Plant fairy mirrors correctly
If Elfenspiegel has the option of spending cold spring nights indoors, plant the flowers in pots or flower boxes as early as April. (€ 13.18 at Amazon *) During the day, the exotic beauties soak up fresh air and sunshine to harden. Alternatively, put Nemesia in the planter in mid / late May at the earliest. This is how the planting proceeds correctly:
- Lay out potsherds over the floor openings as drainage
- Spread an air and water permeable fleece over it
- Fill in a first layer of high quality, loosely humus potting soil
- Soak the potted root balls in lime-free water until no more air bubbles rise
- Then pot the plants and place them in the tub or balcony box at a distance of 25-30 cm
- Fill up to just below the lower leaves with substrate, press down and water
also read
- The ideal location for the Elfenspiegel
- Can you hibernate the elf mirror?
- How to maintain the elf mirror - the best tips and tricks
In the end, the young elf mirrors should be just as deep in the ground as they were before in the cultivation container. A small pouring edge of 2 cm ensures that no substrate-water mixture spills over later.
Care tips
The closer the site conditions are to the sunny, warm and sheltered requirements, the easier it is to maintain it. This is how you stay with Nemesia through the summer:
- Pour with soft water as soon as the substrate has dried
- Apply liquid fertilizer every 14 days from May to September
- Clean up withered flowers as soon as possible
- At the end of the first flowering period, cut back by a third for autumn re-flowering
Since cultivation by sowing is so easy, the effort of wintering with numerous imponderables is hardly worth it. If it breaks your heart to dispose of your magnificent elf mirrors in autumn, cut the plants back by two thirds. In the bright window seat at a constant 15-16 degrees Celsius, wintering can succeed. Water very little and do not give fertilizer.
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Which location is suitable?
Pay special attention to the choice of the location, because this is where a fairy mirror proves to be a bit tricky. These framework conditions should be given:
- Sunny to partially shaded, warm location
- Well protected from wind and rain, for example under an awning or a roof overhang
- Temperatures not below 15 degrees Celsius and above 25 degrees Celsius
- No cold draft
A west or east balcony is more suitable as a location than a south balcony, as the blazing sun in the midday can significantly impair the beauty of the flowers in summer.
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What soil does the plant need?
With a view to the high demands on the light and temperature conditions of the location, we recommend cultivation in the pot or balcony box for the sensitive elf mirror. Choose a high quality compost-based potting soil with a pH of 6.5. To create the desired permeability, add a few handfuls of expanded clay (€ 17.50 at Amazon *) or lava granulate. If there is a warm, sunny and sheltered bed in your garden, you can definitely dare to experiment with planting Nemesia. In normal, well-drained and loosely humus-rich soil, the best prospects for a blooming summer.
What is the best time to plant?
Since elven mirrors are difficult to get going at temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, the planting time begins at the end of May / beginning of June at the earliest. It is advantageous to harden the young plants beforehand. To do this, place your elven mirror on the partially shaded, warm balcony during the day from the end of April / beginning of May and bring the planters back into the house at night.
When is the flowering time?
From June to August, Elfenspiegel transform the balcony and terrace into a picturesque sea of flowers. Take the time to cut back the withered flower stalks at the beginning of August; in return, the flowers start to bloom until September. The intermittent cleaning during the flowering period not only preserves a well-groomed appearance. At the same time, this measure prevents the vigorous seed formation and is rewarded with increased flowering.
Cut elf mirror properly
It is up to you to decide whether you cut Nemesia and to what extent. We have put together all possible occasions for you here:
- Young elf mirrors peel off several times for a bushy and compact habitus
- Clean up wilted flower heads as soon as possible to prevent seed growth
- Complete pruning of all faded stems at the end of July in order to attract autumn re-bloom
If you aim to overwinter the exotic beauties, cut the plant back by two thirds before putting it away.
Pour elven mirror
Regular watering is required in the sunny and rain-protected location. Check daily with your finger whether the substrate surface is dry. If the top 1-2 cm feel dry, put soft water on the root disc. When the first drops run out of the bottom opening, the acute thirst is quenched. To prevent waterlogging, pour out a coaster after 10 minutes.
Fertilize elven mirror properly
A constant supply of nutrients provides a lavishly flourishing elven mirror with the energy it needs. Fertilize the summer blooming flowers every 14 days from May to September with a mineral-organic liquid preparation. Alternatively, add a slow release fertilizer in stick, cone or granulate form to the potting soil in May and July. It is important to note that fertilizers should not be applied to dry substrate. If in doubt, first moisten the soil with clear water and then water again.
Overwinter
The horticultural bar for the successful wintering of Elfenspiegel is high. At home in South Africa and aimed at a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius, the experiment often comes to nothing. If you want to face the challenge, follow these steps:
- Cut the plant back by two thirds before storing
- Set up in a bright, not full sun window seat, at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius
- Every now and then water with soft water so that the root ball does not dry out
- Do not use fertilizer from October to April
Subject your winter guests to regular checks for pest and fungal infestation. Affected parts of the plant should be cut off at the first symptoms.
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Increase elven mirrors
Propagation and cultivation of Elfenspiegel succeeds excellently by sowing behind glass. Between February and April, fill a seed bowl or small pots with peat-sand in a ratio of 2: 1. Then sow the seeds thinly and sieve the light germs a maximum of 0.5 cm with sand or vermiculite. Keep the earth slightly moist with lime-free water at constant temperatures between 14 and 16 degrees Celsius. Within 2-3 weeks, the cotyledons break through the delicate seed coat. Vigorous seedlings with more than 2 pairs of leaves are pricked out in individual pots and watered regularly but moderately on the bright, warm window sill until the beginning of the planting time.
Is Elven Mirror Poisonous?
The enchanting elf mirrors are ideally suited to transform the family balcony into a summery flower fairy tale. Since the exotic flowers do not contain any questionable substances, they pose no danger to curious children or to pets that nibble on everything.
Elf mirror does not bloom
If the longed-for bloom is still a long time coming in June, first put the site conditions to the test. Too little sunlight, temperatures below 15 degrees or cold drafts are the most common causes of the dilemma. A simple change of location can help in this case. If the light and temperature conditions are in the green, check the water and nutrient balance. Too wet or too dry substrate as well as a lack of nutrient reserves are common triggers for the failure to flower.
Brown leaves
Brown leaves do not necessarily indicate a drying up plant. This damage is also a symptom of root rot as a result of waterlogging. To remedy an acute water shortage, immerse the root ball in lime-free water until no more air bubbles rise. If, on the other hand, you notice stagnant moisture, immediately repot the elven mirror in fresh substrate. Do not water until the potting soil has dried well. Stop every watering process as soon as the first drops run out of the opening in the bottom.
Yellow leaves
Although the dainty foliage has almost disappeared beneath the dense flora, yellow leaves indicate a deficiency. The use of hard tap water causes the lime content in the substrate to rise to undesirable levels. As a result, important nutrients such as iron and magnesium are fixed and no longer get into the plant pathways. Leaf chlorosis develops, which manifests itself in yellow leaves. Switch the water supply to soft rainwater or decalcified tap water. In the short term, a special iron fertilizer from the specialist trade provides compensation.
Nice varieties
- Type of fishing Orange: Extremely rich-flowered Nemesia, which attracts everyone's attention with its bright orange flowers; 30-50 cm
- Trio Mio: Colorful elf mirror trio in white, red and yellow that brings floral swing into the garden; 30-50 cm
- Fire King: This hybrid captivates with carmine-red flower fireworks from June to September; 25-30 cm
- Compacta Edelblau: The ideal summer flower for pots and flower boxes with blue flowers; 20-25 cm
- Magic fairy tale: Excellent mix of the most beautiful varieties for picturesque flower boxes (€ 13.18 on Amazon *) and pretty bouquets; 25-30 cm
- Sun fairy: bright yellow balcony flower of the year 2011, broadly bushy and robust also in the bed; 30-50 cm
- Peach: Cream-colored nemesia with an orange lip and decorative veining in purple; 25-30 cm
- Coconut: White flowering premium variety with a spherical habit as the perfect complement to colorful varieties; 30-50 cm
- Floribunda: wonderfully fragrant elven mirror with violet-like flowers in light purple; 30-50 cm
