Am I Taking Good Care Of My Masterwort?

Did you planted your masterwort in a place with filtered sunlight?

Did you planted your masterwort in well-drained soil rich in organic matter?

Did you mulch your masterwort to conserve soil moisture?

Do you water your masterwort regularly?

Did you fertilize your masterwort?

Do you remove faded flowers to encourage new blooms?

Do you keep your masterwort free of pests and diseases?

The masterwort is a perennial that prefers a little bit of shade, so be sure that it will receive either filtered shade all day or just the morning sun with shade during the hottest part of the afternoon. If you happen to live in a climate with cooler summers (not surpassing 75 degrees), masterwort will tolerate being grown in sunnier spots.

The masterwort will thrive in a soil that's moist and well-drained, as well as rich in organic matter. If your ground happens to have sticky clay or sand that may cause the soil to dry up more quickly, consider adding a good amount of organic matter before planting. You can also add an inch or two of compost every fall.

If you live in a hotter climate, consider spreading a two- or three-inch layer of mulch over the soil to help keep it damp longer. Less moisture will be lost to evaporation, which means it will remain available for your masterwort plant.

Masterwort must be watered regularly, particularly when temperatures are hot and dry. It can thrive in the kind of consistently wet soil that may cause other perennials to suffer from root rot. This perennial won't be able to tolerate periods of drought, so you may see fewer blooms and crispy brown foliage if it doesn't receive ample moisture during the summer months.

For the best growth, masterwort should be fertilized once or twice a year. Mulching should also be done to help keep the soil temperature cooler for your masterwort's roots--and it can also help suppress weeds. As a bonus, organic mulches such as compost, pine needles, or shredded wood will decompose over time and improve the quality of your soil.

These plants won't require a great deal of pruning, but you can extend your masterwort's bloom season by removing old, faded flowers. Known as deadheading, this process can help your plants continue to bloom even into July. You can cut masterwort back to a couple of inches tall in either the late fall or early winter (you'll know it's time once the frost has killed the foliage) as well as trim the stems back to a few inches tall in early spring as the plant's new growth resumes.

Good job! You are taking good care of your masterwort.

The Masterwort plant doesn’t suffer from any severe disease or pest issues. However, be on a lookout for slugs and aphids, which are fond of its leaves. Moreover, the plant might get affected by powdery mildew.