Daily gardening tip · Southern hemisphere · Thursday 1 October 2026 · mid spring
Apply Liquid Potash to Spring Annuals
As your spring-flowering annuals enter their peak blooming phase, they need a specific nutrient boost to keep producing vibrant flowers.
15 minuteseasyfeeding
Identify annual flowers in your garden that are currently budding or blooming.
Select a liquid fertilizer that is high in potash, which is also known as potassium.
Dilute the liquid fertilizer in a watering can according to the instructions on the product packaging.
Pour the mixture directly onto the soil at the base of each plant, keeping the wet mixture off the foliage and petals.
Repeat this feeding process every two weeks while the plants are actively blooming.
Why it works
Potash is a key nutrient that stimulates flower development and strengthens plant cell walls. Delivering this nutrient in a liquid form allows the roots to absorb it immediately, which helps the plant produce more buds and longer-lasting flowers.
A rare annual herb endemic to the serpentine soils of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is covered in cobweb-like hairs and produces small lavender flower heads in late summer.
RHS launches study to address future skills gaps in public gardens
A British gardening organization is starting a research project to find out what skills workers will need to care for public gardens in the future and where there are currently staff shortages.
AI software developed to improve microscopic plant analysis
Researchers created a new benchmark dataset to test how artificial intelligence models analyze microscopic plant features. Current vision language models struggle to recognize tiny plant structures and signs of disease. The tool highlights where these models fail so developers can refine them for agricultural research.
The National Garden opens at the United States Botanic Garden
The National Garden officially opened to the public on 1 October 2006 next to the U.S. Capitol. The three-acre site was designed as an outdoor living laboratory to showcase native plants and sustainable gardening practices. It features a regional garden, a butterfly garden, and a rose garden demonstrating organic pest management.
