Growing Gomphrena Flowers
Gomphrena: Add An Instant Jolt of Excitement in Your Garden!
Gomphrena (gomphrena globosa) may sound a bit odd, but if you want a wonderful add-on to your home garden then you may as well get used to this name. The gomphrena flower is also known as the globe flower or globe amaranth, and is native to Panama and Guatemala.
As the name suggests, the gomphrena produces globe-shaped blossoms with papery bracts in dainty shades of lavender, purple, pink, red, magenta, blue, orange and white.
The gomphrena’s unique texture and beauty are highly valued for dried flower or cut flower arrangements. A gomphrena can reach about 25cm to 45cm in height and each tiny bloom measures about 1 inch in diameter.
Each gomphrena plant can produce dozens of showy flower heads from midsummer to frost, displaying a serene view.
What’s more? This sun-loving plant attracts a variety of butterflies to your home garden— a perfect mix to brighten up your landscape effortlessly!
Gomphrena Propagation
Gomphrena grow easily from seed. Here are some tips on how to propagate gomphrena through germination. Take note: Start this process eight weeks before the last frost.
Seed tray preparation – Scatter the seeds over equal parts of sand, potting soil and peat moss mixed together. Water carefully. Prevent the soil from crusting by covering the seed tray with a plastic bag. This will hold in the moisture. Gomphrena seeds need light to germinate. Place the tray in a bright place, but not in direct sunlight as excessive sun exposure may damage the sprouts. Full sun will also keep the soil warm. Once the spouts begin to emerge, remove the cover.
Thin the sprouts – Keep the soil damp while the sprouts undergo thinning. When the seedlings reach about 2-3 inches high, transfer them carefully into a bigger container so they do not crowd each other in the seeding tray. Make sure not to injure the seedlings.
Transplant the seedlings – Gomphrena will flourish best in a sunny spot outdoor if planted in warm and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant but it does not survive wet and soggy soil. Get ready to transplant gomphrena seedlings into your home garden or a nice spot in your home. Allow 10-12 inches spacing between each plant.
How To Grow Gomphrena
Once established, the gomphrena plant is actually maintenance-free. But if you want a healthy, deeply-colored full plant, it’s best to give your gomphrena plant some extra pampering.
Although gomphrena can tolerate hot and dry weather, don’t forget to provide sufficient water to saturate the root zone. To stress again, they do not like wet soil, so don’t water the plant again until the soil dries.
Pinch off the branches while it is young to promote a bushier exterior. Also, pinch off wilted blooms. This will not only keep your plants neat and lovely but also prevent the gomphrena from seeding too early. The proper way to deadhead is by pinching the faded bloom with your fingernail, including the attached stem down to the succeeding bloom or leaf.
How do you get new seeds for the next spring? The dried flower heads will form new seeds and these often germinate on their own.
