From a distance, the magnificent candle appears as if it were surrounded by whirling butterflies. In fact, there are countless blooms thriving above lanceolate, dark green leaves. Are you wondering how to properly cultivate the summer perennial? Then read the following answers to frequently asked questions.
Plant the magnificent candle properly
With a spring planting you strengthen one splendor candle the floral back, because this gives the perennial enough time to take root before winter. From the beginning/middle of May, prepare the loose, sandy-dry soil in a sunny location. Since the butterfly flower comes into its own in small groups of 3-5 specimens, create the appropriate number of planting pits at a distance of 35-40 cm. Proceed as follows:
- Enrich the excavation with sand, fine grit and a handful of compost
- Repot the young prairie candle and plant while maintaining the previous planting depth
- Press down the soil with your hands and water
A mulch layer made of inorganic materials, such as gravel or grit, keeps the soil warm longer and promotes growth.
care tips
In the first few weeks, magnificent candles require increased attention, since a regular water supply is essential for rooting. Therefore, always water the bed and pot when the substrate surface has dried. Once the perennial has established itself, care is limited to the following program:
- Water the magnificent candle when it is dry
- In suitable soil, no fertilization is required
- Fertilize potted plants once a month from May to August
- Clean out wilted flower clusters every few days
In the fall, cut back the butterfly flower to a hand's breadth from the ground to Root disc with a thick layer of leaves, straw and fir fronds to protect against the rigors of winter protection. If the perennial thrives in a planter, it survives the cold season in frost-free winter quarters.
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Which location is suitable?
In a sunny, warm location, the magnificent candle perfectly demonstrates why it is still called butterfly flower. The more hours of sunshine a prairie candle is granted, the more lush and luminous the flowers shine. Since the perennial also prefers a sandy-dry to gravel-like substrate, it is predestined for the rock garden, prairie garden or roof garden.
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What soil does the plant need?
If the magnificent candle had a say in the choice of location, it would opt for a sandy-dry to gritty soil that is lean and permeable. In addition, the perennial feels at home in humus-loose soil along a sun-drenched edge of wood. If the prairie candle acts as a summer pot flower, the potting soil 30-40 percent sand, fine grit, perlite or lava granules consist.
When is flowering time?
The magnificent candle presents its taut, upright, bushy silhouette with lush flower clusters in an elegant, overhanging posture from July to October. Wherever the sun shines more than 6 hours a day and the soil is sandy, loose and lean, the perennial likes to join other summer permanent bloomers and is not above itself Gap filler. Her neat appearance will be maintained over the long flowering period if wilted flowers are trimmed regularly.
Cut the magnificent candle correctly
If you consistently cut out withered and faded parts, the magnificent candle will always look immaculate. In addition, you create space for more flowers in this way. In autumn, cut back the butterfly flower to 10 cm above the ground. Then spread a thick layer of leaves and twigs over the root disk, because the perennial is not absolutely hardy.
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Pour the splendor candle
The pouring requirement of a magnificent candle is at a low level. In the bed, the watering can is only used if there has been no rain for a long time. If the surface of the soil dries up, pour the water directly onto the root disc in the morning or evening hours. Avoid overhead watering as rippling water greatly detracts from the beauty of the butterfly flower. When the sun's rays hit the delicate flowers at the same time, the water drops turn into small burning glasses. If the plant thrives in a pot or balcony box, check every 2-3 days with your finger whether the potting soil has dried out. If the top 2 cm of the substrate feels dry, water it.
Fertilize the magnificent candle properly
If the site conditions meet expectations or come close, the magnificent candle in the bed does not require fertilizer. Where the soil is extremely poor, the magnificent perennial is grateful for a little compost at the beginning of the growing season. For potted plants, we recommend half strength liquid fertilizer every 30 days from May to August.
hibernate
The magnificent candle is not completely hardy. Nevertheless, there are the best chances for a healthy hibernation if you take the following precautions in the bed:
- Cut the perennial down to 10 cm above the ground in autumn
- Pile up the root disk thickly with leaves, straw and needle brushwood
- Optionally cover the magnificent candle with garden fleece
Also cut back the butterfly flower in the bucket. Then put the container in the frost-free winter quarters. Water the root ball once a week to keep it from drying out completely.
Multiply Glory Candle
Since the magnificent candle proves to be short-lived in practice, it is not suitable for the usual perennial propagation by division. Instead, experienced hobby gardeners use the sowingto breed more specimens. If you want to avoid the unpredictability of direct sowing in May, it is best to follow these short instructions:
- Sowing behind glass is possible all year round
- Fill a seed tray with peat sand
- Mix the fine seeds with bird sand and scatter
- Sieve thinly with substrate and spray with water
In the heatable indoor greenhouse at 20 degrees Celsius, germination begins within 2-3 weeks. As a rule, 4-6 weeks elapse between germination and pricking out. Then your patience will be required again, because another 6-8 weeks will pass before the plants are planted out. During this time, keep the substrate constantly slightly moist without waterlogging.
Is the magnificent candle hardy?
Unfortunately, the magnificent candle is not completely hardy. If the thermometer drops below -10 degrees Celsius, the root ball can be so affected that no budding appears the next year. To prevent this shortcoming, cut the perennial in autumn up to approx. 10 cm above the ground back. Then cover the root disc 20-30 cm high with leaves or straw and lay needle brushwood over it
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Beautiful varieties
- Whirling Butterflies: The perennial boasts white butterfly flowers that sprout from pink buds; Growth height 50-70 cm
- Gambit Rose: The crimson flowers glow towards the sun on curved stems; Growth height 50-60 cm
- Summer Breeze: A majestic candle with white-pink flowers and a robust standability; Growth height 80-120 cm
- Koralee Petite: The intense pink flowers harmonize beautifully with the dark foliage; Growth height 80 cm
- Siskiyou Pink: The strain boasts bright pink flowers that thrive in dense clusters; Growth height 40-80 cm