Mullein belongs to the medicinal herbs and can be found in many gardens. In this article we will show you how to grow and care for the plant properly and what you can use it for.
Planting mullein – how to do it right
Mullein is not only pretty to look at. Also known as wool flower, the plant is also extremely popular with bees as a source of food. As a rule, mullein blooms yellow, but there are also species with white and purple flowers.
You can plant mullein in your garden either as an annual perennial or as seed. You can get both at any nursery and also at the hardware store. The following tips should be followed when planting:
- Planting seeds: Make sure you plant organic, fresh seeds if possible. The best time to plant mullein seeds is in the fall. Cover them with a little soil and then water them a little.
- The right location: The mullein likes it best in full sun and warm. It does not mind if it does not get any rain water for a longer period of time. However, make sure that the plants are in a place that is protected from the wind.
- The right soil: Mullein plants do particularly well when planted in well-drained soil with a high proportion of sand and gravel.
- Plant spacing: When planting mullein as perennials, always leave at least 50 inches between each plant.
- Did you know? Mullein plants are self-propagating and will spread their seeds throughout your garden all by themselves.
Care of the mullein
If you sow mullein in a good location, it is a very low-maintenance plant that requires you to follow very few tips:
- Watering: even heat waves and drought can’t hurt mullein much. It needs very little water even in the summer. The leaves of the plant are covered with small hairs that ensure that water evaporates very slowly and is stored for a long time. Therefore, you need to water the mullein only during very long periods of heat.
- Flowering time: You will be able to enjoy the flowers of your mullein for a relatively long time, because the flowering period lasts from June to September.
- Fertilizer: It is best not to use fertilizer for mullein. For plants that are two years old, you can lift some compost under the soil once to support growth.
- Pruning: If you don’t want mullein to self-seed, you can cut off wilted flower spikes. You can also ensure that your plant survives longer.
- Pests: As a rule, mullein is not very susceptible to pests. However, if you plant young perennials, they may fall victim to slugs. Learn how to keep slugs out of your garden in another article.
- Overwintering: mullein plants come in annual, biennial and perennial varieties. Typically, the plants can overwinter outdoors without help.
- Important: What the mullein does not like at all is waterlogging. This can quickly cause the roots of the plant to rot. By mixing enough gravel under the soil, you can ensure that the water runs off better.
Cold helper mullein
The dried flowers of mullein are often used for colds. The medicinal plant is particularly effective against congested airways and irritable cough, as it loosens mucus and helps to expectorate.
You can prepare a simple cold tea from mullein, for example. All you need is a tablespoon of dried and finely chopped mullein flowers.
- Pour a cup of boiling water over the dried flowers.
- Let the tea steep for about ten to 15 minutes.
- After that, you can carefully skim the flowers with a spoon or pour the tea through a sieve.
- Drink the tea several times a day to relieve your symptoms.
Note: If you want to use flowers from your garden, make sure you dry them immediately after picking and then store them in a dry place. If you store the flowers in the wrong place, they can quickly wilt and become moldy. Then you must not use them in any case.
