Marigolds, scientifically known as Tagetes, are popular flowering plants that belong to the Asteraceae family. They are native to the Americas but are widely cultivated and grown in various regions around the world. Marigolds are known for their vibrant colors, attractive flowers, and distinct aroma. Here is some information about marigolds:
- Types of Marigolds: There are several different types of marigolds, including French marigolds (Tagetes patula), African marigolds (Tagetes erecta), and signet marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia). They vary in size, flower shape, and growth habit.
- Appearance: Marigold flowers come in various shades of yellow, orange, and red. They have daisy-like flower heads with multiple layers of petals. The foliage is typically green and can vary in shape depending on the variety.
- Growing Conditions: Marigolds are known for their easy cultivation and adaptability. They prefer full sun exposure and well-drained soil. They can tolerate different soil types but generally thrive in fertile, moist soil. Marigolds are often planted as annuals in gardens, containers, and flower beds.
- Uses and Benefits: Marigolds are commonly used for ornamental purposes to add color to gardens and landscapes. They are also known for their pest-repellent properties, particularly against insects like aphids and nematodes. Some gardeners even plant marigolds to deter pests from nearby plants. In addition, marigolds have been used in traditional medicine for their potential anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties.
- Cultural Significance: Marigolds hold cultural significance in various traditions and celebrations. They are often used in religious and spiritual ceremonies, as well as in festivals like Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexican culture.
- Companion Planting: Marigolds are commonly used as companion plants in vegetable gardens. Their strong aroma is believed to repel certain pests, such as aphids and whiteflies, and attract beneficial insects like ladybugs.
- Pollinator Attraction: Marigold flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making them beneficial for promoting pollination and biodiversity in the garden.
- Care and Maintenance: Marigolds generally require regular watering, especially during dry periods. Deadheading (removing spent flowers) can encourage continuous blooming. They are relatively low-maintenance plants, but it’s important to monitor for common issues like powdery mildew or root rot.
Overall, marigolds are versatile and attractive plants that bring color and beauty to gardens while offering potential pest-repellent benefits. They are widely available in nurseries and can be a great addition to various gardening projects.
The marigold (lat. Tagetes) is a flower of many species and types, including both annual and perennial variants. The British call it marigold, which means “Mary’s gold”, the Germans know it as a Studentenblume. For the people of China, these flowers are the symbol of health and longevity, and not for nothing they are called “flowers of a thousand years”. In total, there are over forty different species of marigold in the world. Height of the marigold bushes varies from 20 cm up to one metre. The flowers of the marigold may be different shades of yellow, brown and orange. The seeds of the marigolds produce an abundance of self-sowing and keep their germination for 3 to 4 years. The strong, aromatic scent is emitted not by the flowers as such as by the leaves of the marigolds.
The medicinal properties of the marigold
During the whole growing season the plant accumulates an essential oil in all of its parts, which contains several unique components. Thanks to their high content of some biologically active substances, marigold is one of the most important herbs and plants for the medicinal purposes. They contain:
- ocitomen
- apinen
- sabinen
- carotin
- lutein
- myrzen
- citral
- pigments
- alkaloids and flavonoids
The amber-yellow marigold oil has a pleasant fragrance with hints of oriental spices and fruit. The oil of the marigold has the following therapeutic properties:
- antimicrobial,
- antifungal,
- antispasmodic,
- antiseptic,
- sedatives.
The petals of marigolds contain potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, copper,
gold and zinc as well as vitamins C, A, E, folic acid and rutin.
How to care for marigold flower?
Due to their natural beauty and their long flowering period, the marigolds are used for the decoration of the city park, garden plots and outdoor areas. The planting location depends on the size of the planting shrub. For example, the giant, tall or medium-sized varieties of marigold are used to decorate the centre of the flower bed or the background of the flower bed, while the low-growing plants are used to create a colourful flower borders. Blossoms are suitable for growing in flower vases, large pots, balcony boxes and even cachepots although the cut flowers can be kept in an ordinary vase for a long time.
What is the best soil for marigold?
Where do marigolds grow best? In which soil French marigold are best cultivated? What soil pH do marigolds like? These plants are fairly undemanding and can grow in almost any soil, but they will bloom
more intensively in fertile, neutral, loamy soils that are adequately fertilised and moistened. To provide the soil with the necessary minerals and micronutrients, you should use any of the mineral fertilisers, but do not use manure. The planting area should be provided with a good drainage, which can be provided by compost, in order to ensure a good supply of oxygen to the root system.
How much light do marigolds need?
What is so special about Marigold? Where do marigolds grow best? Do marigolds need light? Marigold flowers are heat-loving plants, so they should be sown in a sunny area, but a little shade certainly doesn’t do them any harm. The best temperature needed for the optimum growing season and full flowering is considered to be between +20°C and +23°C. During the colder temperatures, the seedlings will grow slower and the leaves will be pale green colouring. The first frost usually causes the plants to die. In excessively shaded areas, the growth of the plants is accelerated and flowering is inhibited.
How often do you need to water marigolds?
Overwatering the marigold will cause the plant to turn green and delay flowering. During the growing season, watering should be moderate and then later it will have to be reduced so that there is no stagnant moisture, which causes the plants to become diseased, rot and no flowering. In the summer heat, it is best to water in the evenings. The marigolds can live without fertiliser, but they will respond very favourably to it. Prolonged heavy rains can be harmful for the marigolds, causing rotting of the inflorescences and fungal diseases of the root system, but they are quite tolerant of drought, as they originate from sunny and arid regions of South America and Mexico. What are African marigolds good for?
How to care for morigolds flower in pot?
The flower does not require cutting, but it is recommended to cut off the fading leaves and flowers with a clean knife or scissors. In this way, the plant will give all its energy to the flowers and help the flowers to bloom. You should fertilise the plants only three times: when the seedlings are 10 cm tall, when the first buds appear and at the beginning of flowering. Complex fertilisers can also be used. Regularly weed and loosen the soil because marigolds like loose soil and need to breathe. During the summer, prune them – this will help to produce beautiful and lush shrubs. If you remove the discarded inflorescences, they will flower more vigorously. The most important thing about marigolds is to keep insects away. The plant attracts beneficial insects close to it like a hypnosis and expels harmful ones.
How is the Morigolds flower produced?
You can either grow marigolds as sprouts or sow the seeds directly into the soil in the open field. The seeds are usually sown in early April. The first shoots will already appear after a few days and the seedlings can be picked up after about 15 days. The seedlings are planted outdoors in late May or early June. The seeds are sown in the open field in the middle of the May. The distance between the plants depends on the cultivar and is between 10 and 25 cm apart.