The bushy, vigorous and clump-forming Indian nettle is also known as golden balm. The perennial, which grows up to 90 centimeters high and has eye-catching, very colorful flowers, originally comes from the eastern United States. As a typical plant of the prairie, the Indian nettle is quite well adapted to dry locations, although it does not require too much care. The late Indian nettle, Monarda fistulosa, is even less sensitive.
How do you properly care for the Indian nettle?
Caring for the Indian nettle includes regular watering, especially in dry times, fertilizing with herbal fertilizer in spring, cutting out dead shoots and pruning in autumn. Make sure there is sufficient planting distance and soil moisture to prevent mildew.
How often do you have to water the Indian nettle?
Although Indian nettles are quite insensitive to drought, they only bloom a little in very dry times. So if you want continuous flowering, you should water regularly, especially in hot and low-moisture summers. It is better to water the perennials vigorously once rather than just a little several times. If possible, only use rainwater.
When and with what should you fertilize the Indian nettle?
The Indian nettle is not very demanding when it comes to the supply of nutrients. Before budding in spring, the plant is supplied with compost or a complete fertilizer (€12.00 on Amazon), with herbal fertilizer being best suited. The fertilizer should only contain a little nitrogen, otherwise only few flowers will form.
Can you cut the Indian nettle? If yes, when and how?
To encourage a long and lush flowering period, you should regularly cut out spent shoots. Finally, in autumn you can cut the entire, yellowed perennial back to just a hand's width above the ground.
Which diseases often occur with Indian nettle? What can you do about it?
Although the Indian nettle is a very robust plant, it often has problems with powdery mildew. This mainly occurs when the plants are too dense and/or too dry. When planting, maintain a distance of at least 40 centimeters and later ensure even soil moisture. The perennials should not dry out in summer and should not be left too wet in winter, otherwise the roots will rot. In areas with hot, dry summers, Indian nettles are more likely to be planted in partially shaded locations. In addition, the Indian nettle is often eaten by snails, and the young shoots in particular must be protected from the voracious animals.
Is the Indian nettle hardy?
The Indian nettle is actually very hardy, only young plants and specimens cultivated in pots need winter protection.
Tip
But be careful: Some new breeds - especially the hybrids - are quite sensitive to frost and should therefore be protected over the winter.