The beautiful edelweiss shows its velvety, hairy, radiant white star flowers in July. The plant, originally from the high mountains, is a real eye-catcher - and relatively easy to grow from seeds. However, the plants that grow from them are more difficult to care for, because the edelweiss is very sensitive to moisture.

After flowering, edelweiss forms seed pods

Sow edelweiss

Like so many mountain plants, the perennial edelweiss is a cold germinator, so you'll need to stratify the seeds before sowing. For this purpose, pack the seeds in an airtight container or in a freezer bag with moist sand and store it in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator for about two weeks. Then proceed as follows:

  • Fill seed trays or small seed pots (€16.68) with potting soil or a lean mixture of sand and soil.
  • Coconut substrate is also very suitable.
  • Only cover the seeds very thinly with soil.
  • Place the jar with the seeds in a bright but cool place.
  • Increase the temperature slowly - no sudden increases in temperature!
  • Prick out the seedlings as soon as they develop the first real leaf after the two cotyledons.

Be sure to keep the soil slightly moist from sowing. The best time for sowing is March, the latest date is April.

Care for the young plants properly

The young plants that have grown from the seeds can go outside as soon as there are no longer any (night) frosts to be expected. This is usually the case after the Ice Saints.

Plant edelweiss in the garden

Edelweiss feels most comfortable in a rock garden with a permeable but poor and calcareous substrate. In addition, the stones - especially if you use white stones - act as a kind of heat storage. It is important that you only water a little and, above all, do not fertilize. This also means that you do not mix in compost.

Caring for edelweiss in the pot

Furthermore, the perennial, which grows to a maximum height of 20 centimetres, also feels very comfortable in flower boxes, (16.99€) bowls or pots. However, the same advice applies here as for planted edelweiss plants: choose lean, well-drained soil with a high proportion of sand and lime. Make sure that the irrigation water can run off, i. H. the planter must have good drainage.

tips and tricks

Older edelweiss plants can easily be propagated and rejuvenated by division. Such a measure will increase the lifespan of such a specimen.

Category:

Herbs