Can I grow gaura from seed?
Gaura can also be grown for transplanting in autumn, which insures flowers the following summer. Or direct sow in early spring or early autumn. Seeds should germinate in 14-30 days. Just cover the small seeds, and germinate at 18°-24°C (65°-75°F). The quickest and easiest way to propagate gaura is by cuttings, which can be taken any time during the growing season. Find non-flowering shoots 5-10cm long and snip off the plant. Put them in a plastic bag straight away to prevent drying out.The best way to propagate gaura is with softwood cuttings. Use a clean, sharp pair of secateurs to cut 15-20cm lengths of stem from the base of the plant just below a node (leaf joint). Strip all the foliage from the stems, leaving a pair of leaves at the top.Now, place your cutting into a clean jar or glass of fresh water. Make sure at least one bare node is fully submerged. That’s all for today! Join me tomorrow for Part 2 where we’ll talk about ongoing care and what to look for as your Gaura cutting begins to root.For the best chances of overwintering gaura, cut it back in autumn and apply a thick mulch of straw to protect it from frost, or lift the whole plant and overwinter it in a pot in a cold greenhouse.
Can I plant Gaura in the fall?
Gaura can be grown from seed or nursery starts. Plant when all danger of frost is past. Varieties grown as an annual should be planted in spring. Perennial varieties can be planted in spring or fall in warmer zones, and are best planted in spring in cooler regions to allow time to become established. Start Gaura seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before the last expected frost, or outdoors in early spring. Some gardeners recommend giving these seeds a 60 day cold treatment before planting, which can also be performed by sowing the seeds in autumn.
Will Gaura flower first year?
Gaura will produce leaves in the first year and often a small display of flowers. If they do not produce flowers in the first year, providing they have grown healthy foliage they will start flowering well in the second year. Yes, all the gaura we sell are herbaceous perennials, meaning they die down in winter and come back into growth in spring. Do you cut back gaura? This is best done in spring, though autumn is also fine (you will just miss out on the cool season foliage colour; see ‘Pruning and Deadheading’ section above).Gaura is a short-lived herbaceous perennial. Good drainage is essential for plants to overwinter. In colder regions, gaura can be grown as an annual.