With a wide range of species and varieties, the three-master flower adorns the bed as a hardy perennial or acts as a graceful houseplant in the hanging basket. Even though the little flower beauty immigrated to us from the other side of the world, it is extremely easy to care for. The following answers to frequently asked questions reveal what the God's Eye really values.
How do you properly care for a three-master flower?
The three-master flower is an easy-care plant that thrives both in the garden and indoors. It requires a sunny to partially shaded location, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil, regular watering with soft water and fertilizing every 14 days during the growing season.
Planting the three-masterflower correctly
If you have decided on a three-master flower that is worthy of the garden, we recommend planting it in spring. This means the perennial has enough time to establish vital roots before winter. Look for a sunny, shaded to partially shaded and protected location with humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. There you create a small pit that offers the root ball enough space to develop. If you mix some ericaceous soil, leaf or needle compost into the excavation, the flower will immediately feel in good hands. Pot up the young plant and plant it in the middle, just below the first pair of leaves. Water generously with soft water and spread a layer of mulch.
Care tips
Given the simple care program, it is hardly surprising that a spiderwort is considered an ideal starter plant. These few aspects need to be taken into account:
- Water abundantly in the first two years, reduce watering later
- Fertilize organically or liquidly every 14 days from spring to autumn
- Cut off withered flower stems for autumnal rebloom
- Pruning close to the ground in the bed before the first frost
Since the God's Eye is only partially hardy, pile the perennial in the bed thickly with autumn leaves and needle twigs. Tropical species and varieties relocate to the warm windowsill when temperatures fall below 10 degrees.read more
Which location is suitable?
With regard to the ideal location conditions, garden three-master flowers and non-hardy houseplants largely agree:
- Sunny to semi-shady location
- Warm and protected from the wind
- Nutritious, humus-rich and well-drained soil
- The sunnier the location, the wetter the soil quality
Since an excess of lime impairs growth and the ability to flower, the substrate should have a slightly acidic pH value of 5.5 to 6.0. The use of rhododendron or ericaceous soil is therefore recommended for houseplants. read more
What soil does the plant need?
Treat your three-master flower to fresh, moist, nutrient-rich and well-drained soil. The top priority is a slightly acidic pH value of 5.5 to 6.0, because a God's eye doesn't want to be bothered with lime. For pot culture, it is therefore advisable to use ericaceous soil (€34.00 on Amazon) or azalea substrate, enriched with lava granules for best water drainage.
When is flowering time?
The garden threemaster flower stands out twice a season with its delicate flowers. Look forward to cheerful splashes of color from May to July and again in September. The only requirement is to cut back the withered flower stems to the foliage to make room for the next bloom. When grown indoors, the God's Eye will keep its blooms continuously from spring to fall if you clean out every withered flower as soon as possible.
Cut the spiderwort correctly
Cultivated as a garden perennial, cut a spiderwort twice per season. The first cut is made immediately after summer flowering and stops above the summer-green foliage. A subsequent bloom will then flourish in the fall, at the end of which you cut the flower off close to the ground. For indoor cultivation, specialist retailers mostly offer evergreen Tradescantia for pots and hanging baskets. Clean out the withered flowers consistently and only cut off the leaves when they take on an unsightly appearance.
Watering the three-master flower
When young, three-master flowers require significantly more watering than when they are older. In the first two years of life, water the flower regularly so that the soil never dries out. As the process progresses, the water requirement reduces so that the substrate surface can dry to a depth of 1-2 cm. Always use soft water, because the God's eye is not very tolerant of lime.
Fertilize the spiderwort correctly
The nutrient requirements of a three-masterflower are at a medium level. Fertilize the flower in the bed every 14 days from May to August with compost and horn shavings. In the pot, pamper the floral graces every two weeks with a liquid fertilizer in a diluted concentration. Fertilizer application is stopped from September to March.
Wintering
Without comprehensive winter protection, the three-master flower in the bed will not survive the cold season. After pruning in autumn, pile the perennial at least 20-30 cm high with autumn leaves or brushwood. Put the exotic beauties in the pot in good time before the first frost. Cool winter storage at 10-15 degrees Celsius is also an option, as is permanent placement on a warm windowsill.
Propagate the three-master flower
Propagation from cuttings is particularly popular among hobby gardeners because it is so easy to do:
- Take off several non-flowering head cuttings during the summer
- Defoliate the lower half so that at least 1 pair of leaves remains
- Place in groups of 6-8 specimens in pots with moist peat sand
- Keep constantly moist in a partially shaded window seat
Within 2 to 3 weeks, the cuttings have their own root system, which is reflected in the first fresh shoots. Now repot your pupils into a substrate for adult three-master flowers or put them outdoors.
Dividing the root ball has proven to be another common method for garden species. To do this, dig up the root ball, cut it in half and plant them in the loose, nutrient-rich, slightly acidic soil at the new location.
Is three-mastiff poisonous?
The three-master flower is considered slightly poisonous. This results in careful handling of the flower if children and pets are within reach. If the hobby gardener is already prone to allergic reactions, we recommend wearing gloves during planting and care work for reasons of caution.read more
How do I care for the three-mastiff flower as a houseplant?
The non-hardy species and varieties like to stay on the sunny windowsill at temperatures between 18 and 22 degrees. Keep the slightly acidic substrate on young specimens constantly moist without letting it dry out. Older three-master flowers, on the other hand, should only be watered when the top 1-2 cm of soil feels dry. Only use decalcified tap water or collected rainwater. A god's eye in indoor culture is fertilized with diluted liquid fertilizer every two weeks from spring to autumn. If you cut the withered stems down to the evergreen foliage after the first flowering, a distinctive re-bloom will appear in autumn. You can shorten tendrils that are too long at any time, although an appointment in early spring is particularly recommended.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Concord Grape: Beautiful garden variety with purple-violet flowers and blue-frosted leaves; Growth height 40-50 cm
- Innocence: White-flowered, hardy God's Eye that blooms in both summer and fall; Growth height 40-50 cm
- Bilberry Ice: Impresses with white flowers that adorn a delicate blue eye; good winter hardy and compact habit
- Variegata: Pretty Rio three-master flower with 60 cm long tendrils and white flowers for indoor cultivation in hanging baskets
- Zebra ampelwort: Exotic houseplant with delicate, pink flowers and striped leaves on long tendrils;
