Cineraria: features of cultivation of decorative culture

Any land owner is trying to ennoble and decorate it, arranging various flowerbeds and mixborders. Naturally, in this case, preference is given to original plants, among which cineraria feels confident. It is appreciated by gardeners for its spectacular appearance and a large number of varieties, some of which we will get to know, as well as learn how to grow this plant in the open field.

Botanical description

The Canary Islands and the island of Madagascar claim the title of the birthplace of this unusual plant, where it received its widespread distribution. Cineraria, she is an ashen godson,is a perennial plant, belongs to the Astrov family, is a grassy shrub. Flowers of the plant have a varied appearance depending on the variety. The foliage is large, petiolate, dissected, with a feathery structure,stem and leaves have a velvety surface.

Types and varieties

The groundseller is currently causing keen interest of breeders and gardeners. To date, there are about 1,300 species of this exotic beauty, although in the horticultural practice, a dozen of people enjoy the popularity of it. Despite the fact that among the varieties of cineraria there are plants for home cultivation, the more popular varieties are planted in open ground. The three most common types of this culture are:

• silver cineraria;
• Cineraria is elegant;
• cineraria bloody.

Each of the types of cineraria includes different varieties and has its own specifics and features, on which I would like to dwell in more detail.

Silver Cineraria, or as it is called - seaside, The most popular type of plant, used not only in the beds of summer residents, but also in urban parks. This species, although it is perennial, is usually cultivated in the open ground as an annual, due to frosts. The unusual leaves of the seaside godson more than compensate for not very prominent flowering. The leaves of the shrub are green, but covered with a thick layer of silvery lint, which gave the name to the species.The foliage is tightly assembled into rosettes around the stem, as a result of which it forms a bush that looks like a silver ball. It is this feature that makes silver cineraria popular when designing flower gardens and flowerbeds.

In landscape design, mainly use two varieties of this plant species:

• Cirrus - This variety is a high shrubs, covered with large carved leaves with rounded edges. The color of the leaves is characteristic of a seaside godson, silver, the height of the bushes is about 40-45 cm.

• Silver Dust (Silver Dust) - variety, which is most often used for framing borders, paths, garden beds. The height of the bush is small - only about 25 cm, the foliage is green with a velvety pile of light gray color. It is openwork foliage, as if covered with hoarfrost, attracts the attention of landscape designers and amateur flower growers to this variety.

Cineraria is elegant (Cineraria elegans) is another species enjoying great sympathy for flower lovers. Grown as an annual. It is attractive because, unlike silver, it has bright, saturated flowers, which enhances its decorative benefit.The leaves are green, velvety with a nap, the flowers are most often white, red, purple. The plant is high - 60-90 cm, with a strong stem, a large number of branches, blooms quite rapidly during the entire flowering period, which begins in June and lasts until the first frost.

Among the many varieties of graceful krestovnik gardeners prefer two:

• Nanus - dwarf shrubs no more than 25 cm, characterized by a large number of flowers of a soft pink color, in the center of the burgundy core.

• Ligulosus - variety mixture, especially popular when making flowerbeds for its rich flowering, has double flowers of various shades: white, red, lilac.

Cineraria bloody (hybrid)- despite the eerie name, the bush is very beautiful and familiar even to people far from floriculture. This species is presented in large quantities in flower shops. A distinctive feature of this species is abundant flowering: multicolored flowers of the plant, collected in umbrellas, form a bright cloud above the shrub. Look great on the beds, along the garden paths, in the flower garden near the house.

This species is also represented by two popular varieties:

• Grandiflora - a round bush of average height of about 50 cm. The flowers are large, resemble chamomile crimson and purple in appearance.

• Stellata - high fluffy shrubs (70-90 cm) with small flowers in the form of asterisks, which gave the name to the variety.

Where to plant cineraria

Like any other plant, the godson needs to choose a favorable place for planting, and taking into account its decorative purpose, this issue should be considered thoroughly.

Lighting and location

Like many other ornamental flowering plants, cineraria does not like heat, therefore, choosing a place to plant this crop, you must take care that the site is not under direct sunlight at its zenith. At the same time, for a prosperous flowering, the plant needs a lot of light, from this point of view the site facing east can be optimal.

Growing soil

When growing seedlings of cineraria, it is better to use a specially prepared soil mixture based on leafy ground, sand, compost and peat. Further, for planting seedlings of plants in open ground, does not require any specific care for the soil area. The land should be natural, loose, moist and nutritious.

Reproduction and planting

For experienced gardeners, cultivation of cineraria will not be difficult, since its reproduction occurs traditionally for all flowering plants: from seeds and in a vegetative way.

Seeds

The main method of reproduction of the baptismal - seed. Seeds for seedlings for planting in open ground are sown in winter, so that with the establishment of warm weather (usually the end of May), it is possible to transplant seedlings to the plot.

So, the sowing of seeds, therefore, is done in February. A soil mixture is prepared in the tanks, which includes leaf and sod land, compost, and sand. In the boxes it is necessary to make drainage holes to avoid stagnant moisture.The surface of the earth must be compacted, the seeds are sown from above, there is no need to deepen them into the soil, since they are very small. After planting the seeds, the soil should be slightly tamped and moistened. To create a favorable microclimate, a seed box is covered with a film.

The first shoots of seedlings appear, as a rule, in a week. Two weeks later, when the first leaves appear on the seedlings, they are transplanted into separate containers and left in a shaded place for several days, after which they are returned to a well-lit room. Further care of the seedlings is timely watering and fertilizing fertilizer once every 10 days.

With the establishment of warm weather, the seedlings are planted in open ground with a clod of earth in the prepared holes at a distance of about 25 cm from each other.

Vegetative methods

The method of grafting cineraria is used less frequently. This method is not complicated and quite interesting, it is suitable for flowering plants. By cuttings you can propagate the seaside silver cineraria. To do this, cut a 10 cm long stalk from an adult plant and plant it for rooting in the prepared soil.

For grafting using plywood box with low sides. Substrate is poured into it from the ground from the site and river sand, from above covering the mixture with an additional layer of sand. To disinfect the substrate, it is recommended to pour it with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Cut cuttings deepen into the soil and create a greenhouse effect until the plant is fully rooted. To create an improvised greenhouse, you can use plastic transparent disposable cups that cover the cuttings. Watering is done twice a day. Capacity with plants can not be left in direct sunlight. After rooting the cuttings, it is necessary to begin their hardening so that they do not die under normal conditions. To do this, remove the caps from them, first for a couple of hours a day, each day increasing their time in the open air.

Ready plants are transplanted into beds in the spring. They wait the winter cold in the cuttings.

Care culture

Cineraria belongs to unpretentious plants, even an inexperienced gardener will cope with it, the main rule in caring for her is moderation.

Watering organization

Ragwort - It comes from a tropical climate, so it is very fond of moisture, therefore, watering should be daily. In hot weather, you may need to water the plant even twice a day. However, with all its moisture-loving, cineraria capricious, the slightest stagnation of water in the soil can cause rotting of the roots and the flower will die, so it is important to loosen the soil in time, improving air circulation. Experienced gardeners recommend not only watering the crop, but also to spray the leaves.

Top dressing

Cineraria, like any flowering plant, a lot of resources are spent on the formation of buds, respectively, in need of feeding. The soil in which the flower grows, you must regularly fertilize with mineral fertilizers, usually at least twice a month. In the period of budding and flowering, the plant, in addition to mineral fertilizing, requires organic fertilizers, which will prolong the flowering and save the shrub from depletion. It is worth noting that for flowering plants it is recommended to use special nutrients.

Pruning

Cineraria does not require special pruning, mainly it is made for decorative purposes. To form a bush can be cut off the individual leaves of the plant. Also remove dead buds - this is necessary to extend the flowering period.

Pests and diseases

Oddly enough, gentle cineraria is very resistant to diseases of flowers. The only thing that threatens it is powdery mildew familiar to almost all ornamental plants. Unfortunately, if the plant is sick, then it is more likely to infect other shrubs, so it is better to remove the diseased plant and examine healthy plants in a timely manner. Prevention of this disease is the proper organization of watering culture and drainage of the soil, as powdery mildew arises from an excess of moisture.

Pests rarely attempt to baptize, mainly they are omnipresent aphids and spider mites. Methods of combating them are to use special insecticidal preparations for plants.

Cineraria - a unique plant that combines severity and beauty. It is unpretentious in the cultivation and care and looks great as a combination flower beds, and individually. Without any doubt, this culture will decorate the garden plot, balcony or terrace.