- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- heyday
- fruit
- use
- Is jester flower poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Multiply juggler flower
- sowing
- cuttings
- What is the best planting time?
- The right planting distance
- juggler flower in the pot
- pond
- Watering the juggler flower
- Fertilize juggler flower properly
- Cut jester flower correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hardy
- pests
- sorts
Juggler flowers, which are sometimes also referred to as monkey flowers, have become an integral part of colorful garden pond edges. Their flowers add color to the garden. For a particularly long flowering period, the plants need appropriate care measures. If the location is not right, the flowers will be less lush.
The juggler flower is an undemanding beauty
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- growth
- leaves
- blossom
- heyday
- fruit
- use
- Is jester flower poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Multiply juggler flower
- sowing
- cuttings
- What is the best planting time?
- The right planting distance
- juggler flower in the pot
- pond
- Watering the juggler flower
- Fertilize juggler flower properly
- Cut jester flower correctly
- How do I plant correctly?
- hardy
- pests
- sorts
- humid locations
- forests and forest edges
- Shore areas on bodies of water and rivers
- cool temperatures around ten degrees
- dark place
- high humidity
- apply special nematodes before planting
- Distribute beer traps with lids in the garden
- Set up moving barriers: potsherds, snail collars or fences
- Tigrinus grandiflorus: Grows clumpy, not hardy. Flowers yellow with brown-red spots, between June and September. 25 to 30 centimeters high.
- Red Emperor: Mimulus cupreus variety with intensely colored flowers, glowing red. Flowering time from June to September. Reaches heights of growth between 20 and 30 centimetres.
- Orange glow: Mimulus cupreus variety that forms a dense carpet. Flowers glow orange-red from June to September. Between 15 and 20 centimeters high.
- Mimulus guttatus: Erect or arching ascending. Flowers bright yellow. Between 30 and 50 centimeters high.
origin
Mimulus flowers are a genus of plants with the scientific name Mimulus. While the species were formerly part of the figwort family, they are now part of the muskflower family. The genus includes 150 to 170 species that differ greatly in growth habit, size and flower color. Mimulus luteus, which is also known as juggler's flower, is a common ornamental plant alongside the spotted juggler's flower (Mimulus guttatus).
The genus is mainly distributed in Australia and western North America. There are other natural habitats in South America, South Africa and Asia. Mimulus luteus grows in wet meadows in Chile.
Natural Habitats:
growth
Most Mimulus species grow as herbaceous plants that are annual or perennial. There are few juggler flowers that develop partially lignified shoots. Within the genus, most species are terrestrial plants and only a small proportion are aquatic plants, developing submerged leaves or growing above the water surface. Mimulus luteus is an upright marsh plant that grows to between 30 and 40 centimeters in height.
leaves
Juggler's flowers develop opposite leaves that are ovate or rounded in development. The tip of the leaf blade is bluntly rounded. While many species develop an entire leaf margin, the edges of the leaves of Mimulus luteus are covered with small teeth. They are green in color and two to three centimeters long.
blossom
Mimulus species develop single flowers in the leaf axils or racemose inflorescences at the end of the shoot. The flowers are hermaphrodite and fivefold. They consist of a green calyx tube from which the corolla tube protrudes. The five raised ribs that stretch across the individual sepals are striking. The corolla tube ends in two lips. The lower lip consists of three downward-pointing or forward-curving lobes, providing an optimal landing site for insects. Two fused upright or backward-curved petals function as the upper lip.
heyday
The juggler flower, which is cultivated as an ornamental plant, blooms between June and September. Its crown is bright yellow in color and bears characteristic red spots that mark the way to the bud throat. Up to six large individual flowers sit on a stem.
fruit
In autumn, the flower stalks bear fruit capsules that contain numerous seeds. They are tiny and are scattered when they move in the wind.
use
The yellow-flowering juggler flower adorns water gardens and is particularly suitable for planting on bank edges and pond edges due to its location requirements. It is particularly effective in the foreground, as its flowering period lasts a long time. The plants can be placed in larger tuffs and harmonize with tormentil, pitcher or various sour grasses.
Is jester flower poisonous?
There is no evidence that jester flowers develop toxic plant compounds. The spotted jester flower is traditionally used in Bach flower therapy and used against fears, hypersensitivity and stress.
Which location is suitable?
Mimulus luteus is an undemanding plant that feels particularly comfortable in damp locations. It prefers to grow in semi-shady conditions and also thrives in sunny locations outside of the blazing midday sun. A few hours of sunshine in the morning and evening promote flowering.
What soil does the plant need?
A moist to wet substrate offers the plant optimal growth conditions. She likes nutrient-rich soil that is occasionally flooded.
Multiply juggler flower
Older jester flowers have developed a large root ball that can be divided in early spring. To do this, the bale is dug up and dismembered with a knife or spade. At the new location, the sub-plants must be well watered so that they grow quickly.
sowing
In autumn, the nearly ripe seed pods can be cut off and air-dried for a few days. Then place the capsules in an airtight container that you will keep cool and dry over the winter. In the coming autumn, the seeds are scattered on the growing substrate and lightly covered with soil. In a bright place with temperatures around 15 degrees, the seeds will begin to germinate after 14 days if the substrate is kept evenly moist.
cuttings
In early summer you can take top cuttings from the plant. The shoots should be 15 centimeters long. Remove the lower leaves before planting the shoots in potting soil. Alternatively, you can also stimulate the root cuttings in a glass filled with water. A warm location favors rooting, which begins after just a few days. Once a bushy root system has developed, the young plants are placed in a planter with a mixture of soil and sand.
What is the best planting time?
Young plants grow in the seed tray until spring. If no late frosts are to be expected, the jester flowers are planted outdoors. The ideal time is after the ice saints. Before you put the plant in the prepared planting hole, the rootstock should be watered thoroughly. After planting, a thick layer of mulch is spread over the substrate, which prevents the young plants from drying out.
The right planting distance
If you want to plant several juggler flowers in small groups, you should ensure a distance of 20 to 30 centimeters between the individual plants.
juggler flower in the pot
Juggler flowers are cultivated in tubs as an annual. Plant the plants in a large zinc tub with other marsh plants. The mini-moor requires little maintenance and can be left to its own devices. Drainage is also not necessary as the plants depend on wet conditions. The juggler flower self-seeds in the fall, allowing fresh plants to grow next spring. Make sure that the moor bed does not dry out. So that the tub does not freeze in winter, it should be protected with foil or overwintered frost-free.
pond
Juggler flowers can easily be planted on moist soil or directly in shallow water in the riparian zone. The water depth is between five and ten centimetres. The excavation should not be mixed with compost, otherwise the water will be eutrophic. Plant the plant between larger stones. They act as a natural dispersal limit and prevent the mercury from displacing small species. Since the plants do not tend to overgrow, a plant basket (€11.99) is not necessary. Mimulus luteus feels particularly at home in the company of marsh forget-me-nots and marsh marigolds
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Watering the juggler flower
As marsh plants, juggler flowers have a high water requirement. Your root ball must not dry out during the growing season. There is permanent moisture near the pond. With bedding or potted plants, you have to regularly use the watering can. The sunnier the location, the more water juggler flowers need. In the blazing midday sun, the water requirement increases rapidly. If there is a lack of water, the plants wither very quickly.
Fertilize juggler flower properly
If the location is near the pond, the plants are not fertilized. Here there is a risk that too many nutrients will be washed into the water by rain and that it will tip over. Container or bedding plants can be fertilized every two weeks. Guano (121.99€) or liquid fertilizer are suitable for this.
Cut jester flower correctly
You can periodically prune faded shoots to encourage the development of new flowers. If you are aiming for self-sowing, a few flower stalks should always remain and mature. Once the plant has completely withered, it can be cut back to the ground. This prevents dead plant parts from ending up in the water and being decomposed by organisms.
How do I plant correctly?
Well-established stocks become more and more beautiful over the years and should not be replanted. If there is not enough space for the jester flowers, you can divide the root ball and plant the part plants in a new location. This will rejuvenate the stock. Such measures stimulate the development of new shoots and roots.
hardy
Gauklerflowers survive mild winters without winter protection. If the temperatures drop significantly into the double-digit minus range, an insulation layer made of straw, leaves and brushwood makes sense. Container plants are stored outdoors in a sheltered spot or in a frost-free winter quarters. During the dormant phase, the root ball must be kept moist. In the spring, the potted plants are accustomed to the outside conditions. From March, place the tub in a shady place during the day and in the winter quarters in the evening. The final placement outside will take place in mid-May.
Conditions in the winter quarters:
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pests
In spring, the fresh shoots of the jester flower are on the menu of snails. Check the bed regularly for snails and collect them. Sharp-edged stones serve as a barrier. You can also spread old coffee grounds on the substrate. The roasted aromas deter the voracious pests. This defensive measure is not suitable for plants near water. Coffee grounds contain a lot of nitrogen, which contributes to the eutrophication of the water body.
Effective measures against snails:
tips
If your juggler's blooming enthusiasm leaves something to be desired, give it a stick of guano. The nutrients encourage the development of new flowers.