Hairy Kocanka , due to its creeping shoots, covered with felt leaves, it is perfect as a potted or ground cover plant. The easy-to-grow Helichrysum is a background for various plant species, especially ornamental flowers or leaves. Find out more about theproperties of the Helichrysumand find out whatgrows the Helichrysumin the garden. We suggest ways tobreeding Helichrysumand explain how to winter it.
Hairy Kocanka - Helichrysum petiolare
Photo. depositphotos.com
What does a woolly hell look like?
The Hairy Kocanka(Helichrysum petiolare) belongs to the Asteraceae family. It comes from South Africa and is a perennial species in its natural environment. Due to the high thermal requirements, in Poland the Helichrysum is usually grown as an annual plant.
The woolly hell grows up to 45 cm in height , and its shoots can reach 1 m in length. The creeping shoots are covered with small, elliptical leaves. The entire plant is covered with short hairs that prevent water loss and protect against harsh sunlight. Thanks to this, this plant has low water requirements.
Small, pale yellowHelichrysum flower basketsappear in summer. Flowers with a honey scent, not very decorative, attract various pollinating insects. Helichrysum seeds are small, light, with a tuft of bristly hairs at one end. They are easily blown by the wind.
Kocanka does not bloom very effectively, and itsmain advantage is decorative, felt leaves , silvery or golden, growing on creeping shoots.
Where to plant the Woolly Helichrysum?
Hairy kittens are usually planted in containersaccompanied by species with spectacular flowers or colorful leaves, such as: celosia, Blume's coleus, geraniums, marigolds or lobelia. On the bed
the woolly hell is perfectas a ground cover plant. It quickly fills in empty spaces, matching well with species such as: spotted lily, Guinea impatiens, garden speedwell, marigold and cornea.
Hairy Kocanka - Helichrysum petiolare
Photo. depositphotos.com
Kocanka hairy - properties
Unlike its cousin, the Helichrysum arenarium, the Helichrysum arenarium is not used medicinally in Poland.In Africa, where it comes from, it is used to treat asthma, colds and coughs. The inhaled smoke from the burnt leaves of the Helichrysum Worm is considered an analgesic. Smoke from a mixture of Wormwood and Wormwood leaves effectively repels flies and mosquitoes.
Kocanka hairy - cultivation
The woolly blanket likes warm and sunny positionsIt is therefore an excellent plant for a sunny balcony. It can also be grown in partial shade, but it won't bloom very profusely. It prefers well-drained, fertile and fairly moist soil. The Helichrysum is not particularly sensitive to soil pH and grows well in the range from slightly acidic to alkaline pH 5.5-7.2.
Kocanka woolly - watering and fertilizing
The Kocanka does not like shedding(it causes rotting of the roots), or drying out (causes the ends of the shoots to wilt). The plant requires regular, but not too abundant watering, more often in container cultivation.Do not water the plants until the top layer of the substrate is dry.When watering Helichrysum , avoid soaking the leaves as this plant is easily infected by fungal diseases. Every 1-2 weeks we can supply the plants with multi-component fertilizers.
Hairy Kocanka - Helichrysum petiolare
Photo. depositphotos.com
Hairy blanket - trimming
The Helichrysum grows quickly, therefore it is recommendedtrim the Helichrysum woolly 2-3 times per season . This allows you to maintain a nice habit and an appropriate density of the plant. If we pinch the tops of the shoots, the plant will branch out nicely.
Kocanka woolly - wintering
Kocanka does not tolerate a temperature drop below 0 ° C.For the winter, we can move the helletteto a cool (10-15 ° C), bright room and try to store it until the next year.However, this is not done very often and the plants are usually kept only for the purpose of picking cuttings from them.
Hairy Kocanka - reproduction
After the season, the woolly blanket is transferred to a cool (10-15 ° C), bright room, and in February, the cuttings are taken from the tops of the shoots. They easily root in a permeable substrate. It can be, for example, peat mixed with sand. The optimal temperature for rooting Helichrysum is 23-25 ° C. Peel the rooted cuttings to make them more beautiful. We plant them permanently in the second half of May, when the risk of frost has passed.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
