Am I Taking Good Care Of My Silver Dollar (Lunaria) Plants?

Are your Lunarias planted somewhere in full sun or partial shade?

Are your Lunarias planted in well-drained soil, rich in organic matter?

Are you letting the soil dry up completely between waterings?

Have you been fertilizing your Lunarias excessively?

Did you harvest the seed pods before they have dropped seeds?

Do you keep your Lunaria free of pests and diseases?

Silver dollar plants prefer a sunny location so the best place to plant them is somewhere where they will receive at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. However, if you live in the South where the climate is hot, planting in partial shade is preferable.

To accommodate Silver dollars long taproots, plants should be grown in a deeply-cultivated soil with a crumbly texture (friable soil). These plants prefer well-drained soil, rich in organic matter that stays evenly moist at all times.

Silver dollar plant prefers the soil to be moist at all times, so you should try not to let the soil dry out between waterings. However, soggy or flooded soil will promote root rot. In some areas, you may need to water only once a week, especially if you're using mulch to keep the soil moisture.

Silver dollar plants are not heavy feeders and will do well even in unfertilized soil. One dose of general-use fertilizer per year will be sufficient for these plants. Lunaria spread easily and in some places are categorized as invasive species, so too much nutrients could promote their fast spreading.

You should harvest the plants after their seed pods are fully developed but before they can drop any seed to prevent an uncontrollable spread. Just cut off the plant at its base, bring it indoors, tie it off with some wire, twine, or string, and suspend it upside-down in a room with low humidity.

Good job! You are taking good care of your Silver dollar plant.

Silver dollar plants have little problems with pests and diseases. Keep an eye for small, sucking insects and deal with them as soon as they appear. Keep up with a good watering practice to prevent fungal diseases.