Cleome, commonly referred to as "spider flower" or "spider plant," is a hardy flowering shrub that can survive warm and humid weather. This plant can be started indoors or outdoors, and wherever it is, it is quite easy to care for.
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Method 1 of 4: Part One: Planting Seeds in the Early Years Indoors
Step 1. Know the right time to start planting
If you decide to start planting cleomes early in the year, you should be ready to sow the seeds indoors between mid-February and late March.
- Ideally seeds grown indoors are sown four to six weeks before you plan to transplant them outside.
- While cleome can be sown early in the year indoors, many gardening enthusiasts believe that it grows best when sown outdoors.
Step 2. Fill a small pot with soil
For best results, instead of using ordinary planting media, it is better to choose a special planting medium for seeds. Fill the pot with loose planting media only; do not compact.
It is recommended to use a plastic sprout tray, but you can also use a small plastic cup, a small plastic pot, or a small ceramic pot. Whatever you choose, use a container no more than 10 cm in diameter or length
Step 3. Spread the seeds on the soil surface
Make a shallow ditch about 6 mm deep in the soil with your finger, dropping the seeds into it. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil.
- If you are using small sprout trays, plant one seed in each box.
- If you are planting seeds in a slightly larger container, make sure the seeds are 2.5 cm apart from each other.
Step 4. Cover and refrigerate for two weeks
Put the seeds that have been planted in pots in a large plastic bag, then transfer them to the refrigerator. Leave the seeds in the refrigerator for two weeks.
- This part of the process, known as "verbalization," takes advantage of the plant's natural ability to grow well in cold temperatures and then into warmer temperatures, and mimics what happens in nature.
- Store the seeds in the refrigerator only. Do not use the freezer (freezer). Do not allow ice to form, and do not allow the soil to dry out.
Step 5. Remove the seeds and keep them warm until they germinate
Seeds should be stored in a warm place that receives regular direct sunlight.
- The soil temperature should be kept between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius at this time.
- A heat source from the bottom or bottom of the pot is best. You can place the seed container on a heat mat designed for the plant.
- If you do not have a heat source from below, at least make sure the seeds are kept in a room that is always warm.
- Usually, the seeds will germinate within a week or two of being moved to a warm area.
Step 6. Keep the soil moist
Spray the soil with water from a spray bottle just as the seeds are about to germinate.
- The soil should be kept moist at this time, but at no point should the soil be allowed to become waterlogged. Do not water the seeds with too much water so that puddles form on the soil surface.
- Make sure the soil remains moist throughout the germination process.
Method 2 of 4: Part Two: Transferring Sprouts
Step 1. Choose a good location
Ideally, cleome sprouts should be planted in a place that gets full sun. Areas that have little shade can also be used.
- For best results, choose a site with good drainage. Because cleome grows well in most types of soil, you don't need to till the soil before transplanting the sprouts.
- If you are growing cleomes with other flowering plants, plant the cleomes in the back, as these plants tend to grow taller.
Step 2. Wait for the frost to pass
You should wait three to four weeks after the last frost has passed in your area before transplanting cleome sprouts.
- Usually this means you have to wait until the end of April.
- You also need to make sure the sprouts are firm enough to move. Sprouts are ready to be moved when they reach 5 cm in height.
Step 3. Dig a shallow hole
Use a garden shovel to dig a hole that is about as deep as the sprout container. The hole should be slightly wider than the original container.
Leave some space between the sprouts. Leave a distance of approximately 5 cm between each other
Step 4. Remove the sprouts from the original container carefully
Insert the shovel between the container and the cistern inside. Slide the shovel until the soil is off the walls of the container, then gradually, remove the entire contents of the shovel, soil, sprouts and all, from the container.
- It will be easier to perform the steps above if you tilt the container while inserting the shovel.
- If you are using a plastic sprout tray or other thin plastic container, you will be able to get the sprouts out by simply pressing against the plastic wall and pressing the soil from below.
Step 5. Insert the sprouts into the prepared holes
Carefully place each sprout into its hole still. Fill the remaining empty hole with additional soil.
- Gently pat the soil around the sprouts to secure the new plant in position.
- Water the soil lightly after transplanting the sprouts. The soil should be completely moist, but not soggy.
Method 3 of 4: Part Three: Planting Seeds Directly Outdoors
Step 1. Know the right time to start planting
If you decide not to start planting early in the year, but instead sow the seeds directly outdoors, you will need to wait until late April, or three to four weeks after the last frost in your area.
- Keep in mind that late April is the earliest time of year for you to be able to sow outdoors, but you can continue sowing throughout the month of May.
- Sowing seeds directly outdoors is actually more recommended in growing this cleome plant.
- Some of the best varieties to choose from for planting by direct seeding outdoors are Cherry Queen, Mauve Queen, Pink Queen, Purple Queen, Rose Queen, and Ruby Queen.
Step 2. Choose the right location
Cleome grows best in full sun or with little shade.
- These flowers can grow in most types of soil, but the best soil for cleomes is one that drains the best.
- When planting cleomes in a plot of soil that also has other flower plants, you can plant it in the back. Cleome tends to grow taller than most other flowering plants.
Step 3. Prepare the planting area
Remove weeds from the soil and remove debris, such as rocks or plant stalks.
While cleomes do well in well-draining soil, you don't need to till the soil in your garden to improve the situation, even if the soil is loose and doesn't have good drainage. Cleome can survive in many types of soil
Step 4. Spread the seeds on the soil surface
Use your fingertips to make an indentation in the soil surface no more than 6mm deep. Place one seed in the basin then sprinkle a little soil on top.
- Seeds should be sown at a distance of 2.5 to 7.6 cm from each other.
- If the soil is too hard to press with your fingers, you can just use the tip of a small garden trowel.
Step 5. Water well
after sowing the seeds, you should keep the soil moist by watering it, lightly watering it with a can of jerry can or a spray bottle.
- Use the "mist (mist)" setting when you use a garden sprinkler hose so that the water that comes out is as fine as mist.
- Never flood the ground with water. Avoid the formation of puddles on the soil surface.
Step 6. Increase the distance between the seeds when they germinate
When the cleome plant reaches a height of 2.5 to 5 cm, remove the weakest visible sprouts, until there is a 2.5 to 3.8 cm gap between the strongest sprouts.
- Remove the weak sprouts gently and carefully. If you pull it too harshly, you may be able to damage some of the sprouts you want and keep it as well.
- Remember that the seeds will germinate within 7 to 14 days.
Method 4 of 4: Part Four: Caring for Cleome
Step 1. Water the plant only when needed
Once the plant is strong, you can let nature water it. You only need to water the cleom during the dry season.
- Remember that cleomes need to be watered about every two days when they are not yet strong. During this time, keep the soil moist but not soggy. If there is standing water on the surface of the soil, you have watered too much.
- Once the plants are established, they only need about 2.5 cm of water per week. Water vapor and standard natural rain should meet this need, but if not, just water the plant carefully using a can of jerry can or a water hose on a low setting.
Step 2. Add a layer of humus
Spread a thin layer of humus around the plant as it grows strong. Humus thickness should be about 2.5 cm.
- Do not let the humus touch the stems of the plant. When humus hits the stalk, the stalk can become too moist and this can cause the stalk to rot.
- Humus can help with the overall health of the soil in which cleome is grown. A layer of humus can prevent weeds from growing as well as seal the soil in cooler weather.
Step 3. Fertilize regularly
Cleomes can usually survive without additional fertilizer, but if your soil is of poor quality, adding fertilizer once in the spring and once in the summer can significantly benefit the growth of this soil.
Choose a balanced all-purpose fertilizer that is labeled for use on garden flowers, and use it according to the instructions on the label
Step 4. Keep an eye out for annoying pests
Pests are not a common problem for cleomes, but bugs burrowing into stalks can be a problem if you live in a humid climate.
- If you see stalk-piercing insects or other pests on your plants, buy a pesticide suitable for outdoor plants that has the label on the type of pest that needs to be removed.
- Test the use of pesticides on a small portion of the crop to ensure that the pesticides do not damage the plants themselves. Once it looks safe, follow the label instructions and apply the pesticide to all parts of the plant infested with pests, focusing on the stems.
Step 5. Trim as needed
Once established, cleome will reproduce itself by dropping seeds. To prevent the plant from spreading and taking over the garden, you should pick the flowers before the seeds ripen.
