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Nigella damascena [ ny - JELL - luh ] [ dam - ASK - electrical engineering - nuh ] is an annual flower in the Ranunculaceae ( buttercup ) mob .
It ’s native to Europe , southwest Asia , and northerly Africa .
The industrial plant often maturate in dampish areas and is diagnose after the metropolis of Damascus in Syria .
You may hear it call up by the conform to common figure including :
The name come from the doughnut of lacy bract around the flowers .
Along with these vulgar names , the plant is called the nigella blossom .
Nigella Flower Care
Size and Growth
Nigella damascena make a height of about 8″ to 20″ inch with light fleeceable foliage and fern - like leaves .
Flowering and Fragrance
Love - in - a - mist bloom in the early summertime .
The flowers arrive in shades of blue , pale purple , pinkish , and white .
Each prime contains between 5 and 25 sepals .
After the bloom , the plant produces an inflated seed abridgment .
The space capsule finally dry and drop to the ground , allowing the annual to self - seed on the same place each class .
Light and Temperature
Watering and Feeding
Make certain seeds receive frequent water .
Water the soil when the top 2″ inch of stain become teetotal .
After the plant is found , it only need water during dry spell .
summate a liquid fertilizer once per calendar month to promote replete ontogeny .
Soil and Transplanting
Grooming
How to Propagate Love In A Mist
Propagate love - in - a - mist from seeds .
The plant life produce many seeds after the flowering season .
pull in the seed capsules before they drop to the earth .
set aside the condensation to dry and open them to move out the seeds .
Sow the seeds in the garden after the last threat of frost .
The seedling should come along in six to eight weeks , providing a fresh bloom of flowers at the starting line of summertime .
habituate additional sowings every three to four weeks to enjoy promising blossom throughout the relief of summer and gloam .
NOTE : It ’s possible to sow the seeds indoors before the starting signal of spring , but transplanting the seedling may kill the plants .
Love In A Mist Pest or Disease Problems
Nigella damascena seldom suffers from pestilence or disease trouble .
Whiteflies , thrips , and other vulgar pests may still find their direction into the flowers .
employ a cat valium of water from a hose to wash these blighter away without damaging the industrial plant .
The H2O may not completely remove the pests .
bear on spraying once per hebdomad toget rid of whitefliesand thrips .
If the infestation continues , try using insecticidal soap or Neem oil .
Spray the heyday each week until the blighter are gone .
TIP : Make a DIY insecticidal soap with two teaspoons of broil soda ash , two teaspoon of dish soap , two teaspoon of white acetum , and one gal of water system .
Potted plant may suffer from fungal infections if planted in a pot or container with poor drainage .
As the plant life is short - hold out , the best solvent is to save the seed and try again the following spring .
Is Nigella Love-In-A-Mist Toxic?
Another concern is the toxicity of the works . The seed check a toxic alkaloid called damascenine .
The toxin causes mild symptom when take by humans , include looseness and emesis .
Damascenine is n’t toxic to animals , but ingest the blossom or seed capsule may cause digestive discomfort or sickness .
Suggested Nigella Damascena Uses
utilize making love - in - a - mist in mixed flower bed and borders .
Place in front of grandiloquent works to make more dimension .
It ’s also a heavy industrial plant to grow on its own in a container .
