- Overwintering the magnificent candle outdoors
- The suitable winter quarters for magnificent candles in tubs
- Protect the magnificent candle from the winter cold
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The magnificent candle (Gaura lindheimerie) is often offered in specialist shops as a hardy, perennial perennial. In fact, this grateful flowering perennial can only be overwintered outdoors to a limited extent if it is a location with mild winters.
The magnificent candle does not like temperatures below minus 10 degrees
Overwintering the magnificent candle outdoors
In Central Europe, the magnificent candle, which originates from the border area between the USA and Mexico, is only hardy outdoors in extremely mild locations on the Upper Rhine or near the coast. In all regions where the outside temperatures in winter sometimes fall well below minus 10 degrees Celsius, sheltered hibernation is one of the necessary care measures when cultivating magnificent or prairie candles. In any case, magnificent candles grown in tubs must have overwintered in a protected winter quarters, since their roots are even more exposed to the winter cold than specimens in perennial beds.
The suitable winter quarters for magnificent candles in tubs
Magnificent candles cultivated in tubs can remain outside until the first night frosts in autumn and winter. In case of severe frosts, however, they should be placed in a basement room that is as bright as possible or in a garage with daylight. The conservatory, which is tempered like the living areas, is not suitable as a winter quarters for the magnificent candle, since the perennial can sprout prematurely at temperatures above five degrees Celsius. The magnificent candle should be protected from drying out throughout the winter, but tolerates waterlogging very poorly. Therefore, the drainage of excess irrigation water should be guaranteed through sand and gravel parts in the substrate as well as holes in the pot.
Protect the magnificent candle from the winter cold
If you actually want to overwinter the magnificent candle outdoors, you should choose a location in front of a south-facing house wall for the cultivation. Make sure to avoid winter waterlogging outdoors, too, so that there is no root rot until spring. In addition, the following care measures increase the probability that the magnificent candle will sprout again in the following year:
- the pruning of the old clumps of plants to a height of about 10 centimeters in autumn
- covering the candlesticks with a layer of mulch made of leaves and brushwood
- the timely exposure of the plants to the warming rays of the spring sun
tips
Even in mild locations and when growing in tubs, it can make sense to cut back the magnificent candle in autumn. The plant forms hibernation buds and grows more densely branched in the following year.