Hairy Balls Seeds ~ Jewels OG ~ Gomphocarpus Physocarpa ~ Balloon Plant ~ Milkweed Plants ~ Garden ~ Grow Your Own ~ Spring Flowers

This milkweed family member is perhaps best noted for its soft, spherical, balloon-like, spiny, lime-green seed pods. Showy in the garden, great for butterflies and creative floral arrangements. Pods ripen to tan before splitting open in fall to release large numbers of silky-haired seeds to the wind. White drooping flowers are small, with white hoods and about 1/2" across. Highly attractive to beneficial insects and host plant of several butterflies.

~ Includes ~

~ 3 Seeds.

~ Grow and Care Instructions.

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Hairy Balls Grow and Care Instructions

~ Grow Instructions ~

Hairy Ball plant seeds (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) are best started indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost or directly sown in warm soil, taking 14-21 days to germinate. These 32–72 inch tall, sun-loving annuals require full sun, well-draining soil, and produce unique, lime-green, spiny seed pods that attract Monarch butterflies and are used in floral arrangements. 

Soil needs to be sandy and well-draining. Keep the soil moist and barely cover the seed, as light aids in its germination. Plant after danger of frost and once soil has warmed. A warm-season annual that prefers full sun.It thrives in full sun in dry to medium moist soil with good drainage. It also does well in large containers. Hairy balls is an attractive milkweed and host plant for monarch butterflies.

• Starting Seeds: Start seeds indoors in deep pots 6–9 weeks before the last frost, or direct sow after all danger of frost has passed.
• Germination: Seeds germinate in 14-21 days at 70°F. Soaking seeds in warm water for up to a week can improve germination.
• Planting: Plant seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep.
• Spacing & Light: Space plants 12–14 inches apart in full sun.

~ Care Instructions ~

• Pinch the plant when it reaches 10 inches tall to encourage branching. Plants are hardy in zones 8-11 but grown as annuals elsewhere.
• Harvesting: Pods can be harvested when green or allowed to turn tan and dry for seed collection. 

Seed Harvesting and Saving 

• Timing: Pods are ready when they turn tan, but can be harvested while still green.
• Process: Pick pods and place them in a paper bag to dry and split. Each pod contains brown seeds with a tuft of white, silky hair that helps them disperse in the wind.
• Protection: Use organza bags over the pods to prevent them from splitting open prematurely and to catch the seeds. 

*Keep the Blooms Coming*

• Produces an insignificant little flower that is followed by the ball-shaped seedpod.
• Harvest pod at any stage, making the harvest cut at the base of the stem.

* Important Tips *

• Sap Alert: The plant has a milky sap that can irritate sensitive skin; wear gloves when handling.
• Pollinators: These plants are excellent for attracting butterflies and, in particular, are a host plant for Monarch caterpillars.
• Uses: The pods make unique additions to fresh or dried floral arrangements. 

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💚 Best Wishes, Your Plant B*tch (Quinn)