Verbena plant: care

Verbena plants are from the Verbenaceae family. These are annual plants that have a fairly long lifespan and are currently widespread throughout practically the entire planet. When talking about the verbena plant, it is common to refer to the verbena officinalis, although sometimes it is one of its other types. In addition to this, these are some of the main characteristics of the verbena plant:

• This great diversity of species is due to its great capacity for mutation, which is given by the great resistance of the plant to very different conditions.
• Most verbenas are low ground or creeping plants that do not exceed 25 cm in height.
• They show leaves opposite each other, and give beautiful and striking flowers that are usually in violet or purple tones, but that can be of very different colors depending on the specific species, and that tend to be uniform throughout the plantation.
• In a temperate climate, this plant can bloom all year.
• Due to these characteristics, it is very common to see the verbena plant decorating both potted interiors, gardens and even large meadows.
• Centerpieces and other types of decorations with their flowers are also popular, for which the remains of pruning can be used.

If you like these plants and the fact that they can have flowers throughout four seasons, we recommend you learn about more plants of this type in this other EcologíaVerde article on 11 plants that bloom all year round.

Although the verbena plant is so adaptable and resistant, one that is in its optimal conditions will always look better and grow better. Follow these instructions on basic verbena plant care if you want yours to be as healthy as possible.

• Climate: temperate or hot.
• Light and location: It needs a lot of sunlight but not the direct incidence of strong midday sun. Put it in partial shade if it is in a climate with very high temperatures and in the sun if the weather is warm or a little cold.
• Substrate: it must be light and with good drainage.
• Irrigation: it does not tolerate waterlogging, so it is better to water when you see dry land for two days.
• Pruning: it needs 2 or 3 prunings a year.

As we have already said, verbena grows throughout much of the planet, so there are few climates that it cannot tolerate. However, its optimal conditions are those of a hot or temperate climatewhich is where it will develop best.

In fact, this plant blooms in the summer months, and it does it more and better when it is in an area of ​​high temperatures. What it hardly tolerates, on the other hand, is very cold weather. Frost is very likely to kill the verbena plant, and low temperatures with strong winds can also do quite a bit of damage.

Taking into account what was said in the previous section, it is convenient to locate the verbenas in a point where they are protected from low temperatures and the wind. When it comes to the light they need, they will appreciate receiving a good amount of natural lightbut if the sun in the area is intense, they will be better placed in a semi-shade area.

Indoors, place them in a well-lit room but a little away from the window. Outdoors, look for an area where they receive light but are covered by the hours of greatest influence, that is, midday.

As with so many other plants that do not require a lot of humidity, the main thing when preparing the soil or substrate for verbena is that it offers a good drainage. Verbena does not tolerate excess moisture on its roots, so sandy soil that provides adequate drainage is essential. follow these tips on the substrate for the verbena plant depending on whether you have it on the ground outdoors or in a pot indoors:

• If you plant outdoors, make sure that the area you choose drains rainwater or irrigation water well. If it soaks it up quickly without getting waterlogged, the ground will do. Prepare the soil by loosening it to aerate it and make it lighter, and you can enrich it with some organic fertilizer. If it doesn’t offer enough drainage, you can improve it by adding sand to the soil.
• In the case of indoor pots, practically any light substrate will work, although we recommend the mixture of coconut fiber, peat and earthworm humus, with the addition of perlite. This is a very light and optimal universal substrate for most plants.

Given the does not tolerate excess moisture, you should not water the verbena too often. Ideally, you should water it only when the earth has been dry for a couple of daysa condition that tends to occur approximately every week, although it depends on the climate and the soil.

Never water to puddles and, if you have the verbena in a pot, make sure that the container has drainage holes and that you remove the excess water from the saucer below the pot after watering.

Verbena appreciates receiving a pruning of up to 3 times a year.

• The first is done in spring, which is when the first flowers appear, and you must prune them all. Do this without fear, as it is done to stimulate the flowering of the plant and it will not take long for more to come out.
• Another pruning must be done in summer.
• You will also need fall pruning.

You can use the pruned stems as cuttings, which will take root without too much trouble, or for centerpieces or decorations.

If you want to read more articles similar to Verbena plant: carewe recommend that you enter our category .