Cleome, also known as spider flower or bee plant, is a unique and attractive flowering plant that can add beauty to your garden. Here’s a guide on how to grow and care for Cleome:
1. Planting:
- Choose a sunny location: Cleome prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade.
- Soil: Well-draining soil is essential. Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and fertility.
- Sowing seeds: Cleome is usually grown from seeds. Directly sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date in your area. Alternatively, you can start seeds indoors a few weeks before the last frost and transplant them once they have grown a few inches tall.
2. Watering:
- Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, especially during the germination and establishment phases. Once established, Cleome is somewhat drought-tolerant.
3. Fertilizing:
- Fertilize with a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer when planting. You can also apply a diluted liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
4. Pruning:
- Deadheading: To encourage continuous blooming, regularly remove spent flowers (deadhead). This prevents the plant from using energy to produce seeds and redirects it towards new growth and flower production.
- Pinching: If your Cleome plants become leggy, you can pinch back the tips of the stems to encourage bushier growth.
5. Support:
- Cleome can grow quite tall and may require support. Consider using stakes or other support structures to prevent the plants from flopping over.
6. Pest and Disease Management:
- Cleome is generally resistant to most pests and diseases, but it can occasionally be affected by aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. Regularly inspect your plants and treat any infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil.
- Provide adequate spacing between plants to improve air circulation and reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
7. Overwintering:
- Cleome is typically grown as an annual, but in warmer climates, it may overwinter as a short-lived perennial. In colder regions, you can collect seeds from your plants at the end of the season to save for planting the following year.
8. Attracting Beneficial Insects:
- Cleome flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, making them a great addition to pollinator-friendly gardens.
9. Companion Planting:
- Cleome can be planted alongside other annuals and perennials that have similar sun and water requirements. Consider companions like zinnias, marigolds, salvia, and rudbeckia.
10. Mulching:
- Apply a layer of organic mulch around your Cleome plants to help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and maintain even soil temperatures.
Remember that Cleome self-seeds quite readily, so if you allow some flowers to mature and produce seeds, you may find new plants popping up in the garden next year. It’s a good practice to thin out excess seedlings if they become too crowded.
