The flowers shine golden yellow and glitter towards the viewer with their long stamens. Not only after flowering, but also before, it is advisable to cherish and care for the St. John's wort. What should it include?

John's wort is very easy to care for

Is it necessary to fertilize the St. John's wort?

A St. John's wort can easily cope without a regular supply of fertilizer. If you fertilize the plant too much, this will be at the expense of the active ingredients contained. Too much fertilizer reduces the active ingredient content of St. John's wort. It is enough to provide this plant with compost once a year in spring.

When does St. John's wort need an additional water supply?

If this herb is well established, it can cope with the falling rain most of the time. It does not need to be cast additionally. But there is one exception: If it is dry for a long time, it should be watered so that it does not dry out! You can also use tap water for this. This plant tolerates lime.

Which diseases and pests can appear and become a problem?

While St. John's wort is not susceptible to being eaten by pests (rarely aphid infestations can occur), it is sometimes afflicted by diseases:

  • Red wilt: a fungal disease; usually from the second year
  • Rust: a fungal disease often found in groundcover specimens

You can recognize red wilt by the fact that St. John's wort hangs its head. The shoots also turn reddish to die later. Rust manifests itself as small spots that appear on the leaves.

Is winter protection necessary?

Most St. John's wort species are sufficiently hardy in this country. Very few specimens need winter protection. In general, plants in rough locations should be protected, for example with brushwood or leaves.

How and when is the cut done?

A cut makes sense for a number of reasons. Here are a few pointers:

  • cut back vigorously in autumn or spring (close to the ground)
  • like to cut back after the flowering period (to prevent seed formation)
  • cut off the stems to harvest the flowers and leaves (at flowering time)

tips

If necessary, you can share the St. John's wort in the fall, among other things, to rejuvenate and multiply it.

Category:

Herbs