The decorative mammoth leaf (bot. Gunnera) cannot be described as absolutely easy to care for, but it is not all that demanding either. Above all, it needs plenty of water and nutrients, then it usually thrives very well.
The mammoth leaf likes it moist but not too wet
location and soil
In its Brazilian homeland, the mammoth leaf likes to grow on a stony stream or in a swamp. Humidity is therefore existential, after all the evaporation is very large thanks to the oversized leaves. You can plant the rhubarb-like plant at the edge of your garden pond, but please do not plant it directly in the water.
Too much water damages the sensitive roots of the mammoth leaf just as much as the blazing sun burns its leaves. A location in the light shade with humus-rich, preferably slightly acidic soil is therefore ideal.
Water and fertilize
The water requirement of the mammoth leaf is particularly high in the first few weeks after planting and in the spring after budding. In autumn, on the other hand, you can reduce the watering. Between April and June, regularly add a little slightly acidic fertilizer to the irrigation water. Alternatively, you can also work some oak leaves into the soil.
The mammoth leaf in the bucket
The mammoth leaf can also be cultivated in a bucket, but then requires a relatively large amount of care. The roots must never be wet, so good drainage is required. Nevertheless, the mammoth leaf in the bucket needs a lot of water. It should therefore be watered frequently and not too little, but always in such a way that excess water can run off easily.
The mammoth leaf in winter
The mammoth leaf is considered conditionally hardy, so it tolerates moderate frost down to a maximum of -10 °C. You can quickly winterize it with a thick layer of leaves or brushwood. When cultivating in a tub, frost-free overwintering is recommended.
The essentials in brief:
- only conditionally hardy
- prefers a semi-shady location and moist but not wet soil
- can be cultivated in a bucket
- needs a lot of water until autumn, but does not tolerate waterlogging
- Fertilize regularly from April to June
- use slightly acidic fertilizer or oak leaves
- Overwinter potted plants frost-free
tips
In the ideal location, the mammoth leaf does not need much more than sufficient water.