Dicentru belong to the genus of herbaceous perennials and annuals from the subfamily Hymyanka. She gained wide acclaim thanks to flowers that grow in the shape of a heart. Because of the shape of the plant, it was called the "broken heart flower". The unusual shape attracts gardeners, and many are wondering how to grow a center in their home. This will be discussed in our article.
- Dicentra: description of the plant
- What should be the temperature, humidity and lighting
- How to plant the center
- Site preparation
- Bush planting scheme
- Care of the center
- Features watering Dicenter
- Fertilizer and dressing
- Trimming Dicenter
- Reproduction Dicenter
- Diseases and pests
- Using Dicters in Landscape Design
Dicentra: description of the plant
The genus Dicentra has about 20 species. Most of them grow in East China, the Far East and North America. In height the flower can grow up to one meter.
This beautiful plant has a fleshy, long root, ornamental petioled, pinnately dissected green leaves and pink or red, a bit squeezed heart-shaped flowers. The size of the flowers does not exceed two centimeters.Seeds Dicenterra are in an oblong black box, they can remain viable for about two years.
What should be the temperature, humidity and lighting
For the comfortable development of the plant and the formation of beautiful flowers in the shape of a heart, it needs to create an appropriate microclimate.
For example, the lighting of the center is loved by anyone, but, like any flower, it will be better in a well-lit area. In a sunny area, the plant will grow quickly, bloom profusely, look healthy. Also, the leaves will not turn yellow leaves from a long stay in the sun.
Dicentra is a fairly cold-resistant flower that does not need to be covered for the winter. She also feels good at high and low temperatures. But the optimum air temperature for normal flower growth is needed + 17-25 degrees Celsius.
Humidity does not play a key role for the flower. It feels very good both at high humidity and at normal. The flower does not need spraying.
How to plant the center
Dicentra is a flower, planting and care in the open field for which does not amount to much trouble. Dicentru taken to plant either in late spring or early fall. The main thing is to let it germinate and settle into the ground before the start of frosts.
The flower will grow well in an open sunny area, and in a shady place. The plant is unpretentious to the soil, but, if possible, it is better to plant it on light, nutritious, drained soils. The soil is prepared in advance.
If you decide to plant a dicenter in the fall, then the landing site is prepared from spring, and vice versa - by planting in the spring, prepare everything you need in the autumn.
Site preparation
Having decided on the time of planting, it is necessary to prepare a plot on which the flower will grow. The plot should be dug, put under digging about 5 kilograms of humus per square meter. After that you should saturate the area with mineral fertilizer. It is diluted in the amount of 20 grams per 10 liters of water.
Bush planting scheme
Landing dyntry begins with the preparation of holes with a depth and a diameter of about 40 centimeters. The distance between the pits should be at least 50 centimeters.
At the bottom of the hole should fill gravel or broken brick, then pour it all the earth, mixed with compost. When everything is ready, place the seedling root in the hole and fill it to the top with earth and compost.
Care of the center
Although the dietary center is an unpretentious plant that blooms in virtually any environment, it also needs special conditions.
Features watering Dicenter
On hot summer days, when the weather is especially dry, the flower needs plenty of water. If the roots of the centers will not receive the required amount of moisture, the plant will quickly wither and die.
Focus on the dryness of the soil at the rhizome, if it is dry - it's time to water the plant.
It is important to ensure that you do not overdo it with water, because of the abundant watering the roots begin to rot, which also leads to the death of the plant.
Fertilizer and dressing
Dicentre - a plant, planting and care for which simply can not do without dressings. To bloom does not become worse from year to year, you need to feed the plant with superphosphate and fertilize the roots with humus. This is especially necessary in the spring when the plant begins to develop after winter frosts.
When the flower begins to bloom, it is important to feed the bushes Dicentra fertilizers with high nitrogen content, it will prolong the flowering time. In the summer, it will not be superfluous to feed the flower with nitrogenous fertilizers or a mullein infusion.
With the onset of autumn, each bush must be fertilized with humus and watered well with infusion of manure. Properly selected timely fertilizers will allow you to grow a beautiful bush.
Trimming Dicenter
If you want to admire a strong and flowering plant, it is vital to produce pruning dicters for winter. This will allow her to gain strength and have a good sleep.
Crop need up to penechkov. You can remove all the branches after they have faded and turned yellow. In order for the flower not to freeze, it is necessary to cover it with peat or branches. But since the center is frost-resistant enough, in regions with mild winters, it is possible not to cover the stumps too much.
Reproduction Dicenter
Dicentra can be propagated by dividing the bush, cutting and using seeds (this method is used extremely rarely).
For grafting use only young shoots and roots, whose length is about 12 centimeters. They are planted in a slightly moist and nutritious soil to a depth of 10 centimeters. To keep moisture as long as possible, the soil is covered with a film. If spring or autumn are cold, then the center should be planted in the greenhouse.
A month later, you will notice the appearance of the first sprouts, which means that the cuttings are rooted. Next year already rooted cuttings can be safely transplanted to a permanent place. It is very convenient for these purposes to use special peat pots, which form the root ball and keep it during transplantation.
Without a transplant, it can safely grow for at least 5 years. Then the roots become larger, grow profusely and even partially die off, because of which the flowering stops.
The optimal time for breeding bush division - 4 years after planting. The division should be done before or after the active growing season, which occurs in the summer.
For division you need to carefully dig up the roots and divide them with a knife into pieces 15 centimeters long. On each part must be at least three strong and healthy shoots. Each part is planted in a permanent place of growth. If you plant several shoots in one hole, you can grow a lush bush.
As for seeds, this is a laborious and complicated method. Seeds need to land in September and maintain the ambient temperature within 19 degrees Celsius. After a month, the first shoots will appear. The resulting seedlings dive and cover for the winter. If everything is done correctly, then you will see the first flowers three years later.
Diseases and pests
The flower "broken heart", planting and caring for which is not too laborious, is also resistant to various diseases. But if conditions are unfavorable, the plant is exposed to the parasites.
For example, ring spot. This is a viral disease that most often affects adult plants. The characteristic differences of this sore are an annular or spotty pattern, the shade of which is lighter than the leaves themselves. Unfortunately, it is impossible to cure an infected plant.It is recommended to remove the affected flower immediately to avoid spreading the infection.
Another virus that stains the leaves of a flower in a marble color is called tobacco mosaic. There is also no cure.
Due to microplasma Dicenter flowers turn green, but because of a strong defeat they do not appear at all. To prevent the disease from developing, it is necessary to destroy its peddlers - aphids and tsikadok. To do this, use "Biotlin", "Confidor", "Fitoverm" or "Aktar".
Cause enormous harm Bears. They gnaw the roots of a flower, and it fades. To get rid of the bear, you must use chemical drugs like "Medvetoks" or plant phytoncide plants on the territory, whose smell frightens the bear.
Using Dicters in Landscape Design
Dicentra, whose cultivation is a pleasure for gardeners, attracts attention and landscape designers. The plant is perfect for both single planting and group.
It looks great on the background of decorative coniferous trees. In the natural gardens you can often see extensive flower beds with centers.This flower will be appropriate both in ordinary flower beds or mixborders, and in flowerbeds. Dicentra looks great in tandem with tall plants.
Now you know how to plant a diverter, how to care for it and how to fight its pests. Pay attention to this romantic flower, which resembles the two halves of a heart, as if crying like a white tear, and for a long time you will be able to admire it in your area.