The blue fan flower is often sold as an annual balcony flower, but is perennial but not hardy. To overwinter it needs a frost-free, bright winter quarters; in summer it feels most comfortable on a sunny balcony.
How do you care for the fan flower?
To properly care for the fan flower, plant it in a sunny location, water regularly and fertilize every 14 days during the flowering period. In winter, overwinter in a frost-free room at 5-10 °C and prune.
The fan flower grows to a height of around 20 - 30 cm, but forms hanging shoots up to a meter long. This makes it ideal for planting in balcony boxes and hanging baskets. The beautiful fan-shaped blue or purple flowers appear from May to October.
If you would rather plant the fan flower in the garden or on the terrace, we recommend planting it in a tall pot. The long, decorative shoots come into their own here. However, the fan flower is less suitable as a bedding plant.
Planting the fan flower
Plant the fan flower in a sunny spot or in light partial shade. The more sun the plant gets, the more lush the flowers will be. Through targeted pruning you can promote lush blooms and a long flowering period. The fan flower has no special demands on the soil. However, it should be well-drained because the plant does not tolerate waterlogging.
Water and fertilize the fan flower
The blue fan flower is quite thirsty and needs to be watered regularly. This is especially true during the flowering period. Then you should fertilize your plant about every 14 days because it needs a lot of nutrients, like many other flowering plants.
The fan flower in winter
Since the fan flower is not hardy, it naturally cannot tolerate frost. The ideal temperature in winter quarters is around 5 -10 °C. Cut back the fan flower in late autumn before putting the plant into winter quarters.
Reduce watering, but do not allow the soil to dry out completely. The fan flower does not need any fertilizer in winter. As soon as night frosts are no longer expected, the fan flower can move back to its original place on the balcony.
Tip
If the flowering of the fan flower slows down over the course of the summer, cut the plant back by about half. It will sprout again and form many buds again.
