Steppe candle ∗ The 10 best care and planting tips (Eremurus)

Plant the steppe candle properly

The professional planting of all Eremurus species and varieties is based on careful soil preparation. Since the starfish-like bulbs are quite brittle, it depends on a loose and deep soil. If the soil seems too loamy, if in doubt, give it sand or fine Grit(€ 49.99 at Amazon *) and some compost. How to plant the Steppe candle correct:

The ideal planting time is from September to November
Create a 45-50 cm deep planting pit
The excavation ripe compost and Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) mix in
Spread out a 20 cm high drainage made of sand or fine gravel on the bottom
Plant the tuber so that you eye is a maximum of 15 cm below the surface of the earth

Care tips

In order to cope with the care of a furious eremurus, you do not need to resort to extensive previous gardening knowledge. After planting, spread a generously dimensioned layer of mulch in order to protect the ornamental shrub from the rigors of winter in the following years as well. In spring, the steppe candle takes a fertilizer for flower bulbs or a portion of compost with it Horn shavings(€ 32.93 at Amazon *) grateful to. Water the flower when it is dry, but without causing waterlogging. You can cut the withered flower candles either immediately after the flowering period or in autumn. Before the first frost, the entire perennial should be cut close to the ground in order to spread the mentioned winter protection in the form of leaves, straw and brushwood.
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Which location is suitable?

She is considered a prime example of a sun worshiper. If you give Eremurus a sunny, warm and sheltered location, their mighty flower towers rise above the lanceolate, grassy foliage. The nature of the soil proves to be a no less relevant location condition. The sensitive rhizomes require a loose, not too moist and nutrient-rich substrate.

The correct planting distance

In parks and large gardens, the imposing steppe candle comes into its own in small groups of 3-4 specimens. The ideal planting distance in this case is 50-60 cm, or 4 Eremurus per square meter. If a lily tail acts as a structuring solitaire, we recommend a distance of at least 80 cm to the neighboring bed.

What soil does the plant need?

Pay special attention to the quality of the soil, as this is a key factor in the successful cultivation of Eremurus. This is how the earth should be structured:

Rich in nutrients
Humorous and deeply relaxed
Fresh to slightly sandy and with first-class drainage

Since nutrient-rich soil tends to be heavy in consistency, just add a few handfuls of sand, fine grit, and coarse compost if necessary.

What is the best time to plant?

In gardening practice, the months of September to November have proven to be the best possible planting time for Eremurus. At this time, the summer sun has warmed the soil deeply, which forces rapid rooting before winter. In addition, the steppe candles start their first gardening season with a vital growth lead.
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Cut the steppe candle correctly

The more undisturbed Eremurus are allowed to flourish, the more splendidly their impressive silhouette unfolds. As a result, cut the ornamental shrub rather seldom. To use the furious flower candles as decoration for the floor vase, cut them off as soon as the lower buds have opened. The withered columns of flowers continue to set decorative accents with their seed heads. If you wish to sow steppe candles in the garden, enjoy this spectacle so that the ground-level pruning is only carried out in autumn. Otherwise, first cut off the withered inflorescences and leave the foliage in the bed until it is completely absorbed.

Pour steppe candle

Understandably, intense evaporation takes place where such mighty towers of flowers rise above a bushy cover of leaves. Water the Eremurus regularly in full sun when the surface of the earth has dried up. The ornamental shrubs absorb the water very well when it is poured directly onto the root disc from the can nozzle. Ideally, you should give the irrigation water in sips so that no harmful waterlogging can build up.

Fertilize the steppe candle properly

With a start fertilization in spring you give your Eremurus the necessary energy for a magnificent bloom. Ideally, you apply organic fertilizers such as ripe compost, horn shavings, guano granules or bark humus. Optionally, a commercially available fertilizer for flower bulbs serves as a nutrient supplier.

Overwinter

Since the rhizome of an eremurus is so close below the surface of the earth, the following precautions are useful for healthy wintering:

Cut off the fallen leaves and withered flower candles by autumn at the latest
Cover the planting area with leaves, compost and brushwood

Belated ground frosts in spring are more threatening than freezing frost and winter wetness. Keep an eye on the weather forecast in order to avoid fresh shoots that have been hit several times if necessary Garden fleece or to protect upturned pots.

Propagate steppe candle

A well-established steppe candle produces daughter tubers on its starfish-like root system, which are suitable for propagation. In late summer you dig up the eremurus in order to cut off these brood tubers with a sharp knife. Throughout the winter you maintain the descendants in pots with a mix of Potting soil and sand so that they develop a vital root system. In late summer, plant the young steppe candles in the full sun in the loose, nutritious soil. Alternatively, you can place the harvested daughter tubers directly in the bed, which is associated with a high risk of failure.

Another method of propagation is the sowing at. In autumn, take the seeds from the ripe capsule fruits. Since these are cold germs, sow the seeds directly in the bed so that they receive the cold stimulus in a natural way. On the other hand, sowing is more successful under the controlled conditions behind glass. Stratification paves the way for germination by depositing the seeds in moist sand in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator for 4-6 weeks.
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Steppe candle does not bloom

When an eremurus refuses the desired blooms, there are various causes behind it. The following overview shows common triggers and gives quick tips on how to fix them:

Lack of light: transplant to a full sun
Compacted soil: optimize the soil with sand, fine grit and compost
Tuber rot due to waterlogging: dig up and dispose of
Frost damage as a result of ground frost: Protect the first shoot with several layers of garden fleece

If your problem child is a seedling-propagated Eremurus, you should be patient. After sowing, 3 to 5 years move into the country before the first bloom.
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Nice varieties

Cleopatra: wonderfully compact variety with orange-colored, red-striped flowers and a red central rib; Height 125 cm
Romance: This Eremurus spreads a romantic flair with salmon pink flower candles from May to July; Height of growth 180 cm
Himalaicus: Magnificent specimen with milk-white, 50 cm long panicles and hundreds of individual flowers; Height of growth 150 cm
Yellow Eremurus: Sets accents in the bed with luminous columns of flowers. A wonderful cut flower; Height of growth 130 cm
Pinokkio: Unmistakable eye-catcher for that Perennial bed thanks to orange inflorescences; Height 100-130 cm