Anyone who loves ornamental grasses will be delighted with this variety. The red pipe cleaner grass is an extremely decorative plant that is ideal as a container plant and can remain outdoors in mild regions even in winter. You can find out how to properly care for this feather bristle grass in the following article.

Red pennisetum is no more demanding than its white relatives

Water and fertilize with care

The red lamp cleaner grass is quite sensitive to waterlogging and overwatering. So let the soil dry out and water whenever the surface feels really dry.

Fertilize during the growth period with a commercial agent for green plants. Compost is also a good source of nutrients.

implement and share

This ornamental grass is often cultivated in tubs. It is undemanding in terms of substrate, simple potting soil or special potting soil are ideal. Mix this with some sand or gravel to ensure good water drainage.

In mild regions you can transplant the red pipe cleaner grass outdoors. Here, too, an introduced drainage layer and soil improvement with sand or gravel are recommended.

Divide large clumps

With good care, the red lamp cleaner grass can form very large clumps. You can easily divide them and get several identical plants. To do this, proceed as follows:

  • Carefully remove Pennisetum from the pot.
  • Using a trowel or clean, sharp scissors, separate the root ball into two or three parts.
  • Put them in fresh soil and containers that are not too small.

The cutback

Do not cut back the red-leaved fountain grass in the fall, but only in the spring. All culms are shortened about a hand's breadth above the ground before the start of the growing season.

wintering

This not completely hardy Pennisetum species should only be overwintered outdoors in very mild regions. In this case it is recommended:

  • Tying up the ears of corn in autumn.
  • Spread a thick layer of sticks, leaves, bark mulch or straw around the root area.
  • Cover the lower half of the plant with a fleece to protect against severe frost.

Place potted plants in a cool but frost-free room. A cellar that is not completely darkened, the garage or a stairwell would be ideal. Be careful not to let the root ball dry out and water as needed.

What diseases and pests are there?

Pennisetum grass is very hardy and is rarely attacked by disease or vermin.

tips

For a time, Pennisetum was considered a neophyte and was on the Union list of plants prohibited by law from sale and cultivation. This has been revised, because the red pipe cleaner grass and varieties derived from it are to be assigned to the independent species Pennisetum advena. So you can cultivate the pretty ornamental grass in your garden without any worries.

Category:

Herbs