How to Grow Indian Feather Plant | Growing Gaura in India

Gaura is one of the most beautiful flowers you can add to your blooming collection! Let’s have a look at How to Grow Indian Feather Plant easily!

Coming in beautiful shades of pink, red and white, the Gaura flower can be a wonderful addition to your garden. If you are too tempted to cultivate it, then here’s all you need to know about How to Grow Indian Feather Plant!

Botanical Name: Oenothera lindheimeri

Learn all about growing Empress of India plant here

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Indian Feather Plant

An amazing and appealing specimen, the Indian feather plant is a low-maintenance perennial, which is also popular as wandflower, whirling butterfly, and bee blossom. It is a compact grower and also thrives well in containers. If you want a summer blooming plant, then this is it!

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How to Grow Indian Feather Plant?

As the plant has various hybrids, propagating from seeds collected or any seedlings that emerge from these self-seeding plants may not produce the same results as the mother plant. The division is also tricky and challenging as it has long and deep roots. So, the best way to grow it is with cuttings:

1. Using a sharp knife or pruners, cut off about 4-6 inches long cutting from a healthy plant.
2. Dip the end in a rooting hormone after taking off the lower foliage. Keep the upper leaves intact.
3. Now plant it in the garden or container. Amend the soil with plenty of organic matter.
4. Water well and make sure it gets bright but indirect sunlight.
5. The cutting will form roots in 2-4 weeks.

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Requirements for Growing Indian Feather Plant

Sunlight / Location

This appealing beauty thrives and blooms best in full and bright sunlight. Choose a location that gets a minimum of 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. Avoid growing the plant in complete shade.

Soil

The plant is not fond of compact soil so make sure you use a well-draining medium. Amend the soil with vermicompost and cow dung manure at the time of planting.

Watering

Do not water these flowers every day as it will result in root rot. Wait for 2-3 days till the topsoil becomes a little dry. Water deeply then. Also, avoid wetting the foliage.

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Taking Care of Indian Feather Plant

Fertilizer

If you have amended the soil at the time of planting with cow dung manure or organic matter, then the plant will take care on its own. To boost the growth, you can use a balanced liquid fertilizer, once in 2-3 months. Do refer to the label for dosage and instructions.

Pruning

Snip away the dead and damaged stems from time to time. It would also be a good idea to take away the spent blooms from the plant. This will encourage new growth and flowers.

Pests & Diseases

These plants are not much affected by pests but can be vulnerable to aphids in the early summer. You can get rid of them easily using a strong jet of water or an insecticidal soap.

Avoid overwatering the plant and wetting the leaves to keep the chances of it getting affected by diseases.