My 6 yr old wants to grow some flowers

Question

we have some flower pots. which type of soil? which type of food? which type of flowers multiply and grow quickly, need a lot of water (she wants to water them daily) and are the most colorful, if they have a nice smell that would be nice too. we tried with some stuff that i picked out from home depot and everything was dead in a week. which ones need the most amount of sun and the least

Answer 1

Where do you guys live? Is it sunny, rainy, cold, hot or nice? Without this information I don't really know what to suggest, a good fast grower is a morning glory, they're kind of short lived but have a range of different colors, some real dark deep blue and violet. A sunflower is a classic, easy to grow and real pretty. Geraniums are easy to get and they have nice varied colored blooms. If it were me I would get some geraniums because they're cheap bloom often, but the blooms wilt within days of blooming, and its fun to watch them grow.

Answer 2

Plastic ? Few flowers will survive being watered daily.

Answer 3

Sunflowers and Nasturtiums are really easy seeds to grow, though neither is really fragrant.  

Nasturtiums prefer really poor soil - and no fertilizer, though tons of water is good.  http://www.sallys-place.com/food/columns...

Sunflowers prefer larger pots, depending on the variety that she grows - you can get dwarf types, to around 2' tall, or monster ones to around 10' if you get lucky.

There are some photos here, as they come in a range of colours other than yellow, and there's one variety called 'Teddy Bear', which she might love - http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.co...

Otherwise, aim for hardy annuals which are generally easy to grow and sprout, grow, flower and die in their first year.  

Night scented stocks or 10 week Stocks are both highly fragrant,  and easy to grow. The latter is more attractive, night scented stocks flower in the evening, as their name suggests,  and are great near to doors and windows, as their scent can spread inside.

10 week Stocks - http://www.robsplants.com/plants/MatthIn...

Biennial (flowers next year) Brompton Stocks - http://www.backyardgardener.com/seeds/pr...

The Californian poppy is another plant that loves poor soil,  Calendulas are also easy, bright marigolds and both of these can be fall/autumn sown for spring flowering.  . Neither has fragrance though.  Otherwise start them in spring.

Californian Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)- http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2...

You could try some foxgloves - Digitalis purpurea - which sown now will flower next year.  Bees love these flowers.  http://www.acclaimimages.com/_gallery/_p...  Poisonous, so beware of this!

Most annual seeds need earlier sowing to grow and flower the same year, though I am not sure whereabouts you live, as some types will overwinter and flower earlier in spring time.

Perhaps show her some of these photos and see what she likes.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you both!  Rob

Answer 4

I agree that Nasturtiums are easy as are Zinnia, snap dragons and marigold and herbs like basil and sage and spearmint or peppermint. These are fun because they are smelly. The mint you can use in tea.  Zinnia and snap dragons come in many colors.  Also Portulaca and bachelor buttons.  Portulaca are hardy and will take a lot of abuse.  Use potting soil in the bag with fertilizer already in it.   Place rocks in the bottom to give good drainage.  Don't water every day unless they are dry.  Teach your daughter to check them every day and only water when the soil feels dry.