Plant, cultivate, propagate and more

Plant levkojen correctly

Personally preferred or ready-bought Levkojen plant in a sunny, sheltered spot in the bed from mid-May. Since the summer flower comes into its own in small groups, make small planting holes 20-30 cm apart. Mix the excavation a little compost, horn shavings and rock flour under. Meanwhile, submerge the potted root ball in water until no more air bubbles rise. Then plant the now potted flowers up to the lower pair of leaves and water.
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care tips

Immigrated from the mild Mediterranean climate, Levkojen are not endowed with the robust constitution of native flowers. Therefore, pay attention to the following care program so that the sensitive summer flower thrives magnificently:

• After planting, regularly aerate the soil with a rake to protect against blackleg
• Dry soil or substrate, is poured moderately with normal calcareous water
• In the bed every 4 weeks fertilize with compost, horn shavings and rock flour or algae lime
• Fertilize liquidly in the pot every 2-3 weeks and give a little rock dust
• Cleaning out faded flowers creates space for new buds

A well-balanced water balance primarily determines the weal and woe of Levkojen. Therefore, check the moisture content of the soil with your finger every 1-2 days. When the top 2 cm has dried, pour the water directly onto the root disk.
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Which location is suitable?

The summer blossom festival of Levkojen takes place in a sun-kissed, warm and wind-protected location with fresh, moist and humus-rich soil. Good drainage is essential to prevent waterlogging after a summer downpour. Last but not least, the soil should have a medium to high lime content

What soil does the plant need?

In terms of soil conditions, the cultivation of Levkojen proves to be uncomplicated. The pretty summer flowers thrive in normal garden soil that is fresh, moist, humus-rich and loosely structured. The only special request is a light to medium lime content. You fulfill this by adding algae lime, rock flour or garden lime in connection with the preparation of the soil for planting.

When is flowering time?

Levkojen blooms from May to October. To ensure that the summer flower lasts over this long period, regularly cut out withered flower stalks. This way you make room for fresh buds. To prevent the flowers of high-growing varieties from ending up in the dust, support them with a stick from the middle of the flowering period.

Cut levkojen correctly

Consistently cut off withered flower stalks of a levkoye. This effort is rewarded with a well-groomed appearance, fresh sprouting of new buds and a long flowering period. Ideally, give the flowers time to sow themselves before winter. Then get the plant remains out of the ground and dispose of them in the compost.

Pour levkojen

Regular watering is the top gardener's duty as part of Levkojen care. Since the flowers prefer a calcareous substrate, you can use normal tap water without hesitation. Put the water directly onto the root disk with the nozzle of the jug and do not let it escape garden hose rain down on the sensitive beauties.

Fertilize Levkojen properly

If you add compost, horn shavings and rock dust to the soil as part of the planting, the energy requirements for the start of the season are covered. Once again, we recommend applying organic fertilizer just before flowering begins, followed by monthly boosters until the end of the flowering period.

Diseases

Young levkojen are often victims of blackleg. This fungal infection targets seedlings that are just beginning a blooming summer. Experience has shown that consistently aerating the soil and moderate watering with chamomile tea keeps the cunning fungal spores at bay.

hibernate

For annual Levkojen varieties, the topic of hibernation is unnecessary. Biennial hybrids first unfold a leaf rosette in the year of planting, from which the magnificent inflorescence rises the following year. To be on the safe side, we recommend protecting this deciduous stand from permanent wetness and frost with brushwood during the winter. Cultivated in a pot, allow the Mediterranean fragrance miracle into the frost-free winter quarters.

multiply levkojen

As annual flowers are Levkojen means sowing easy to multiply. Cultivation behind glass from February is promising, whereas direct sowing from April is fraught with a variety of imponderables. In addition, a flower that is brought forward starts the season with a vital growth advantage in order to present its flowers particularly early. How to sow correctly:

• Fill a seed tray with lean substrate and moisten slightly
• Sow the seeds to press them down with a board as light germinators
• Place in the indoor greenhouse or put on a plastic bag
• At 16-18 degrees Celsius, germination begins within 14 days

When the seedlings have produced 2 pairs of leaves, they are separated at a distance of 5×5 cm. Keep the substrate slightly moist until mid-May and preferably water with chamomile tea to prevent the dreaded blackleg. The young Levkojen are planted out at a distance of 20-30 cm.

Levkojen in the pot

In the pot, Levkojen transform the summery balcony into a scented garden. As a substrate, we recommend high-quality ones potting soil based on compost, enriched with rock flour and lava granules or sand. If you insert some pieces of pottery shards between the substrate and the opening in the ground as drainage, waterlogging doesn't stand a chance. Check the substrate every 1-2 days with a thumb test to water when the surface has dried. The nutrient reserves in pre-fertilized soil last until just before the beginning of the flowering period. Then fertilize every 14-21 days with a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants. Also, periodically trim wilted flower stalks to make room for fresh buds.

Beautiful varieties

• Cinderella Appleblossom: Fairytale flower panicles with 4-5 cm large, double individual flowers and compact growth; 25 cm
• Mammuth Lavender-Lilac: The sturdy stalks are studded with large, lavender flowers; 60-90cm
• Pillow Talk: White-pink biennial variety that stands out in the rock garden with an alluring scent; 45 cm
• Sommernachtslevkoje: The variety spoils us with a scent symphony of vanilla, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and cocoa; 20 cm
• Ten Week Brilliant Rose: An enchanting bright rose red summer flower with a lovely scent; 35 cm