As a result of the return to authentic naturalness in the hobby garden, the Wollziest is experiencing a brilliant renaissance. This fact is hardly surprising considering the pink-red flowers over silvery, shimmering, densely hairy leaves and a frugal, undemanding nature. The following answers to frequently asked questions contain all relevant information about professional cultivation.
What is the best way to care for a Wollziest?
The Wollziest is a frugal perennial that is planted from September to November and blooms from July to August. It prefers a sunny location, sandy, humus-rich and poor soil. Pruning takes place in autumn and early spring. The plant requires little water and no fertilizer.
Planting Wollziest correctly
During the months of September to November is the planting time for Wollziest. If you pay enough attention to the floor preparation, the maintenance effort will be reduced to a minimum. If the soil in a sunny location is sandy, humus, loose and lean, everything is fine. On the other hand, substrates that are too rich are thinned out with sand, expanded clay (€19.00 on Amazon), fine grit or lava granules. If the soil seems a little too moist, spread some pebbles at the bottom of the planting pit as drainage. The most important aspect of the correct planting technique is maintaining the previous planting depth. At the end, press the soil with your hands and water a little with normal tap water.
Care tips
Thanks to its woolly hair, a Wollziest regulates its water balance independently. Only help the perennial with water when the decorative leaves hang limply. The addition of fertilizer is not necessary. If deficiency symptoms occur, such as pale colors and sparse flowers, add a little compost once. The withered flower stalks are promptly cut off to just above the foliage. With their silvery shimmer, the leaves drive away the sadness from the otherwise empty garden throughout the winter. Only in early spring do you cut the leaves down to just above the ground.read more
Which location is suitable?
The perennial feels particularly comfortable in full sun, because the dense hairs protect the wooly tree from drying out quickly. Since the donkey's ear also prefers dry to fresh soil, the rock garden, the rocky steppe, the roof garden and other sun-drenched locations are primarily suitable locations.
What soil does the plant need?
The soil for a Wollziest should be well-drained and slightly calcareous. In addition, the perennial likes a poor, humus-rich and calcareous soil. Excessive moisture causes the roots to rot, so a dry to fresh substrate meets the modest requirements perfectly.
When is flowering time?
Wollziest's flowering period extends from July to August. Enjoy the spiked inflorescences with numerous individual flowers in white or an enchanting shade of red, pink or purple. Bees, bumblebees and butterflies will thank you if you plant this traditional perennial in the garden, as there is pollen and nectar in abundance here.
Cut Wollziest correctly
Cut off the spent flower heads in early autumn. The wintergreen, shimmering silver foliage adorns the garden until early spring. Then the filigree, hairy leaves lose their decorative appearance and are cut off close to the ground. During the year, don't hesitate to cut off the most beautiful flower stems and leaves to create natural vase decorations. If the flower water is replaced regularly, the bouquet will retain its natural beauty for many weeks.read more
Water Wollziest
The felty hair protects the Woolly Ziest from premature drying out. This means that the perennial does not lose all of its water reserves, even in full sun. Watering is therefore only necessary when the silvery leaves hang limply. If you apply the water directly to the root disc, the plant will quickly recover from drought stress.
Fertilize Wollziest properly
Wollziest's preference for lean, sandy-loamy and dry soil results in a waiver of any nutrient supply. On the contrary, the administration of fertilizer causes fattening growth, at the expense of flowering and a compact, harmonious silhouette.
Wintering
Protection from frosty temperatures is unnecessary on Wollziest, because the perennial bravely stands up to even bitter frost. In contrast, the donkey's ear proves to be sensitive to constant winter wetness. If in doubt, spread brushwood or pine fronds over the root disk.
Propagate woolliest
The breeding of additional specimens is just as uncomplicated as the entire cultivation process. Dig up a Wollziest in spring or fall. Take this opportunity to inspect the root ball to cut out any aged parts or rotten root strands. Then divide the plant into two or more segments, each with at least 2 eyes. At the new location, you have a pit large enough to fit a section exactly as deep as before. To ensure that rooting occurs quickly, water on the day itself and repeatedly in the following days with normal tap water.read more
Woolly animal in the pot
Due to its robust winter hardiness, Wollziest adorns the balcony and terrace in a sunny and rain-protected place in a pot. As a substrate, use lean potting soil, standard soil or mix potting soil with sand and perlite in a ratio of 1:1:1. A few pieces of pottery above the water drain reliably prevent harmful waterlogging. In order to properly care for the dog's ear in the bucket, the following aspects are important:
- Only water when the top 3-4 cm of the substrate has dried
- Fertilizing is not necessary as long as it is repotted into fresh substrate every spring
- Pruning the withered flower stems
- Pruning the leaves close to the ground only at the end of winter
Pots with a diameter of more than 30 cm offer the robust woolly zest suitable conditions to get through the winter he althy. For reasons of caution, cover smaller vessels with jute, fleece or foil.
Is Wollziest poisonous?
Wollziest has been a medicinal herb since ancient times thanks to its ingredients. The herbal nun Hildegard von Bingen already recommended the leaves as a healing pad for skin inflammations due to their astringent effect. Brewed as a tea, the flowers relieve stomach and intestinal problems, flatulence and heartburn. As with most herbal plants, mild symptoms of poisoning occur after excessive consumption of Wollziest. There is therefore nothing wrong with planting in the family garden.read more
Beautiful varieties
- Silky Fleece: The flowering variety impresses with violet flowers from July to August over shimmering silver foliage
- Cotton Ball: Beautiful ground cover thanks to its creeping growth, pink flowers and woolly, evergreen leaves
- Big Ears: The leaves are reminiscent of dog ears and underline the violet-red summer flowers on stems up to 60 cm high
- Silver Carpet: The reserved flowering is balanced out by a dense foliage; the ideal ground cover
