With rural charm, the mountain knapweed adorns the colorful bed or the romantic cottage garden. In order for the native perennial to achieve its full beauty, only a few care measures are important. Read here how to properly water, fertilize, cut and overwinter the Centaurea montana.
How do you properly care for a mountain knapweed?
Caring for a mountain knapweed includes regular watering without waterlogging, fertilizing with organic fertilizer from May to September, timely cutting off withered flowers and cutting back the stems after the first flowering, as well as protecting the pot from frost in winter.
How to water the mountain knapweed?
Water a mountain knapweed abundantly in dry conditions without causing waterlogging. Since the natural beauty loses its abundance of flowers in dry soil, please check daily in summer whether there is a need for watering. Apply normal tap water immediately to the root disc until the soil no longer absorbs moisture.
Does the flower require additional nutrients?
Organic fertilizer is very welcome for a mountain knapweed. From May to September, pamper the attractive perennial with compost (€10.00 on Amazon) and horn shavings every 4 weeks. It is advisable to use liquid fertilizer in the bucket, which you should administer every 2 to 3 weeks according to the manufacturer's instructions. At the end of September, please stop giving fertilizer so that the plant matures before winter.
How do I cut the perennial correctly?
A cut at the right time is one of the mainstays of a professional care program. How to prune the Centaurea montana wisely:
- Cut off wilted flowers as soon as possible to prevent seeds from forming
- Following the first flowering, cut back all stems to 10 cm to encourage autumnal re-blooming
- Before the first frost, cut the mountain knapweed down to the ground
To ensure that the blue fringed flowers in the vase create a country ambience, cut off the prettiest stems when they have just bloomed.
How hardy is the knapweed?
As a native perennial, the mountain knapweed has adapted perfectly to the Central European winter. If the going gets tough, even severe frost down to well below -30 degrees Celsius won't cause any problems. There is therefore no need to take special precautions for overwintering in the bed. However, please cover a pot with foil and place it on a wooden block.
Tip
Can't get enough of the cornflower-like flowers? Then simply double the joy of the summer flowers. To do this, take the root ball of your mountain knapweed in early spring, cut it into two halves and place them in the fresh, moist soil in a sunny location.
