The Gazania is a popular ornamental plant that grows in parks and gardens during the summer months. The large flowers create a summery atmosphere. Your requirements are special in winter.
Choose frost-resistant cultivation forms
Gold midday flowers grow in their homeland as herbaceous plants that survive with the help of woody rootstocks. They rarely develop into semi-shrubs, the shoots of which lignify at the base. Since the climatic conditions in Central Europe differ greatly from the South African weather, the plants are mainly cultivated as an annual. They are not hardy and bloom less profusely after a warm winter in the house than in the first year. There are few varieties that are suitable for perennial cultivation and are considered hardy. These cultivars survive the frosty season outdoors and sprout reliably in spring:
- Gazania linearis 'Colorado Gold' can withstand temperatures down to -28 degrees
- Gazania krebsiana 'Tanager (R)' has no problems with minus degrees in the double-digit range
- Gazania x 'Bronze Red' tolerates around ten degrees below freezing
Pull cuttings
The propagation of cuttings takes place in Gazania in late summer, so that the young plants are grown over the winter months. Above-ground growth
stagnates during this resting phase. However, the plants use the energy they have absorbed for root development. One advantage of this method is that it maintains the strain's growth characteristics and flower colors.
If you want to cultivate the midday gold for more than a season, grow yourself cuttings:
- Cut off strong shoots 15 to 20 centimeters long
- remove lower leaves and buds
- Put the cutting halfway in nutrient-poor potting soil
- Place the container in a light and warm place
- Moisten the substrate regularly and let it dry slightly in the meantime
- put in a larger bucket in spring
Dig up outdoor plants
In the wild, the daisy family cannot survive when winter sets in. It is possible to overwinter Gazania as container plants in a frost-free area. However, this procedure is associated with a lot of effort and results in high failures. Often the plants no longer grow vigorously after overwintering. They form long, slack leaves and show a limited number of flowers. If you still want to try, hold on
follow these steps:- Fetch gold midday flowers from the ground before the first frosts at night
- wait for a cloudy day with mild temperatures
- Cut off the root ball generously without damaging the roots
Replace substrate
In nature, the plants thrive on poor strips of soil. You feel comfortable in a soil that is weakly acidic and contains silicate. The natural habitats are characterized by barren soils that arise on mica slate. When cultivated, the daisy family need a constant supply of nutrients that is neither too high nor too low. Too many nutrients mean that the plant produces hardly any flowers and a lot of leaf mass. A subtle concentration of nutrients in the substrate supports growth and prevents the plants from running out of energy in the second half of winter. If you cultivate the ornamental perennials in the tub, repot them in autumn. Outdoor plants also enjoy a substrate exchange. Proceed as follows:
- Mix five parts of cactus soil with three parts of primary rock and two parts of sand
- Remove 50 percent of the old soil without knocking out the root ball
- Plant the gazanie in a fresh substrate mixture and water it lightly
Tip: Put the plant in a slightly oversized flower pot. This means that the roots do not come into direct contact with the nutrients after repotting and the volume of soil serves as a moisture buffer.
Ensure optimal conditions
Sun talers, as Gazania are sometimes called, originally come from the winter rainy regions of South Africa and Namibia. The South African climate is rainy in the winter months with night temperatures between ten and 15 degrees, while the thermometer rises to 20 to 25 degrees during the day. From May to August there is little precipitation with mild temperatures that fall slightly below five degrees at night and rise to more than 15 degrees during the day. To your
To successfully winter Gazania, you should adapt to the summer conditions of the original Orientate the distribution area, because during this time the plants go into a Pause in growth. The temperature change is particularly important for successful wintering. The wintering quarters should offer these conditions:- Night temperatures between five and ten degrees Celsius
- Daytime temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees
- bright with good light supply and without direct sun
Tip: East and west windows prove to be very suitable locations. Since it is often too dark in the winter months, you should switch on a plant lamp for eight hours.
Ensure water balance
Gazania develop spatulate leaves that are predominantly arranged at the base. While the underside of the leaf is woolly, the upper side appears bald or hairy like a cobweb, depending on the species. These structures are adaptations to the environmental conditions and prevent the plant from losing too much water during periods of low rainfall in combination with high levels of solar radiation. At the same time, dew drops collect in the hair during the night, which are available to the midday gold as a source of moisture. Since the substrate in the home winter quarters does not dry well due to the lack of sun, mold and pest infestation can quickly occur. When you overwinter the ornamental plants, do the following:
- Wet leaves with moisture
- Moisten the soil in the pot only superficially
- Pour 90 percent of the irrigation water into the coaster
- Pour off excess water after 24 hours
Note: The water supply follows a four-day rhythm. Let the Gazania rest for three days and repeat the process on the fourth day.
