Plant more perennials properly
Plant Antennaria preferably between August and October so that the plant starts its first gardening season with a vital growth lead. As a single Cat paws looks so lost in the bed, create 3-5 planting holes at a distance of 20 cm. The excavated earth is covered with a little compost and Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) enriched. Put a potted root ball in the middle and fill the gaps with substrate to just below the first pair of leaves. Pressing the earth and pouring soft water round off the planting process properly.
also read
- Plant and care for a sedge
- Planting and maintaining star moss
- Plant and care for Jacob's ladder
Care tips
As the following maintenance program reveals, Antennaria require little attention from the gardener:
- Only water the flower with soft rainwater when it is dry
- Fertilize not necessary
- Cut off withered flowers to just above the silvery foliage
- Complete pruning in February / March
No explicit winter protection is required in the bed. If the plant thrives in a pot or balcony box, wrap the container in foil or jute and place it on wood in front of the south wall of the house.
Which location is suitable?
Its floral lightness already signals the friendly flower's expectations of the location. It should be sunny, warm and protected there. Penumbra is tolerated good-naturedly, but does result in a less splendid flower pile. A light, airy, fresh to moderately dry soil is good for Antennaria, which is ideally low in lime.
The correct planting distance
As is typical of a ground cover plant, Antennaria are more than twice as wide as they are in height. With a maximum growth height of 10 cm, 20-23 cm come together in the growth width. So that the flower develops a dense carpet of flowers, you are exactly right with a planting distance of 20 cm.
What soil does the plant need?
The charming plant likes to stretch out its roots in fresh and moist to sandy and dry soil, provided there is little or no lime in it. First-class permeability is also a central criterion for a successful cultivation process. We therefore recommend as a substrate for a pot plant Rhododendron soilthat with a handful Lava granules(€ 14.00 at Amazon *) or perlite is enriched.
Properly cut further perennials
The robust, hardy upholstered shrub does not require any pruning. If the withered inflorescences impair the visual appearance of the garden, nothing speaks against a cut to just above the decorative foliage. In early spring, pruning close to the ground clears the way for this year's budding. Cut off the nicest flower stems when they are about to bloom and dry them in an airy place. As a drying bouquet, they give off a pleasant scent in the house in autumn and winter.
Water more perennials
Under normal weather conditions, the natural rainfall covers the water requirement. If summer comes with longer periods of drought, water the flower every now and then. Use the watering can to pour collected rainwater or decalcified tap water directly onto the roots early in the morning. If Antennaria thrive in the planter, on the other hand, there is a need for regular watering, as the substrate dries out quickly. Check the soil every 2-3 days in order to water with soft water if the surface is dry.
Fertilize more perennials properly
The frugal plant favors light, nutrient-poor soil. The application of fertilizer is therefore not necessary. If you repot Antennaria in a bucket or balcony box every year in pre-fertilized substrate, the supplementary supply of nutrients is also unnecessary here. If deficiency symptoms occur, such as stunted growth or fading colors, give a commercially available liquid fertilizer in a diluted concentration.
Overwinter
A hardy constitution hides behind her graceful appearance. Antennaria accept temperatures down to - 28.8 degrees Celsius without any problems. There are therefore no measures to be taken for wintering in the bed. If the flower thrives in the planter, however, the following precautions must be taken so that the root ball does not freeze to death:
- Before the start of winter, wrap the bucket with bubble wrap or decorative, colorful jute ribbons
- Place on a block of wood or a styrofoam plate in front of the south wall of the house
- Cover the substrate with wood wool, peat dust or autumn leaves
Keep containers with a diameter of less than 30 cm in frost-free, light winter quarters. Despite the protective measures mentioned, the low substrate volume is unable to protect the plant from damage.
Propagate more perennials
Antennaria once again demonstrate their uncomplicated disposition with regard to reproduction. To move more specimens to other locations in the garden, choose one of the following methods:
- Separate and plant the rooted runners after flowering
- Dig up and divide the root ball in autumn or spring
- sowing the fine seeds from March behind glass; at 20 degrees Celsius, germination begins within 2 weeks
Direct sowing is also possible, but with less chance of success. In contrast to cultivation on the windowsill, the seedbed in the open is subject to the adverse effects of weather conditions, pecking birds and voracious pests.
More perennials in the pot
As a solitary or underplanting, Antennaria in the pot set shimmering accents on the sunny balcony and the light-flooded terrace. Ideally, choose bog bed or rhododendron soil, optimized with, as the substrate Lava granules or Expanded clay.(€ 16.36 at Amazon *) A curved pottery shard above the water drain prevents life-threatening waterlogging. This is how the care proceeds in a regulated manner:
- Only water when the soil has dried to a depth of 2 cm
- Cut off the withered flower stalks to just above the foliage
- No fertilization is required when repotting in fresh substrate every year
Before the first frost, take the small pot to a light winter area. Larger buckets are placed on wood in front of the protective south wall of the house and covered with bubble wrap.
Is more perennials poisonous?
Just a look at the botanical assignment to the composites gives the all-clear with regard to a poisonous content. Antennaria poses no health risk, neither for humans nor for animals. On the contrary, the plant was used in the distant past as a medicinal plant against snake bites or bronchitis.
Nice varieties
- Red miracle: panicles formed from dark red flower heads rise above silvery shimmering leaves; 5-15 cm
- Woolly cat's paw: Forms dense cushions of the ground with woolly white hairy foliage under white flowers; 5-10 cm
- Rubra: Warmth-loving top variety that sets the scene with red-silvery flowers and green-silvery leaves; 3-10 cm
- Borealis: Abundantly blooming Antennaria, whose delicate pink flowers appear overlaid with white; 5-10 cm
