Info about Florists
Growing Spider Flower in Your Garden
Spider flower, also known as Cleome is a annual plant. The plant got its nickname as spider flower because of the flower resemblance as a spider. The waving stamens on the strong leafy stems are responsible for creating the spidery like flowers. Spider flower will germinate and die within one year. Spider flower is usually planted in sets of dozens to create a natural look. The plant can reach up to 6 feet in height. Some of the popular spider flower varieties include Cleome hasslerana, Cleome spinosa, Pink Queen and Cleome Helen Campbell. Helen Campbell produces white blossoms. Cleome spinosa produce a rose color blossoms. Sparkler is a newer strain of flowers which can grows up to 6 feets.
Before growing spider flower, you must buy the young plant from the garden nursery. The plants must show no signs of dry or wilting leaves. Healthy spider flower plants must have lots of leaves.
After that, you can choose a planting site. The planting site must be exposed to the full sunlight. To obtain the best result, the soil must be rich in organic composts. The soil on the site must be well drained.
The best time to sow the seedlings is in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. The plant should be spaced 1 – 2 feet apart. Generally, the spider flowers are grouped in eight.
After planting, you must water it thoroughly until the soil become moisture. You can mulch the soil to improve the drainage system and prevent weeds. If the plant is located grown in a windy sites, you can use a stake to support it.
You should fertilize the plants every 6 – 8 weeks. During planting, you can fertilize the plant with a slow release fertilizer or compost. The shorter and bushier spider flower varieties should be place in front to hide away the long stems. During the late summer, you must water the plant more often to prevent stunted growth.
Alternatively, you can plant germinate spider flower seeds indoors about 1 month before the last frost. The germination will take approximately ten days. After 1 month, you can transfer the seedlings to a location in the garden. On the night before transferring the seedlings, you can bring the container outside so that they can be hardened off. In the next day, you can move the seedlings into the ground and plant them.
Cleome will reseed by itself. The seed will remains dormant until the spring season. Cleome can stand the hot weather and performs well in the summer. At the end of summer, the leaves on the lower stems will drop and be covered by other plants. You don’t have to provide staking for the plants. Cleome is seldom attacked by insect pests or plant diseases. However, you should protect cleome from the strong wind. Spider flowers will make a great addition to your garden. They are also frequently visited by the butterflies and hummingbirds who are after the nectar in the flower.