Planting Guide: Didiscus (Blue Lace Flower)
Didiscus is a charming annual with a unique, lacy appearance. Native to Australia, it produces delicate, umbrella-shaped clusters of star-like flowers in shades of blue, pink, and white. Its long, slender stems make it a perfect filler for bouquets, adding a light, airy feel.
Step 1: Sowing the Seeds
- Timing is Important: Didiscus is a cool-season annual that dislikes transplanting due to its sensitivity to root disturbance. It's often recommended to direct sow seeds after the last frost date in the spring. In hot climates, sowing in the fall or winter can be more successful.
- Starting Indoors (with Caution): If you live in a cold climate and want to get a head start, you can sow seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Use biodegradable pots (like peat pots) to minimize root disturbance when transplanting.
- Germination: Sow seeds about 3mm deep. Darkness is a key factor for germination, so ensure the seeds are completely covered with soil. Germination can take 2-3 weeks.
Step 2: Choosing the Right Location
- Sunlight: Didiscus performs best in a location with full sun to part shade. In very hot climates, providing some afternoon shade can prevent the flower petals from browning.
- Soil: Choose a site with well-draining soil. While it can tolerate a range of soil conditions, it will not tolerate being waterlogged. Amend heavy soils with compost or sand to improve drainage.
- Space Appropriately: Space plants about 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart to allow for proper airflow and growth.
Step 3: Transplanting (If Started Indoors)
- Be Gentle: Because Didiscus dislikes root disturbance, be extremely gentle when transplanting. If you used biodegradable pots, simply plant the entire pot in the ground. If you used trays, carefully scoop out the entire root ball with a large spoon or trowel.
- Acclimate the Seedlings: Harden off your seedlings for about a week before planting outside to help them adjust to outdoor conditions.
Step 4: Ongoing Care
- Watering: Keep seedlings consistently moist but not soggy. Once established, Didiscus is quite drought-tolerant and needs very little water.
- Pinching: Pinch the plant's main stem when it's about 8 inches tall. This encourages the plant to branch out, resulting in more stems and more flowers for cutting.
- Support: The stems can be wispy, so providing some form of support, such as a stake or horizontal netting, can help keep them upright, especially in a cutting garden.
Step 5: Harvesting and Enjoying
- Time to Bloom: Didiscus typically takes around 90-100 days to bloom from seed.
- When to Harvest: Harvest the stems when about half to three-quarters of the tiny flowers on the umbel have opened.
- Post-Harvest Care: Cut the stems in the coolest part of the day and place them immediately into cool water. They have a good vase life of about 7-10 days.
- For the Birds: Didiscus is a great source of nectar for pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Its seeds can also provide food for birds.