From April to September, the hammer bush pampers the gardener with its red or yellow flowers, and in autumn it produces decorative berries. The care of the hammer bush, which comes from the tropics, is time-consuming, but it rewards you with lush growth. Tips for caring for hammer bushes.
How do I properly care for a hammer bush?
To care for a hammer bush successfully, you should water it daily without causing waterlogging, fertilize from February to August, cut back in spring and repot if necessary. Also pay attention to diseases and pests and ensure suitable wintering between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius.
How is the hammer bush watered?
The hammer bush has a high moisture requirement, but cannot tolerate waterlogging.
Plant the shrub in a pot with a large drainage hole and place it on a saucer.
Water the container plant daily as soon as the top layer of soil is dry. Immediately pour off any excess water in the saucer.
When and how do you fertilize hammer bushes?
From February to August, provide the hammer bush with fertilizer (€9.00 on Amazon). A commercially available liquid fertilizer for potted plants is sufficient. Apply the fertilizer as directed.
If the hammer bush has no leaves, you must not fertilize under any circumstances.
Does a hammer bush need to be cut?
A hammer bush has the most flowers on this year's wood. Only a few inflorescences develop on older branches. The shrub must therefore be cut back in spring before it sprouts again.
Think it out so that the shoots are not too close together.
Is repotting necessary?
The hammer bush must always be repotted when the roots grow out of the extraction hole at the bottom.
Place the shrub in normal garden soil or potting soil that should not be too calcareous.
The best time for repotting is spring.
What diseases and pests can occur?
- Aphids
- Spider mites
- Whitefly
- Gray horse
Pests and diseases occur primarily in winter quarters. If the humidity is too high, gray mold quickly spreads.
Check the hammer bush regularly for pests and take control measures immediately. Pests can spread extremely quickly, especially in winter, and spread to other plants.
How is the hammer bush overwintered?
The hammer bush has to move into winter quarters before the first frost. The ideal temperature for overwintering is between 10 and 15 degrees. The winter quarters should be light. In a dark place, the evergreen shrub loses its leaves.
Tip
You can easily propagate a hammer bush yourself. To do this, cut cuttings in spring. You can also use the leftover cuttings from pruning for propagation.
