Beginner Gardening: Why aren't my flowers nice and full (more so the annuals)?, 1 by hcmcdole

hcmcdole wrote:
I don't know about NH and growing pansies in summer. We cannot grow pansies in summer in Atlanta - too hot but they are wonderful fall to spring plants in full sun.

Wax begonias should have a little shade during the hottest part of the day and need to be watered when they dry out some but if they are continuously watered they often rot.

Just because the top of the soil looks dry does not mean that there isn't ample moisture in the ground. Wilt is natural for a lot of plants (big leaf hydrangeas are famous for this). The leaves should pop back up once the hot sun is off them. If they don't pop up in the evening or morning (depending on when you do your watering) then it can mean one of two things - one is it needs water or two the roots are rotting from too much water (hopefully it is the first of the two conditions).

Small starter plants will get as big as the bigger potted plants if you give them some time. Why pay a lot more for a bigger potted plant unless you want a centerpiece for a party the same day? A smaller plant is your better choice - you can get a lot more for the same price as a bigger pot and if you lose one then you haven't lost a lot of money. For instance I bought some rex begonias recently at a nursery where the four inch pots were $6 each but if I went to the six inch pots they were $15 each. I bought ten of the four inch and are doing wonderful in my begonia wall.