Your graceful flower stars are not limited to container culture. In order to flood the summer garden with the distinctive star umbels, the gardening bar is not set high. Read here how to properly plant and care for the starflower in the bed.
How do I care for the starflower in the garden?
To plant and care for a starflower in the garden, place the bulbs in sun and good soil at the end of April. Water moderately, fertilize regularly and remove wilted flowers. Dig up the bulbs in autumn and store them frost-free.
This is how the flower bulbs get into the ground in an exemplary manner
Since the star flower is already shivering badly at temperatures around freezing point, the time window for planting opens at the end of April at the earliest. Choose a sunny, warm and wind-protected location with well-drained, normal garden soil. This is how you plant the flower bulbs correctly:
- Dig small pits 10 cm deep at a distance of 5-6 cm
- Insert the onions with the tip pointing towards the sky
- Enrich the excavation with sifted compost, put it on the tubers, press down and water
Since waterlogging brings a premature end to the pretty star flowers, if in doubt, add a thin layer of sand to the bottom of the planting pit.
The starflower is happy with this care program
The uncomplicated care of a star flower does not pose any significant challenges, even for gardening novices. This overview gives you all the important measures for a lavish flowering in the garden:
- Water star flower moderately in dry conditions without causing waterlogging
- Administer a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants (€14.00 on Amazon) every 14-21 days from May to July
- Clean out wilted flower heads regularly to prevent the energy-sapping seed growth
At the end of the flowering period, please stop adding fertilizer. At the same time, gradually water less until the onion is dry. Meanwhile, the stems slowly die off because the tuber absorbs all the nutrients from it. Therefore, do not cut the shafts prematurely.
Put away before winter
Since the starflower is only partially hardy, dig up the bulbs in late autumn. Now cut off the last remaining plant residues and let the tubers dry for a few days. Remains of garden soil should only be shaken off, as contact with water could cause rot. Store the flower bulbs in a dark, frost-free winter quarter in an airy and dry place until next year.
Tip
As a sun worshiper with a penchant for sandy, dry soil, the starflower radiates its floral charm in rock gardens and gravel beds for many weeks. Under the protection of stone mulch, in regions with mild winters there is even the prospect of an undamaged winter in the open air.