Features of the cultivation of atsidantery

Flowers are considered an authentic decoration of any cottage. Fortunately, there are no problems with the assortment - the stores offer a huge variety of varieties. However, the advantage is given to spectacular, but at the same time unpretentious species.

Consider what is remarkable popular atsidanther and what kind of flower.

Description and photo

This perennial plant has come to us from tropical regions of Africa. The natural habitat is rocky slopes.

It has a fairly high (1-1.2 m) and slender-looking peduncle, which is surrounded by two xiphoidal sheets with sharp tips, they can reach 55-60 cm long. These processes are very soft to the touch, and plasticity only emphasizes their decorative effect throughout the season. The root system is represented by a small (4-6 cm in diameter) round bulb corm. It is tightly covered with a shell in the form of a brown mesh.

Inflorescence in the form of a small spikelet can "throw out" up to a dozen flowers.The flowering period is in August - September (depending on the time of disembarkation). At this time, the aciduria of the line Muriela pleases the eye with white flowers with a diameter of 5-12 cm. Bordered with six sharp petals, they may have a dark purple or black color in the center (this option is less common).

During flowering, you can catch a pleasant sweet smell emanating from the open flowers. This “amber” is not too strong, and more intense aromas emanating from neighboring plants can “kill” it.

Autumn is the time of fruiting. Flowers, gradually fading, form oblong seed pods. They can be used to collect planting material.

Types and varieties

Novice flower growers are often confused in the names of externally similar species and varieties. In the case of this perennial complexity also adds confusion in the catalogs of shops and nurseries. Let's try to bring some clarity.

Seeing the price tag in the store, indicating that there is an atsidanter in front of you Murielae varietieskeep in mind - this is a general name that applies to all flowers of this type.

But this is the old name. The last 15 years, the plant is officially listed as gladiolus. Muriel. The former “name” of the fragrant flower remains in the course, which creates some difficulties in choosing. In the people he is also known as a fragrant (or fragrant) gladiolus, some call him a sword. It happens that these simple names help to explain to the seller what exactly you need.

Having dealt with the "pedigree", go to the varieties themselves. In total, there are about 40, but not all take root in our area. Most often at the sites you can see the "representatives" of such lines:

Two-tone, "classic" atsidantera with large flowers, in the center of which there is a black and red spot. This is a kind of standard, with proper care can "give out" flowers with a diameter of 10-12 cm.

Bicolor with different design of the "core" (mostly dark overflows).

Short tubular. From the name it is clear that the flowers are placed on a small tube. Their distinguishing feature is a deep purple color.

Tropical. It is distinguished by bilateral inflorescence on 5 (maximum 6) flowers. The main white background is "diluted" interspersed with crimson spots.

All of them are united by one thing - appearance as if combines modesty and visual effect. This was the key to the popularity of the plant. Other factors contributing to it were simple procedures for planting and further caring for a young acidide growing in open ground.

Landing

It is divided into two stages - preliminary (for quenching) and the main. This combination allows you to get strong and durable seedlings.

"Pot" planting for better germination is usually done like this:

• In early March, pots with a diameter of 13-15 cm are taken.
• The substrate is poured into them (an "orchid" from the store will do).
• The bulbs are placed at a depth of 3-4 cm and sprinkled with soil. The number of seedlings depends on their size.It is advisable to take one per pot, although many place 5–6 small onions in a 15-cm container or 3 large ones.
• Then everything is as usual. The pot is placed on a well-lit window sill. As soon as the substrate begins to dry, the seedlings are immediately watered. In April, as warming occurs, the pots are carried out to the loggia or greenhouse.

When the frosts recede completely (usually this is the month of May), Muriel is transferred to open ground:

• First, a well-lit place is selected. If this is not possible - it does not matter, and partial shade will do. As for the soil, the flower is well accepted on almost any soil (the only exception is heavy “clay”).
• Dug holes of 8-12 cm each. Focus on the size of a particular sapling. The "gap" between the holes also depends on these parameters - the minimum interval is at least 12 cm, while between large bulbs 15-20 cm are left.

Having moistened "seat", you can fill in there a little river sand. The bulb is placed in the hole and powdered with earth, after which abundant watering is immediately carried out.

As you can see, atsidantera is simple in terms of planting, to match it and further cultivation.

Care

Unpretentious plant requires ordinary, but at the same time, and constant care. These procedures are capable of every thing that you now see.

Regular watering

Despite its African origin, perennial needs frequent watering. Humidification is carried out continuously, the soil should not dry out (otherwise the bulba will instantly dry out).

In the hot summer, a plant takes 2-3 buckets a week, one for each set. On the other hand, the overmoistening of the rhizome is undesirable. With the beginning of flowering, the volume of watering is slightly reduced, which is good for the appearance of the flowers that have appeared (the dark tones that are present in the color become more saturated).

Mulching helps to retain moisture during the growing season. In the course are "powder" of mowed grass, peat or crushed humus. True, you need to be careful with the latter - too much of a dose can "burn out" the onion.

Loosening and weeding

After each watering, the soil near the flower is necessarily loosened so that the rhizome receives the necessary portion of air.

Of the tools for such a procedure would be better suited trident sap - so safer. It happens that, without calculating the strength, some owners damage the peduncle with a chopper, or even go as far as the bulba. With careful work "trident" is excluded.

Weeding is done as needed. It is advisable to remove the barely appeared weed, without waiting for it to chase growth. If you miss the moment, the inflorescences will be sluggish, with small flowers.

Top dressing

The scented "inhabitant" of the site, which looks like the most common gladiolus, requires regular fertilization.

Top dressing is carried out once every 2 weeks (for "difficult" soils "the break is reduced to 10 days) and combined with the next watering.

For such purposes, take complex mineral compounds like nitroammofoski. Before making, pay attention to the composition of the purchased drug - if it contains a large amount of ammonia compounds, then the spike and leaves will grow, while the flowers will turn out to be average.

Protection against diseases and pests

Atsidantera has a good immunity, but do not forget about such factors as "neighborhood" with other cultures.It is from there that various sores and parasites become infected.

Most often perennials bake such ailments:

• Mealy dew. To combat it, use potassium permanganate - 2.5 g per 10 liters of water. After the first spraying, do 1-2 control (with an interval of 5 days). If it did not help - in 5 liters of hot water add soda ash (25 g) and liquid soap (5 g). They process not only the plant, but also the soil, in 2-3 doses with a week break.
• Root rot It is dangerous because with the slightest lateness, the plant will have to be thrown away (this is typical of all species with bulbous roots). Prevention is important here - before planting, the bulbs are placed in plastic containers and powdered with dry fungicides. There they are stored in a dry place until the landing.

• Rust and mosaic damage. A painful “ornament” that has just appeared can be eliminated with a solution of colloidal sulfur (25 g / 10 l). For the best effect, the treatment is repeated three times, after waiting a week.

Among the "opponents" are listed such pests:

• Aphid. It does not tolerate the action of insecticides of the type "Aktellika" and "Tanreka." Ampoules in 2 ml enough for 2 liters of water.If there are too many insects, the same capacity is taken for 1 liter. Allowed one (maximum two) processing.
• Thrips. The drugs are the same as against aphids, but a strong "Decis" helps a lot. 0.1 g / 10 l - and the problem is solved, small midges will begin to die in literally 5 minutes. Note the duration of the drug (15 days).
• Slugs After treatment with similar means, they are unlikely to appear on the peduncle. As a preventive measure, it is advised to collect them from growing crops nearby.

Breeding

Two main methods are used. They are well known to all flower growers, but there are still some points that are worth mentioning separately.

Seeds

This method with all its simplicity is used quite rarely. The fact is that germinated seeds reach the stage of flowering only in the third season after planting in open soil. For some, it takes only 2 years (but this is rare even on well-groomed soil).

If such difficulties do not frighten, and time is available with prosperity, the whole procedure is done according to the following algorithm:

• since autumn, seeds are selected from the boxes, which are stored in a dry, darkened place;
• in early February, a box is taken for planting, in which the prepared substrate is poured;

• the seeds are laid out in this box and pressed to a depth of 0.5-1 cm. You can not press, but simply sprinkle with a layer of earth of the same thickness;
• Watch the temperature, it should be at least +20 ° C.

The first time the crops are moistened by spraying, and only then you can carefully water the seedlings. By the way, it will also have to be dived, while placing it in different pots or right into the ground.

After the main landing, the rhizome is dug up and sent to hibernate in order to re-plant small bulbs in the spring. A year later, this work is repeated, and only then you can wait for flowers.

Not everyone is satisfied with such a long wait, and then they resort to another, more rapid method of reproduction.

Bulbs

The ripe onions dug out in the fall dry. They have kids that will have to be separated. Select the most healthy "offspring" with a smooth, not parched skin.

One and a half weeks before planting, the scales are carefully removed and during the day they are wetted to the baby in warm water (up to +35 ° C).This is followed by germination in the soil with admixtures of pure sand and peat at + 22 ... +25 ° C.

Landing is carried out already on the heated earth in the hole. At the bottom of the pits fall asleep 1 cm of river sand, and then pour a solution of copper sulfate or permanganate (1 g / 10 l). Children are laid out at a distance of 5-6 cm from each other. The gap between the holes is the same as for mature bulbs.

Leaves should be repulsed in a month.

Preparing for the winter

Many are interested, and when is it possible to dig out such a delicate flower as an acidaler. Everything is traditional here: the rhizome is extracted with the first frosts.

But up to this point it is worth remembering a few simple nuances. The first concerns watering, which is gradually reduced after flowering. Do not forget about fertilizers - after the flowers have faded, their introduction is prohibited.

In anticipation of frosts, the stem is cut to the level of the lower leaves, which for the time being have to be left.And only after that the plant is dug up. Immediately removed the earth and the growing roots, and the children are separated from the bulbs and the stem itself.

Atsidantera, as we already know, is not too whimsical, and this quality also applies to storage in winter.

The first 2-4 weeks after this treatment, the bulbs are kept in a ventilated room at + 20 ... +22 ° C. After a month, the coarse "crust" is removed, and the onion itself is placed in a not too dense paper bag or napkins, in which it will "overwinter" (at a temperature of about +15 ° C).

Atsidantera in landscape design

Beautiful perennial is often used as a design element of the site. A plant with a high stem will perfectly fit into such variants of a decorative landscape:

• Alpine slide. This is an ideal option for a flower that grows in a "wild" form on a rocky plateau.
Alpine slides are often decorated with such flowers and plants: alpine aster, mimulus, lumbago, hionodoks, young, purslane, basilus, juniper, armeria and meadow foxtail.
• Saturated flowerbed.If such an array is planned to be rounded in shape, the acidanter is planted closer to the center, which enhances the effect of the “living pyramid”.
• "Framing" of an artificial reservoir. High "leg", coupled with the characteristic leaves causes persistent associations with reed, but at the expense of color looks much more profitable.
• The easiest option is to plant flowers near the bench or gazebo. Delicate aroma from them perfectly complement the rest in the August evening.

The best neighbors for this plant will be perennials, which bloom "play" shades of red and purple tones. These are asters and sage.

Now you can easily find a spectacular Murielu. Hopefully, the process of growing also will not cause any special difficulties. More bright colors every day!