Plant, cultivate, propagate and more

Plant monkshood properly

Don't start planting monkshood until you've put on sturdy gloves and long-sleeved clothing. Then place the still potted young plant with the root ball in a container with water in order to weed and rake the soil in the meantime. It continues in this order:

• Dig a planting hole with 1.5 times the volume of the root ball
• The excavation in the wheelbarrow to mix it with compost and horn shavings
• Repot the water-soaked perennial, place in the middle of the pit and plant with the enriched substrate

Fill in the soil to just below the lower pair of leaves and water. A mulch layer of autumn leaves or compost promotes rapid rooting in the soil.

care tips

So long Blue monkshood does not have to starve or thirst, it shows itself from its most beautiful side every year for decades. How to properly care for the perennial:

• Keep the soil constantly moist
• Fertilize every 14-21 days from April to August
• Additionally water repeatedly with nettle liquid manure
• Cut off the flower stalks and remaining foliage close to the ground in autumn

Please consider the life-threatening toxicity of blue monkshood in all planting and care work. Do not approach the plant until you have put on gloves and protective clothing.

Which location is suitable?

If Blue Monkshood had a say in the choice of location, its decision would be as follows:

• Partly shaded to shaded location
• Cool and fresh, out of direct sunlight
• Likes to grow in moist to swampy soil

Therefore, settle the poisonous beauty at the shaded edge of the pond, along the edge of a tree or in a partially shaded, nutrient-rich place perennial bed.
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The right planting distance

Blue monkshood stretches towards the sky as tall as a man while maintaining a slender stature. If you arrange the perennials in a group, we recommend a planting distance of 40-60 cm for the normal high varieties. Plant dwarf hybrids, such as the Little Knight, at a distance of 30-35 cm from neighboring plants.

What soil does the plant need?

Fresh, damp to swampy and cool – this is how Monkshood particularly likes the soil. The soil should be rich in nutrients, humic and loosely permeable. A medium to high lime content is accepted, so the pH value should be greater than 8. For pot culture, we recommend a high-quality one potting soil based on compost with low peat content, optimized with algae lime or rock flour.

When is flowering time?

Monkshood blooms from the end of June until well into September. At this summery time, we are captivated by the striking flowers with radiant shades of blue. The highly poisonous perennial owes its name to the shape of its flowers, which are reminiscent of the hoods of lansquenets and knights in the 15th century. and 16 remember century.

Cut monkshood correctly

The extravagantly blooming candles are an obvious choice to be cut as cut flowers for the floor vase. In addition, pruning close to the ground in autumn is part of the care plan. Wait for the flowers to wither and the leaves to fall. Then put on gloves and protective clothing to cut the perennial.

Pouring monkshood

A regular water supply is essential if monkshood is to reach the biblical age of 50 for perennials. Keep the soil constantly moist. Water even after a light summer rain, when the water droplets have not reached the root disk through the dense blossom and foliage.

Fertilize monkshood properly

Monkshood is one of the most demanding perennials. Fertilize You therefore plentifully and regularly. From April to August, work in mature compost, bark humus or an alternative organic fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Ideally, you should also water with nettle liquid manure every 4 weeks. In the planter, fertilizer sticks or a commercially available liquid fertilizer provide all the important nutrients for a long-lasting and breathtaking abundance of flowers.

hibernate

In the first winter, the frost hardiness has not yet fully developed. You should therefore cover the root disc of monkshood with autumn leaves, straw, pine branches or compost. Tubs are given a wooden base and a winter coat made of jute or garden fleece. The substrate is covered with peat dust or sawdust, which at the same time protects against permanent winter wetness. As soon as temperatures rise in spring, all protections are reversed to prevent rot from forming as a result of condensation.

Propagating monkshood

An adult perennial will sprout small root strands from its fleshy turnip root, which are excellent for propagation. Fall is a good time to dig up the plant for this purpose. Separate the turnips from the main root with a sharp sanitized knife. At the new location, place the segments 2-3 cm deep in the moist, nutrient-rich soil. Enrich the soil beforehand with compost and horn shavings to encourage growth. Dust the cuts on the mother plant with charcoal powder, add compost to the planting hole here and replant the perennial.

Is monkshood poisonous?

Monkshood is rightly one of the most dangerous poisonous plants in Europe. If 2 g of its roots, seeds, flowers or leaves get into the human body, this has fatal consequences. It begins with numbness of the tongue and ends with respiratory and cardiac arrest within minutes. Unfortunately, the toxin can also be absorbed through the skin, so that you, as a hobby gardener, can Planting and care work is life-threatening unless comprehensive safety precautions are taken became. Approach the perennial only equipped with sturdy gloves, long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Do not plant the Balaclava when children or pets are within reach. Plant remains, such as clippings or cleaned blossoms, have no place on cattle or horse pastures. Monkshood remains only end up in the compost if no animals can eat them there.
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Beautiful varieties

• Snow White: Its silver-white flowers contrast wonderfully with the blue-flowered wild species; Growth height 120-150 cm
• Kleiner Ritter: The ideal variety for small gardens and pots; compact, stable and robust; Growth height 60-90 cm
• Bicolor: premium variety with two-tone flowers in blue and white for all humid locations; Growth height up to 120 cm
• Album: Boasts pure white inflorescences from June to September and a compact silhouette; Growth height 120-130 cm
• Bergeisenhut: The pure species scores with rich blue flower candles and is under protection; Growth height 50-200 cm