Plant care insights

Welcome to BGBGrowCo.com's plant care guides, designed to help your garden starts, vegetable, flower, and house plants thrive. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting, our comprehensive guides provide the essential knowledge you need for healthy, happy plants.

Frequently asked questions for your plants

A successful garden starts with understanding your plants. Our frequently asked questions cover the most common concerns, ensuring you have the best information to keep your plants flourishing throughout the seasons.

How often should I water my plants?

Watering frequency depends on the plant type, pot size, and environmental conditions. Generally, check the soil moisture; if the top inch feels dry, it's time to water. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.

Under-watered plants often show drooping, crispy leaves, and dry, pulling-away soil. Over-watered plants may have yellowing leaves, soft stems, and consistently wet soil, sometimes leading to mold growth.

What is companion planting?

Companion planting can improve flavor, boost growth, and support healthier plants overall. The right pairings can also bring in pollinators and beneficial insects while helping keep crop-damaging pests in check. Check out our suggestions below.

How do I control common garden pests?
Pest control can involve several methods. Start with natural deterrents like neem oil or insecticidal soap for aphids and spider mites. Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs, or use physical barriers. Always identify the pest before applying treatments.

When and how should I fertilize my plants?
Fertilize during active growing seasons (spring and summer for most plants) and avoid fertilizing dormant plants. Use a balanced fertilizer according to package directions, or choose a specialized fertilizer for specific plant types like vegetables or flowering plants.

Colorado Gardening - What not to do

How much sun do my plants need?
Plant light requirements vary. "Full sun" means 6+ hours of direct sunlight daily, "partial sun/shade" is 3-6 hours, and "full shade" is less than 3 hours. Observe your plant's location and adjust if leaves are scorched (too much sun) or leggy (not enough sun).

How often should I prune my plants?
Pruning frequency depends on the plant. Regular pruning can encourage bushier growth, remove dead or diseased branches, and improve air circulation. For flowering plants, prune after flowering to encourage new blooms. For vegetables, prune to improve fruit production.

What should I do with plant propagations in the fall?
In the fall, focus on establishing roots for your propagations. Provide consistent moisture and warmth. For succulents and air plants, ensure good air circulation and protection from cold drafts. Some may require less water as they enter a dormant period.

Tomato Plant care

Light: Tomatoes require full sun but do benefit from a shade on extremely hot days.

Water: Tomatoes do best with steady moisture. Inconsistent watering can lead to stress, split fruit, blossom end rot, and uneven ripening. Keep the soil evenly moist, not soggy, and don’t forget mulch to help lock in moisture and cut down on stress.

Planting: Tomatoes can be planted deep or trenched sideways to encourage a stronger root system along the buried stem. As they grow, give them solid support early with a cage, stake, or trellis to keep plants upright, improve airflow, and help carry the weight once production kicks in.

Spacing: Tomatoes benefit from airflow; it helps deter pests giving less places to hide.  It also keeps disease like blight and mildew from spreading.

  • Determinate (bush): 18–24 inches
  • Indeterminate (vining): 24–36 inches (these will take over if you let them)

 

Feeding: Compost, worm castings, and phosphorus-rich natural amendments like crushed eggshell or bone meal help support strong roots, healthy growth, and better fruit production without relying heavily on commercial fertilizer. Tomatoes do best with steady, balanced feeding. Start with nutrient-rich soil, then feed every 2–3 weeks through the growing season—especially once flowering and fruit production begin.

Best Companion Plants: The strong scent of these plants help deter pests and the flowers attract pollinators and other beneficial insects.

  • Basil 
  • Marigolds
  • Borage
  • Nasturtiums 
  • Chives or Garlic

pepper plant care

Light: Peppers require full sun and love the heat! 

Water: Water deeply, mulch to hold moisture. They do best in rich, well-draining soil.

Planting: Don't transplant your pepper plants until your soil is 60-65 degrees approximately 4 inches below the surface. Peppers are EXTREMLY sensitive to the cold. Planting them when it's too cool will stunt their growth and delay your harvest. Support larger plants early especially in windy areas. Harvest often to keep production rolling.

Feeding: After transplant, start with simple worm castings and compost. Too much nitrogen will lead towards foliage growth, you'll want to add bone meal or fish bone meal to encourage strong root growth, flowering, and fruit production. Feed every 2-3 weeks after transplant.  Once you start to seed fruit, scale back to every 3 weeks.

Best Companion Plants: Enhance the strength, health, and production with these companion plants. You’re building a system, not just filling space.

  • Basil 
  • Marigolds
  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Leafy Greens
  • Oregano

Okra

Okra thrives in heat and doesn’t tolerate cold—so don’t rush it in Colorado.  Pick pods young (2–4 inches). The more you harvest, the more it produces. Wait too long and they get tough—no one wants that.

Light: Full sun. The more heat and light, the better it performs.

Water: Keep it consistent, especially while establishing. Once mature, okra handles dry spells better than most—but steady moisture = better production.

Planting: Direct sow or transplant after your last frost (think post–Mother’s Day for Zone 6B). Soil temps should be consistently warm.

Spacing: Give them room—about 12–18 inches apart. These plants get tall and need airflow.

Feeding: Moderate feeder. Mix in compost at planting, then hit it with a light feed every 2–3 weeks if growth slows.

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Ready to apply these tips to your garden? Explore our wide selection of garden starts, vegetable and flower plants, and unique fall offerings like propagations, succulents, and air plants. Your thriving garden begins here!