Imposter Syndrome in Flower Farming (And Why Your Way Is Enough)
Many flower farmers struggle with imposter syndrome. You see the “right” way to grow flowers everywhere… soil tests, amendments, strict spacing, succession charts and start wondering if you’re doing it wrong.
If you’ve ever questioned whether you’re qualified to teach, share, or even call yourself a flower farmer, this is for you.
Do You Have to Follow Every Flower Farming Rule?
I always feel like an imposter when I share my growing techniques because I don’t follow the “textbook” version of flower farming. And let’s be honest, there is an imaginary flower farming textbook, or should I say BIBLE?
I’m just going to say it…I think a lot of what is shared in this imaginary bible is over the top. Or maybe just too extreme for my laid-back style. I mean, a fish tank bubbler for soaking ranunculus!? I’m definitely a believer in doing whatever works for you and a fish tank bubbler simply doesn’t work for me.
Because I’m not a devote textbook grower who follows best practices, I’ve shied away from talking about my relaxed growing style.
I mean…
I use Miracle Grow potting soil to make soil blocks on my kitchen counter. And go ahead and shoot me now because it contains peat!
I transplant my plugs several weeks prior to our average last frost date and say a little prayer we don’t get a late freeze.
I haven’t had a soil test done in years.
I’ve never used amendments and refuse to spray a fertilizer that smells like a bucket of rotting fish guts around my beautiful flowers.
Sunflowers are the only flower I succession plant.
I make my field plan in 20 minutes on a scrap piece of paper.
And I axed all foliage from my field plan.
Do You Have to Follow Every Flower Farming Rule?
Who am I to teach YOU how to grow flowers?
Insert definition of imposter syndrome. The simplest definition of imposter syndrome is not feeling worthy or credentialed to do what you are doing. And I certainly don’t feel credentialed to spread my rule-breaking ways to the masses.
Recently in stories, I asked my community what they wanted more of in my Instagram stories and gave the options of growing tips, daily life, pets or business tips. I thought my crew of pets would take the cake, but they fell flat.
How to grow flowers was the overwhelming winner. While I am a flower farmer that loves to help new growers build a thriving cut-flower business, I consider my growing tips…lacking.
But the results were a reminder, ok—maybe a slap in the face reminder, that my community doesn’t want textbook. They don’t want to know the perfect way. They want to know MY way.
How I grow incredibly beautiful flowers in 3 steps instead of 12. How I grow incredibly beautiful flowers with resources available to me versus ordering fancy soil from Amazon. How I grow incredibly beautiful flowers without using amendments, fertilizers, flower food or preservatives. My community wants to know how I do it. And if I could further capitalize “I” in that last sentence, I would.
If they wanted to know what the textbook says, they could print off growing sheets. But no. They want to know the willy wonka ways I grow flowers because my way works too.
Consider this little Instagram poll and post that reminder you need. People are actively choosing YOU and the way YOU do it. Whether it’s wrong, right or half-ass backwards, they are choosing you.
Whether you’re growing flowers for fun or building a flower farming business, you don’t need to follow every rule to be legitimate. Imposter syndrome in flower farming is real. But perfection isn’t what builds connection. Your voice, your style, and your experience do.
Your community isn’t buying textbook. They’re buying you.
If you’re new and feeling overwhelmed by all the “rules,” I put together a free guide that walks you through the 5 biggest mistakes I see new flower farmers make so you can focus on what actually matters and skip what doesn’t.