The vanilla flower, which comes from the Andean regions, enchants the balcony with its large flower balls. The pretty borage plant spreads a very pleasant vanilla aroma, scores with its robustness and is extremely easy to care for.

The vanilla flower also feels at home on the balcony - as long as it gets enough sun

Location on the balcony

Heliotrope needs a sunny or at least partially shaded location to thrive. The flowering plant, which is not hardy, may only be placed outdoors when it is guaranteed that no more night frosts are to be expected.

The right substrate

You can place the vanilla flower as a mixed planting with other balcony flowers in commercially available potting soil. Since heliotrope prefers very permeable soil, you must ensure good drainage. A thin layer of expanded clay (€19.73) in the planters is therefore recommended.

Pour enough

Never let the root ball dry out completely, because the vanilla flower is just as sensitive to this as it is to waterlogging. Water whenever the top centimeters of the substrate feel dry (finger test).

How is fertilized?

In contrast to many flowering plants, heliotrope requires rather sparse fertilizers. Dose half the specified amount of a commercially available liquid fertilizer once a month. A low dose of long-term fertilizer or fertilizer sticks (€4.48) are also well tolerated.

If you repot the solstice every year, you can even do without additional fertilization altogether.

Clean regularly

Seeding takes a lot of energy from the plant. Therefore, remove the withered umbels of flowers at least once a week.

hibernate

Heliotrope is not hardy and has to move indoors before the temperatures drop below five degrees. The ideal location during the hibernation is:

  • cool
  • Frost free
  • bright

Since the plant stops growing during this time, just enough water is poured so that the substrate does not dry out completely.

In the spring

In the spring, remove withered leaves and any dead plant parts. A pruning ensures that the solstice sprout strong and richly branched.

tips

Heliotrope is poisonous in all parts of the plant. Place the plant on the balcony so that small children or pets cannot accidentally nibble on the leaves and flowers.

Category:

Indoor plants