Table of contents
- Known Varieties
- plants in the bed
- Location
- soil condition
- Choose a planting date and plant properly
- plants in the pot
- Skilfully maintained
- watering and fertilizing
- Cut
- hibernate
- multiply
- Conclusion
The great plant genus Senecio includes a multifaceted spectrum of all conceivable growth forms. Those who go on a discovery tour will discover annual and perennial species, thriving herbaceous or woody, upright, climbing or prospering. In addition, both succulent and non-succulent ragweed cavort here. Irrespective of this, largely uniform requirements for cultivation apply to the entire genus of these daisy family. Following the instructions below, you will properly plant and care for all Senecio varieties.
Known Varieties
The following list gives a compact overview of popular Senecio varieties:
- resin groundsel(Senecio hercynicus): slender, upright growth up to 180 cm high
- Alpine groundsel(Senecio alpinus): popular thanks to its robust constitution
- Narrow-leaved groundsel(Senecio inaequidens): impresses with filigree, lanceolate leaves
- Jacob's groundsel(Senecio jacobaea): feared by farmers and horse owners due to lethal toxicity to livestock
- swamp groundsel(Senecio paludosus): the excellent wet tolerance stands out as an outstanding attribute
- spring groundsel(Senecio vernalis): enjoys a long flowering period well into autumn
- Wood Groundsel(Senecio sylvaticus): with a height of 15-30 cm, ideally suited as a ground cover
- White tomentose groundsel(Senecio bicolor): beautiful with silvery foliage and a golden yellow flower
One of the most beautiful varieties has also made a name for itself as a houseplant. Senecio cruentus, also known as lice flower or ash flower, pleases the eye with large umbel flowers. Skilled breeders have succeeded in color variations in violet, mauve and blue.
plants in the bed
If the toxin content in groundsel is not important because the hobby gardener is able to adapt to it, numerous Senecio varieties are very popular. With their bright yellow flowers and beautifully shaped foliage, they grace gardens and adorn graves. The following lines explain what to look out for when planting correctly.
Location
In order to unfold their natural beauty to the full, the choice of location plays an essential role. Ragweed should find the following light and temperature conditions in the bed:
- Bright, mostly sunny location
- Avoid blazing midday sun
- Warm temperatures of more than 15 degrees Celsius
The vast majority of Senecio varieties are not hardy. An exception are the common groundsel and the dreaded ragwort. So that they beautify the garden for a long time, a sheltered location is an advantage. At the latest after the first frost, the plants withdraw.
soil condition
In order for groundsel to establish itself well at the site, it makes only minor demands on the structure of the soil. The ornamental plants develop their optimum under the following conditions:
- Humus to sandy-dry soil
- Well drained due to mineral components
- A pH of 5.5 to 6.5 is ideal
Where the soil conditions do not meet the requirements, experienced hobby gardeners use additives. A loamy, compacted soil is adequately loosened with grit or pumice gravel. Heavily sandy soil is optimized using compost or leaf soil.
Tip:
Various types of ragwort make wonderful ground covers. Thanks to their vigour, they transform even large areas into a sea of yellow flowers within a short time.
Choose a planting date and plant properly
The senile herbs that you have grown yourself or bought ready-made are planted outdoors from mid-May. In the weeks before, the danger of delayed ground frosts is still considerable, which the young plants would have nothing to counter. Before the ornamental plants are exposed to full sun in the bed, they should be hardened off in partial shade for a few days. The actual planting process takes place in these steps:
- Place the potted ragwort in a bowl of water until no more air bubbles rise
- In the meantime, dig planting holes at a distance of 20 to 30 centimeters
- Enrich the excavation with compost or sand as required
- Unpot the plants and plant them exactly as deep as they were before
- Water with collected rainwater or stagnant tap water
Always grasp a single groundsel below the sensitive leaves, as these can easily break off. In view of the poison content, sturdy gloves are recommended for all planting and care work.
Tip:
Repeated pruning of herbaceous Senecio varieties after planting promotes a bushy habit.
plants in the pot
A whole range of Senecio varieties pleases in tubs and balcony boxes. The sequence of work steps here is similar to planting in the bed. Since there is a risk of waterlogging in the planter, the focus here is on drainage. Experienced hobby gardeners spread a thin layer of inorganic material over the water drain in the ground. Crushed potsherds, expanded clay or grit are suitable. To ensure that the crumbs of earth do not clog the drainage, a water- and air-permeable fleece is used as a buffer zone. You should also pay attention to the following tips for pot planting:
- A mix of 3 parts standard soil (TKS1) and 1 part each of sand and perlite is suitable as a substrate
- Alternatively, use commercially available cactus soil with a handful of sand as an addition
- Maintain a planting distance of at least 4 centimeters from the edge of the container
- Mulching with expanded clay after watering keeps the soil moist and warm for longer
There is nothing wrong with planting in March or April, as long as you bring the senile herbs into the house overnight until mid-May.
Skilfully maintained
Planted correctly in the ideal location, the effort required to care for Senecio varieties is manageable. All important aspects are discussed below:
watering and fertilizing
Although you are mostly dealing with succulents when it comes to ragweed, a balanced water and nutrient balance must not be neglected. The ability to hold water does not mean that the ornamental plants have to dry out. In an emergency, the Senecio can save itself from drought stress thanks to its succulence; in the long run, the process strains the plant so much that it dies. How to do it right:
- Water moderately but regularly
- Let the soil surface dry between waterings
- Consider the higher water requirement in the bucket and water more frequently
- Fertilize with compost every 4 weeks from March to October
- Supply with a long-term fertilizer every 8-12 weeks
In the planter, the administration of liquid cactus fertilizer has proven itself. These preparations are precisely tailored to the needs of succulent plants. In this case, note that fertilizers should never be applied to dry substrate.
Cut
Pruning back in the middle of the growing season has a debilitating effect on ragweed. Regular cleaning of withered flowers and leaves, on the other hand, promotes further growth. If the above-ground parts of the plant die off after the first frost, they can be cut off close to the ground either immediately or not until next spring. Cut back woody varieties by a maximum of two thirds so that they sprout again.
Tip:
The cuttings of ragwort must not be disposed of on cattle or horse pastures. For these animals, consumption is absolutely deadly.
hibernate
Although most Senecio varieties lack frost hardiness, they nevertheless have the potential for perennial cultivation. How to get groundsel in the bed and planter through the winter:
- If possible, leave the withered parts on the plant as a natural winter protection
- Before the first frost, pile up the root area with leaf soil, compost or brushwood
- Pack planters thickly in bubble wrap and place on wood or styrofoam
- Cover the substrate surface with straw or sawdust
- Ideally carry to a frost-free winter quarters
During the winter, water the senile herbs on a frost-free day when there is no snow to provide water. The plants are not fertilized during this time.
Tip:
If you plant ragwort varieties in the bed together with the pot, they cannot proliferate and are easy to lift out of the ground for the winter.
multiply
If you have a desire for more specimens, the propagation of ragweed is very easy to do by means of cuttings. To do this, choose strong, healthy shoots that you cut off at a length of 10 to 15 centimeters. The interface should dry in the next 1-2 days. Proceed as follows:
- Fill the growing pots with a mixture of herb soil and sand or peat sand
- Defoliate the lower half of each cutting and insert
- Cover each jar with a plastic hood to create a humid, warm microclimate
Ideally, water the delicate cuttings from below. To do this, place each pot in a vessel with a water level 5-10 centimeters high. Due to the capillary effect, the substrate draws the moisture up to the surface. As soon as it gets wet, take the growing pots out of the water. At the partially shaded, warm window seat, take care of the offshoots until the first sprouting signals the successful course of the rooting. The cover has done its job and will no longer be needed in the future. When the young Senecio have completely rooted their pot, they are repotted in the recommended substrate for adult plants.
Conclusion
The diversity of Senecio varieties is overwhelming. They delight viewers all over the world with their yellow flowers in beds and on balconies. Regardless of this wide range of offers, the demands on cultivation are on a uniform level. You can therefore take your time to look around among the multifaceted ragweed and make your own personal choice. Following this guide, you will properly plant and care for the Senecio varieties. It is advisable to weigh up in advance whether the toxicity of this species does not pose any problems in the garden.
garden editorial I write about everything that interests me in my garden.
Learn more about cacti & succulents
Repot Christmas Cactus: Instructions | multiply cactus
The Christmas cactus is a distinctive plant that is well suited for indoor cultivation. So that the plant blooms eagerly at Christmas time, it must be repotted if necessary. Due to the special growth form, the cactus can be multiplied quickly and easily with the help of its limbs.
Agave americana - American varieties, care and propagation
The agave americana, with its mostly bluish leaves, is probably the most popular agave species here in our latitudes. Although it is not winter-hardy, it is considered an extremely robust container plant for terraces, gardens and green spaces. Because of their enormous willingness to grow, the American varieties are rather unsuitable as houseplants.
Agave tequilana - care in your own garden
The Agave tequilana is a very special plant, because it flowers only once in its life, and that only after decades. With the right care, it can live up to a hundred years and if it has enough space to spread out, it also likes to grow in width and height.
Rosette thickleaf, Aeonium arboreum - care and propagation
The rose thick leaf is a true drying artist. The plants are not demanding and easy to care for in the right location. If done right, the thick leaves will reward you with beautiful yellow buds. In summer the plants like full sun. They have no problems with heat, but also with wind. In winter, the rosette thick leaf needs a bright place and temperatures around 10 degrees. Unfortunately, the outdoor plants are not hardy. If the soil is really dry, the thick leaves can tolerate temperatures down to 0 degrees for a short time. The wetter the plant substrate, the higher the temperatures must be.
Graptopetalum tacitus bellus - care and propagation by offshoots
For most of the year, Graptopetalum tacitus bellum from the thick-leafed family with their succulent leaf rosettes are visually unobtrusive. This changes abruptly when they unfold their spectacular blooms from May to June. You can find out here how to professionally care for and propagate the little magicians with offshoots.
Cape aloe, aloe ferox - plants and care
With its spreading, curved leaves and massive, orange flowers, the tree-like Cape Aloe creates a tropical ambiance in the summer garden. In spacious conservatories, the African tub plant dominates the appearance. The world-famous medicinal plant also has a lot to offer optically. Read here how to plant and care for an aloe ferox in an exemplary manner.