With their sugary nectar, Phacelia magically attract bees and butterflies. As if that weren't enough, the annual summer flower acts as a revitalizing green fertilizer by suppressing weeds and breathing new life into fallow land. Looking at the pretty blue flower clusters, the bee pasture also delights us as a beautiful feast for the eyes. The following answers to frequently asked questions explain in detail how you can skillfully cultivate the multifunctional flower.
What is Phacelia and how to cultivate it?
Phacelia is a summer annual flower that attracts bees and butterflies. It serves as green manure, suppresses weeds and thrives in almost any soil without waterlogging. The main flowering period is from June to September. Sowing takes place from April to August in a sunny to partially shaded location.
Care tips
The robust constitution of a phacelia requires little care. If the weather is within normal parameters, the bee pasture makes do with the natural rainfall. If, on the other hand, summer comes with long-lasting drought, the summer flower receives enough water in the morning or evening hours. In pot culture, this can be the case every 1-2 days in a sunny location, as the substrate dries out quickly due to the exposed location. As a rule, no fertilization is required in the bed, although one or two portions of compost prove to be beneficial for a lush abundance of flowers. In the planter, fertilize every 3-4 weeks from May until the end of the flowering period with a liquid fertilizer (€18.00 on Amazon). At temperatures below -8 degrees Celsius the plant freezes. Leave the stems and leaves on the ground as a natural winter protection and then rake them into the soil in the spring as an efficient soil conditioner.
Which location is suitable?
In a sunny to partially shaded location, the bee pasture thrives in almost any soil as long as there is no waterlogging. If you are struggling with fallow beds or gaps in the kitchen garden, Phacelia will transform these areas into a blue-violet sea of flowers.
What soil does the plant need?
Tussels don't make any significant demands on the quality of the soil. The pH value is just as secondary for summer flowers as the nutrient content. Even in acidic sandy soil, the bee pasture acts as a beneficial green manure and prepares the soil for more demanding crops. Phacelia only does not thrive in waterlogged soil. For cultivation in the pot, we recommend a commercially available potting soil that is enriched with a little sand.
When is flowering time?
The main flowering period extends from June to September, with the individual flower gradually opening its individual blossoms over a period of 3 to 4 weeks and then withering. Seeds sown in April appear with blue flowers from June onwards. During the summer, freshly sown seeds quickly transform into a blooming bee pasture within 4 weeks. Even phacelia seeds planted in August will bloom the same year.read more
Cut Phacelia correctly
The task assigned to a bee pasture defines the time and execution of the cut. We have put together all the occasions when Phacelia are cut for you here:
- As green manure: cutting close to the ground or mowing, shortly before the flowering period begins
- As vase decoration: cut the most beautiful stems when the first individual flowers open
- As bee pasture: After the first frost, cut off the withered shoots and rake them into the ground
Since the tufted flower is not closely related to any traditional crop, it is ideal for intermediate sowing. In this case, integrate the phacelia into the crop rotation and cut at the appropriate time to incorporate the withered plant parts into the soil.
Watering Phacelia
The robust bee pasture makes do with the natural rainfall. Only if it is persistently dry should you water the summer flowers in the early morning or in the evening. When cultivated in a pot or flower box, the soil dries out more quickly. Check every few days with a thumb test to see whether the substrate has dried out so that you can water if necessary.
Fertilize Phacelia properly
If the bee pasture thrives in normal garden soil, there is no need to add fertilizer. On the contrary, the summer flower acts as a green fertilizer by enriching the soil with nitrogen. However, in the limited substrate volume of the pot and balcony box, the nutrient reserves are quickly used up. If deficiency symptoms appear here, such as dull colors and limp leaves, administer a liquid fertilizer every 3-4 weeks.
Propagate Phacelia
With regard to the easy sowing, alternative propagation methods are not relevant for the bee pasture. Once the flower thrives in the garden, it will sow itself diligently anyway. In this case, leave the withered stems in the bed until winter. The next spring, the offspring sprout in large numbers as if by magic.
Phacelia in a pot
In the pot, the rustic bee pasture sets decorative accents in the natural and cottage garden. Fill the container with a mix of potting soil and sand to sow the seeds directly. Since these are dark germinators, sieve the seeds with substrate 1-2 cm thick and water carefully. In a sunny to partially shaded location, germination occurs within 1-2 weeks at 12-18 degrees Celsius. After just 4-5 weeks your Phacelia will be in full bloom. Keep the substrate constantly slightly moist. Every 3-4 weeks, the swarmed bee friend is happy about a dose of organic liquid fertilizer.
Is Phacelia poisonous?
Although bee pasture serves as green fodder and provides delicious nectar, the flower is not free from he alth concerns. The phacelioids contained in the plant parts can trigger contact allergies. We therefore recommend wearing protective gloves during all planting and care work.
How to sow Phacelia successfully?
From April to August the time window is open for sowing bee pasture. Prepare the well-drained garden soil in a finely crumbly manner in a sunny to partially shaded location. To ensure an even distribution, ideally mix the very fine seeds with a little sand and spread them widely. A dosage of 2 grams per square meter has proven successful in practice. Since these germinate in the dark, rake the seeds 1-2 cm deep into the soil. Finally, water the seedbed with a fine spray and put a close-meshed insect net over it to protect it from pecking birds and voracious pests. At temperatures between 12 and 18 degrees Celsius, germination takes 7 to 14 days.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Blue Bonnet: Very beautiful bee willow with deep blue flowers, which is also ideal as a vase decoration
- Rainsy phacelia: The variety is a decorative green manure plant with lavender-colored flower clusters; 70cm
- Summertime Blues: Pretty two-tone phacelia, whose white flowers are adorned with a blue border; 40-60cm