The flowers shine golden yellow and glitter towards the viewer with their long stamens. It is advisable to look after and care for St. John's wort not only after flowering, but also beforehand. What should it include?
How do you properly care for St. John's wort?
Caring for St. John's wort includes little fertilizer, occasional watering in dry conditions, protection from diseases such as red wilt or rust, and hardy species rarely need winter protection. Cut the plant back vigorously in autumn or spring or after flowering.
Is it necessary to fertilize St. John's wort?
St. John's wort can easily cope without a regular supply of fertilizer. If you fertilize the plant too much, you will be at the expense of the active ingredients it contains. Too much fertilizer reduces the active ingredient content of St. John's wort. It is sufficient to provide this plant with compost once every spring.
When does St. John's wort need additional water supply?
If this herb has grown well, it can cope with the rainfall most of the time. There is no need for additional watering. But there is one exception: If it is dry for a long time, it should be watered to prevent it from drying out! You can also use tap water for this. This plant tolerates lime.
What diseases and pests can emerge and become a problem?
While St. John's wort is not susceptible to pest damage (rarely it can be attacked by aphids), it is sometimes affected by diseases:
- Red wilt: a fungal disease; usually from the second year onwards
- Rust: a fungal disease, often in ground cover specimens
You can recognize the red wilt because the St. John's wort hangs its head. The shoots also turn reddish and later die off. Rust manifests itself in small spots that appear on the leaves.
Is winter protection necessary?
Most St. John's wort species are sufficiently hardy in this country. Very few specimens need winter protection. In general, plants in rough locations should be protected, for example with brushwood or leaves.
How and when is the cut done?
A cut makes sense for various reasons. Here are a few tips:
- cut back heavily in autumn or spring (close to the ground)
- you can also cut back after the flowering period (prevent seed formation)
- to harvest the flowers and leaves, cut off the stems (at flowering time)
Tip
If necessary, you can divide St. John's wort in the fall to rejuvenate and multiply it.