Re-blooming plants
Delphinium ‘Delft Blue’ will re-bloom up to three times in the garden as long as the spent flower stems are removed, but the stems will be shorter as the growing season progresses. This will continue until it gets too cold. In some cut flower production areas, like in Ecuador, Delphinium will continuously flower and will not die back.
Blue-white contrast
The first flush of flowers in spring may not show less of a blue-white contrast than those that develop later. Flowers developed in the greenhouse also have less contrasting stripes than those grown in the open. This explains why the flowers on plants at nurseries or garden centers may not show as strong a contrast as you might expect. Subsequent flushes of flowers developed on plants grown in the open will be better.
Planting
Delphinium prefers a soil rich in humus and loam, but it will grow in other soil types that are moist and fertile. For planting a Delphinium, a generous hole must be made, much larger then the pot. The soil surrounding the roots must be enriched with compost or fertilizer and pressed firmly against the roots.
Soil care
It is recommended to give Delphinium a good amount of fertilizer in spring for good growth and flower development. In summer, especially after removing the first spent flower spikes, some fertilizer will help to maintain good growth.
Light and sandy soils tend to dry out easy, which must be avoided. This can be accomplished by covering the soil with a good mulch.
Snails and slugs
Main pest problems in Delphinium are snails and slugs, which really can ruin your plants. It is important to keep them away especially early in the season, when they are most harmful for your plants. Snails and slugs have an ability to find new shoots, even before they appear above the soil. There are several biological ways to deal with the problem, but slug poison is the best option if you really don't want to share your Delphiniums with slugs.
Mildew
Powdery mildew, characterized by a white dusty coating on the leaves, is a common problem in Delphinium. This usually occurs at the end of the season, when the plants have stopped growing. It is not fatal, but it looks unsightly. After dormancy the plant will re-grow without a trace of mildew.
Dry soil will weaken the Delphinium and makes it more susceptible to mildew. Therefore, a mulch that keeps the soil moist is one of the easiest ways to reduce mildew. In worst cases, thinning out of shoots or transplanting to a better place might help.
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