The easy-care Gazania, also known as Mittagsgold or Sonnentaler, originally comes from southern Africa. It is perennial, but not hardy in our latitudes. With its flowers up to 10 cm in size, it is an ornament in every garden.
Is the Gazania hardy and how do I overwinter it?
Is Gazania hardy? No, the Gazania is not hardy in our latitudes, but it can be overwintered. What is important for this is a frost-free, cool and bright winter quarters with temperatures of 5 to 10 °C. Water little in winter and do not fertilize.
However, the often golden yellow flowers only open when the sun is shining, they close again in the evening and, without sun, they remain closed the next morning. The flowers are often two-tone with a contrasting center or radial markings. In addition to the typical yellow and orange flowers, there are also pink, cream or red ones.
How to overwinter your Gazania
Although midday gold is often considered an annual plant, you should definitely try overwintering it. After all, Gazania is a perennial herbaceous plant in its homeland. What is important is a frost-free, but cool and bright winter quarters. This can be a greenhouse or an unheated winter garden, but also the stairwell. A dark basement room, on the other hand, is not suitable for overwintering your Gazania.
Before the first night frosts arrive, plant your midday gold in suitable flower pots, unless they are potted or container plants anyway. As long as the days are still warm, the plant can spend it outside and only needs to be put in its winter quarters overnight. If the temperatures drop, relocate the Gazanias entirely.
In winter, the Gazanias, like most other candidates for overwintering, are watered only slightly and not fertilized. They feel quite comfortable in their hibernation at temperatures between 5 and 10 °C. In the spring, slowly harden the midday gold again by putting it outside during the day. However, you are only allowed to take up your summer spot again after the Ice Saints in May.
The best winter tips for your Gazania:
- winter brightly and frost-free
- water little
- do not fertilize
- Keep temperature possible at 5 – 10 °C
- Hard off plants slowly in spring
- Planting out only after the Ice Saints
- Overwintering also possible for cuttings
Tip
Do not overwinter your Gazania in a dark basement. These plants need a lot of light! If in doubt, the stairwell is the more suitable place.
