mature and do not produce vigorous growth as readily as younger ones do.
Pruning
It would be best if you also pruned your asters in the spring. Pruning can help prevent diseases and keep plants healthy. Deadheading is a form of pruning that’s very beneficial to the plant. Asters bloom best when deadheaded regularly. The flowering process is stopped naturally after flowering if the flowers are not deadheaded, but the plant will continue to produce energy for seed production instead of creating more buds.
It’s important to deadhead flowers before they have a chance to set seed. The easiest way to do this is by snipping off the entire flower head with small scissors or pruners. You may even want to begin cutting back your asters in late summer when you notice blooms starting to fade or turn brown and dry out. Asters bloom from late summer through early fall, so you may have plenty of time for more flowers if you begin deadheading in late summer or early fall.
Soil Requirements
One of the most important things to keep in mind when growing aster plants is that the soil should be well-aerated, light, and well-drained. In addition, it should be moist and rich in organic matter. The pH level of your soil should also be neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7.0). This can conveniently be achieved by adding a little lime into your soil each year.
Temperature Requirements
When choosing an aster plant, one of the most important things to consider is the temperature requirements of each variety. Each aster, be it New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), Woodland Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium), or Fall Aster (Aster oblongifolius), has its preferred climate. If you live in a part of Canada prone to freezing winters, you may want to grow your asters indoors and move them outdoors during the warmer months.
All asters prefer full sun, so make sure that they have at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day if planted in a location where they will not be moved around. Indoors or containers, six hours per day can be achieved by placing plants near windows with southern exposure. Make sure that you move your plants to prevent them from getting cooked by the summer sun; place them under air-conditioning vents for maximum freshness and allow air circulation between each plant. You should also water your plants regularly during the growing season and fertilize them about once per week.
Sunlight Requirements
Like many flowering plants, Asters need six or more hours of sunlight per day to grow and flower. However, unlike many perennials in this list, asters tolerate partial shade. If you are having trouble increasing asters in your garden, consider that your plant may not be receiving enough sun.
There is too much shade; your aster plants may not bloom properly. Flower stems may become weak and fall over from lack of light, or the plant will produce fewer flowers than it could if it were placed in the sunnier area of the garden.
Water Requirements
Asters do best in consistently moist soil. However, care must not get the ground soggy because this can lead to root rot and other stem diseases. Asters need regular watering at least once a week during dry spells when grown in rich garden soil. Established plants have good moisture tolerance, but regular watering during dry weather will promote the best flowering. When planting new Asters, water them from underneath by placing a layer of mulch around each plant to preserve moisture in the soil once established; asters are drought tolerant.
One way to tell if you’re overwatering your Aster is if it appears wilted due to a lack of water or turns yellow due to too much water. If too much water has been added, remove some of the excesses until it drains appropriately and then stop watering for several days until the plant perks up again; then resume regular watering with less frequency or quantity depending on how much was removed previously.
Fertilizer Requirements for Asters
Asters need to be fertilized at least once a year, but twice a year is better. Fertilize your aster plant in early spring and again in the fall.
Fertilizer should be applied to the soil around the plant, not directly on the foliage. Some good fertilizer choices are 10-10-10 or 12-12-12, which is readily available at garden centers, or use 1/2 ounce of 21-0-0 per square yard approximately 2 1/2 feet from the base of the plants several times during the season. Apply it in early spring before growth begins and then again at two-week intervals throughout the flowering period until mid-August.
When you grow and care for aster plants properly, it is easy to see why they are so attractive and loved.
Asters are beautiful flowers that can add color to your garden. Asters are easy to grow, and they attract butterflies. Aster plants also provide you with a long bloom season.
These flowers make good cut flowers, borders, and mass plantings, making them look great in any garden setting. They can also be naturalized in meadows as well as woodland areas.
ASTER PLANT: TIPS ON GROWING AND CARING FOR ASTER
Aster Plant
Aster flowers are showy summer and fall-blooming plants that produce daisy-like flowers in various colors. They are an excellent choice for adding color to the landscape when many other flowering plants have finished blooming.
The name Aster comes from the Greek word for star, referring to the shape of the flower head. Aster flowers look like mini-daisies and form clusters in pink, purple, red, and white shades. They are available in heights ranging from 8 inches to 8 feet, making them suitable for use as borders, edging, bedding plants, and cut flowers.
Let’s learn more about aster plant care, including how to grow asters and tips on caring for aster plants.
Aster Plant Care and Growth
Aster seed is variable in size, shape, and color. Some may be so fine they are almost dust-like. Be sure to plant them very shallowly, as light aids in germination. Start seeds indoors six weeks before the last frost date for your region. It can take a few weeks for aster seeds to germinate, so starting early ensures that you have healthy plants ready to transplant when the soil warms up enough in spring.
Once seedlings have developed their second set of true leaves, transplant them into individual pots or cell packs and keep them indoors under grow lights until temperatures outdoors are between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (18-21 C.). Harden off transplants by gradually introducing them to outdoor conditions; only leave the plants outside overnight if temperatures remain between 50 and 60 F (10-15 C.).
Once established in their growing locations, aster plants require little care other than regular watering during dry spells. You can fertilize with a balanced fertilizer once or twice during the summer, but it isn’t necessary for good growth or flower production. Deadheading spent flowers will help encourage rebloom throughout the season, although not all varieties of aster plants are capable of reblooming.
Growing Aster from cuttings
Aster plants can be propagated from cuttings. Softwood cuttings should be taken in late spring to early summer and are about 6 to 8 inches long. The cutting base should be dipped in a rooting hormone before it is placed into moist soil. The soil mixture should contain peat, sand, and perlite, which will help to hold moisture. Keep the soil moist by misting it regularly until the roots have developed. After several weeks you may transplant your new aster plant into a permanent container or garden space.
Make sure that you choose healthy plants when taking your cuttings. Aster propagation is most successful with young, healthy plants rather than older ones, as older plants are more mature and do not produce vigorous growth as readily as younger ones do.
Pruning
It would be best if you also pruned your asters in the spring. Pruning can help prevent diseases and keep plants healthy. Deadheading is a form of pruning that’s very beneficial to the plant. Asters bloom best when deadheaded regularly. The flowering process is stopped naturally after flowering if the flowers are not deadheaded, but the plant will continue to produce energy for seed production instead of creating more buds.
It’s important to deadhead flowers before they have a chance to set seed. The easiest way to do this is by snipping off the entire flower head with small scissors or pruners. You may even want to begin cutting back your asters in late summer when you notice blooms starting to fade or turn brown and dry out. Asters bloom from late summer through early fall, so you may have plenty of time for more flowers if you begin deadheading in late summer or early fall.
Soil Requirements
One of the most important things to keep in mind when growing aster plants is that the soil should be well-aerated, light, and well-drained. In addition, it should be moist and rich in organic matter. The pH level of your soil should also be neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7.0). This can conveniently be achieved by adding a little lime into your soil each year.
Temperature Requirements
When choosing an aster plant, one of the most important things to consider is the temperature requirements of each variety. Each aster, be it New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), Woodland Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium), or Fall Aster (Aster oblongifolius), has its preferred climate. If you live in a part of Canada prone to freezing winters, you may want to grow your asters indoors and move them outdoors during the warmer months.
All asters prefer full sun, so make sure that they have at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day if planted in a location where they will not be moved around. Indoors or containers, six hours per day can be achieved by placing plants near windows with southern exposure. Make sure that you move your plants to prevent them from getting cooked by the summer sun; place them under air-conditioning vents for maximum freshness and allow air circulation between each plant. You should also water your plants regularly during the growing season and fertilize them about once per week.
Sunlight Requirements for Asters
Like many flowering plants, Asters need six or more hours of sunlight per day to grow and flower. However, unlike many perennials in this list, asters tolerate partial shade. If you are having trouble increasing asters in your garden, consider that your plant may not be receiving enough sun.
There is too much shade; your aster plants may not bloom properly. Flower stems may become weak and fall over from lack of light, or the plant will produce fewer flowers than it could if it were placed in the sunnier area of the garden.
Water Requirements for Asters
Asters do best in consistently moist soil. However, care must not get the ground soggy because this can lead to root rot and other stem diseases. Asters need regular watering at least once a week during dry spells when grown in rich garden soil. Established plants have good moisture tolerance, but regular watering during dry weather will promote the best flowering. When planting new Asters, water them from underneath by placing a layer of mulch around each plant to preserve moisture in the soil once established; asters are drought tolerant.
One way to tell if you’re overwatering your Aster is if it appears wilted due to a lack of water or turns yellow due to too much water. If too much water has been added, remove some of the excesses until it drains appropriately and then stop watering for several days until the plant perks up again; then resume regular watering with less frequency or quantity depending on how much was removed previously.
Fertilizer Requirements for Asters
Asters need to be fertilized at least once a year, but twice a year is better. Fertilize your aster plant in early spring and again in the fall.
Fertilizer should be applied to the soil around the plant, not directly on the foliage. Some good fertilizer choices are 10-10-10 or 12-12-12, which is readily available at garden centers, or use 1/2 ounce of 21-0-0 per square yard approximately 2 1/2 feet from the base of the plants several times during the season. Apply it in early spring before growth begins and then again at two-week intervals throughout the flowering period until mid-August.
When you grow and care for aster plants properly, it is easy to see why they are so attractive and loved.
Asters are beautiful flowers that can add color to your garden. Asters are easy to grow, and they attract butterflies. Aster plants also provide you with a long bloom season.
These flowers make good cut flowers, borders, and mass plantings, making them look great in any garden setting. They can also be naturalized in meadows as well as woodland areas.