TheGardenLady received this question from Sammy.

I am trying to grow marigolds on my balcony. They were already partially grown when I got them and were already flowering now they are starting to get lots of  flowers and the leaves are starting to fall off. I need some advice on pruning  them. Is there anything else I need to do to care for them? Also I kept one of the  dead flowers that fell off because I was told they hold the seeds of the plant that I can then replant.  Is there anything special I need to do before I plant  them.

Some people think that the marigold is the easiest flower to raise.  See here.   However, that being said, they do need lots of sunshine - the more the better. Marigolds like continuously warm or hot weather - not cold and hot weather - after all most of the marigolds we have in the US come from Mexico. They like to be watered but don’t like to be over watered - water twice a week in dry times. Too much rain can be bad for them so be sure the pots have good drainage. And though marigolds generally don’t seem to have many problems, they can have problems.  See here.  Your leaves falling off may be a sign that something is wrong.

Or it might just mean that your plant is telling you it wants to be in a larger pot. You may want to try to replant them into more and better soil. Since you are gardening on your balcony in pots, you can buy good potting soil with slow release fertilizer that would be good to repot them in. Marigolds like fertilizer besides the sunlight and warmth.

You do not prune marigolds; you deadhead the flowers. Deadheading means that when a flower dies you snap it off with the stem close to, but not at, the base of the stem. Deadheading prevents the plant from making seeds so the plants produce more flowers.

If you do want to have seeds, let the flower die on the plant. Do not pick the dead flower off the plant because this dead flower will turn into a seed pod. If you pick the dead flower off the plant, it will not set seed. You will notice the dead flower left on the plant will change into a seed pod. When the seed pod forms, let the seed pod dry on the plant. Then when it is dry, pinch it off and open it. You will see lots of seeds in the pod. Each seed can produce one new marigold plant when planted. Usually you leave the seed pods form at the end of the flowering period, in the fall, then gather the seed pods. Keep the seeds in the pod in a dry place, indoors, until spring.

You can plant the seeds in pots indoors at any time of the year. You will have flowers bloom in the winter if the plants get enough sun indoors. Take the plants in the pots to your balcony when it is warm outside. Or you can spread the seeds directly in soil outdoors when it is warm enough.

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