Caring for bearded beard: cutting, fertilizing and watering

The blue beard flower is not only a real eye-catcher, but also particularly easy to care for. It requires little more than a spring pruning.

Depending on the soil and weather, the beard flower (caryopteris) occasionally water and fertilizer, but it is very undemanding. Diseases and pests are also no problem for her. We show what is important in beard flower care.

Bearded Beard Care: Cutting

In order to be able to enjoy the flowers every year, it is important to cut the beard flower. This is best done in spring, around the end of March. The beard flower forms its flowers only on the shoots that also grew in the same year. So she has annual shoots. Due to the pruning, the bearded beard sprout again and forms so many annual shoots on which flowers appear. Use sharp scissors to avoid crushing the branches. Also avoid frosty and rainy days when cutting back the beard flower. All shoots are shortened to about 20 cm.

Tip: The later the cut, the later the beard flower blooms. The flowering time is therefore postponed with the pruning. If the bearded beard is cut too late, it may not flower at all, because the formation of flower heads takes time.

During the flowering period, you can remove withered flowers. There is then the possibility of a renewed flowering. As fall approaches, you can pinch off any wilted flowers. In this way, no fruit is formed and the beard flower can save energy for winter and spring. Such a late cut may even lead to a second flowering. However, this also prevents self-seeding and propagation.

Fertilize bearded beard

Although the bearded beard can cope with a fairly low supply of nutrients, you should still fertilize it, after pruning and before new growth. This gives her enough energy to form numerous flowers. Potted plants in particular need initial fertilization at this time. For the beard flower, it is best to use a rose fertilizer such as ours Plantura organic rose fertilizer. This is a slow-release fertilizer that gradually releases the nutrients into the soil over a period of three months. It is simply sprinkled on the floor, lightly worked in and poured on. Beard flowers in the bed can alternatively also be given a starting fertilization from compost after pruning.

Pour right

The water requirement of the beard flower is also rather low. Above all, it does not tolerate waterlogging at all, so it is better to water less than too much. When the substrate has dried a few centimeters deep on the surface, you can water the beard flower again. Potted plants tend to need water more frequently than bedding plants.

Bearded beard does not bloom: causes and measures

The beard flower is not blooming and you don't know what could be the reason? Cutting measures are often the cause:

• Late pruning: With the cut, the flower also shifts. If you only set the scissors in late spring or early summer, the bearded beard must first sprout again and the flower will appear late or not at all. The pruning should therefore never be done in summer but always in spring.
• No pruning: If you haven't pruned the bearded beard for several years, it mostly has old wood. But no flowers are formed on it. Cut the bearded beard back to 20 cm in the spring so that flowers should appear again in the summer.
• Poor growing conditions: If the bearded beard is too wet or too shady, this can also be the reason for a lack of flowering. Therefore, be sure to look for a location for the beard flower that meets its requirements.

Common pests and diseases of bearded beard

Beard flowers are rarely attacked by diseases or pests. Excessive watering causes waterlogging, which can lead to root rot in the beard flower. Otherwise, the beard flower, like many other labiates, contains essential oils that can keep pests away.

The beard flower is often planted together with roses, as they complement each other perfectly in terms of colour. We give an overview of the most beautiful types of roses.