Above all, levkojen convince with their magnificent, colorful and sweet-smelling flowers. Cultivating them requires no expertise. However, the following care tips should not be ignored in order to be able to enjoy these plants for a long time.

Levkojen like neither waterlogging nor dryness

Do levkojen tolerate drought, waterlogging and lime water?

It doesn't matter to the Levkojen whether you choose tap water or rainwater. These flowers tolerate both lime-free and calcareous water. They even like lime. On the other hand, they cannot get used to waterlogging. Drought also causes problems for them in the long term. You should therefore water these plants regularly, especially shortly after planting!

How are the plants fertilized?

If you prefer levkojen, you should fertilize the young plants in the pots about 3 weeks before planting them outside. If you forget, that's no problem. You can also enrich the outdoor planting hole with compost.

Another application of fertilizer makes sense shortly before the onset of flowering. Fertilize the levkojen in May. This causes flowering to be longer. Levkojen, which are permanently cultivated in pots, should be supplied with liquid fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks.

Is a pruning necessary?

A cut is not a must. But it is advisable to cut off the withered parts of the levkojen. It just looks better visually. Alternatively, you can completely remove the flowers, stems and leaves after flowering by uprooting them. Levkojen are only biennial or usually die after flowering.

Do Levkojen have to be overwintered?

If Levkojen are cultivated to flower in their second year of life, they should be protected in the first winter after sowing. A location in the cold frame or in the conservatory would be well suited, for example, to bring Levkojen safely through the winter.

Which pests and diseases can be dangerous for the Levkojen?

The following disease and pests are reluctant to stop at Levkojen:

  • powdery mildew: white coating; cut off affected parts
  • Cabbage white caterpillars: lays the eggs in late summer; Caterpillars eat young plants
  • Snails eat the leaves and shoots
  • It is best to collect vermin by hand

tips

If you want to use levkojen as cut flowers, you should cut off the flowers when they are 2/3 open.

Category:

Vegetable garden