The lantana is a beautifully flowering ornamental plant that we mainly cultivate as an ornament for the balcony or terrace. Extremely easy to care for, it thrives even if you don't have the proverbial green thumb.
How do I properly care for a lantana?
Lantana care includes regular watering with lime-free water, fertilization every 14 days, careful pruning, repotting if necessary, pest control and overwintering at at least 5 degrees Celsius.
How to water?
Lantanas react sensitively to hard water, so only use stale or rainwater. Watering is always done when the top centimeters of potting soil feel dry. Excess irrigation water is poured away because, like many plants, the lantana is extremely sensitive to waterlogging. On very hot days, it is better to water twice with a small amount of water than once with too much water.
Fertilization
In order for the lantana to bloom profusely, it needs enough nutrients. After hibernation, fertilization is carried out once a month until the first buds form, and then at 14-day intervals. Commercially available flowering fertilizers (€13.00 on Amazon), which you administer in the dosage stated on the packaging, are well suited. Be sure to avoid overdosing, as the plant reacts extremely sensitively to this.
Be careful when cutting
All parts of the lantana plant contain dangerous toxins. Even if the concentration of these is highest in the ripe and unripe berries, you should always wear gloves when pruning. It is cut as follows:
- After winter rest, a maintenance pruning is carried out in which all branches are shortened significantly. Since lantana only develops numerous flowers on the young shoots, this is indispensable. It is recommended to at least halve the shoot length. Even a hand-width rejuvenation cut is well tolerated.
- During the entire flowering period, everything that has bloomed is regularly cut out. There are two reasons for this: Firstly, the plant produces more new flowers. Secondly, the formation of seeds in which the poison concentration is highest is prevented.
How often to repot?
Whenever the roots start to grow out of the drainage hole, it is time to repot the lantana. Choose a planter that is one to two sizes larger than the old one. The pot shouldn't offer any more space, because the lantana tends to form more root mass than leaves and flowers.
What pests and diseases threaten
Lantanas are quite susceptible to whitefly infestation. Yellow panels or control with insects of the genus Encarsia Formosa have proven effective here.
Occasionally the lantana is attacked by aphids. The pests can be easily combated by spraying with soap solution, tea tree oil or commercially available insecticides.
The wintering
The heat-loving lantana doesn't thrive in sub-zero temperatures. As soon as the first frosts threaten, the ornamental plant must be kept indoors over the winter. Place the plant in a bright place where night temperatures do not drop below five degrees. Daytime temperatures of ten degrees should not be exceeded during winter rest.
Tip
Due to the toxicity of all parts of the plant, you should ensure that no other people or even children come into contact with the clippings when disposing of them.
