Growli

Container guide

Growing delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' in a pot

Verdict
Ideal in pots
Pot size
15-20 cm (6-8 in) across
Mature size
30-40 cm (12-16 in) tall and 25-30 cm wide; dwarf and self-supporting, needing no staking.

Compost and drainage

Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly' needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.

Watering delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' in a pot

Containers dry far faster than open ground, so delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "Every 4-7 days; keep soil moist but well-drained, avoiding extremes" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.

Potting on

Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.

More delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' care

Growing delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' in containers — FAQ

Can you grow delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' in a pot?

Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly' is well suited to container growing — at about 40 cm mature it is comfortably pot-sized. A container around 15-20 cm (6-8 in) across gives it room without leaving the compost sitting wet, which is the usual mistake when people over-pot a small plant.

What size pot does delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' need?

Aim for a container 15-20 cm (6-8 in) across. Pot on when roots show through the drainage holes or growth slows noticeably — usually every 1-2 years for a plant this size. Move up one pot size only; jumping several sizes leaves wet compost the roots cannot reach, and that is what rots them.

What compost and drainage does delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' need in a container?

Delphinium grandiflorum 'Blue Butterfly' needs sharp drainage, so this matters more in a pot than in the ground. Use a free-draining mix (add perlite, grit or bark to standard compost), always pick a container with drainage holes, and never let it stand in a saucer of water.

How often should I water delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' in a pot?

Containers dry far faster than open ground, so delphinium grandiflorum 'blue butterfly' in a pot needs checking more often than the general guidance of "Every 4-7 days; keep soil moist but well-drained, avoiding extremes" — especially in summer, wind, or a heated room. Check the top few centimetres with a finger rather than watering on a fixed day.