
Dusty miller is a tough perennial with a delicate fragrance. It’s easy to grow and can be found at many nurseries as well as DIY stores.
Dusty miller needs to be planted in an area where it will get full sun and well-drained soil. Watering dusty miller just once or twice a week should be enough.
Which Plants Go Best with Dusty Miller?
So, which plants grow well with dusty miller? There are several plants that work well with our silvery friend:
Petunias
Ornamental Grass
Angelonia
Both are easy to grow, and the bright purple of the snapdragon will contrast well with the dusty.
How to Sow and Grow Dusty Miller
You can sow dusty miller directly in your garden or indoors, depending on where you live and what you prefer. Those living in colder climes may want to sow in a greenhouse because the season is more limited.
Sowing Indoors
After 2 or 3 weeks, the seedlings will start to grow. As soon as that happens, give them plenty of light —16 hours per day isn’t too much. 8 hours of darkness will be fine. When they begin to sprout the second set of leaves, you can begin to get them accustomed to the outdoors.
This process of outdoor adaptation, called hardening off, helps plants grow strong and tough. It entails putting them in outdoor conditions before actually planting them in the ground. Do this in a sheltered place, out of the hard wind and rains.
This will get them used to the outdoors before you commit to planting them. It’s imperative you do this if there may still be a frost around the corner. When you’re sure there is no chance of another frost, you can plant them outside.
Sowing Outdoors
Weed the area thoroughly before sowing. If you can, work compost into the soil before planting to provide extra nutrients during the dusty miller’s formative period of life.
Cover the seedlings with ¼ of an inch of loose soil, and keep them moist. After two or three weeks, they’ll begin to emerge. It’s important to thin out the plants when they start coming to prevent crowding. This will cause weaker, smaller plants.
Water them intermittently before they emerge and during their first few weeks of life. If you choose to, you can apply fertilizer after thinning. This will help them grow big and strong, but it isn’t necessary if the soil is already rich.
Techniques for Caring and Nurturing Dusty Miller
1. Watering
Don’t water it again until the plant is completely dry and looks as though it’s beginning to wilt. This will ensure that you don’t overwater it, causing root rot or other fungal infections.
2. Fertilizing
The only time you should fertilize is in the early spring as the seedlings emerge. You can use granular slow-release fertilizer for the best results, as this won’t over-fertilize and it will keep providing nutrients for a long time.
3. Mulch
Spread the mulch on, making sure it’s 2 or 3 inches thick. If you’re using cut grass as a mulch, don’t exceed 2 inches. Grass is thick, and it can trap heat and make the temperature skyrocket past what dusty miller will tolerate.
4. Pest Problems
However, the fuzzy silver leaves are generally not attractive to animals. If you do have problems with pests, check out these gardening hacks to keep them away.
Pruning Your Dusty Miller to Perfection
The flowers are largely considered unattractive and should be pruned back as soon as they appear. They steal energy away from the foliage, and pruning them helps keep the leaves strong.
You should also prune the leaves around midsummer. You can do this by shearing away the top 1/3 of the plant all at once, or by cutting away the long stems a little at a time. Though the latter means more work for you, it helps the plant keep an attractive appearance for longer.
Plant Dusty Miller for Contrast and Protection
The possibilities with this plant are nearly endless, and it provides valuable protection as well as a beautiful backdrop.
So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and sow some seeds.