Planting Adonis is actually child's play. There are only a few things to consider when it comes to subsequent care.
Just a few years ago, it was not uncommon to encounter Adonis (Adonis vernalis) in the wild in Europe. In our latitudes, however, this is hardly the case today. Many natural locations of the plant had to give way to modern development. The plants have a long history and were already used as medicinal plants in ancient times.
Cultivating the plants in your home garden will certainly present you with some challenges. But you will be rewarded with an attractive eye-catcher and rich flowering. But not only the right planting is important for the Adonis flower to thrive. The most important thing is proper care. Below is an overview of the most important care instructions.
Water Adonis the right way
The widely branched taproots are a special feature of the plant. This means that the plant also defies poor site conditions. The roots can reach a depth of up to 80 centimeters and make it possible to supply water even during longer periods of drought. As you might have already guessed, Adonis roses in the bed survive longer periods of drought and do not necessarily have to be watered regularly. An exception is young plants and plants that have been freshly planted. In the first year you have to water them regularly. The best watering times are early morning and early evening.
The irrigation water should be able to drain away as quickly as possible. It is therefore advisable to create a pouring edge. You should also loosen the soil sufficiently. Bringing in shards of pottery or gravel is also advisable. This prevents the formation of waterlogging. Even in the cold season, you should regularly check the soil of young plants and, if necessary, water them on frost-free days. The substrate should never dry out completely.
Tip:
Adonis florets can be watered with tap water, as hard water does not harm them. An exception is the Amur Adonis, which does not have anyLikes lime and should be watered with rainwater. Reading tip: Catch rainwater and use it as irrigation water - 3 options presented.
Fertilize Adonis correctly
For the early bloomers among the adonis, fertilization is important at the time of planting. If you mix the substrate with compost and horn shavings, the plant has sufficient nutrients at its disposal. If the temperatures fall below ten degrees, the Adonis can no longer use organic fertilizer. Summer Adonis is fertilized in spring. Fertilizers in late summer can make the plants fit for the winter.
Do Adonis need to be cut back?
You don't have to cut back the Adonis flower in the conventional sense. Nevertheless, you should check the plant regularly. Withered leaves and dead shoots should be removed promptly and cut back to the ground. If you also regularly remove wilted inflorescences, this promotes the formation of new buds. When the Adonis roses have faded, the plants withdraw into themselves. The nutrient resources are exhausted from the leaves and shoots and saved for the next flowering period.
Important:
Be sure to wear gloves when pruning, because the escaping plant sap is poisonous and can cause allergic reactions. Incidentally, this also applies if you plant the Adonis flower. Always wear gloves.
How to properly overwinter Adonis flowers
Older Adonis are adapted to the site conditions and hardy. No additional protection is necessary even when the temperature is in the double-digit range. An exception are seedlings and young plants. In this case, the root system in particular is not yet sufficiently developed and therefore the Adonis needs winter protection from leaves or brushwood.
Tip:
Make sure to remove the winter protection promptly in spring so that the plant is not prevented from sprouting.
If you have sown the plants in the bucket, you should wrap it with garden fleece. You must also cover the ground with leaves or brushwood. On dry and frost-free days, the seedlings should also be given a small amount of water.
Detecting and combating pests and diseases on Adonis flower
The Spring Adonis is in no danger. The plants are in bloom before there are pests in the bed. No diseases have been observed in the plant either, so that you have a particularly robust plant representative in the bedfetch.
The biggest enemy of Adonis are snails. Nocturnal snails have their eyes on the finely feathered leaves and it only takes a few nights before there is nothing left of Adonis. To prevent a snail infestation, you can take a number of measures, which are now described in more detail.
Plants against snails:
A proven home remedy is the use of plant extracts for snail infestation. Spraying with liverwort concentrate has proven its worth. The snails also do not like kitchen herbs such as thyme, rosemary or sage. Simply spread the branches around the plant. Of course, you'll need to repeat this periodically as the herbs are carried away by the wind and over time they lose their flavor as well.
Copper wire against snails:
Copper wire is the cheapest alternative to commercially available snail fences. The use of copper wire is useful when individual plants are to be protected. Simply twist several layers of wire into a cord. Then form a ring out of this cord and place it around the plant. It is not usually crossed by slugs.
Egg shells, sand or cat litter against snails:
The substances mentioned can be used to build effective barriers against slugs. If egg shells are crushed, sharp-edged splinters are created, which the snails avoid. A border of sand or cat litter around the plant is also avoided by slugs. The only problem: the snail protection has to be renewed regularly.
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