Le Plumbago (Plumbago auriculata syn. plumbing bag capensis) or Cape Dental belongs to the family of Plumbaginaceae. Originally from South Africa, this climbing shrub semi-evergreen is much sought after for its rapid growth and the beauty of its sky blue flowers, more rarely white. Let’s take stock of the best conditions for growing this beautiful shrubby climber certainly chilly but easy to maintain and let’s see how to obtain abundant flowering.
Plant a Plumbago (Cape Plumbago)
This is in spring or even at the end of September, early fallthat the Plumbago can be planted.
For a culture in the groundwe proceed as follows.
- Dig a sufficiently wide and deep hole, about three times the dimensions of the clod.
- Soak the root ball in a container of water for a good 2 hours to rehydrate it well.
- During this time, mix the garden soil extracted from the hole either with good quality planting soil, or with mature compost and river sand, gravel or even pebbles, which makes it possible to obtain good drainage.
- Install the plant in the center of the hole, ensuring that the top of the root ball is flush with the level of the ground.
- Fill with the mixture.
- Tamp.
- Water copiously.
Immediately after planting, it is useful to lay a mulch at the foot of the Dentelaire du Cap to limit the proliferation of weeds but also to keep the soil cool longer. This therefore allows on the one hand to spend less time weeding and on the other hand to water less frequently.
Pour plant a plumbago in potthe method is simple and proceeds as follows.
- Hydrate the root ball for about 2 hours by immersing it in a large container full of water.
- Choose a container approximately 35 cm high and in diameter, which must imperatively have a pierced bottom. It is useless to opt for a tank that is too big because the Dentelaire du Cap appreciates being a little cramped.
- Place at the bottom of the pot a sail in order to retain the compost then a drainage layer clay pebbles or pebbles.
- Add potting soil for Mediterranean plants. Failing this, you can use a potting soil for flowering plants which should be lightened either with medium-grained sand or with perlite.
- Install the plant in the center of its container.
- Position a tutor.
- Fill with the rest of the potting soil.
- Tamp down without damaging the foot.
- Water generously.
Here again, it is advisable to deposit a small drainage layer on the surface of the substrate.
Grow a Plumbago
Easy to grow the Plumbago is a marvel. Please under the sun all day, love it heat and prefers to be installed in light soil, sufficiently humus and perfectly drained. However, it is undemanding in terms of soil quality, and can tolerate ordinary soil quite well.
It is a shrubby climber that requires a trellising on which one fixes its branches without tightening them. It is necessary to guide them afterwards, as they grow. In a short time, the Plumbago forms a spectacular plant curtain which is adorned with hundreds of flowers in summer.
Entertain sa Dentelaire du Cap (Plumbago)
Any gardener, even inexperienced, can plant a Plumbago, because this shrubby climber does not pose no particular problem. It is even very easy to grow.
Water
Watering is done with rain water. It is especially during the two years following its planting in the ground that the Plumbago must benefit fromregular watering in summer. Of course, afterwards, it will still be necessary to ensure that the earth remains cool. Note, however, that it tolerates drought fairly well, but in the event of a lack of water, its flowering is less spectacular.
As for the potted Plumbago, it needs to be watered every 2 or 3 days from June until the end of September. Watering must of course be spaced out the rest of the time. The main thing is that at no time can its substrate become completely dry.
Fertiliser
Every two weeks, a fertilizer for flowering plants is very useful to support the growth of the Dentelaire du Cap and to obtain an abundant flowering. Be careful, however, not to abuse it: you should no longer fertilize this shrubby climber as soon as the flowering season is over.
Protect
Chilly, the Plumbago resents the absence of protection during its first three or four years. This is why mulching is important, as well as the use of a winter veil.
It can withstand temperatures of -6°C for short periods provided it is well rooted. It is therefore understandable why outside the Mediterranean rim it is preferable to opt for cultivation in pots because this allows it to be brought in from the first frosts in a frost-free room where the ambient temperature is around 7°C.
Cut
In the spring, a small size can be carried out to tame the plant. This maintenance pruning annual makes it possible to remove dead wood, the lateral ramifications which form beyond the 3th eye (this bud must be facing outwards). The goal is to ventilate the heart of the shrub so that air and heat can penetrate it.
We take advantage of this pruning session to reposition or modify the trellising according to the shape and extent of the Plumbago.
Pests and diseases
This shrub is not prone to pests. At most, it is sometimes the prey of scale insects and aphids. As far as diseases are concerned, it is especially sensitive to the chlorosis. Also, Dantelaire du Cap should always be watered with rainwater, whether grown in the ground or in a pot.
Flowering Plumbago
The flowering of this climbing plant is spectacular. The flowers are a beautiful azure blue of great delicacy. They flourish all summer long and the flowering of the Plumbago can even be prolonged until the end of October weather permitting. Placed sheltered from cold winds and well exposed to the sun, the plant is an extremely decorative element because of this long-lasting flowering.
It is recommended to remove faded flowers as it greatly favors the formation of new flowers, and not to neglect watering especially in times of drought. To create a nice color palette, you can multiply the varieties of plumbing bag taking care of course to satisfy each of them by respecting their specificities in terms of exposure.