Mystical and beautiful: both the northern lights in the polar regions and the northern lights plant are breathtaking. Here we explain how the latter is planted and cared for.
The aurora borealis (Setcreacea hirsuta "Swifttale"), which grows up to 40 centimeters high and is easy to care for, is certainly one of the absolutely extraordinary perennials that can be planted in a garden bed. Since it looks so unusual, it immediately attracts everyone's attention. Especially since the pink blossom, which looks very much like an orchid, only opens in the evening hours and is a real spectacle!
The hardy perennial blooms every year from May to October, with the pink flowers forming a pretty contrast to their hairy, green-purple stems. If you too are enchanted by the sight of this plant and would like to have it in your garden, you can buy it here in a flower pot, for example. So that you can enjoy your plant for a long time, here are some important tips for growing and caring for the northern lights plant.
Growing the polar light plant correctly
Northern lights tolerate a moderately full sun to light, partially shaded location. It makes hardly any demands on the soil conditions, but it clearly prefers loose, humus-rich soils. In addition, you can easily plant the perennial polar light in a bucket. And here, too, you should ensure that the water circulation within the respective planter works well.
Hint:
It is best to enrich the soil with a little compost before planting or add a little sand to heavy soil.
By the way, the best time for planting is late summer, in exceptional cases early spring.
Care for the polar light plant properly
Fertilize:
During the season, the northern lights only need a complete fertilizer application once in spring. You can only apply a second fertilization if it is urgently needed.
Casting:
Furthermore, you should always water your northern light plant moderately in the morning hours so that you canKeep the plant evenly moist, especially in midsummer, but never too wet.
Pruning:
In autumn it is advisable not to cut back the plant, which will make it easier for it to get through the winter. You should always cut back the plant in early spring so that nothing stands in the way of an intensive new shoot.
Hiberation:
If you live in a particularly frost-intensive area, you should pile up the northern lights with leaves in the winter months (reading tip: Dispose of autumn leaves - 5 tips) or cover them a little with fir branches. Potted plants, on the other hand, must always be protected and kept dry in winter.
Propagate plant:
As soon as the northern lights have settled and spread well in your garden bed, you can propagate the perennial by division.
Important:
Northern lights don't do well in vases, so it's best to leave them outdoors.