Calendula is a striking annual plant to grow in the garden or in a pot. They have beautiful flowers of bright colors such as yellow or orange. In addition, it is possible to achieve the flowering of this plant throughout the year. It is popularly known by the name of Maravilla and not only does it delight our eyes with its striking flowers, but they also provide a delicious aroma and have a soft texture.
In this Green Ecologist article we will find out more about the Calendula plant, its care and what it is for.
The most cultivated variety is the Calendula officinalis and it is a perennial or annual aromatic herbaceous plant, depending on the climatic conditions. It is classified within the plant family Asteraceae and is popularly known also by the names of wonder, mercadela or buttercup.
The stem of this plant can reach a height between 20 cm and 55 cm and develops upright. Its leaves are simple, oblong-lanceolate, alternate and with a length that reaches between 7 cm and 14 cm and between 1 cm and 4 cm wide. Its flowers can grow throughout the year if the climate is mild, and if not, they sprout mainly during spring and summer. These form inflorescences that are grouped in chapters between 3 cm and 5 cm wide and the flowers are yellow and orange. Its seeds are small, approximately 1 cm, are C-shaped and brown in color.
Apart from decorating exteriors and interiors, this plant is widely used in medicine and beauty. Between the health properties of calendula we can stand out:
Thus, thanks to these properties, calendula has many benefits for our health.
It should not be taken or applied during pregnancy and lactation.
Calendula It is a plant that can be grown well in the garden or in a pot at home. It is possible to get an adult flowering plant for a very affordable price. However, they can also be plant by seed in spring.
For sow marigold and get the plant to grow well, the first step is to choose a good seedbed, which can be a polystyrene tray, yogurt glasses, milk containers, flowerpots or other types of containers, but making sure that holes can be made for water drainage. This seedbed must be filled to the top with substrate for seedlings or some universal growing substrate, easily found in any nursery. Subsequently, this land should be watered until it is well soaked but not flooded. Next, we must place two seeds per alveolus or seedbed and cover them with a layer of substrate 0.5 cm thick.
Once we have all this done, we must water it with a sprayer or place it on a tray and water it underneath. Finally, our seedbed should be placed in an area where it gets direct sunlight. With regular watering, the seeds will be able to germinate in one or two weeks at a temperature of 20ºC. When the plants reach about five centimeters they can be transplanted.
This plant is quite resistant and does not need much care. However, among the basic care of calendula we can highlight the following recommendations:
As to common pests on calendula, this plant can suffer from yellow, brown or green aphids, which settle and deform the newer flowers and leaves. To drive them away, you can mix 100 grams of nettles with 1 liter of water and spray it on the plant. In addition, in this other Green Ecologist article we will talk about the best home remedies to eliminate aphids.
Another common pest is whiteflies, which settle on the leaves and turn them yellow as they spread a sticky substance. It is possible to scare them away using yellow colored traps.
Between the diseases suffered by marigolds stand out:
If you want to read more articles similar to Calendula plant: care and what it is for, we recommend that you enter our category of Cultivation and care of plants.
Bibliography