It blooms in spring in competition with other plants such as daffodils, tulips and violets. Things are looking back a little over the summer. The gold lacquer is particularly impressive with its flowers. But it only presents these if it is properly cared for.
How do you properly care for gold polish?
In order to properly care for the gold lacquer, it should be watered sufficiently during its flowering period from April to May, fertilized in spring and every 4 weeks and cut back in autumn. Potted plants are overwintered indoors in winter.
Can the plant tolerate drought or does it need to be watered?
The gold lacquer should be supplied with plenty of water, especially during its flowering period, which lasts from around April to May (varies depending on the variety). Both tap water and rainwater are suitable.
It tolerates short-term drought without any harm. But in the long term he cannot make friends with a dry earth. It also reacts sensitively to moisture (risk of rot). It is ideal to keep the substrate slightly moist.
Does gold lacquer need fertilizer?
You can supply the gold lacquer with compost and/or horn shavings as early as spring. Work these fertilizers carefully into the soil. The next fertilizer application only makes sense 8 weeks later. During its growth phase, the gold lacquer should be fertilized approximately every 4 weeks. Liquid fertilizers are well suited (€12.00 on Amazon). Container plants are fertilized every week from March to the end of June.
How do you overwinter the plant?
Since the gold lacquer is considered to be poorly winter-hardy, you should cover it over the winter. Beforehand, it is cut back in the fall so that only a few leaves remain. From November onwards, place a layer of brushwood over the root area of the plant. Potted plants are put in in the fall and overwintered.
What diseases can occur?
Normally the gold lacquer is not susceptible to disease. But if the location and care are not right, illnesses can occur. Among others, the following diseases can occur:
- Gray mold: leaves are covered with a velvety gray coating
- Wilt disease: leaves wilt
- Clubroot: Roots are damaged, resulting in blue-green to gray leaves that wither away
When and how do you cut the gold polish?
This is what you need to keep in mind when cutting:
- easy to cut
- simple secateurs are enough
- cut off wilted flowers (the formation of new flowers is stimulated)
- perennial species: cut back heavily after flowering
- Tip young plants from 10 cm high (shorten the main shoot for a bushier growth)
Tip
Since the gold lacquer is poisonous, you should wear gloves when handling it directly!
