Most people adore a thriving garden, but not everyone has the time or ability to look after one. In that case, it is best to avoid high-maintenance plants. These garden plants may not be the best choice due to their constant watering needs, specific soil requirements, and other care demands.
They are also more prone to diseases and pests and require constant upkeep to keep them healthy and flourishing. Therefore, whether you have a busy lifestyle or have just started taking an interest in gardening, learn about five high-maintenance plants you should avoid growing in your garden!
1. Roses
Roses are probably the most popular flowers. They are beloved for their fragrant scent and beautiful petals, which come in various colors, like romantic reds, cheerful yellows, and delicate pinks. Moreover, rose bushes look stunning growing in fancy and modest gardens. However, they come with many challenges.
The Setbacks
Growing roses is time-consuming as they require regular maintenance to protect them from diseases and pests. For example, to protect them from fungus, like the common blackspot fungus, you need to treat foliage weekly and after every rainfall with Cornell formula (a mixture of baking soda, light horticulture oil, and water).
Moreover, roses are susceptible to many fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, and botrytis blight. These fungi can cause minimal lesions on canes and foliage to more serious issues, like repeated loss of leaves leading to weak plants.
Happy Alternatives
Fortunately, you can find a few rose cultivars that are not too demanding, like old garden roses and shrub roses. Flower Carpet rose varieties resist common diseases, such as black spots and mildew.
'Knock Out' rose is a hardy shrub that can survive in zones as low as 5 and tolerate humidity, heat, and many diseases, like black spot. If you like climbing roses, you can grow 'The Generous Gardener,' with its heady scent and glowing light pink blooms.
2. Gardenia
Gardenia plants have showy flowers with an intoxicating, pleasant scent. They also have beautiful evergreen foliage with a rich green color, which creates a stunning contrast with white or yellow blooms. However, growing gardenias can be challenging for novice gardeners as they require meticulous care, and even slight neglect can lead to deterioration.
Proper Care
They prefer warm days with temperatures between 68 and 74 degrees Fahrenheit and cool nights above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Fluctuations in temperature can damage the delicate flower buds.
The tropical plant also requires high humidity and consistent moisture. They do not tolerate overwatering or drought and suffer under too much bright, direct sunlight. Finally, you cannot move them once you plant them as they do not transplant well.
It is recommended to plant gardenias in the fall for optimal growth. Plant them in regions with a light frost at least six weeks before the first frost date. In cooler areas, plant them in the spring, so they can establish themselves before winter.
Substitutions
However, you do not have to deprive yourself of these fragrant blooms. Growing them indoors in pots is ideal, especially if you live in zones below 7. You can bring them outdoors in the summer and keep them indoors in winter.
Some of the gardenia cultivars that are happy in containers include, 'Chuck Hayes' and 'Variegata.'
3. Celery
The crunchy stalks of celery plants are the highlight of stir-fries and salads. They also provide a delicious base for your soups and sauces. Unfortunately, celery is among the more difficult crops to grow in your garden.
The Problems
You must ideally start from seeds indoors as transplants are not readily available and are not always successful. Germination is also slow, taking up to three weeks, and once seedlings appear, they require 16 hours of light from grow light daily and regular misting.
They are also fussy about the soil temperature, preferring daytime temperatures of at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Their idea ambient temperature is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or else they are quick to bolt (go to seeds) in colder climates. This makes the stalks too tough to eat raw or even cooked.
Many varieties also require blanching, where you must cover the stalk by banking up soil and using pipes, collars, or cardboard tubes. This process removes bitterness from the stalks by preventing them from photosynthesizing.
Self-Blanching for the Win
You can plant self-blanching cultivars to make growing celery slightly easier. Some of the self-blanching cultivars include 'Self Blanching Golden,' 'Tall Utah,' and 'Conquistador.'
4. Cauliflower
Cauliflowers are immature clusters of flowers joined together to form a large head. They have a mild, nutty flavor that goes well in stir-fries and soups. However, these Brassica family members are notorious for being tricky to grow.
High Demands
They require consistent watering, about 2 inches per week, to keep the soil moist, yet not soggy, at all times. Most often, you will have to water manually despite normal rainfall. If the ground dries out, the curds (cauliflower heads) can get misshapen, or the plants can stop growing. Hot, dry conditions can also cause bolting. This means winter care is a must.
All the curds require blanching once 2 to 3 inches wide, which can be tedious. Blanching is done by gathering the outer leaves over the head and tying them in place with rubber bands. There are also summer, autumn, and winter varieties all with different care regimens.
Moreover, cauliflowers attract many pests, such as aphids, cabbage loopers, cabbageworms, and thrips.
Less Fussy Alternative
If you would still like to try your hand at growing cauliflowers, look for summer or mini-cauliflower varieties. Summer cauliflowers are best started indoors between winter and early spring. They are ready to harvest within four to five months and are easier to grow.
Mini-cauliflowers are planted closer together and harvested when they are the size of tennis balls. They are less susceptible to the problems mentioned above.
Some of the cauliflower varieties you can grow more easily include, 'Montana,' 'Violet Queen,' and 'Self Blanching Snowball.'
5. Melon
Melons are delicious fruits with sweet juicy flesh, making summer afternoons more pleasant. However, a melon’s flavor, texture, and sweetness depend on numerous factors that are not always easy to maintain.
Get The Most Out of Your Melons
The plants require weekly feeding once the melons are the size of walnuts. They also prefer deep watering, about 1 to 2 inches weekly. Failing to meet the needs can lead to poor quality fruits with poor taste.
Melons are also prone to many pests and diseases, like cucumber beetles, squash vine borers, aphids, red spider mites, powdery mildew, and angular leaf spot. Young plants also need constant protection from snails and slugs.
Most importantly, growing melons in your garden can be incredibly unreliable, even if you provide warm temperatures, high humidity, and frequent watering and feeding.
What Can Be Done?
To increase the chances of success, you can opt for cantaloupe varieties that you can grow outdoors in a cold frame, such as 'Emir F1,' which is resistant to powdery mildew and aphids, 'Rugoso di Csenza Giallo,' and 'Lavi Gal.' However, the seeds of cold frame cultivars are more expensive but well worth it.
Additionally, look for grafted melon plants that are more resilient against soil-borne diseases and pests, and more reliable to succeed even in less favorable conditions. However, they are also expensive and offer limited varieties.
(Not) Worth the Effort
Many people take up gardening as a therapeutic activity to pass the time. It can also reward them with fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. However, some plants are not only difficult to grow, but they also require constant care that takes the joy out of the hobby. Therefore, it is best to avoid these high-maintenance plants unless you like a good challenge!
Do you have any plants to add to the list that gave you a hard time? Share below in the comments.