When fairy mirrors bloom in the balcony box and pot, the gardener receives admiring glances over the garden fence. When it comes to floral opulence, Nemesia varieties play in a league of their own that other summer flowers rarely match. The following answers to frequently asked questions reveal what requirements the summer mass bloomers come with.
When does the elf mirror bloom and how do you care for it?
Elfenspiegel (Nemesia) are permanent summer bloomers that conjure up a sea of flowers on the balcony and terrace from June to August. The ideal planting time is late May/early June, and care includes regular watering, fertilizing and removing spent flowers. Sunny to partially shaded, sheltered locations are preferred.
Planting elf mirrors correctly
If Elfenspiegel has the opportunity to spend cold spring nights indoors, plant the flowers in a pot or flower box in April. During the day, the exotic beauties soak up fresh air and sunshine to toughen up. Alternatively, place Nemesia in the planter in mid/late May at the earliest. This is how planting works correctly:
- Lay pottery shards over the floor openings as drainage
- Spread an air- and water-permeable fleece over it
- Pour in a first layer of high-quality, loose, humus-rich potting soil
- Soak the potted root balls in lime-free water until no more air bubbles appear
- Then unpot the plants and place them in the pot or balcony box at a distance of 25-30 cm
- Fill with substrate up to just below the lower leaves, press down and water
In the end, the young elf mirrors should be just as deep in the ground as before in the cultivation container. A small pouring edge of 2 cm ensures that no substrate-water mixture spills over later.
Care tips
The closer the site conditions are to the sunny, warm and protected requirements, the easier it is to care for it. This is how Nemesia stays with you throughout the summer:
- Water with soft water as soon as the substrate has dried
- Fertilize liquidly every 14 days from May to September
- Clean up wilted flowers as soon as possible
- At the end of the first flowering period, cut back by a third for autumnal re-blooming
Since cultivation by sowing is so easy, the effort of overwintering with numerous imponderables is hardly worth it. If it breaks your heart to dispose of your magnificent fairy mirrors in the fall, cut the plants back by two thirds. Overwintering can be successful in a bright window seat at a constant 15-16 degrees Celsius. Water only a little and do not give any fertilizer.read more
Which location is suitable?
Pay particular attention to the choice of location, because this is where an elf mirror turns out to be a bit tricky. These general conditions should be met:
- Sunny to partially shaded, warm location
- Well protected from wind and rain, for example under an awning or eaves
- Temperatures not below 15 degrees Celsius and above 25 degrees Celsius
- No cold draft
A west or east balcony is a more suitable location than a south balcony, as midday blazing sun in summer can significantly affect the beauty of the flowers.read more
What soil does the plant need?
In view of the high demands on the light and temperature conditions of the location, we recommend cultivating the sensitive elf mirror in a pot or balcony box. Choose a high-quality compost-based potting soil with a pH of 6.5. To create the desired permeability, add a few handfuls of expanded clay or lava granules. As long as there is a warm, sunny and protected bed in your garden, you can definitely experiment with planting Nemesia. In normal, well-drained and loose, humus-rich soil there are good prospects for a flower-rich summer.
What is the best time to plant?
Since Elfenspiegel has difficulty getting going at temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, the planting time begins at the end of May/beginning of June at the earliest. It is an advantage to harden off the young plants beforehand. To do this, place your elf mirrors on the partially shaded, warm balcony during the day from the end of April/beginning of May and bring the planters back into the house at night.
When is flowering time?
From June to August, elf mirrors transform the balcony and terrace into a picturesque sea of flowers. If you take the time at the beginning of August to cut back the withered flower stalks, in return the flowers will start to bloom again until September. Intermittent cleaning during the flowering period not only preserves a well-groomed appearance. This measure also prevents the energy-sapping seed formation and is rewarded with increased flowering.
Cut elf mirror correctly
It is your individual decision whether you cut Nemesia at all and to what extent. We have put together all possible occasions for you here:
- Young elf mirrors are trimmed several times for a bushy and compact habit
- Clean out wilted flower heads as soon as possible to prevent seed growth
- Complete pruning of all withered stems at the end of July to encourage autumnal re-blooming
If you want to overwinter the exotic beauties, cut the plant back by two thirds before putting it away.
Pouring elf mirror
In a sunny and rain-protected location, regular watering is required. Check daily with your finger whether the substrate surface has dried. If the top 1-2 cm feel dry, add soft water to the root slice. When the first drops run out of the opening in the bottom, your acute thirst has been quenched. To prevent waterlogging from forming, pour out a coaster after 10 minutes.
Fertilize Elfenspiegel properly
A constant supply of nutrients provides the energy required for a lavishly flowering fairy mirror. Fertilize the permanent summer bloomer every 14 days from May to September with a mineral-organic liquid preparation. Alternatively, add a slow-release fertilizer in stick, cone or granule form to the potting soil in May and July. It is important to note that fertilizers should not be applied to dry substrate. If in doubt, first moisten the soil with clear water and then water again.
Wintering
The gardening bar for the successful wintering of Elfenspiegel is set high. Based in South Africa and aimed at a temperature minimum of 15 degrees Celsius, the experiment often comes to nothing. If you want to take on the challenge, follow these steps:
- Cut the plant back by two thirds before putting it away
- Place in a bright, not full-sunny window seat, at a temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius
- Water every now and then with soft water so that the root ball does not dry out
- Do not apply fertilizer from October to April
Subject your winter guests to regular checks for pest and fungal infestation. Affected plant parts should be cut off at the first symptoms.read more
Increase elf mirrors
Propagation and cultivation of Elfenspiegel works excellently by sowing behind glass. Between February and April, fill a seed tray or small pot with peat-sand in a ratio of 2:1. Then sow the seeds thinly and sift a maximum of 0.5 cm over the light germinators with sand or vermiculite. At constant temperatures between 14 and 16 degrees Celsius, keep the soil slightly moist with lime-free water. Within 2-3 weeks, the cotyledons break through the delicate seed coat. Strong seedlings with more than 2 pairs of leaves are transplanted into individual pots and watered regularly but moderately on the bright, warm windowsill until the planting season begins.
Is Elfenspiegel poisonous?
The enchanting elf mirrors are ideal for transforming the family balcony into a summer floral fairy tale. Since the exotic flowers do not contain any harmful substances, they pose no danger to curious children or pets who nibble on everything.
Elf mirror doesn't bloom
If the longed-for blooms are still a long time coming in June, first check the site conditions. Too little sunlight, temperatures below 15 degrees or cold drafts are the most common causes of the dilemma. In this case, a simple change of location can help. If the light and temperature conditions are in the right range, check the water and nutrient balance. Substrate that is too wet or too dry as well as a lack of nutrient reserves are common triggers for failure to bloom.
Brown leaves
Brown leaves do not necessarily indicate a drying plant. This damage also appears as a symptom of root rot as a result of waterlogging. To remedy an acute lack of water, immerse the root ball in lime-free water until no more air bubbles appear. However, if you notice build-up of moisture, immediately repot the Elfenspiegel into fresh substrate. Then only water when the potting soil is completely dry. Stop each watering process as soon as the first drops run out of the bottom opening.
Yellow leaves
Although the delicate foliage almost disappears under the dense floral bloom, yellow leaves indicate a deficiency. The use of hard tap water causes the lime content in the substrate to rise to undesirable levels. As a result, important nutrients such as iron and magnesium are stored and no longer enter the plant's pathways. Leaf chlorosis occurs, which manifests itself in yellow leaves. Switch the water supply to soft rainwater or decalcified tap water. In the short term, a special iron fertilizer (€6.00 on Amazon) from specialist retailers will provide compensation.
Beautiful varieties
- Angelart Orange: Extremely rich-flowered Nemesia that attracts everyone's attention with its bright orange flowers; 30-50cm
- Trio Mio: Colorful elf mirror trio in white, red and yellow that brings floral momentum to the garden; 30-50cm
- Fire King: This hybrid impresses with carmine-red flowers from June to September; 25-30cm
- Compacta Edelblau: The ideal summer flower for pots and flower boxes with blue flowers; 20-25cm
- Fairy Tale Magic: Excellent mix of the most beautiful varieties for picturesque flower boxes and pretty bouquets; 25-30cm
- Sun Fairy: Bright yellow balcony flower of the year 2011, broadly bushy and robust even in the bed; 30-50cm
- Peach: Cream-colored Nemesia with orange lip and decorative violet veining; 25-30cm
- Coconut: White-flowering premium variety with a spherical habit as a perfect complement to colorful varieties; 30-50cm
- Floribunda: Wonderfully scented fairy mirror with violet-like flowers in light purple; 30-50cm
