Chinese Forget Me Not Care: Everything You Need to Know

Cynoglossum Amabile is a charming facsimile of the true forget-me-not, with sky blue flowers that are similar to the real Myosotis.

What you Need to Know About Cynoglossum Amabile

The Cynoglossum Amabile, otherwise known as the Chinese Forget Me Not is an annual flowering plant mostly grown for its striking blue flowers. Growers mainly use the blooms as landscape decoration or as cut flowers inside their homes.

Hound’s Tongue has lance-shaped, large, and furry green leaves that are quite bushy and fan outwards. Chinese forget-me-not is a vigorous species and quite easy to care for. These plants bloom more reliably and longer than other varieties, starting in spring and continuing to produce charming flowers through summer.

How to Care for Chinese Forget Me Not

Here’s everything you need to know about growing and caring for a thriving Chinese Forget Me Not

Light

Cynoglossum Amabile is a cool-season plant that does moderately well in warmer tropical zones. A degree of adjustment in terms of light exposure should be observed when choosing a location for your Chinese forget me not.

In colder climates, the Hound’s tongue can thrive in full sun. However, in warmer tropical and dry regions, it’s best to plant the Chinese forget-me-not in partial sun. This means the plant should get direct light in the morning and shade in the afternoon.

As a general rule, the more sunlight the Chinese forget-me-not gets the more masses of flowers it tends to produce. However, too much heat and direct sun can halt flower production, so aim for a balance depending on what zone you live in.

Water and Soil Needs

A mix of loamy soil amended with sand is a good medium for the Cynoglossum Amabile. The plant can tolerate a range of soil pH and usually takes alkaline, acidic, and neutral soil in stride. What’s more important is the amount of water it gets, which should be infrequent but deep.

While young, Chinese Forget-Me-Not will want plenty of water to support its growth. However, you should only aim to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged to the point that it causes root rot.

Test the surface of the soil first to see if it’s dry to the touch before you reach for the watering can. Decrease watering frequency once established and when the foliage reaches around six to eight inches tall.

Temperature Requirements

Chinese Forget Me Not is rated hardy in zones 6 through 9, but as an annual, you can plant it in early spring and start over the next growing season. Hound’s Tongue begins to decline in summer and will need to be regrown from seed if desired.

Fertilizer

The best fertilizer to use on a Cynoglossum Amabile is a balanced and slow-release formula when planting or during spring as soon as temperatures start to rise.

Chinese forget me not are not heavy feeders and can do just fine in any soil condition. However, if you want to get more blooms and a healthier plant overall, then you can mix in a slow-release fertilizer product at the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Alternatively, you can add organic compost or similar for a more natural feeding when planting or transplanting seedlings to your yard or garden.

Common Diseases

Chinese Forget Me Not may be plagued by powdery mildew and root rot if you’re not careful. These problems can be avoided by observing proper watering habits and allowing adequate space and flow of air between each plant.

You should water only when the top inch or two of the soil is dry to the touch. Avoid watering overhead and getting the leaves or flowers wet as it tends to promote fungal growth. If there is white powder coating the leaves, try to give it more sun or remove the affected foliage to prevent its spread.

Chinese Forget Me Not Propagation

Chinese Forget Me Nots can be propagated easily via seed or division.

Dividing the cynoglossum amabile can be done in early spring and when the plant shows signs of growth. Dig up the plant and carefully separate the mother plant from its offshoots. It’s best to have some roots on the offshoots so you have a higher chance to succeed. Plant it in a similar medium and let the container sit in bright light for a week or so before introducing it to full sun.

Chinese Forget-Me-Not is self-sowing and can quickly spread in an area. Seed germination starts at 7 to 10 days and grows quickly, reaching a flowering stage in a short time.

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