The fairy spur sets colorful accents on balconies and windowsills with its attractive flowers. However, you can find out here what you need to keep in mind for splendid growth.
Within a few years, the elf spur (diascia) has conquered our hearts. This is not least due to the lush flowering of the plants from South Africa, which only found a permanent place in our garden centers in the 1990s. The elfin spur is quite easy to care for and looks extremely attractive in flower boxes, flower tubs or hanging baskets. If you too would like to make friends with this lushly growing and flowering exotic species, you will now find tips and advice on what to consider when planting.
Elven Spur - the ideal balcony plant
Before planting, the hobby gardener naturally asks himself where to put the plant. The answer to the elf spur is simple, because it is the ideal balcony plant. The plants grow quite compact and can therefore form dense cushions within a short time. Added to this are the numerous small flowers, which always attract admiring glances. The slightly hanging growth is also an advantage if the elf spur is to decorate balcony boxes or hanging baskets.
Find the right location
The plants, which grow to a height of about 30 centimetres, are thankful for a place in the sun. The elfin spur can also be cultivated in partial shade. A bright location is important in any case. Otherwise, the hobby gardener will be less happy about the rather meager growth and the lack of flowers. Furthermore, the plant wants to be airy. This is usually the case in balcony boxes. However, drafts should be avoided.
Rainstorms and storms can damage the plant badly. Therefore, a sheltered location is an advantage. If the balcony is covered, the elfin spur will feel particularly comfortable and the delicate flowers will not be affected by moisture and wind damage.
» Tip: A sunny location is ideal for the plants. But: The sunnier the plant is, the more it has to be watered.
The ideal location inTags:
- sunny
- light
- breezy
- protected
Selecting the ideal substrate
The soil should always be of high quality. To prevent waterlogging, the permeability of the soil must be ensured. The plants do not tolerate waterlogging and the roots rot very quickly. The permeability of the substrate can be increased by adding sand or potsherds. In order for the rich flowering to continue, the elfin spur needs a nutrient-rich substrate.
» Tip: Adding compost can provide the soil with additional nutrients.
Keywords for the right substrate:
- permeable
- nutrient rich
- loose
- humos
- fertile
Planting elf spurs - explained step by step
❶ Select planter
❷ Select location
❸ Provide substrate
❹ Place drainage in the bottom of the container
❺ Insert plants
❻ with Fill up the substrate
❼ Press the soil down gently
❽ Water the plant well
We do not recommend planting the elf spur outdoors. Since plants can easily rot from the inside out, they will do much better and be easier to cultivate in a planter. The planter should have sufficient drainage holes, because waterlogging occurs particularly quickly in planters if attention is not paid to the permeability of the substrate and planter. Drainage in the bottom of the pot makes the substrate more permeable. The plants should be used carefully to protect the roots. Water well after planting.
» Tip: Arranging elfin spurs in the planters in conjunction with verbena or petunia creates pretty arrangements.
Growing elfspur outdoors - yes or no?
This is where opinions differ. We believe that the plants are best and easiest to cultivate in flower boxes or hanging baskets. In general, of course, there is nothing wrong with planting Elfenspur outdoors. However, you should once again pay attention to the right location and the corresponding soil conditions. Plants can rot easily and, in a less sheltered location, can be badly affected by rain and wind.
How to multiply Elfspur?
Elvenspur can be propagated by cuttings and seeds. In order for strong plants to develop, theSome things to consider about each method of propagation.
❍ Cuttings:
Cuttings are cut in summer. If you overwinter your plants, you can still get cuttings in the winter quarters. The cuttings should be about four inches long. Planters are filled with potting soil.
» Tip: Up to five cuttings can be planted in a conventional flower pot. When cultivating in a hanging basket, there should be at least twice as many cuttings.
If a plastic bag is placed over the planters, a microclimate can be created that accelerates root formation. The planter should be bright and placed at room temperature. Direct sunlight should be avoided when cultivating cuttings. If the propagation is successful, the first roots will have developed after about a month. Now the cover can be removed and the plants can move outdoors, provided the temperatures allow it. If the cuttings were taken in autumn, they should be overwintered warm and not brought outside until next spring.
❍ Sowing:
If the hobby gardener is already looking forward to richly flowering elfin spurs, he can obtain the seeds from his existing plant. Alternatively, the trade offers appropriate seeds. First, seed pots are filled with loose flower or seed soil. The seeds are placed in the pots and covered with soil about an inch. Using plastic foil as a cover is also an advantage here. The substrate should only be lightly watered to avoid waterlogging.
After about 14 days, the seeds will start to germinate. When the young plants have grown to around five centimetres, they are placed in separate planters.
» Tip: If several young plants are planted together in a planter, bushy and strong plants can be grown.
The young plants can move outside in mid-May. A semi-shady location should be chosen first. The delicate leaves may be damaged in full sun, so acclimatization should be done gradually.
What should be considered when repotting?
If the planters are large enough, it will not be necessary to repot the plants during the growth phase. This can be done in spring for perennial plants, before the start of the growing season. If the elf spur gets too tight in the planter, then it's time to move. This can be seen from the fact that the roots are already out of the planterprotrude. It is also time to repot when neighboring plants have spread to the point where they are crowding out the elfspur and preventing it from growing and flowering.