Green fern leaves and colorful trumpet blossoms? The garden glossy can actually do both. That is why it is also called flowering fern in common parlance. But the plant is in no way related to the real fern. All the same. With this impressive combination of leaves and flowers, the name and origin are secondary anyway. More important is the question: what care do you take to make this fake fern bloom?
The Incarvillea is a humble consumer of nutrients. In this regard, their care is gardener-friendly. It is completely sufficient to replenish the nutrient depot every now and then.
Species and occurrences
The family of the free-range gloxinia comprises 14 different species. These trumpet plants mostly come from high Asian regions. The vast majority of them belong to the tropical woods. The herbaceous At Incarvillea delavayi also feels at home in temperate zones. We have a few varieties on offer, all of which differ slightly in appearance.- also known as the Chinese trumpet flower
- Perennial grows 40 to 60 cm high
- mostly blooms in June and July
- white or pink flowers, yellow throat
- "Deli Rose" blooms pink and is ideal for a rock garden
- "Alba" has white flowers
- Incarvillea olgae grows taller
- other varieties: Incarvillea mairei, Incarvillea grandiflora and others
Location
Outdoor gloxinia are plants that can be used flexibly. Your tubers feel good in pots as well as in the garden soil. The only thing that matters is that you always get enough light, moisture and a handful of nutrients.- sunny and partially shaded locations offer sufficient light
- Suitable for perennial beds and rock gardens
- in the neighborhood with pillow asters, splendid spar and delphinium
- in buckets on the terrace and balcony
floor
Light, humus rich soil is well suited for the flowering fern. The pH value should be in the neutral to slightly acidic range. The ideal soil for the bulbs of the gloxinia should also be able to store moisture, as this plant does not like drought.- normal garden soil
- or a mixture of sand and clay
- pH around 5-7
- medium nutrient content
plants
Newly purchased tubers or plants are allowed to enter their permanent outdoor home from mid-May when there are no more frosts.1. Loosen the soil well. Remove larger stones and old roots.
2. Check the soil quality. Mix in some sand if the soil is too heavy.
3. A soil that is prone to waterlogging requires drainage. Use gravel, clay or coarse-grained sand for this.
4. Enrich poor soil with potting soil or compost to increase the nutrient content.
5. Now dig a planting hole about 5 cm deep for each tuber. The distance between the individual plants should be 20 to 30 cm.
6. Put the tubers in and cover them with soil.
7. Water the freshly planted gloxinias well.
Tip: The garden gloxinia does not grow into a huge shrub. As a solitary plant, it can therefore easily go under. Only planting several tubers will give it the attention it deserves.Driving the tubers
In the trade, garden gloxinia are usually sold as tubers. They can be planted directly in the garden bed as described above. First of all, the time to drive them out is ahead of them. Flowering has to be patient for several more weeks. However, this waiting time can be shortened considerably if the tubers are allowed to sprout in warm rooms as early as March.- start with the preculture from March
- in large pots from 20 cm in diameter
- in loose flower or Plant garden soil
- Keep the soil moist, but not too wet
- only water more when the shoots show
- the ideal temperature is 18 to 22 degrees Celsius
- Plant out from mid-May
Flowering fern as a container culture
Chinese trumpet flowers can also thrive in pots, but then they need more attention:- use a mixture of soil, sand and humus as substrate
- A drainage layer made of expanded clay or gravel protects against waterlogging
- water regularly
- Apply liquid fertilizer over irrigation water every 2-3 weeks
- Cut what has faded in a timely manner
to water
The flowering fern likes moist soils, but these do not cause waterlogging. If the moisture persists, the tubers can rot.- Water regularly during dry periods
- Do not wet the leaves
- Only give water directly in the root area
- Avoid waterlogging at all costs
- There is a high risk of evaporation in sunny places
- Protect the root base from drying out with a layer of mulch
Fertilize
The Incarvillea is a humble consumer of nutrients. In this regard, their care is gardener-friendly. It is completely sufficient to replenish the nutrient depot every now and then.- humus soil forms a good basis
- Composting in the spring provides a replenishment
- alternatively spread slow release fertilizer
- z. B. with horn shavings or blue grain
Cut
Flowering fern does not need pruning. Only stems that have faded should be removed promptly. The energy that would otherwise be required for seed maturation is available for the new bloom. In autumn, the dried up above-ground parts are cut off near the ground.Multiplication by division
In bulbous plants, the bulbs become larger and more branched over time, so that they can be cut into at least two parts. In the garden gloxinia, the mother plant is sometimes sensitive to division and can even die off completely. In this case, only the newly obtained young plants remain.- only divide tubers from older gloxinia
- do not cut during the main growing season
- the month of February is more suitable
- use a sharp, sterile knife
- Separate part of the tuber with a smooth cut
- Keep the interface as small as possible
- Plant the tuber parts in pots
- Transplant outdoors from mid-May
Propagation by seeds
Gloxinia inflorescences develop seeds that are ready for harvest in autumn. After drying, they must be stored until spring, because only then are the conditions for sowing optimal.- Sowing takes place in February or March
- Sprinkle in pots with moist potting soil
- flowering fern is a light germinator
- press lightly, do not cover with soil
- Cover pots with transparent foil (ventilate daily)
- Location: bright, 22-25 degrees, without direct sun
- prick out after germination
- now continue to cultivate at 10 to 15 degrees
- From 2-3 leaflets, no more foil is required
- from May outdoors is allowed
Wintering outdoors
Outdoor gloxinia are considered hardy and can withstand 20 degrees below zero. A warm cover can still do them no harm. In particularly heavy frosts, their tubers can suffer. It is also important that no waterlogging can form, otherwise the tubers will rot.- Cut off above-ground parts of the plant just above the ground
- Cover the root base in autumn
- with leaves, brushwood, mulch etc. Ä.
Wintering in winter quarters
Blooming fern draws all its strength back into the tubers in autumn. The plant is now "compact" and manageable. That is why it is also possible to spend the winter in suitable winter quarters. The extra work with digging out and back in again is offset by the one hundred percent security against frost.1. In late autumn, carefully dig up the tubers to avoid damaging them.
2. Let the tubers lie on newspaper in a warm, airy room for a few days. During this time they will dry out, protecting them from mold and rot.
3. Put the tubers in a wooden box with straw.
4. Put the wooden box with the bulbs in a cool and dark place. Basement rooms, frost-free garages and attics are ideal.
5. You can drive the tubers forward from February. Or you can wait until mid-May and plant them directly in their summer location.
Diseases and pests
Fortunately, voles do not like the bulbs of the free-range gloxinia at all. For snails, on the other hand, the whole plant is tempting food. Eaten shoots and bare stems are a visible snail alarm. You have to act quickly, because the slimy crawlers have a big appetite.- Difficult access for the snails
- Regular raking prevents damp floors
- Collect snails
- Scatter slug pellets
- Send beneficial insects such as roundworms to hunt snails
