Sowing was easy. Now all that matters is that the viper's head grows and thrives and soon produces flowers. With the right care, the chances are good!
How do you properly care for a viper's head?
Viper's head care includes nutrient-poor soil without fertilizer, occasional watering for container plants and little to no pruning. Watering is unnecessary outdoors, while cold-sensitive species should hibernate indoors in winter. Gloves protect against skin irritation when touched.
Does the viper's head need fertilizer?
The viper's head generally prefers a rather nutrient-poor soil:
- do not fertilize
- Do not add fertilizer when planting the soil
- Too many nutrients ensure a rich leaf mass, but no flowering
- For container cultivation, fertilize every 2 to 3 weeks (March to September)
- conventional flower fertilizer (€9.00 on Amazon) is suitable
How often should you water this perennial?
You should only supply it with water regularly if your viper is growing in a bucket. This can be simple tap water. This plant tolerates lime excellently. When the soil at the top has dried thoroughly, you can water.
If the viper's head is outdoors, however, it does not need to be watered. It can handle drought and heat well. It has its deep taproot to thank for this. Therefore you are spared the constant watering here.
Even if you mean well: Echium vulgare does not tolerate moist soil. In the worst case scenario, this can lead to the roots rotting. Therefore, only water in the beginning so that the plant can take root!
How to cut the viper's head?
Here, too, there is no effort: the viper's head is simply cut back to the ground in the second year after flowering. He then enters. Pulling the plant completely out of the ground is difficult because of the deep taproot. Attention: If you want to prevent the viper's head from sowing itself, you should cut off the inflorescences as soon as they have withered.
Under what circumstances does hibernation make sense?
The common snakehead tolerates frost without any problems. Species that come from warmer climes, however, should only be grown as pot plants and kept in winter. They need a bright place to overwinter.
Tip
If you are a sensitive person who reacts quickly with skin irritation, you should wear gloves when handling the viper head. Touching the leaves can irritate the skin.
