The black-eyed Susan impresses with brightly colored flower cascades that climb to lofty heights or act as a furious ground cover. How you get the flower festival out of the one-year-old climbing artist will no longer be a mystery to you. Important questions about plants and care will be answered here.
How do I properly care for a Black-Eyed Susan?
To successfully cultivate the black-eyed Susan, plant it from mid-May after preparing the soil, provide a climbing aid, water regularly and fertilize during the growing season. Choose a sunny to semi-shady location and avoid waterlogging.
Planting black-eyed susanne correctly
You can plant the Black-Eyed Susan, which you have grown yourself or purchased ready-made, in the bed or outdoor pot from mid-May. First, place the still potted root ball in soft rainwater until no more air bubbles appear. Meanwhile, prepare the soil in a sunny to partially shaded location by pulling weeds and removing roots and stones. This is how the episode continues:
- The planting pit is 1.5 times deeper and wider than the root ball
- Mix the excavation with leaf mold, compost and horn shavings
- Install the climbing aid before the Thunbergia is potted and planted
- Tie the lower tendrils to the climbing aid and water generously
Planting in a balcony box or pot is similar, although in this case a few pieces of pottery under the substrate serve as drainage.
Care tips
In order to create a bright sea of flowers with a Thunbergia, the following care is important:
- Water the plant in a balanced manner without causing drought stress or waterlogging
- Ideally use soft rainwater and tap water alternately
- From May to October, fertilize organically (€27.00 on Amazon) or mineral-organically every 14 days
- 3 weeks after planting, shorten by a third for bushy growth
- Clean out wilted flower stems several times a week
Considering a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, overwintering a black-eyed Susan is quite time-consuming, especially since the procedure is not always successful. If there is a bright winter quarters with 15-18 degrees Celsius available, you can try it. During the winter there is little watering and no fertilization.read more
Which location is suitable?
The black-eyed Susanne feels extremely comfortable in a sunny to partially shaded, warm and wind-protected location. Ideally, the climbing plant is protected from the pelting rain, such as under an eaves or terrace. The tropical beauty does not place any capricious demands on the soil properties. The soil should be loose, humic and rich in nutrients and without the risk of waterlogging.read more
The correct planting distance
If you plant the black-eyed Susan in the group, you are exactly right with a planting distance of 50 cm. If the climbing artist acts as a summer ground cover, arrange 4-6 specimens per square meter.
What soil does the plant need?
As an annual climbing plant, creative hobby gardeners prefer to cultivate the black-eyed Susan in a pot with an integrated trellis. So that the plant can quickly develop its impressive volume of flowers and leaves, we recommend a high-quality compost-based potting soil as a substrate. If the Thunbergia is used as a summer fence or facade greenery, the soil should be humus, deeply loose and nutrient-rich.
What is the best time to plant?
The black-eyed Susan comes from the warm tropical regions of Africa. This means that the climbing plant cannot tolerate frosty temperatures. The time window for planting opens in mid-May, when the Ice Saints have said goodbye.
When is flowering time?
Thunbergia grown indoors and planted in May immediately starts blooming. The flowering period extends into October as long as temperatures are above 15 degrees. To ensure that the colorful appearance is not affected and new flowers can open unhindered, withered shoots are cleaned out regularly.
Cut black-eyed susanne properly
If you cut the tendrils back by a third after the first 3 weeks outdoors, the black-eyed Susanne will grow wonderfully bushy and compact. On a Thunbergia, the use of secateurs is limited to regularly cleaning out withered flower shoots. If you carry out this care routinely, the climbing plant will present a neat appearance throughout the summer and maintain a constant willingness to bloom. Aim to harvest the seeds in autumn for sowing next year, leaving a few flowers on the plant so that the approx. 20 mm long fruits can develop.
Black-eyed susanne watering
The black-eyed Susan evaporates a lot of moisture through its lush mass of flowers and leaves. Therefore, water regularly as soon as the substrate dries. Use soft rainwater and tap water alternately, as the tropical plant quickly suffers from an excess of lime. Nutrient-rich pond water is also ideal for watering. Please avoid watering the plant overhead. If you apply the irrigation water directly to the roots using the spout of a jug, all is well with the climbing plant.
Fertilize black-eyed susanne properly
In order for the black-eyed Susan to create its opulent dress of flowers and leaves, it needs a rich supply of nutrients. Fertilize the climbing plant every 2 weeks from May to October. In the bed, compost, horn shavings, horse manure or guano provide the necessary plant nutrition. Liquid fertilizer for flowering plants is ideal in the planter because it is easy to administer.
Wintering
Since a black-eyed Susan becomes limp at temperatures below 15 degrees, we advocate annual cultivation. However, if you have plenty of space, you are welcome to experiment with overwintering. Please note:
- Cut the plant back to 40-50 cm in autumn
- Put in a bright winter quarters with temperatures of 15-17 degrees Celsius
- Water enough to prevent the root ball from drying out
- Do not administer fertilizer from November to March/April
Before the overwintered Thunbergia moves into the garden or onto the balcony in May, repot it in fresh substrate and a slightly larger pot.read more
Propagate black-eyed susanne
If you would like to enjoy the lush flowers of a Thunbergia again next summer, you can choose from the following two methods of propagation:
- Cut cuttings from overwintered plants in February/March and let them root in lean substrate
- Harvest the seeds in autumn, keep them dry and sow indoors from February
It should not be hidden at this point that the cutting method is rarely successful. The prospects of successful sowing are significantly improved if you use certified seeds from specialist retailers.read more
Black-eyed susanne in the pot
In the pot with an integrated trellis, the black-eyed Susanne proves to be a breathtaking privacy screen on the sunny balcony or on the sheltered seat in the garden. To ensure that the flowers leave nothing to be desired, choose a high-quality compost-based pot plant soil as the substrate and add a few handfuls of lava granules. Place some shards of pottery over the water drain as effective drainage against waterlogging. How to plant a Thunbergia correctly:
- Fill the pot above the drainage halfway up with substrate
- Create a hollow with your fist to place the potted root ball in it
- Fill the soil up to the bottom pair of leaves, leave a watering edge free and water in
Attach the lower tendrils to the climbing aid so that the plant finds its way to heaven. Check the soil daily with a thumb test so that you can water when it is dry. From May to October, apply a liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks. The more consistently you clean out withered flowers, the more magnificently the black-eyed Susan will bloom in the pot.
Is Black-eyed Susan poisonous?
The intense luminosity of its flowers at first glance raises the suspicion that the black-eyed Susan is a poisonous plant. Good to know that there are no toxic substances in the climbing plant. The decorative climbing plant is therefore recommended for gardens where there are children and pets.read more
Black-eyed susanne not blooming
If the black-eyed Susan is languishing and lacks the flower splendor, the first step is to check the site conditions. The climbing plant only develops its flowers in sun-drenched places, protected from cold winds and pelting rain. If the location meets the most important requirements, take a closer look at the care. If a Thunbergia suffers from drought stress or a lack of nutrients, it will indignantly refuse to flower. Therefore, water regularly and fertilize with compost or a mineral preparation from May to October.read more
Yellow leaves
Yellow leaves on a black-eyed Susan indicate the following causes and can be remedied as follows:
- Water that is too hard: from now on water with collected rainwater
- Nutrient deficiency: fertilize every 14 days from May to October
- Spider mites: spray the plant repeatedly with a mix of 1 liter of water and 15 ml each of soft soap and spirit
read more
How can I prefer Black-Eyed Susan?
By sowing, you can prefer the black-eyed Susanne behind glass from February onwards. In this way, the climbing plant starts a flower-filled summer season in May with a vital growth lead. Soak the spherical seeds in lukewarm chamomile tea for 4-6 hours to increase their germination. Then follow these steps:
- Fill small pots with seed soil or peat sand
- Insert 1-2 seeds each, maximum 1 cm deep
- Moisten with a fine shower gel and put on a transparent cap
In the partially shaded window seat or in a heated indoor greenhouse at a constant 20-23 degrees Celsius, the first seedlings sprout after 2-3 weeks. The cover has now completed its task and is removed. Keep your plants constantly slightly moist while they diligently develop their own root system. By mid-May, the tiny plants have grown into strong young plants and are planted out.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Susi: Charming variety with bright orange flowers and dark eyes
- African Sunset: Particularly vigorous climbing plant with wine-red flowers around a black eye
- Susi White Black Eye: Magnificent breeding with white flowers and black eye
- Superstar Orange: The climbing plant lives up to its name with huge, orange flowers from May to October
- Flower Sensation Yellow: Flower-rich variety in yellow-black that reaches a height of up to 2 meters
