Their buds look like they want to rise to the sky like balloons. When it is in bloom, the balloon flower presents itself impressively with its colorful bell-shaped flowers. If professional cultivation still raises questions, you can find practical answers here.
What are the care requirements of the balloon flower?
The balloon flower is a perennial that produces colorful bell flowers in blue, pink or white from July to August. It prefers sunny to semi-shady locations, fresh to semi-dry, well-drained soil and requires regular watering and nutrients during the growing season.
Planting balloon flowers correctly
Once the last ground frosts have passed in spring, the window of opportunity for planting balloon flowers opens. In a sunny to partially shaded location, create the planting pits at a distance of 20-25 cm in well-drained soil. The excavated material is mixed with compost and horn shavings so that the Asian beauties don't lack anything. While preparing the soil, place the potted root balls in water until they are completely saturated. Only then do you pot up the Chinese bellflower and plant it in the ground while maintaining the previous planting depth. If you water abundantly and regularly on the day of planting and afterwards, rooting will progress quickly.
Care tips
The care program is based on a balanced water and nutrient balance, directly dependent on the general conditions at the selected location. The sunnier the location, the more frequently you water. The leaner the soil, the richer the nutrient supply will be. These key points must be observed for successful cultivation:
- Keep the perennial constantly moist
- Fertilize the bed from April to August with compost and horn shavings
- Apply a liquid fertilizer (€14.00 on Amazon) to the pot every 14 days
- Clean up wilted flowers as soon as possible
- Pruning close to the ground either in autumn or early spring
Regardless of its robust frost hardiness, constant winter wetness can cause problems for the perennial. A protective layer of autumn leaves or needle twigs effectively prevents damage. In the pot, the balloon flower ideally moves to the frost-free winter quarters. If there is not enough space, the container is covered with jute, fleece or foil. A block of wood or a polystyrene plate placed underneath protects the root ball against the rising cold from the ground.read more
Which location is suitable?
For a balloon flower in the garden, look for a place with the following conditions:
- Sunny to semi-shady location
- Warm and protected from the wind
- Fresh to semi-dry soil, preferably sandy-clayey
- Humos, nutrient-rich and with a slight lime content
In view of these wide-ranging requirements, the sun-drenched rock garden is just as possible as the protected edge of the wood, the mixed herbaceous bed and, in pots, the warm terrace and the south-facing balcony.read more
The correct planting distance
The balloon flower in small tuffs develops its distinctive effect wonderfully. This is particularly true against the dark backdrop of deciduous trees or in the perennial bed next to other summer beauties. With a planting distance of 20-25 cm you are exactly right when it comes to creative design.
What soil does the plant need?
The demands of a balloon flower on soil conditions can be easily met with a little care. The soil should be well-drained so that the deep taproot can gain a foothold unhindered. Fresh to moderately dry soil with a sandy-clay structure contributes to a long plant life. The perennial feels best in a nutrient-rich, humus-rich soil that is slightly calcareous. For the pot substrate, this means that a structurally stable compost-based potting soil is a good choice, optimized with some lava granules or sand.
What is the best time to plant?
Although you have a long-lasting perennial with a balloon flower, we still advise against the classic autumn planting. To ensure that the Asian immigrant has enough time for rooting, spring planting from the end of April/beginning of May has proven to be effective in practice.
When is flowering time?
The central blooming period of a balloon flower extends from July to August. If you clean out withered flowers consistently, the enchanting blooms will last until September. If you cut the perennial back promptly, it will not unnecessarily invest its energy in the growth of seeds, in favor of a long flowering period next year.read more
Cut the balloon flower correctly
Withered bell flowers are consistently cut off during the flowering period to make room for subsequent blooms. When the flower festival comes to an end, the perennial begins to move in. It is your individual decision whether the flower should produce seed heads for self-sowing. Of course, this act of strength has a shortening effect on lifespan and vitality. Pruning can be done either immediately after flowering or in late winter. Since the Chinese bellflower is ideal as a cut flower, cut the stems at the base at the bud stage.read more
Watering balloon flower
The water requirements of a Chinese bellflower are medium to high. Water the perennial evenly and regularly, as drought stress has a detrimental effect on growth and flowering. During dry, hot summer periods, this can happen every day, both in the bed and in the container. The morning thumb test provides information about the need for watering. Always apply the water directly to the root disc using the spout of the jug, as long as there are no rays of sunlight shining over the flowers and leaves.
Fertilize balloon flowers properly
The perennial uses a lot of strength to produce the extravagant balloon buds and lavish bell flowers. A balanced supply of nutrients during the growing season ensures that the Asian flower beauty does not run out of steam prematurely. How to fertilize correctly:
- A nitrogen-focused starter fertilization in April acts as an initial spark for this year's season
- Subsequently fertilize the bed every 3-4 weeks with compost and horn shavings
- Provide balloon flowers in pots with a liquid fertilizer every 14 days from April to August
This year's fertilizer application ends by mid-August at the latest so that the perennial matures in time for winter.
Wintering
Assigned to winter hardiness zone Z4, the balloon flower can withstand temperatures down to -28.4 degrees Celsius. It's less the bitter frost that affects it than the fluctuations between frost and thaw weather and the resulting constant wetness. For reasons of caution, experienced hobby gardeners spread a layer of leaves and brushwood over the root disc. When cultivated in a pot, the Chinese bellflower ideally moves to a frost-free winter quarters. Alternatively, the planter can be given a winter coat made of fleece, jute or bubble wrap as well as a cold-insulating base made of wood.read more
Propagate balloon flower
Due to the elongated, turnip-like taproot, propagating balloon flowers by division is not very promising. If you want more specimens, sowing proves to be practical. Follow these steps:
- Scatter the brown, egg-shaped seeds on peat sand or commercial sowing soil
- Sift the seeds thickly with sand, press down and moisten with a fine shower gel
- Place in the indoor greenhouse or under a transparent hood on the partially shaded windowsill
- At a constant 20 degrees Celsius, germination occurs within 8-14 days
As soon as the seedlings have 2 pairs of leaves, they are pricked out. Start sowing at the end of February/beginning of March and have strong young plants in your hands in May, ready to be planted in the bed. Please note that only F1 hybrids have the potential to flower reliably in the first year. Seedlings from normal seeds can sometimes take 1 to 2 years to bloom for the first time.read more
How do I transplant correctly?
Don't expect your balloon flower to change location in the bed, because the Asian beauty will react extremely angrily. Since the perennial plant has a deep taproot in the soil, any attempt at transplanting it will be unsuccessful. In contrast, repotting is easy. As soon as the Chinese bellflower has completely rooted its pot, moving to a larger planter makes sense. The best time for this care measure is early spring, shortly before new growth.
Balloon flower in pot
The balloon flower spreads its picturesque flair wonderfully in the pot on the summer balcony. To ensure that cultivation runs smoothly, you should not be skimpy when choosing high-quality potting soil. Avoid substrates containing peat in favor of structurally stable quality products that are enriched with lava granules, expanded clay and other additives. A few pieces of pottery above the water drain act as drainage to prevent harmful waterlogging. Under these optimal conditions, the care program is limited to these points:
- Keep the substrate constantly moist without causing waterlogging
- Administer a liquid fertilizer for flowering plants every 14 days from May to August
- Clean up wilted flowers regularly
- Pruning close to the ground either in autumn or late winter
If the pot has a diameter of less than 30 cm, for reasons of caution, put it in the frost-free winter quarters. This could be the garage or the unheated stairwell or a similar room. Cover larger buckets with bubble wrap or jute ribbons and position them on a wooden block in front of the south wall of the house.
Is balloon flower poisonous?
The use of leaves, flowers and roots in Asian cuisine and folk medicine belies their he alth-endangering status. In fact, the balloon flower contains toxic saponins and other questionable ingredients. The University of Georgetown wanted to know exactly and confirmed the toxicity. Although the healing powers of the perennial cannot be denied, hobby gardeners should avoid cultivating it within the reach of children and pets.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Fuji Pink: When the balloon-like buds unfold, the flower is dressed in soft pink bell-shaped petals
- Mariesii: The variety impresses with magnificent bell-shaped flowers in an intensely bright blue
- Fuji White: Pure white-flowering balloon flower that contrasts wonderfully with blue-flowering species and varieties
- Astra Blue: Premium variety with violet-blue flowers and robust longevity
- Mother of Pearl Shell: Noble breeding with mother-of-pearl shimmering bell flowers and expansive habit
- Hakone Blue: Magnificent breeding with double-layered petals in rich blue
- Early Sentimental Blue: Valuable F1 hybrid with compact and small growth; ideal for pot culture
- Fariy Snow: The white bell flowers are crossed by delicate blue stripes; very stable breeding
