The so-called spikey splendor (Liatris spicata) originally comes from the wide, sun-drenched plains of North American grasslands and impresses with its up to 1 meter high towering flowers. The clump-forming plants are an easy-care optical enrichment in the perennial bed, as they look like a strikingly flowering type of grass.

The Prachtscharte is very hardy

Overwintering the Prachtscharte outdoors

The splendor is a perennial perennial whose overwintering organ with the rhizome-like root network is completely below the surface of the earth. The above-ground parts of the plant die off every year and the plant will sprout again in spring without any problems, even in locations with double-digit minus temperatures. A special winter protection is sometimes only appropriate for the specimens of the Prachtscharte cultivated in the tub, since their roots are more directly exposed to the winter cold than plants in the bed. The following precautions help in winter with tub specimens of the Prachtscharte:

  • placing a styrofoam plate (35.50€) under the pot
  • removing the withered parts of the plant and covering them with straw or leaves
  • wrapping the bucket with a protective fleece or bubble wrap

Timely unpacking in spring is important so that mold does not form after sunny spring days.

Do not let the Prachtscharte die of thirst or drown in winter

The roots of the Prachtscharte should never dry out completely, even in winter, so sparing watering is advisable if there are long periods of sub-zero temperatures without snowfall (glad frosts) in winter. On the other hand, saplings do not tolerate waterlogging in the subsoil, as this can promote rotting of the roots. That is why you should always pay attention to a suitable plant substrate for plants in beds and tubs. You should loosen up heavy and loamy soils when planting the Prachtscharte by adding sand, gravel or compost.

The pruning of the Prachtscharte before winter

Since the parts of the plant above the ground die off by themselves every winter anyway, it is not necessary to cut back the plant in the open field bed in the course of autumn plant care. However, you can cut back wilted plant parts at any time to a height of 5 or 10 centimeters above the ground if you feel visually disturbed by them in the perennial bed.

tips

In order for the Prachtscharte to adjust to the approaching winter in good time in autumn, you should no longer fertilize the plant freshly from August.

Category:

Herbs