The aster is a beautiful flowering plant that resembles the daisy. Its blooms come in a variety of colors including purple, white, pink, red and blue. This plant can be grown in zones 3 to 8 and is a late bloomer, with flowers blossoming in the summer and fall. What’s more, this plant has nectar available late in the season which attracts both bees and butterflies, making it an excellent addition to any garden.
The aster is a versatile plant that can tolerate both full sun and part sun. However, if you reside in a warmer climate, it is recommended to keep them away from the mid-day sun as the heat might affect the plant. Alternatively, if you live in a cooler region, they need to be exposed to full sun so that the flowers don’t droop. For the best blooming results, morning sunlight is crucial, regardless of the climate. The aster prefers cool and moist summers which make it ideal for sowing aster seeds at a temperature of about 70 degrees.
To maintain healthy Asters, it is important to water them properly. Ideally, these plants require around 1 inch of rainfall each week. In case the weather conditions don’t permit this, make sure to water them consistently every week throughout the summer season. However, keep in mind that excessive or insufficient watering can adversely affect some varieties of Asters, leading to minimal blooms or even partial foliage loss. If you observe a significant decrease in the number of flowers, try varying the amount of water given and see if that helps the plant perk up. Additionally, when planting Aster, ensure that it receives sufficient water initially to help its roots settle into the soil.
If you want to ensure that your aster plant keeps blooming, it’s important to regularly deadhead any wilted blooms. Allowing the plant to keep its wilted flowers can lead to self-seeding, which can prevent the aster from flowering again. By removing the dead blooms, you can encourage the plant to continue blooming throughout its entire season. While pruning your asters isn’t always necessary, it can be helpful in maintaining the plant’s size and preventing the need for staking if it becomes too large. Additionally, thinning out the plant can reduce the risk of mildew development. To thin the plant, simply cut about one-third of its stems at the base during the spring. Removing the first few leaves on the stems during late summer can also result in more flowers from your plant.
