The so-called snowflake flower (Sutera) comes in its wild form with white flowers from South Africa, but is now increasingly being bred with a wide variety of flower colors. The balanced relationship between the green leaf mass and the flowers shaped like small snowflakes is particularly attractive in this low-growing balcony plant.

The snowflake flower does not tolerate frost

Don't let the name fool you

Although the name of the snowflake might suggest otherwise, the snowflake is by no means hardy outdoors in Central European climes with winter frosts. Similar to the hard-working Lizzie and other popular balcony plants, the snowflake flower can withstand minimal minus temperatures for a short time, but in the event of heavier frosts, this plant will quickly wilt outdoors. Many balcony owners therefore use the snowflake flower as an annual flowering plant on the balcony. If you have a suitable winter quarters, you can also overwinter the snowflake flower.

Overwintering the snowflake flower

If you want to hibernate the snowflakes for the following garden season, then you shouldn't wait too long to hibernate in the fall. Otherwise, autumn night frosts could all too easily thwart your plans. The snowflake flower is ideally overwintered at temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius in a room that is as bright as possible. You not only have to make sure that you water the snowflakes sparingly during the winter months. You should also regularly check the plants in the winter quarters for possible infestation with the following pests:

  • aphids
  • white flies
  • spider mites

Be careful with early snowflake seedlings

Like morning glory, you can grow the snowflake flower indoors from seed during the winter months, but you should not plant the young plants outdoors too quickly. Be sure to wait until the beginning of May for late frosts before planting the young plants between petunias and hard-working lizards on the balcony.

tips

The propagation of the snowflake flower is not only possible by sowing the seeds, but also by cuttings. For this purpose, head cuttings are cut from the particularly long shoots of the plant in summer. These usually root relatively easily if they have plenty of light and sufficient moisture available. The rooted cuttings can be overwintered like mother plants and isolated in spring at their new location.

Category:

Herbs