Cleome, commonly referred to as "spider flower" or "spider plant", is a hardy shrub that thrives in hot, humid weather. The plant can be started indoors or outdoors, but either way, it's easy enough to care for.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Planting Seeds Indoors
Step 1. Know when to start
If you decide to start cleome early, you should prepare to sow the seeds indoors, between mid-February and late March.
- Ideally, seeds started indoors should be sown about four to six weeks before outdoor transplantation is planned.
- While cleome can be seeded indoors early, many gardeners find that plants thrive best when sown outdoors.
Step 2. Fill small containers with soil
For best results, choose a seed potting mix rather than a standard garden solution. Fill the containers with soil leaving the soil loose and without pressing.
Plastic seedling trays are recommended, but small plastic cups, plastic pots, or ceramic pots could also be used. Regardless of the peculiarities of the material, try to start with a container that is no more than 10 cm in diameter
Step 3. Sow the seeds on the surface
Make a shallow 6mm indentation into the soil with your fingertip, then place a seed inside. Sprinkle the seeds with a very light layer of soil.
- If you are using trays for small seedlings, plant one seed per compartment.
- If you are planting the seeds of a slightly larger plant, make sure the seeds are 2.5cm apart.
Step 4. Seal and refrigerate for two weeks
Place the sown seeds and their containers in large plastic bags, then transfer the bags to the refrigerator. Keep the seeds there for two weeks.
- This part of the process, known as vernalization, takes advantage of the plant's natural ability to thrive when transferred from cold temperatures to warm temperatures and mimics what happens in nature.
- Keep the seeds in the refrigerator only, though. Do not use the freezer. Do not allow frost to form, and do not allow the soil to dry out.
Step 5. Remove and keep warm until germination
The seeds should be kept in a warm, irradiated place every day with direct sunlight.
- The soil temperature must be kept between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius during this period.
- Bottom heat sources work best. Consider storing the containers on top of a heat mat designed to be used for plants.
- If you are not providing heat from the bottom, at least make sure the seeds stay in a room that is continually kept warm.
- Usually, the seeds will germinate within a week or two once they are moved to a warm area.
Step 6. Keep the soil moist
Spray the soil with water from a spray bottle as the seeds prepare to germinate.
- The soil must remain constantly moist during this time, but at no point should it be allowed to flood. Do not give the seeds so much water that puddles can form on the ground.
- Make sure the soil remains moist throughout the entire germination process.
Part 2 of 4: Transplant the seedlings
Step 1. Choose a good location
Cleome seedlings ideally should be planted in full sun. Areas with very light shade are also acceptable.
- For best results, choose a spot with soil that drains well. Since cleome grows well in most soil types, however, it is not necessary to amend the soil before transplanting the seedlings.
- If you plant the cleome in a bed with other flowers, plant it in the back as it tends to stretch.
Step 2. Wait for the frost to pass
You should wait three to four weeks after the last frost in your area before transplanting cleome seedlings.
- Usually, this means waiting until the end of April.
- It is also necessary to make sure that the seedlings have stabilized enough to be transplanted. The seedlings are ready to be transplanted once they are at least 5 cm tall.
Step 3. Dig shallow holes
Use a garden shovel to dig a hole that is roughly the same depth as the seedling container. The hole, however, needs to be slightly wider than this original container.
Space the plants apart, keeping about 5 cm of space between each one
Step 4. Carefully remove the seedlings from their containers
Slide the garden shovel between the side of the container and the soil inside. Slide along the circumference of the container to free the soil from the sides, then slowly extract the earth mass, the seedling and everything else from the pot.
- It may be easier to tilt the container on its side to do this.
- If you are using plastic seedling trays or other thin plastic containers, you can clear the seedlings by simply squeezing the plastic sideways and pushing the soil inside upwards.
Step 5. Place the seedlings in the holes you have prepared
Gently place each seedling in each prepared hole. Fill the rest of the hole with more soil.
- Lightly tap the soil around the seedling to secure and stabilize the seedling.
- Water the soil lightly after transplanting the seedling. It should be completely moist, but not soggy.
Part 3 of 4: Planting the Seeds Directly Outdoors
Step 1. Know when to start
If you decide to sow directly outdoors instead of starting early, you need to wait until late April, or three to four weeks after the last frost in your area.
- Note that the end of April is the cut-off to start sowing outdoors, but you can continue sowing thereafter until May.
- Sowing seeds directly outdoors is really recommended for cleome plants.
- Some of the best strains to choose for direct outdoor planting include Cherry Queen, Mauve Queen, Pink Queen, Purple Queen, Rose Queen and Ruby Queen.
Step 2. Choose the right position
Cleome grows best in full sun or light shade.
- These flowers can grow in most soil types, but the best soil for cleomes will be soil that drains well.
- When planting cleomes in a mixed flower bed, consider planting them towards the back of the bed. Cleomes tend to grow taller than most flowers.
Step 3. Prepare the area
Pull all weeds out of the ground and remove any debris, such as rocks, wood, etc.
Although cleome grows best in well-draining soils, you don't have to amend the soil in your garden, even if it's not loose and well-draining. Cleome can survive in a wide range of soil types
Step 4. Sow the seeds on the soil surface
Use your fingertip to indent the ground no deeper than 6mm. Drop a seed into the indent, then sprinkle a very light, small amount of soil on top.
- The seeds should be sown at a distance of 2.5 - 7.5 cm from the others.
- If the soil is too hard to press with your finger, you could use the tip of a small garden spade.
Step 5. Water well
After sowing the seeds, you should keep the soil moist by watering lightly with a small amount of water from a watering can or a spray bottle.
- "Misting" through a garden pump nozzle can also be used.
- At no point should the ground be flooded. Avoid leaving puddles of water on the surface.
Step 6. Thin the seedlings when they sprout
When the cleome plants are about 2, 5-5 cm tall, extract the weakest looking seedlings so that there can be 2, 5 to 3, 8 cm of empty space between the stronger ones.
- Pull out weak seedlings gently and carefully. If you use too much force, you may accidentally tear off some seedlings you want to keep as well.
- Note that the seeds should germinate within 7-14 days.
Part 4 of 4: Taking Care of the Cleome
Step 1. Water only as needed
Once the seedlings have established, you can usually let nature provide. You will only have to water the cleome if there is a period of drought.
- Note that cleomes need to be watered roughly every other day while they are still stabilizing. During this time, keep the soil moist regularly on the surface, but don't soak. If there are puddles of water on the soil surface, you have watered too much.
- After the seedlings have established, they only need about 2.5cm or so of water per week. Normal rains should resolve, but if this doesn't happen, gently water the seedlings with a watering can or sprinkler set on a garden pump.
Step 2. Add a layer of mulch
Spread a thin layer of mulch around the plants after they have established. The layer should be about 2.5 cm thick.
- Keep the mulch from touching the stems. If the mulch comes into contact with the stems, moisture can build up and the stems can rot.
- Mulching can be very beneficial for the overall health of your cleome bed. A layer of mulch can prevent weeds from popping out as they insulate the soil on cold days.
Step 3. Fertilize regularly
Cleome will usually survive without additional fertilizer, but if your soil quality is poor, applying a dose of fertilizer once in early spring and once in midsummer can be of great benefit to the flowers.
Choose a balanced fertilizer, labeled for all uses related to garden flowers and apply it according to the instructions on the label
Step 4. Beware of parasites
Pests aren't a common problem for cleome, but insects attacking the stems can be a problem, especially if you live in a humid climate.
- If you observe these insects or other pests on plants, buy an appropriate external pesticide labeled for use against these insects.
- Test the pesticide on a small section of the plant to make sure it doesn't destroy the plant itself. Once it looks safe, follow the label instructions and apply the pesticide over all infested areas of the plant, focusing on the stems.
Step 5. Prune if necessary
Once established, the cleome will naturally self-inseminate by dropping the seeds. To prevent plants from spreading and taking over your garden, you should eliminate the flower heads before all the seeds can mature.
