Kolkwitzie, also known as the mother-of-pearl bush in this country, is not a purely cultivated plant. In its native China, the shrub can be found in the wild, where no one makes any effort to care for it. Does it remain modest in the garden, or does it require special attention?
How do you care for a Kolkwitzia in the garden?
Outdoor specimens of Kolkwitzia require little care as they tolerate drought and generally do not require any additional nutrients or water. Light fertilization in spring is only recommended for very poor soils.
Outdoor specimen or container dweller?
The type of cultivation of the Kolkwitzia is crucial to answering the care question. The mother-of-pearl bush can thrive in the garden, but it can also stand just as well in a pot. In general it can be said that potted plants need more attention. There is only a very limited amount of soil available to their roots. Their demands can therefore only be satisfied if their owner regularly gives “bonuses”.
No supplies are necessary outdoors
In the garden, the rain takes over the water supply for allKolkwitzie varieties. It doesn't matter if the rainfall doesn't fall regularly. The shrub tolerates longer periods of drought well.
The Kolkwitz also gets the nutrients it needs from the ground. Given its modest consumption, it rarely suffers from deficiency in this respect.
Supply in exceptional cases
If the soil where the Kolkwitzie is located is very poor in nutrients, some fertilizer should be added. It is sufficient if an organic long-term fertilizer such as compost (€12.00 on Amazon) or horn shavings is distributed in spring during the flowering period.
If you plant a Kolkwitzia fresh or transplant it to a new location, it will take time until it has fully conquered the ground with its roots. You should therefore provide them with water as needed for about a year.
Tip
Make sure you only fertilize a little, because the scour loves poor soil. An oversupply turns into the opposite of what is intended: The
Kolkwitzia is not blooming!
Kolkwitzie in the bucket
Care for Kolkwitzias in the pot regularly, with the majority of the work occurring during the growing season. There is no need to be very careful when carrying out the care work, as the Kolkwitzia is not poisonous
- fertilize from spring to late summer
- every four weeks with a liquid fertilizer
- water as needed
- top layer of soil may dry out in the meantime
Despite the winter hardiness, scours in the pot must be protected from frost by wrapping the pot with fleece and placing it in a protected place.
Cutting Kolkwitzias
Until the beginning of the fifth year of life, scours should not be cut so that they develop their beautiful, overhanging shape. Afterwards, occasional thinning cuts make sense, removing dead and disturbing branches. Only if kolkwitzias are planted as a hedge may it be necessary to cut more.
Tip
You can put cut, he althy shoots in pots with potting soil to multiply the Kolkwitzia.
