Growing Container Flowers in Central Florida

Who doesn’t like flowers? Often vibrant in color and sweet in scent, flowers are lovely whether growing from the garden or fresh cut in a vase. They work well in a dinner table centerpiece, as gifts for loved ones, and for splashes of color outside one’s home. When outdoors, they attract different pollinators, like the important honey bee and different ornately patterned butterflies. However, depending on where you live, gardening your own flowers may be difficult. That is why UF/IFAS researchers studied the cultivation of a few flower species in containers, particularly for the central Florida region. If you live in central Florida, want to grow your own flowers, and have spatial limitations for growing them, see this recent EDIS publication ENH1388, “Container Flowers for Central Florida: Trial Results and Recommendations.” Using the examples of four flowers, learn what conditions, timing, and practices you should consider when growing container flowers in central Florida.

Collage of pastel colored flowers. — Collage of pansies (top left), snapdragons (top right), China asters (middle), and stock flowers (bottom). Photos from ENH1388. All images are credited to Nicholas Rabanal, UF/IFAS. Pansy and China aster images are also credited to Chi Nguyen, UF/IFAS.

Growing Conditions

As with any other plant, be sure to consider several different factors before planting any flowers in gardens or containers in central Florida. For example, you must plan the placement of your plants. The species you choose to grow may depend on their sunlight tolerance (e.g., full sun, partial sun, etc.). Understanding their ideal growth periods is also important because weather elements may impact flower growth. You would need to know whether your chosen plant can withstand the rainy season. Consider whether it grows better in the cool season or if it can thrive in the heat of summer.

When to Grow These Container Flowers

This publication discusses growth conditions that impact the following flowers in containers: snapdragons, stock flowers, pansies, and (my favorite) China aster. Fall weather is approaching! If you live in central Florida, consider growing snapdragons in the upcoming cool season, when the plant thrives best, although there are varieties that do well in summer as well. Pansies are also cool-season plants, so plan to grow them either in the fall or spring. If considering stock flowers or China aster, you should plan on waiting until spring to grow them.

How to Grow These Container Flowers

This publication also includes a guide for cultivating these flowers from seed. It highlights the importance of germinating seeds into seedlings in a humid environment, maintained by controlling the moisture and temperature conditions. Further guidance discusses the use of a well-draining soil mix for potting the seedlings. It advises growers to fertilize the soil when necessary to adjust nutrient levels and irrigate for about ten minutes daily or as necessary. As always, monitoring pest control is important. Growth periods vary depending on flower species, which is information explored during the research trials from this publication.

For more detailed recommendations on growing these container flowers, along with specific advice from research trials, see the full EDIS publication ENH1388.

Search for more detailed information on each of these flowers by visiting Ask IFAS.

Check out an IFAS blog for information on growing summer snapdragon.