Bee Balm Flower Plant Info and Care: Guide
Bee balm is an annual flowering herb native to North America. The genus name Monarda is a tribute to the Spanish botanist, Nicolás Joseph de Cavanilles (1745–1804). The English name “bee balm” comes from the fact that bees love the tubular blooms and often sip the nectar.
Did you know that you can grow a bee balm flower plant right in your home? It’s true! In this article, I’ll show you how to grow bee balm indoors and in containers and give you the best tips on how to care for them.
You can even use this knowledge to grow bee balm outdoors in the spring and summer months. So, if you’re looking for a quick way to bring some beauty to your home, then keep reading this guide.
Caring For Your Plant
Basic Bee Balm Info:
Bee balm is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is a perennial herb that features simple, heart-shaped leaves. It has a look that’s somewhere between an annual and a perennial plant, with size, growth habit, and foliage all falling somewhere in between. Also, unlike many other perennials, bee balm can be easily grown from seed.
Bee balm plants grow from 1.5 to 4 feet tall. The fragrant flowers grow in dense clusters on the tips of the stems. The flowers are colorful and tubular and are about ¾ inch long. These plants come in different types.
Here are some:
Scarlet Beebalm:
Lemon Beebalm:
Spotted Beebalm:
Lighting Requirements for Bee Balm:
Bee balm plants prefer partial shade to shade and it is best to have some type of shading over the plants. This can be provided by a shade cloth, a tree, an awning, or even a structure like an arbor or pergola. Bee balm plants can tolerate a little sun, and even need a little direct sunlight to flower.
Soil Requirements:
Generally, bee balm will do fine in any well-drained, neutral, or slightly acidic soil that’s watered regularly. However, if your soil tends to be heavy, add organic matter to improve drainage. The soil should have a pH level in the range of 5.5 to 6.5.
Watering Requirements:
You should always make sure that the soil is moist, but don’t let it get too wet or it may suffer root rot. If you are growing your plants outdoors, then you can let the soil stay moist, but keep an eye on it. You should not water it too often or let it get too dry.
Temperature Requirements:
Bee balm can tolerate both cold and warm kinds of weather but the best time to plant is spring or early summer. If you live in a cold area, you may want to consider growing them in a greenhouse or even indoors. It can resist cold temperatures down to -20°F.
Flowering period:
Bee balm flowers bloom in July and August in the Northern Hemisphere and from February to July in the Southern Hemisphere. This means that bee balm will begin blooming in the spring and continue throughout the summer and into the fall. The flowers bloom in clusters and give off a delicate, sweet scent.
Pruning Requirements:
These plants need to be pruned to keep them from becoming ragged-looking. If you don’t prune your bee balm, it will stay in a rounded shape and will not produce any flowers.
Flower stems grow from the center of the plant. When they first appear, they are straight and upright, but soon they begin to droop. You should prune off the flower stems once the flowers have opened and are drying up.
Propagating:
Propagating from seed is probably the easiest way to grow a bee balm plant. The best way to do this is to collect the seed from the flower heads, or you can gather them from the ground. After the seeds are collected, place them in a jar or container.
You can also plant them directly in the ground. The seeds need to be kept moist until they germinate. It usually takes a couple of weeks for the seeds to germinate.
Prepare For Winter:
Prepare your bee balm to survive the winter months. After the first frost in the fall garden, cut the seed heads and remove the foliage. Throw them into the compost bin. This will prevent the seeds from spreading.
Transplant it into a larger pot and make sure the pot has good drainage holes. Water your plant well and keep it indoors for the winter.
Common Pests and Diseases:
Bee balm is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, root rot, powdery mildew, and rust. The best way to prevent pests and diseases on bee balm plants is by using quality seeds, plants, and fertilizer. It also helps to water the plants from the base with a hand sprayer to reduce the growth of diseases.
In order to care for your plant, you need to make sure that it’s healthy. The wrong care can cause disease and pest problems. It’s important to give the plant a balanced diet, check the soil conditions, and avoid water stress.
Final Thoughts
Bee balm is a great garden plant for attracting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It is also a great addition to a backyard garden. It is a quick-growing perennial and can grow up to 3 feet tall.
The flowers vary in color and they last from mid-summer until the first frost. You can grow bee balm in any type of soil as long as it’s well-drained. It can tolerate both cold and warm weather, but it’s best to plant it in spring or early summer.
Now that you know how to grow bee balm, you can start planting it in your garden! You can even try planting some in your backyard! We hope that you have enjoyed this article.
Life is Better When You Garden™
