The decorative plant, which is particularly popular with children, comes from the Asteraceae family and reaches a height of up to 120cm. But the yellow flowers of the perennial plant not only develop a sweet, aromatic scent; various insects are also attracted in this way.
Table of Contents
Location and soil
In order for the chocolate flower to develop optimally, the location should be carefully selected. The plant thrives particularly well in the sun; in addition, however, areas in the garden that are in partial shade are also tolerated. Regardless of whether the plant is grown in partial shade or in the sun – the location should always be bright. The selected area in the garden ideally also offers sunlight for at least three hours a day. The chocolate flower is used to dry locations that it finds in its place of origin in Southwest America. For this reason, cultivation is also possible in rock gardens or on dry stone walls. The plant also fits well in any garden bed or on the balcony or terrace. There the chocolate flower has a particularly decorative effect in plant bowls or in window boxes. Alternatively, it can also be kept in a bucket.
For successful cultivation, a suitable substrate should also be selected, which must have certain properties:
- high permeability
- dry but not drying out
- sandy
- not too peaty
High-quality standard soils to which sand or perlite is added are particularly suitable. This measure ensures that the earth is more permeable.
Watering, cutting and fertilizing – optimal care
The chocolate flower is quite easy to care for. During the summer months, the plant should be provided with sufficient water. The plant needs a lot of liquid, especially on hot summer days. However, the overall irrigation should be targeted so that waterlogging is avoided. – Standing water can attack the root hairs and ultimately lead to the death of the entire root. The intervals between the individual waterings should also be chosen carefully. So the next watering only takes place after the soil has dried up, but it must not be completely dry. In winter, watering is generally cautious.
Targeted fertilization has proven its worth in order to encourage the chocolate flower to bloom. However, the targeted supply of nutrients should only be started one year after repotting; then either long-term fertilizers, liquid fertilizers or special sticks are used. In the months between April and September, liquid fertilizer can be added to the irrigation water once a month; the chopsticks are used in both spring and summer. In addition, the chocolate flower can also be supplied with compost and horn shavings.
The plant’s ability to flower can also be stimulated with a specific cut. The cut parts of the plant can be placed in a vase as decoration. It has also proven to be useful to cut off dead flowers from time to time; in this way, the growth of the subsequent flowers is effectively encouraged.
Hibernate optimally
Certain precautions should be taken for the chocolate flower to be overwintered; Plants kept in a tub can overwinter in a cold, dark and dry indoor space. The temperatures should be around 5 ° C. Irrigation is sporadic and at greater intervals. Older specimens that are grown in beds should be dug up for this purpose. After overwintering, the newly exposed plants will bloom again in May.
In milder areas – for example in wine-growing areas – you can also try wintering outdoors. A protected location in the garden is a prerequisite for successful wintering outdoors; in addition, the plant should be protected with a thick layer of milk. For this purpose, the dead above-ground parts of the plant must first be cut off. Then the mulch can be selected. There are basically different variants available that can be used as mulch material:
- Lawn cut
- Leaf waste from vegetables and flowers
- Fall foliage from woody trees
- chopped wood pruning
Mixtures of different forms of mulch are particularly suitable. Before applying the mulch, the soil should be loosened generously. The mulch can then be applied. Protected in this way, there is a high chance that the chocolate flower will succeed in wintering. In contrast to plants that have overwintered indoors, outdoor plants will flower a few weeks later.
Propagation and sowing
The propagation of the chocolate flower can be done with the help of different methods. So a classic sowing of seeds is possible; in addition, the plant can be divided or cuttings can be planted in a targeted manner. Spring is the best time to sow the seeds. Different substrates have proven useful as potting soil; So either a mixture of seed soil and sand can be used or admixtures of perlite can be used. Coconut fibers have also proven their worth. The high permeability that the soil has to offer is of particular importance. In addition, the potting soil used should be as low in nutrients as possible. When sowing, the seeds are only lightly scattered on the ground and carefully pressed down. Care should be taken to water carefully during the germination period; this should be done that the substrate is kept moist, but not soaked. Depending on the external conditions, the subsequent germination period is three to six weeks. In order to optimize the conditions, the cultivation vessel should be covered with a translucent material. Foil or glass are particularly suitable for this purpose. Due to the increased humidity, however, there is also the risk of mold formation. For this reason, it has proven useful to ventilate the pot briefly every three days. When the seedlings reach a size of about 10 cm, they can be transferred to a pot. This is to proceed with caution and care; the young roots are still very sensitive and can break quickly. Successfully repotted, the young chocolate flower gets by with little care;
As an alternative to sowing, propagation can also be done with the help of division. For this purpose, the rhizome is carefully dug up or lifted out of the earth with a digging fork. Care should be taken that the sensitive roots are not damaged as much as possible. This is followed by the separation into one or more sections. Each section should have several leaves and sufficient roots. The separation is preferably carried out in the younger growth area of the root stocks. The pieces are then put back into the ground as soon as possible, carefully pressed down and adequately watered.
Targeted control of pests
Aphids are classic pests of the chocolate flower and are easily identifiable due to their characteristic damage pattern:
- strongly curled, curled leaves
- partly blistered leaves
- sticky parts of the plant, often with a black fungus coating
- Aphids visible on the underside of the leaves, in densely packed groups
Care, deformed shoots and inflorescences become visible, especially as the infestation progresses. As a preventive measure, the plant should be sufficiently watered, especially in dry seasons; In addition, it has proven useful to cultivate various attracting plants near the chocolate flowers. These plants include nasturtiums, for example. In addition, a targeted promotion of aphid enemies – for example the ladybird – makes sense. If the chocolate flower is already attacked by aphids, targeted control of the pests should be carried out. Various solutions can be used for this purpose. Soap solutions, nettle extracts or tansy tea are particularly effective. In the case of a slight infestation, it is often sufficient to spray the flowers down with a strong jet of water. For this purpose, the plant can also be placed under the shower. If the infestation is severe, the affected parts of the plant should be removed.
But not only the aphid can cause damage to the chocolate flower; Snails also attack the fragrant plants and leave characteristic traces of feeding on the leaves. Above all, this includes pitting on older leaves and the bulging edge corrosion. Young plants are particularly often affected by total consumption. Shiny traces of slime and gray-green piles of faeces are sure signs of snail infestation. Fighting snails, if they really cause excessive feeding damage, is often done with chemical baits, but these can also harm other animals. For this reason, one should switch to the classic beer trap, for example; the smell of the hoppy drink – filled in a bowl – attracts the snails, which can no longer escape from the container. In addition, protective strips with savory, chamomile, lavender, sage and thyme help; the intensely fragrant herbs repel snails effectively. As a preventive measure, for example, optimal soil cultivation, in which the earth is kept finely crumbly, has proven itself.
Finally, whiteflies can also cause damage to the chocolate flower. An infestation can be recognized, for example, by the stained and partially yellowed leaves. When the plant is touched, the small white flies usually fly up from the leaves in large numbers and are then easy to see. As a preventive measure, targeted support for beneficial organisms can be worthwhile, for example with the help of parasitic wasps and spiders. If there is a very strong infestation, special chemical sprayings can also be carried out, but these should not be harmful to other animals.
Chocolate flower and chocolate cosmos – demarcation
The term “chocolate flower” is often used as a synonym for two different plants; In addition to the Belandiera lyrata, the chocolate cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus) is often referred to as the “chocolate flower”. However, this species is not related to the real chocolate flower. Although both plants belong to the sunflower family, they can be assigned to different subspecies. The yellow blooming chocolate flower belongs to the aster-like, the chocolate cosmos with its red flowers to the cosmos. The scent that the plants give off is also different from each other. The aroma that Belandiera lyrata creates is reminiscent of milk chocolate, while the Cosmos atrosanguineus dark chocolate nuances exudes. Both plants develop a more intense aroma the more they are exposed to the sun.
Conclusion
