Gazanie, Gazania, Mittagsgold – care and wintering

Special cultivars (hybrids) are used as ornamental plants in local gardens, the original plants are not common. The leaves of the gazanie are narrow and green, rarely also silvery-gray. They appear felty gray-green on the underside of the leaf. The peculiarity of this flower, however, is not the leaves, but its brightly colored flowers, which bloom almost tirelessly throughout the summer. Although the midday flowers have a similar name, the midday gold (also called midday gold flower or sun coin) is a different plant. The single or multi-colored flowers can reach a diameter of up to ten centimeters.

Yellow blooming:

• Chansonette Yellow
• Daybreak Orange Cream
• Kiss Yellow Flame

Orange / Bronze:

• Daybreak Bright Orange
• Mini Star Tangerine
• Kontiki Orange

Pink / white:

• Daybreak Pink
• Chansonette Plus Pink

White:

• Kiss Frosty White
• Mini Star white

location

Since the midday gold only opens its flowers when the sun is shining, it should be given an exposed place in full sun. The plant is ideal for planting beds, rock gardens and also for the terrace or balcony. In rainy and gloomy summers, however, the flowering can be sparse or even stop entirely. Therefore, it should be kept together with other flowering plants so that abundant flowering is ensured even on cloudy days. If the weather is nice and the sun comes out often, the flower is one of the abundant and long-blooming plants in our gardens that requires little maintenance.

• Flowering period: June to the first frosts.
• Height: 15-30 centimeters, bushy
• Light requirement: full sun
• Soil: loamy and sandy
• pH value: neutral to slightly acidic
• Water requirement: medium
• Good water permeability (does not like waterlogging).
• Prefer barren soils.

Flowering is abundant on nutrient-poor soils. If the soil is too rich, only many leaves will form instead of numerous flowers.

By the way: An important factor for a suitable soil is its fertility. This is mainly determined by the proportion of humus. If a soil is rich in humus, the content of dead plant parts is high, which is broken down into humus. The soil can therefore store a great deal of water and nutrients. That is why it is also known as fat or heavy soil. Plants that have a high nutritional requirement thrive on it. Other crops, on the other hand, need well-drained soil. These are mostly substrates with a high proportion of sand or gravel. These drain the water well and also have a significantly lower nutrient content. Many drought-resistant plants or wild plants thrive here – as well as the midday gold.

plant

Usually perennials are planted in the beds in the garden, which require a high nutrient content and good water storage capacity. This earth is poorly suited for gazanie. A better place is found in dry beds, prairie gardens or rock gardens, where the soil is often very barren and rich in sand. The midday gold can be planted directly here. A little preparation is required in all of the remaining beds.

• Time: after the ice saints in mid-May
• Plant spacing: 15-20 centimeters
• Group planting: 4-5 plants
• Dig up and loosen the soil well.
• Mix in a very high proportion of sand or gravel.
• If the soil is wet, lay at least ten centimeters of drainage layer and plant a little above ground level.
• Planting hole: twice the pot size
• Fill up with sandy soil and press down lightly.
• Pour lightly.

Watering and fertilizing

Gazania must be watered regularly in its full sun. Above all, it is important to ensure that no waterlogging occurs. On very hot days it is therefore advisable to water very little in the morning and in the evening rather than very much once. If the flowering plants have wet feet, their roots quickly begin to rot. This inevitably leads to the death of the entire plant. Since fertilizing the midday gold only leads to increased leaf growth and a reduction in the number of flowers, a rich fertilizer should not be given. Only on extremely poor soils is it advisable to give a fertilizer containing phosphorus once a year (little long-term fertilizer).

To cut

Since the gazanie grows on its own into a bushy shrub only about 30 centimeters high, no pruning is necessary. However, dried inflorescences should be cleaned regularly. This measure stimulates the formation of new buds and can thus delay flowering until late autumn.

Bucket and balcony planting

The midday gold is also ideal for planting in pots, window boxes and bowls on a sunny terrace or a south-facing balcony. Here the flowers can be cultivated together with other sun-hungry plants. In order for you to feel comfortable, the following should be observed:

• Always create a drainage layer made of expanded clay or gravel.
• Mix half of normal potting soil with sand or fine split.
• Alternatively, use cactus soil.
• Water only moderately, soil may also dry out for a short time.
• Do not fertilize.
• Only socialize with plants that need similar conditions.

Planting example for a balcony box one meter wide:

• 2 x hussar buttons
• 2x midday gold
• 2 x yellow sunshine
• 2 x convertible roses
• 1 x magic bell

Dry stone walls
In addition to the classic plantings in beds, rock gardens or balcony boxes, Gazania can also occupy particularly original places: They even like to spread in the joints of dry stone walls. Ideal for every gardener who wants to add an unusual accent to his Mediterranean garden.

Propagation by seeds

Midday gold can be grown very easily from seeds. It is not worthwhile to propagate the seeds from your own Gazania in the garden. There are several reasons for this. The seeds from the hybrids are often not capable of germination, and prominent color features recede quickly. But if you want, you are welcome to test it. Maybe one or the other interesting color variant will develop. It is easier to buy new seeds from specialist retailers so that the joy of the beautiful plant remains undimmed. The bushy flower is a light germinator, so the seeds must not be covered with soil.

• Time: January to early April
• Germination temperature: 18-22 degrees
• Soil: Slightly humic potting soil with a high proportion of sand
• Do not cover seeds with soil.
• Place in light until germination.
• Germination time: about 15 days
• Just keep it slightly moist.
• Use a mini greenhouse or cover the pot with a transparent plastic bag (with a few holes).
• Daily ventilation prevents the growth of mold.
• Prick out after a few weeks (repot in individual plant pots).
• Time: when the plants have four to six leaflets.
• Be careful not to damage the tender roots.
• From the beginning of May slowly get used to the field (during the day).
• Plant outdoors from mid-May.

In order for the plants to be particularly vigorous, it is necessary that they receive enough light from germination. However, they should never be exposed to direct sunlight, as this can lead to burns and dehydration. A window sill in front of an east window is best. If the young plants have too little light, this is shown by rapid growth and thin shoots with large spacing between the leaves.

Annual or perennial?

In the classical sense, the gardener understands annual plants to be species that germinate, bloom and form seeds within a single vegetation period. Then they die. These plants are often herbaceous and rarely show lignification because they do not have to survive the cold winter. Annuals also include plants that only have a very short life expectancy in our latitudes. This short life expectancy is almost always due to the lack of frost resistance. This also includes the midday gold. Although they can be brought into the house for the winter, the midday gold often suffers from the long lack of sun. As a rule, the plants then no longer show themselves to be as floriferous in the following years. That is why they are equated with annuals in trade,

Overwinter

In warm climates that do not have cold winters, it develops into a perennial bush. In their homeland, the midday gold is one of the perennial plants that usually do not grow older than a few years. In local latitudes, the midday gold is treated like an annual plant, as many gardeners shy away from the trouble of digging it up every fall and hibernating it indoors. However, this is absolutely necessary, because the midday gold does not survive strong frosts.

• Dig up the plant with the root ball in autumn.
• Put in a suitable saucepan.
• Location: bright, but no direct sun
• Temperature: 5-10 degrees
• Water regularly little.
• Keep the root ball dry, but never let it dry out completely.
• From April slowly get used to the cool temperatures (harden).
• Bring it into the house at night and when it is cold.
• Put outdoors from mid-May (Eisheiligen).

Diseases and pests

Wilted plants were usually either too much watered or their location is simply too dark. It always depends on the individual case whether the plants recover. Once the roots are rotten, rescue usually comes too late. In poor site conditions, the Gazania are also often attacked by aphids or mites, which can visibly damage the leaves. So you don’t have to resort to the chemical club straight away: The plant can be sprayed with soapy water so that the pests die off. In addition, a check of the ground and light conditions is appropriate. Powdery mildew and gray mold always occur when the soil is poorly ventilated. If necessary, work expanded clay or gravel into the soil. An old home remedy against the infestation: whole milk with water (ratio 1:

Conclusion
There are many colorful plants for gardens and balconies – but only a few that can withstand both the blazing sun and barren soil. However, the gazanie is almost perfect for these inhospitable conditions. It requires little maintenance and even thrives in the narrow cracks of dry stone walls. But although the midday gold loves dryness, it has to be poured regularly. The color variations range from rich yellow and orange to pink and pink tones and creamy white. They are available both in one color and in multiple colors.