The main subtleties of planting eremurus and care in the open field
Eremurus is a vibrant perennial plant that is cultivated as an original, exotic decoration for a home garden. Planting eremurus and care in the open field have their own subtleties and nuances that do not cause difficulties even for novice gardeners.
Botanical description of Eremurus
The main features of Eremurus:
- The root system is round, disc-shaped, up to 13-15 cm in diameter, outwardly reminiscent of a starfish with small lateral roots.
- The bush is tall - depending on the variety, it can reach 120-250 cm. The shoots are powerful and large.
- Leaves can be varied - even, narrowed, wide. The bush is abundantly covered with foliage, collected in attractive rosettes.
- The inflorescences have a star-shaped or brush-like shape and are arranged on the stems in a spiral. The color varies significantly depending on the variety and can be burgundy, scarlet, orange, creamy yellow, milky or snow-white.
- The inflorescences have fluffy, long stamens, the color of which most often contrasts with the main color.
The flowering period of the Eremurus lasts from the second half of May to the end of July, after which, in place of the inflorescence, brown spherical "boxes" filled with seeds ripen.
When planting an eremurus and leaving in the open field, it must be borne in mind that the plant begins to bloom only 4-6 years after the germination of the seeds.
Planting eremurus and care in the open field
Planting eremurus and care in the open field can be done both by seedlings and directly by seeds. For growing an exotic plant, it is best to choose open, evenly lit and well-drained areas. Its root system does not tolerate stagnant moisture and may die.
Eremurus planting in autumn is carried out in mid-September. The plant is not picky about the soil, because in natural conditions it grows easily on rocky plateaus.
Soil preparation
The main role in choosing a site for planting a perennial plant is assigned to groundwater. At a high level, cultivation of Eremurus is best done in well-drained flower beds.
When preparing holes, it is imperative to use drainage material - crushed stone, gravel or small pebbles. Cover the drainage layer with a layer of fertile soil with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction.
It is best to use turf soil with compost or humus, mixed in a ratio of 3: 1. Fine pebbles or coarse sand can be added to this composition.
Growing seedlings
Planting eremurus from seeds and caring for an exotic plant are most often carried out after preliminary preparation of the seedlings. This seedling method guarantees good germination, fast rooting and full development of the plant.
For growing seedlings, plastic containers with a height of about 17-20 cm are used.Eremurus seeds are buried in fertile soil to a depth of 1.2-1.5 cm.Then place the container in a dark and cool room, where the air temperature does not exceed + 16 ° C.
Eremurus sprouts need daily watering. Leave the containers in this form until March - it is at this time that the first shoots appear.
Eremurus seeds are characterized by poor germination, so sprouts appear slowly - on average, the growing period of seedlings can take up to 2-3 years.
Step-by-step landing algorithm
Eremurus agrotechnics recommends leaving a distance of at least 30-50 cm between the bushes, since their root system grows very quickly. If the seedlings are large enough, leave 50-70 cm between them.
For rapid rooting and active growth in central Russia, it is recommended to grow Eremurus from seedlings at least 2-3 years old, with fragments of formed roots.
Step-by-step planting technique:
- Prepare the holes for the perennial plant - their depth should be about 25-35 cm.
- Fill in a layer of drainage material 8-10 cm thick, on top of it - a previously prepared soil mixture.
- Place the seedling in the center of the hole and gently spread the root system - making sure that all the roots are pointing in different directions.
- Bury the flower bulbs 6-8 cm in the ground.
- The plant can not be removed from the pot in which it germinated, but transferred along with the earthen lump.
- Gently sprinkle the hole with the seedling so that there are no voids in it, but do not compact it too much.
After planting the eremurus, water the hole abundantly. There is no need to apply fertilizers, otherwise the exotic plant begins to actively build up its vegetative mass, which negatively affects the formation of peduncles.
Outdoor care for eremurus
When growing eremurus in open soil, no special care is required. The plant actively grows flower stalks and green mass only with regular watering - on hot, dry days it should be watered 1-2 times every 10 days.
When watering, the soil should be moistened to a depth of 18-20 cm. In rainy weather, the eremurus does not need additional watering. Also, moisturizing should be stopped immediately after the end of its flowering.
Eremurus is fed 4 times:
- October - superphosphate (45 g per 1 sq. M);
- March-April - compost or complex mineral fertilizers (5-7 kg or 55-65 g per 1 sq. m);
- at the end of May, as well as before the formation of peduncles - complex mineral fertilizing containing phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium.
During flowering, you need to regularly remove withered, dried leaves. If you are not going to collect the seeds of the plant, the “pods” should also be removed immediately after they have faded.
Eremurus seeds can be harvested in the second half of August. They are found in spherical seed pods that gradually crack after full maturation. These "boxes" are best cut off slightly unripe, then sprinkle evenly in a warm room and leave until ripe.
Wintering plants
Eremurus is a frost-resistant plant, but cold resistance depends on the variety. Some thermophilic species cannot tolerate a drop in air temperature and need additional shelter. For this purpose, you can use a layer of peat or compost - its thickness should be 10-20 cm.
In regions with a small amount of snow, you can additionally insulate the eremurus with coniferous spruce branches. Such a shelter can be used even in the cold climates of Siberia. In the spring, when the danger of return frosts has passed, the insulation can be removed.
Eremurus is a perennial plant, distinguished by its bright appearance and unpretentious care. When grown correctly, it will become an original, exotic decoration for any garden. The plant is used in both single and group plantings.