The plume bush, a witch hazel plant, needs a certain amount of attention if it is to grow magnificently. Here we explain what to look out for.
The plume bush (Fothergilla), which belongs to the witch hazel family, is very popular with gardeners and nature lovers for a reason. The shrub, which originates from North America, bears bottle-brush-like flowers in summer and autumn, which turn orange, red and pink tones towards the end of the year and thus ensure a real spectacle of color in the garden. The delicate scent that spreads throughout the garden also appeals to many people. So it's no wonder that more and more hobby gardeners and lovers of the plant want to find out how the plant is properly cared for - because without species-appropriate care, even the largest feather bush bush will not bloom properly and will soon take on an unhe althy appearance. But how exactly do you go about caring for the plant?What is important for proper care
Anyone who is familiar with the two species of plume bush - the large plume bush and the alder-leaved plume bush - knows that they grow very slowly. Depending on the species, they can be about one to two meters wide and about one or two meters high. After its flowering period - which, by the way, usually starts at the same time as the leaves sprout in May - the shrub bears fruit capsules, the shape of which is reminiscent of feathers.
The plant can be combined well with rhododendrons, provided that the space required by the plant is always taken into account. When both types of shrubs bloom, the garden shines in a unique play of colors - which is why many gardeners plant both shrubs at the same time and next to each other.
Watering the plume bush - how much?
A plume bush absolutely does not tolerate being exposed to dry spells and excessive heat, as well as too much sun. Here it could not only get sunburned, but also dry up if the roots were attacked by the dry season. For this reason, the plume bush should always be watered well - water that contains as little lime as possible should be chosen. It is best if the soil around the plume bush is kept moistcan be. It is therefore worth adding peat to the soil around the plume bush on a regular basis. Peat retains moisture particularly well and for a long time. If a longer heat wave or dry period is imminent, you should prevent dehydration with frequent and, above all, regular watering. If you want, you can also add soil with peat content to the soil around the shrub to further improve moisture. A loose, permeable soil also helps the bush to absorb water and nutrients more easily.
Valuable nutrients for the plume bush
The plume bush not only needs a lot of moisture, but also valuable nutrients - these help the bush to grow he althy and vigorously. It is important to supply the plume bush with a lot of nutrients, especially for the blossoming and bearing of the fruit capsules, as well as the formation of the fragrance. If you regularly add peaty soil, it already contains many important nutrients. However, it does not hurt to use a special fertilizer, which is also intended for rhododendrons, immediately after planting. After the first hibernation, it is then advisable to fertilize a second time as soon as winter gives way to spring. If you want to give the shrub extra care, repeat this in late summer - otherwise fertilizing once a year is completely sufficient. Compost can also be integrated into the soil of the plume bush if you want to optimally support its flowering and growth.
What should be considered when cutting?
Because the plume bush grows rather slowly, it does not recover very well from a radical pruning - if you proceed too intensively, it can even happen that this can damage the plume bush in the long term. Therefore, when it comes to this type of plant, less is more when it comes to pruning. This idea can be fully implemented, especially with young plants - because the young plume bushes should absolutely not be pruned in their first two years of life. If the plume bush has grown particularly luxuriantly in a year and has developed many shoots, it can be easily thinned out if desired. This is best done after flowering, best in early fall.
It is also important to remove dead branches of the plume bush as soon as possible - this also applies to crooked branches that do not quite correspond to the desired look.
Winter Plume
Although the plume bush cannot always withstand the weather, it overwinters even withSub-zero temperatures quite good. Frost and cold cannot harm a shrub of this type that is not too young. Nevertheless, it can help to make a few preparations in the upcoming winter months, so that young trees in particular can continue to grow in spring. A white coat of lime is well suited to young trees, for example, to prevent cracks in the trunk. It also makes sense to spread brushwood, leaves, fir branches or mulch over the root area of the shrub. This gives them better protection from frost underground and prevents the shrub from dying.
If you keep your plume bush in a bucket on the terrace or balcony, you should even take a few more precautions to overwinter the plant - because the cold can reach the roots in the bucket better than under the ground in the garden. A layer of felt around the tub, some mulch on the soil, and fir branches around the entire root ball in the tub should help protect the outdoor wintering plume bush in the tub.
Plume bush care tips at a glance
- Soil should be regularly loosened and enriched with peat
- Regular fertilizing with rhododendron fertilizer is beneficial
- frequent watering desired
- only white paint and twigs necessary for overwintering the young plants
- Cover older plume bushes with mulch to allow them to overwinter
- Crop only for trimming
- radical pruning damages plant
- Due to the very slow growth, young plants should only be pruned after two years, and as little as possible
Make pruning after the flowering period, if possible until autumn - Remove dried or dead branches as soon as possible to keep pests away from the plant
- protect from weather