Here you will find all the care tips for the flowering gentian shrub. Among other things, how to overwinter and cut the gentian bush.
The gentian bush (Lycianthes rantonnetii) never seems to get tired of blooming. The ornamental tree can enhance any garden. The gentian shrub appears particularly attractive when grown as a standard. For cultivation in our latitudes, the bucket attitude is recommended. Outdoor planting can only be attempted in climatically favorable regions.
Find the right location
If you want to enjoy the abundance of flowers, a full sun location is necessary. Furthermore, the sensitive plant should be sheltered from the wind. If the sun cannot penetrate through the dense foliage to the trunk, this has no negative impact on the development and flowering of the plant.
Selecting the ideal substrate
So that the plant can develop well and convince with its rich flowering, you should not save on the potting soil. A conventional substrate should be avoided. The best soil for the gentian should have the following characteristics:
- Nutrient-rich (fertilizer can already be added during planting)
- loose
- humos
- good water retention properties
- pH neutral (between six and seven)
The best care tips for the gentian bush
The care should not be neglected, so that the plant develops accordingly and convinces with a rich flowering. Therefore, devote your attention to the gentian tree every day.
Watering and fertilizing the gentian bush properly
The substrate must not dry out. Particular attention should be paid to watering the potted plant. Little substrate is available. This can dry out quickly, as well as soak.
The moisture content of the substrate should be checked several times a day in summer using a thumb test.
» Tip: Make sure the soil stays constantly moist. Avoid waterlogging.
The coasters must be emptied regularly so that the liquid does not accumulate. The gentian bush must not stand in water for a long time, otherwisethe roots begin to rot. Therefore, empty the coaster after ten minutes at the latest.
Preference should be given to soft rainwater. If you don't have a rain barrel, use decalcified tap water.
The water balance should also be monitored in winter. However, far less is cast. The amount of water depends on the location. In a cool, dark spot, it rarely needs watering.
During the growth phase between March and September the plant should be supplied weekly with liquid fertilizer for container plants.
gartentipps.com recommendation:
Pruning gentian bush
Care should be taken when cutting. Grown as a stem, the gentian shrub should only be pruned a few centimeters during the growing season so that it retains its shape.
Before moving to the winter quarters, the branches can be cut back by a maximum of one third.
» Tip: Alternatively, you can cut back in winter quarters in early spring.
Gentian shrub - diseases and pests
The gentian bush is susceptible to the following pests:
- Aphids
- Whiteflies
- spider mites
Spraying with soapy water helps against aphids and other pests. Treatment with field horsetail broth strengthens the plant, making it less susceptible to pest infestation.
If the gentian bush is infested with aphids, this can trigger a chain reaction. Sooty mold disease occurs as a result of an aphid infestation. The disease can be recognized by the blackening of the leaves.
An increased susceptibility to disease also results from incorrect care resulting from nutrient deficiencies, incorrect watering and improper pruning.
Overwintering the gentian bush properly
The gentian bush does not tolerate frost. Therefore, it is advisable to keep them in buckets and spend the winter in a closed room. Before the first frost, the plant is brought into the winter quarters. Overwintering should take place in a bright room at a temperature between eight and twelve degrees.
» Tip: The gentian bush does not receive any fertilizer between October and February.
Don't panic in the winter quarters - leaf drop is a normal protective reaction of the plant. This is how the gentian bush protects itself against the lack of daylight during the winter months.