Should You Grow Pigweed In Your Container Garden To Attract Beautiful Pollinators?

Pigweed is a plant in the Amaranthaceae family, and there are a number of different Amaranthus species that are listed as invasive in the United States. Cultivated varieties, like the stunning purple amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) are not considered invasive, but they can spread aggressively by seed. Fortunately, the seeds of these plants are edible and have been used for centuries as a type of cereal or ground to make bread because they are full of protein. Pigweed also attracts some beautiful pollinators such as the Common Sootywing butterfly and the Pygmy Blue butterfly, making it one of a number of plants that will fill your garden with a variety of butterflies. So, if you want to attract these fluttering beauties, it's best to grow pigweed in a container garden in order to stop it from becoming a nuisance around your yard or spreading into surrounding areas.

Pigweed is a hardy plant and will do well in a container because you can easily move it around to ensure it gets lots of sun and can attract those lovely butterflies. There are now a range of cultivars of Amaranthus cruentus grown for their stunning array of flower stems which you can also use to brighten up your interior decor because they make excellent cut flowers.

Pigweed is usually grown from seed in spring and these can be sown directly into a pot that's at least 12 inches in diameter because each plant can reach a height of up to 6 feet. Make sure the container you choose has plenty of drainage holes because wet soil can result in root rot. Place your pot in a nice sunny spot since this plant needs the warmth of the sun to thrive and flower. Plus, the pollinators you want to attract will find your pigweed easily when it's in a nice sun-filled location.

It's important to keep the soil moist until the seeds have sprouted. If you've planted your seeds in a smaller pot, thin out the seedlings once they've germinated so that you have only one plant. The surplus seedlings can be moved into their own planter if you want several of these beauties. When the your pigweed starts to grow, you can pinch off the growth shoots to keep it more compact which will also encourage more flowers. You also want to ensure that you stake your plant to avoid a big mistake when growing amaranth in your garden as the flowering stems can easily topple over once they're heavy with seed. Once flowering commences, feed your plant weekly with an organic liquid fertilizer to provide all the nutrients these hungry plants need. Aside from attracting pollinators, you can also attract goldfinches with this garden shrub that's full of scrumptious seeds.