Planting, and growing question?

[kme3388]

I’ve been trying to introduce my parrots to flowers, and plants they can eat. My Eclectus parrot surprisingly likes dandelions. My neighbors would be more than happy to donate the ones in their yard but I live in a city, and we all spray, and fertilize. I have to drive 20 minutes to a local park that doesn’t spray, or fertilize.

So… I am hoping to grow some parrot edible flowers, or plants.

Problem is, I kill every plant/flower in existence. I even killed a fern. Planting, and growing is not my strong suit.

Does anyone have ideas on flowers, and plants that I can grow for my parrots? With instructions for people that kill plants, and knows nothing about them.

Also if anyone knows of plants, flowers, and such that I can find in my local area that I can feed my parrots please list them below.

Thank you in advance!

 

[GivemeSeedsorgivemeFlesh]

I am learning how to sprout edible greens. Alfalfa seems to be pretty easy. Quinoa, millet, and others are on the menu. It seems like leaving a few planted to grow should produce flowers eventually?

 

[kme3388]

I am learning how to sprout edible greens. Alfalfa seems to be pretty easy. Quinoa, millet, and others are on the menu. It seems like leaving a few planted to grow should produce flowers eventually?

How do you sprout stuff? Is it hard?

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I’ve been trying to introduce my parrots to flowers, and plants they can eat. My Eclectus parrot surprisingly likes dandelions. My neighbors would be more than happy to donate the ones in their yard but I live in a city, and we all spray, and fertilize. I have to drive 20 minutes to a local park that doesn’t spray, or fertilize.

So… I am hoping to grow some parrot edible flowers, or plants.

Problem is, I kill every plant/flower in existence. I even killed a fern. Planting, and growing is not my strong suit.

Does anyone have ideas on flowers, and plants that I can grow for my parrots? With instructions for people that kill plants, and knows nothing about them.

Also if anyone knows of plants, flowers, and such that I can find in my local area that I can feed my parrots please list them below.

Thank you in advance!

The essential things all plants need to grow are water with good drainage (holes in the pot if potted) and sunlight. Its very hard to overwater outdoor plants. Lack of sunlight will stunt many plants and prevent flowering.

Nastertiums are great edible flowers that are easy to grow from seed. Pansies are also edible.

 

[kme3388]

The essential things all plants need to grow are water with good drainage (holes in the pot if potted) and sunlight. Its very hard to overwater outdoor plants. Lack of sunlight will stunt many plants and prevent flowering.

Nastertiums are great edible flowers that are easy to grow from seed. Pansies are also edible.

Do you know what kind of dirt to use? I don’t think miracle grow dirt is great for flowers meant to be consumed by my parrots, unless I’m assuming wrong

 

[DonnaBudgie]

If you're growing in containers you should use any bagged soil labeled "organic potting soil". Miracle gro makes an organic one. If you're growing in raised beds use "raised bed soil". In the ground you would use "garden soil" mixed with the soil already in the ground. You can get good bagged soils at He Depot, Lowes, Walmart or any other garden store.
Use containers big enough to accommodate growing plants. Tiny pots (less than 10 inches across) meant for tiny houseplants won't work. They dry out very fast and don't hold enough soil.

Make sure you keep your plants from drying out especially when the plants are first getting established (developing root systems). In the hot summer sun plants in containers dry out quickly but most flowering plants need at least six hours a day of direct sunlight, so water them every day when it's sunny. As long as the containers have holes in the bottom for excess water to drain out it's hard to overwater them unless the pot is sitting in water.

 

[rheashard2]

Have you heard of Aerogarden or similar product. You use it in place of a kitchen or window garden.

Indoor Hydroponic Gardening Systems | AeroGarden

Indoor hydroponic gardening systems make growing fresh veggies year-round fun and easy. Get growing with your AeroGarden today!

aerogarden.com

They last for years. Have one that's nearly 15 yrs old. Growing is inside, so no worries about pesticides etc. These are great for people with little space, time or infamous 'refuse to grow' fingers and thumbs. With minimal experience you can start your own organic seeds; edible herbs, flowers and more.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

I love these little indoor gardening systems for herbs and greens but I'm not sure how well they would work for edible flowers. You have to grow quite a few plants to get enough flowers to give treats to your birds. With herbs there's no need to wait for flowers to form- the entire plant is the edible treat. You could try both.

 

[rheashard2]

I love these little indoor gardening systems for herbs and greens but I'm not sure how well they would work for edible flowers. You have to grow quite a few plants to get enough flowers to give treats to your birds. With herbs there's no need to wait for flowers to form- the entire plant is the edible treat. You could try both.

True, but there's lots of edible flowering plants that don't grow tall. Others where the majority of nutrients are in the leaves.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

Would pansies and nasturiums grow in one? They don't get tall. Pansies only get 6 or 8 inches max. Nasturtium is more viney. I just don't know if they are big enough to grow flowering plants like that but they're terrific for herbs and greens.

 

[kme3388]

These are the planters I’m using for the flowers. I just wanted to find flowers for my parrots to eat, and safely. I have about 8 of them. This winter I’ll have to figure out what I can grow inside. There’s something about driving 20 minutes to pick dandelions that gets the best of me. I spray my yard to get rid of them. I’d prefer not to have to look for them without chemicals.

 

[DonnaBudgie]

We sell those at the Lowes where I work.

 

[kme3388]

We sell those at the Lowes where I work.

We drilled holes in the bottom for drainage, and then it works great. Here in Minnesota we get a lot of rain, and it wasn’t pretty one of the weeks we got a torrential downpour non stop. Lesson learned!