If you can spot bees in your surroundings, it means there's still a lot that can be done for nature! So, are you wondering what steps you can take individually? It's very simple! Making more room for bee-friendly plants on your windowsills and balconies... Let's take a look together at what this small but effective step means for nature!
Bees, the most ancient living species on Earth, have the ability to adapt to almost every region due to their thousands of years of adventure in the world. However, with accelerating urbanization, these tiny creatures have started to noticeably withdraw from their habitats, where they have lived for centuries, especially in recent years. The reasons for this include their migration due to environmental pollution and food scarcity, as well as their extinction due to mass deaths.
In the face of this harsh reality, we, as humanity, must never forget this truth: A decrease in the bee population in a region indicates that the natural life in that region can also rapidly deteriorate! This is because a large majority of the oxygen we breathe and the food we consume today are actually produced thanks to bees. Therefore, protecting bees is one of our most important responsibilities for nature, while there is still time... And by simply promoting the cultivation of bee-friendly flowers, it is possible for us to achieve an unexpectedly great transformation!
1. WHAT IS A BEE-FRIENDLY FLOWER?
Bee-friendly flowers refer to the types of flowers that are the bees' favorite food sources. These flower species, predominantly aromatic plants, attract bees with the scents emitted from their nectars, contributing to honey production. In fact, bee-friendly flowers serve as powerful food sources for these tiny creatures not only with their nectars but also with their pollen. While these flowers feed the bees, they also get the chance to grow spontaneously under suitable conditions thanks to the pollen carried by the bees.
2. WHAT FLOWERS ARE PLANTED FOR BEES?
Although varying from region to region, the main bee-friendly flower types that can adapt to many regions in Anatolia can be listed as follows:
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Sunflower
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Canola
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Lavender
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Thyme
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Phacelia
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Linden
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Rosemary
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Sage
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Clover
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Dandelion
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Geranium
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Bougainvillea
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Honeysuckle
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Crocus
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Astragalus
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Chestnut
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Almond
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Wild strawberry
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Loquat
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Lamiaceae (Mint family)
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Asteraceae (Daisy family)
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Rosaceae (Rose family)
3. WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS THAT MAKE FLOWERS BEE-FRIENDLY?
Bees use many types of flowering herbs and vegetable-fruit species, especially native wildflowers, as food. For this reason, in regions where beekeeping is common, the planting of flowering plants is particularly intensive. However, it is important to remember that the crucial factor here is to prioritize native flower species. This is because many bee species are sedentary and prefer natural species that grow spontaneously under suitable conditions. Furthermore, in flower cultivation for bee nutrition, it is especially important to avoid spraying with pesticides and other similar practices. In this context, we can summarize the most important characteristics that make flowers bee-friendly as follows:
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Rich in nectar and pollen,
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Native or found in suitable climatic conditions,
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Grown without exposure to insecticides, agricultural chemicals, etc.
4. WHY SHOULD WE HELP BEES?
Bees ensure the production of incredibly valuable nutrients, starting with honey, the sweetest natural food in the world. Moreover, thanks to their diligence, they produce not only enough for themselves but also in quantities sufficient for human consumption. However, the reasons why bees are valuable to humanity do not end there! While bees travel from flower to flower throughout spring and summer for food production, they also directly mediate the pollination of plants. Indeed, bees play a very significant role in the production of approximately 70 percent of the food consumed by humans. The role of bees in plant life indirectly contributes to the increase in atmospheric oxygen levels. Based on all of this, scientists believe that "if bees become extinct, human life will also end within four years."
5. A PRODUCTIVE TIME FOR BEES: NECTAR-RICH FLOWERS AND POLLEN-BEARING PLANTS
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What are the Nectar-Rich Flowers and Pollen-Bearing Plants that can be Easily Grown for Bees? |
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Flower Type |
What is it? |
How to Plant? |
How to Water? |
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Bougainvillea
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What is bougainvillea? Bougainvillea is a climbing ornamental plant that blooms in purple, pink, red, or white. Its most important feature is its insect-repelling quality. |
How to plant bougainvillea? It should be planted in sunny areas of gardens or on enclosed balconies. It can be grown in lime-free soil using the cutting method (taking a stick from the thick part) at the end of spring. |
How to water bougainvillea? For the plant to thrive, its roots, in particular, need to be watered. It can be watered daily or every other day, keeping the roots moist. |
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Wild Strawberry (Arbutus) |
What is wild strawberry (Arbutus)? Wild strawberry (Arbutus), also known as strawberry tree, is a small-fruited red fruit species. This flowering fruit grows wild in wooded areas but is also suitable for gardens and pots. |
How to plant wild strawberry (Arbutus)? It should be grown in a semi-shady and humid environment. In cold regions, it can be planted as a seedling in April, and in warm regions, at the beginning of spring. Planting in pairs is recommended. Fertilizer should not be given before the roots develop. |
How to water wild strawberry (Arbutus)? This plant, which can grow effortlessly in the garden, only needs to be watered during dry months to keep its roots moist. In pots, it should be watered as soon as the soil dries out. |
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Crocus
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What is crocus? Crocus is a bulbous ornamental plant also known as "mahmur çiçeği". It produces purple, yellow, fuchsia, or blue flowers. Its most important feature is that the flower color changes with the season. |
How to plant crocus? It should be planted at the end of winter. The soil for planting is recommended to be loose and loamy, and free of artificial fertilizers. Crocus bulbs should be planted approximately 15 cm below the soil surface. |
How to water crocus? It is sufficient to keep its soil moist in all seasons. Even if its leaves completely dry out in summer, this does not mean the plant is dead. |
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Loquat |
What is loquat? Loquat, also known as Japanese medlar, is a tree-form plant. For this reason, it is more suitable for growing in gardens. It is suitable for the Mediterranean region. |
How to plant loquat? It can be easily grown by germinating the seeds of the fruit or by using the cutting method. It should be planted in loamy/sandy and loose soil in autumn. |
How to water loquat? Watering the tree root once or twice a week is sufficient. Since it needs to be fertilized at regular intervals, it should be watered especially after fertilization. |
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Dandelion
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What is dandelion? Dandelion is a delicate plant species that can grow spontaneously in nature and produces yellow flowers. Due to its spreading nature, it can grow abundantly in the area where it is planted. |
How to plant dandelion? It can be planted from the beginning of spring until the first months of autumn. Since light is required for germination, the seeds should be close to the surface. |
How to water dandelion? Dandelion, which can grow easily without much care, can be grown by watering it every two days after planting in watered soil. The amount of water should be sufficient to keep the soil moist. |
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Almond |
What is almond? Almond is the kernel part of the fruit called "çağla" from a small tree species belonging to the rose family. This tree is suitable for the climatic characteristics of the Mediterranean Region. |
How to plant almond? Almond seedlings can be planted in autumn. Before planting, the soil needs to be drained. After placing the roots in the soil, fertilizer should be added on top. |
How to water almond? The almond tree is a plant that loves water and sun. For this reason, the soil moisture should be constantly checked and watered when it is found to be dry. |
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Lavender
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What is lavender? Lavender is a plant species belonging to the mint family, growing in the Mediterranean climate, and having fragrant flowers. Its flowers can be purplish or reddish in color. |
How to plant lavender? Late April and early May are recommended for planting lavender. First, fertilizer should be poured into the hole dug for planting, and then the plant should be placed. |
How to water lavender? When watering lavender, it is preferable to use water that is free of lime and chlorine, if possible. This plant can be watered three or four times a week. |
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Sage
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What is sage? Sage is a plant species from the mint family, with fragrant leaves and purplish flowers. This plant is most commonly found in Turkey in the Mediterranean Region. |
How to plant sage? The most suitable period for planting sage is spring. For high yield, well-drained soil is required. Seedlings are planted with 30-40 cm between them and given an initial watering. |
How to water sage? Sage is a plant that easily adapts to the soil structure of arid regions. For this reason, it is sufficient to moisten the soil where sage grows with a small amount of water. |
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Thyme
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What is thyme? Thyme is a perennial herbaceous plant from the mint family, with a pungent odor and small flowers. It grows in arid and rocky areas in the Mediterranean Region. |
How to plant thyme? Thyme is planted in late winter. The seeds are covered with a very thin layer of soil. The seeds should be kept indoors until they germinate. |
How to water thyme? Thyme is known as a plant accustomed to dry soil. For this reason, it is sufficient to lightly moisten the soil where it is grown with a small amount of water. |
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Linden
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What is linden? Linden is a hardy tree species from the mallow family, with yellow and fragrant flowers. It can grow in almost any climate and type of soil. |
How to plant linden? Spring and autumn are the most suitable times for planting linden. The soil should be softened and cleared of weeds. Additionally, the soil should be supplemented with fertilizer. |
How to water linden? Linden is a tree species that loves both heat and water. For this reason, it should be watered three times a week, especially in summer. The frequency of watering can be reduced in winter. |
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Chestnut
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What is chestnut? Chestnut is the name given to a tree species from the beech family and the seeds of this tree. In Turkey, it grows most abundantly in the Aegean Region, especially in Aydın province. |
How to plant chestnut? The most suitable time for planting chestnuts is March. In a 50 cm deep pit dug in the soil, first fertilizer is added, then some soil, and then the germinated seed is planted on top. |
How to water chestnut? Chestnut is watered a total of three times within one year after planting. In the subsequent period, watering should be stopped to prevent the fruits from spoiling. |
6. THE MOST HONEY-PRODUCING PLANTS YOU CAN GROW AT HOME FOR BEES
As seen in the table, among the varieties planted to benefit bees, tree-form flowering plants hold a significant place. The cultivation of these perennial and voluminous plant species is more suitable for areas close to apiaries and especially for gardens. However, among them, there are also those that you can easily grow in urban life and in your own apartment. So, in addition to bougainvillea, wild strawberry, crocus, dandelion, lavender, sage, and thyme, how about a few more suggestions that you can grow at home with great ease and without much effort?
6.1. WHAT FLOWERS CAN YOU PLANT AT HOME FOR BEES?
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Flower Type |
What is it? |
How to Plant? |
How to Water? |
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Chrysanthemum |
What is chrysanthemum? Chrysanthemum is an herbaceous plant species belonging to the daisy family, with an average of 30 different types and multi-petaled flowers. Its homeland is Asia and northeastern Europe. |
How to plant chrysanthemum? Chrysanthemums are planted in spring. Seeds are scattered over germinating peat. And 1 cm thick peat is covered on top. Seeds that germinate within two to three weeks can be planted in a larger pot. |
How to water chrysanthemum? Chrysanthemum is a flower that loves water very much. For this reason, frequent and small amounts of watering are necessary. Choosing a fixed time for watering increases the yield. |
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Orchid |
What is an orchid? Orchid is a plant belonging to the orchid family, producing large and beautiful flowers, with 28,000 species worldwide. In Turkey, there are more than 60 orchid species. |
How to plant an orchid? Orchids are planted in May. After the flowering period, the orchid is removed from its pot, and its roots are divided in two with the help of pruning shears. The two resulting roots are planted in two separate pots. |
How to water an orchid? Watering orchids has a more complex logic compared to other plants. The most practical method is to check the moisture deep in the soil with your thumb and water if the soil is dry. |
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Violet
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What is a violet? Violet is a flowering plant species belonging to the genus Viola of the violet family. There are approximately 400-500 different species. The places where it grows most are the countries of the northern hemisphere. |
How to plant a violet? Vegetative methods are generally used for planting violets. For this, a branch of the violet is cut, kept in water, and planted in a pot when it takes root. |
How to water a violet? Violet flowers should be watered twice a week in summer and once a week in winter. Excessive watering can cause the violet to die. |
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Lilac
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What is lilac? Lilac is a plant variety belonging to the olive family, known for its fragrant flowers, and comprising approximately 20 different species. Due to its resistance to cold, it can adapt to many places. |
How to plant lilac? The basic requirement for growing lilac at home is a large pot. A shoot can be taken from the lilac root in winter and planted. Or, planting can be done with seeds germinated in wet cotton. |
How to water lilac? The lilac plant is not a water-loving plant. However, like all plants, it still needs sufficient moisture. For this reason, especially in summer, it should be watered once a week. |
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Daisy
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What is a daisy? Daisy is a plant species from the Asteraceae (daisy) family, with white/yellow ray-florets. It is known as the most populous flower family in the world with its different species. |
How to plant a daisy? Daisies can be planted in spring or autumn. The seeds should be mixed with sand and scattered on the soil, and then covered with a small amount of soil. |
How to water a daisy? Daisy seeds should be watered immediately after planting. After they start to sprout, watering should continue as the soil dries out. |
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Mint
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What is mint? Mint is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Lamiaceae (mint) family, with pungent leaves and purplish flowers. It predominantly grows in the Mediterranean Region, Anatolia, and Egypt. |
How to plant mint? To plant mint, two or three main branches are separated from the plant. All leaves are removed except for a few at the top. Then, the mint branches are rooted in water and then planted in soil. |
How to water mint? The soil where mint is grown must always remain moist. For this reason, the soil should be constantly checked with a finger. Whenever dryness is detected in the soil, it should be moistened with water. |
6.2. HOW TO PLANT FLOWERS AT HOME?
The first thing to do to grow flowers at home is to find the most suitable spot for the plant you choose. Otherwise, your plant, which doesn't like its location, might not sprout as you expect or, if it's a seedling, it might not thrive. Once you find the right spot, you can proceed with the planting process using the necessary natural materials and tools for planting the plant in seed, cutting, or seedling form. By adding fertilizer or nutrients (vitamins, etc.) to the soil as needed, and with regular watering, you can now watch your plant grow day by day!
6.3. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO PLANT FLOWERS AT HOME?
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Plant seeds, stem/branch (cutting) or seedling,
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Appropriate size pot,
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Peat soil,
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Fertilizer and natural plant food,
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Gloves and
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Watering can/jug…
It's quite simple what you can do to help nature come back to life, isn't it?
