The flowers of the water daffodil (Eupatorium cannabinum) attract numerous butterflies and other insects to the garden for many weeks in summer, making the plant a popular garden perennial. Although the Latin name and the shape of the leaves would suggest it, the water hemp, often referred to as water hemp, has no botanical relationship to the cannabis herb.

Wasserdost needs one thing above all to be happy: water

Does the Wasserdost have to be watered frequently?

In nature, the water drop finds its own optimal location and usually thrives particularly well on shady forest edges, river banks and pond edges. If you only have relatively dry terrain in your garden, then you should water the water box extensively during longer dry periods. You should also line the planting hole before settling in a location with garden soil that is as loamy as possible, as this can store rainwater for longer.

When and how is Wasserdost optimally cut?

If you cut back the above-ground parts of the Wasserdosts vigorously in autumn, it usually grows back all the more vigorously in spring. In general, the so-called water hemp grows relatively strongly in a suitable location even without special care in height and spread. If the stock gets too out of hand, you can easily cut off the shoots growing in the edge area close to the ground in spring and summer. Wear gloves with every cut so that there is no skin irritation from the sometimes toxic water spray.

Are there susceptibility to diseases or pests in the Wasserdost?

Basically, the water daffodil is not very susceptible to diseases, but you should generously cut out and destroy leaves affected by powdery mildew. An infestation with aphids can usually be easily combated with an organically produced stinging nettle brew. For this you need:

  • freshly cut nettles
  • some rainwater
  • a vessel (bucket or pot)
  • if available: a sprayer

The stinging nettles are simply soaked in the rainwater for a day or two and then sprayed evenly over the shoots of the plants. Deficiency symptoms in plants are in most cases due to unsuitable site factors such as a lack of moisture.

Should the water cane be fertilized in the garden?

Fertilization is not absolutely necessary for the Wasserdost with average nutrient-rich garden soil. However, if you want to fertilize with a diluted perennial fertilizer, early summer is the best time to do so. Wasserdost cultivated in tubs should be fertilized annually with a manageable amount of perennial fertilizer.

How is the Wasserdost optimally overwintered?

The water hemp or Wasserdost is absolutely hardy in all locations in Central Europe, as it overwinters as a perennial in the ground. Only specimens planted in buckets should be protected from extreme cold.

tips and tricks

In exposed locations, it can make sense to tie together particularly tall water twigs with a piece of jute rope and to give them a better hold against the wind with a wooden stake in the ground.

Category:

Vegetable garden