The flowering time of the snowflake extends from May to October. I find it particularly nice that the shoots become quite long and then hang over the edge of the planter, sometimes up to 60 cm. The plant itself is only 10 to 15 cm high. Sutera cordata is native to South Africa. This flower has not been found in our local market for long. There it is often still offered under its old name, Sutera diffusus, or as Bacopa, which is not correct.
The snowflake flower can be easily combined with other typical and less typical balcony and container plant flowers. White goes with almost all arrangements and the colored varieties can also be used in a variety of ways. However, even a hanging basket with only one variety looks very nice, a sea of white flowers.
Table of Contents
sorts
There are new varieties every year. The flowers get bigger and bigger, the colors stronger and stronger. Of course, white remains white, but the colors keep increasing. The new varieties are also bred to cope better with heat and dry soil. So it will be interesting to see what innovations we can expect.
- Sutera Big White – white flowers
- Baristo Giga White – white large flowers (up to 3 cm in diameter)
- Everest White – also very large white flowers, tolerates heat well
- Big Pink – pink flowers, slightly darker on the inside than on the outer edges
- Pink Domino – pink flowers
- Blue Star – light blue flowers
- Everest Blue – light blue flowers with a tinge of purple, very large flowers
- Sumatra Indigo – as the name suggests, indigo-colored flowers, really strong color, very beautiful
- Britney Maroon – maroonrote Blüten
- Centurion Indigo – purple-red flowers
- Olympic Gold – yellow-leaved, is not grown for flowering, but as a structure plant
Caring for the snowflake flower
The snowflake flower is a very easy-care, permanent bloomer. It is weatherproof and very versatile. When it comes to maintenance, the location is crucial. It can’t be too sunny. Although the flower likes it warm and sunny, the bright midday heat is too much for it. This high amount of sun is also disadvantageous because in the mostly not very large window boxes and pots the earth dries out quickly in intense heat and the snowflake does not like that at all, as does constantly wet feet. These lead to root rot. Otherwise there is not much to consider. You don’t have to remove anything that has faded, nor do you have to fulfill any extra wishes. The snowflake flower is one of the uncomplicated and thankful balcony, tub and garden plants.
location
The location is important. It should be warm and sunny. On the south side, in the blazing midday sun, the snowflake flowers don’t really feel at home. They prefer an east or west side. The north is usually too dark, so the flowers are sparse. The sunnier the location, the more water the plants need. The soil must not get too dry, then the busy bloomers quickly wilt.
- Sunny and warm
- Heat isn’t that cheap
- New breeds are significantly more heat-tolerant.
- Partial shade is better than blazing midday heat
- The darker the location, the fewer flowers there will be.
Plant substrate
When it comes to the plant substrate, the snowflake flowers are much less demanding. Actually, normal earth does it. However, it is beneficial to use slightly acidic soil with a slightly higher clay content, as the plant cannot tolerate drought stress. A gardening substrate with a high proportion of white peat is ideal, but we want to get away from peat, otherwise it will run out at some point
- Potting soil or balcony potting soil is sufficient
- Keep the vent hole free
- Drainage in the bottom of the pot is beneficial
- No waterlogging
plant
There are actually no special features to consider when planting. If you overwinter the snowflake, the soil should be renewed in the spring before planting out, because it is depleted. It is true that they are not heavy consumers, but the heavily stressed soil in the container does not survive for more than a year. In the end, the plants suffer.
- Plant out or display only after the ice saints.
- Suitable for balcony boxes, buckets and troughs
- Makes itself well as a flowering ground cover and for edging
- 10 to 12 plants per square meter
Watering and fertilizing
Watering is very important again. The snowflake flower likes constantly slightly moist soil. It’s difficult to do, especially in the summer months. In any case, it is important that the substrate does not dry out completely. However, you must not drown the plants in the container. It is important that excess irrigation water can drain off.
- The sunnier the plant is, the more water it needs.
- A fairly even, always slightly moist substrate is important.
- Absolute dryness is not tolerated.
- The plant then reacts by dropping leaves or by dying off entire shoots
- Fertilize weekly with liquid fertilizer
To cut
There is hardly any need to cut. Since the snowflake cleans itself, the remnants that have faded do not have to be cleaned off. Shaking it vigorously is enough and everything falls to the ground. It is only cut before or after wintering. There can be a lot of trimming.
- Cutting is only necessary before wintering
- Otherwise something can always be trimmed back, this stimulates the flowering.
- Self-cleaning plant – does not need to be cleaned
Overwinter
Wintering is possible and not difficult at all, as long as you do everything right with watering. Too much water is definitely harmful, but so is too little. It takes some instinct.
- Not hardy
- Tolerates temperatures down to –5 ° C, but only for a short time
- Cut back before wintering
- If necessary, you can still do that in spring.
- A light and frost-free area is important.
- Temperatures between 5 and 15 ° C.
- Water regularly but moderately.
- Never let the plant balls dry out.
- The cooler the plant is, the less it has to be watered.
- Check regularly for pests and diseases.
Multiply
Propagation of the snowflake flower is easy. You can use seeds and sow them or cut cuttings. Both are pretty straightforward. In order for the flowers to bloom in time, you have to sow them in good time.
sowing
- On the windowsill early in late winter (January to March)
Cuttings
- Cut in summer
- Rooting at temperatures between 18 and 20 ° C
- Full light, not in the shade, but behind glass
- Keep evenly moist
Diseases and pests
The snowflake flower is very healthy and robust. Diseases are hardly known. Pests rarely occur and usually do not cause any major damage.
- Damage from snails is rare. However, they can occur in years with an abundance of snails.
- Otherwise, suction damage from whitefly and thrips occurs every now and then. Both can be combated by conventional means.
- The plants are particularly at risk during the winter. You have to check regularly for pests.
Conclusion
The snowflake flower is a great plant for window boxes, pots and also for outdoors. It is not a flower that pushes itself into the foreground, but rather a good companion plant. Of course, a hanging traffic light works exclusively with these plants, especially if the shoots hang far down. In combination with more colored plants, the white specimens are better placed. The brightly colored snowflake flowers also work well on their own. With them you have to be more careful that it doesn’t get too colorful. I think this plant is an asset to any box or bucket. The plants are not very demanding and great permanent bloomers. They hardly do any work and are also quite cheap to buy. I would recommend planters with an irrigation system, because the plants can always take so much water as you need. The water reservoir is also not empty that quickly, so the plant balls do not dry out immediately if it is really very hot and dry.
