The Galán de Noche is an ideal plant to decorate your garden, I invite you to get to know this bush with its beautiful flowers and pleasant fragrance that will make that special space a unique place. This plant of easy care and maintenance is the perfect complement for that natural corner. But you should know that its beauty contains a dark side and here we are going to reveal it to you, keep reading and you will discover what this beautiful flower hides...
Gallant of the Night
This beautiful garden plant known as Galán de Noche or Cestrum Nocturnum, belongs to the Solanaceae family, a bushy type with alternate, simple and deciduous leaves. This plant is also known by the names of Dama de Noche, Hediondilla or Jazmín de Noche, as it emits a pleasant fragrance during the night that can last until certain hours of the morning, this happens at a certain time of the year, at the end of spring and early fall. It has a high content of solanine, a glycoalkaloid that is a type of aromatic nitrogenous compound.
Origin and Characteristics
The Galán de Noche plant has its origin in Australia, Central and South America, hence it favors tropical climates, but it is not resistant to extreme temperatures. It is ideal to display in open spaces outdoors, it can also be grown in pots to be displayed indoors. It is fast growing so it requires constant pruning which allows it to reproduce in greater quantity and can reach up to 5 meters in height. Its leaves are evergreen and green, its inflorescence has white, yellow or greenish tones of abundant flowers in the form of clusters that emit a pleasant fragrance during hot summer nights.
This plant has certain characteristics that make it special among many others, I invite you to learn everything you need to successfully preserve its beauty and charm.
Location
Due to its character as a bush, the gallant at night is located among the category of outdoor plants, originating from tropical areas, which allows it to be exposed to direct sunlight or semi-shade in case temperatures are very high. This plant can be planted directly in the ground or in pots, as its short and non-invasive roots guarantee the growth of other plants as well as the intact permanence of pipes, sidewalks and pavement.
Earth
This plant adapts easily to any type of soil, you just have to take into account that it requires good drainage to prevent its roots from decomposing. At flowering time, the gallant must have a humus rich in iron, earthworm and fertilizer, to allow the healthy development of this beautiful shrub.or. TONow, if it is going to be planted in a pot, the soil must be well prepared with different nutrients such as: peat, clay and river sand in equal parts, to guarantee the healthy evolution of the plant.
Irrigation
To achieve a beautiful night beau bush, it is necessary to take into account its water demand. In summer, when temperatures rise and the environment becomes dry, it is advisable to water at least 2 to 3 times a week depending on the condition of the land. However, in winter, on the other hand, the demand is less and it will only require 1 to 2 waterings a week. This type of plant does not grow in waterlogged soil, which is why the dripping technique is recommended and if it is in a pot, it is advisable to remove the plate after approximately 15 minutes.
Subscriber
Plants absorb the water and minerals that are dissolved in the soil in order to reach an optimum level and for this, fertilizer is essential not only for the night beau, but for all the plants in the garden. Particularly in this case, it is recommended to use liquid or granulated fertilizer following the instructions on the package, as any excess can have serious consequences for the plant. In a more ecological sense, you can create your own organic fertilizer or compost, which will provide quantities of nutrients without added chemicals, which will benefit the plant in harmony with the environment.
Planting or transplanting time
The gallant at night plant has a specific time recommended for planting or transplanting, which is in spring, in it the soil has the recommended humidity and the climate is ideal for the development of the plant.
Pruning
This bush requires constant pruning that should start after the first flowering at the end of winter. This plant has the characteristic of rapid growth that can reach 5 to 6 meters in height with large branches. It is important to know that as this plant is pruned, its flowering will substantially increase. For good maintenance, dry leaves and withered flowers should be removed in order to have a healthy plant with a good bushy appearance.
Most common problems of the Galan de Noche
All plants are exposed to endless problems and even more so when they are outdoors, here we present you which are the most common:
La plaga
The gallant at night is vulnerable to various pests that can make its appearance ugly and even cause the death of the bush, among the most common are: cochineal, whitefly, aphids and red spiders, for which it is necessary to constant review and fumigation with non-abrasive products or home remedies.
Why does my Galan de Noche have yellow leaves?
This happens when the plant is watered with a high frequency without verifying the drainage conditions both at soil level and in the pot, the night beau tends to turn yellowish in response to water saturation, for this reason it is important that the pots have holes through which the water can run and in the case of having a plate, remove it in a reasonable time (approximately 15 minutes) and in this way waterlogging and the creation of fungi are avoided.
Multiplication
To successfully multiply this plant, it can be done through stakes that are cut from the woody part. For this, it is recommended to use rooting products to speed up and facilitate the process. It can also be done with seeds that, thanks to their rapid development, speed up the germination process, with both forms a beautiful bush can be obtained.
Rusticity
The galán de noche plant is resistant to climatic changes, however it does not survive temperatures below -2º C., but it does survive light frosts. As for exposure to the sun, it is recommended that it be located in a place where exposure to sunlight is not constant, that is to say that at some point of the day it is shaded, in this way sunstroke of the plant is avoided. In reference to humidity, this must be controlled to avoid excesses and subsequent deterioration of the plant.
Uses
Its main use is totally ornamental, to give beauty and aromatize the environment where it is located.
The well-kept secret behind beauty and scent. . .
- This plant is toxic in all its parts due to its high solanine content, and can be fatal.
- It contains alkaloids such as: nicotine, scopolamine and atropine which makes it highly toxic.
In this video you will be able to observe step by step how to plant the Galán de Noche and thus successfully achieve a beautiful bush in your favorite space.
Learn more about the plants by following these links...