How to Care for Dusty Miller Flowers
- 1). Plant dusty miller in full sun to partial shade. It likes well-drained, fertile soil, but tolerates average soils and droughts well. Because of their low-growing nature, dusty miller is often used as a border in flower beds or tucked into container gardens.
- 2). Fertilize dusty miller using a water-soluble, all-purpose fertilizer every two to three weeks, following the directions on the label.
- 3). Put down a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch, such as hay, wood chips or shredded bark, to discourage weeds from growing and to help maintain soil moisture.
- 4). Water dusty miller only when the top 2 to 3 inches of soil dries out. Apply the water with a soaker hose laid on the soil. Watering from above with a sprinkler can cause discoloring or spotting on the leaves.
- 5). Harvest flowers for bouquets when the majority of the disks on the corymb are showing color. Do not cut individual flowers, cut the main stem of the corymb a few inches above ground level. If you are growing dusty miller primarily for its foliage, like most people do, remove the flower heads as soon as they appear.
- 6). Pinch the growing tips of the main branches every 3 to 4 weeks to encourage the plants to branch out and produce a thicker, bushier specimen.