Plantation : Indoor: Sow in containers or trays, 8 weeks before the last expected frosts, will give flowers early. Maintain the temperature around 20-22 °C. The germination time is between 10-15 days. Outdoors: Sow directly as soon as the soil can be worked in the spring. Sow them where they should flower, choose a sunny open ground with good drainage. Prepare the soil well and rake fine before sowing. Mark the sowing areas with a ring of light-colored sand and label if you are sowing more than one annual in the same bed. Sow above ground in rows and barely cover. Thin out the seedlings so that they are finally 30 cm (12 in.) Apart in early summer. Note: Barely cover the seeds, as they need light to germinate.

Soil : Indoor: Well-drained, porous seedlings soil to prevent overwatering. Outdoor: Normal soil.

Culturals practices : Pinch out the growing tip to encourage bushiness. Soil should not be too rich, or you will get large plants with few flowers. Plain 'Topsoil' works best. Compost should be kept slightly moist, but not wet at all times. Do not fertilize, it will kill them.Once they are established, they need little care. When the flowers are removed for use in arrangements, the plant, will blossom with renewed vigour. The plants do not even need to be deadheaded. They will die back to the ground after the frost hits them but will have seeded themselves ready for the next year.

Consult our technical sheet