The scheme of growing lyhnis from seeds to decorate the backyard territory
Creating a cozy corner at their summer cottage, gardeners often use bright flowers. To find the best option, it is necessary to study the cultivation of lychnis from seeds for landscape design. The plant attracts with a variety of colors and shapes. Translated into Russian, the name means "lamp", which indicates its luminous features. It is believed that the leaf plates of a flower were previously used to illuminate rooms. Whatever it was, but today lychnis decorates city and country flower beds of true admirers of flora.
What does a flower look like from the side? What types are suitable for our territory? How to organize the planting of lichnis and care in the open field in order to enjoy its beauty? Find out what the experts are saying.
Bright lamps on a background of greenery
Lichnis is such a plant. It belongs to the Clove family. Has several names:
- dawn;
- Adonis;
- soap dish;
- Tatar soap.
Each of them indicates the characteristics of the plant. The first two names are associated with the appearance of the buds. Lichnis received the rest of the "nicknames" for the ability to release soapy lather if you rub the petals of the buds in your hands.
In its natural environment, the flower is found almost throughout the territory of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. He is also known in Europe and Asia. Since the 16th century, perennials have been actively cultivated in flower beds. And breeders have bred about 15 decorative varieties that have gained particular popularity among color lovers. Let's get acquainted with the most popular types.
Chalcedony
The culture grows up to 90 cm in height. It has an erect stem, which is covered with small, hard fibers. In the lower part there are wide oval-shaped leaf plates with sharp tips. During flowering, the bush is decorated with spherical buds. They consist of many small flowers, painted in bright shades of red. Sometimes there are pink terry options with red blotches in the center of the petal. Flowering begins in June and lasts a whole month.
Cored
The vibrant dawn plant is a lush bush made up of many branches. They are silver colored and grow up to 1 m.
Against this amazing background, single large buds are formed in such tones:
- crimson;
- deep pink;
- white.
They please the eye from late May to early October. The variety perfectly tolerates prolonged shade, temperature drops and cold winters.
Alpine
Perennial is not tall. It rises only 20 cm above the ground. The herbaceous shrub is strewn with elongated light green foliage, against which dense pink inflorescences appear. The variety is used as a decorative element when creating alpine slides. The first buds bloom in early June, the last ones in late July.
Viscaria
Lychnis of this variety is distinguished by stems with a reddish tint. In addition, they are coated with a sticky substance. Oval-shaped leaf plates. Paniculate buds are colored scarlet or white.
Rosetta
The herbaceous spreading shrub consists of many stems with a rough surface. The narrow, oblong foliage is covered with delicate short hairs. Terry petals of the buds are painted in a rich crimson color.
Jupiter
A tall, loose shrub reaches a height of 80 cm. The branches are slightly pubescent. The foliage is elongated. The buds are light purple in color. Pleasing to the eye from late May to July.
Regardless of the variety, after pollination of the buds, fruits are formed. They resemble miniature nuts containing dark brown seeds.
The germination of planting material lasts for 4 years.
Growing lychnis from seeds
There are 2 ways to get a plant for landscaping a summer cottage. It can be sown directly into the ground or for seedlings. The first option is suitable for southern regions where warm weather sets in quickly. After all, flower seeds grow at a temperature of + 20 ° C.
Before proceeding with planting lychnis seeds, carefully prepare the flower bed:
- rake out the remains of plants;
- plow the soil well;
- level the top layer;
- make grooves 1.5 cm deep.
To sow flowers evenly, the grains are mixed with sand. Then the holes are carefully closed. The first shoots will appear no earlier than 21 days later. Experienced growers will speed up the process using film or agrofibre... Thanks to the shelter, a greenhouse effect is formed, which promotes the formation of green shoots. Too dense crops are thinned out, removing weak or deformed specimens.
The quality of germination is affected by the stratification of the planting material. For this, flower seeds are sent to the refrigerator for 30 days.
Seedling preparation
The process of growing from lyhnis seeds for seedlings begins in late February or early March.
For the case you will need:
- sectional containers;
- suitable substrate;
- planting material;
- cover film or glass;
- bulk plastic cups.
When all the items are at hand, proceed to planting. First, the containers are filled with a substrate, which consists of sod land, river sand, compost. A seed is placed in each section, ground with soil and moistened with a spray bottle. Crops are covered with foil or transparent glass. The containers are taken to a room where a stable positive temperature is maintained. When greenery appears after 3 weeks, the shelter is removed, and the containers are transferred to a warmer place. Under the influence of sunlight, they will quickly grow. Throughout this period, the flowers are moderately watered.
Fortified seedlings are carefully transferred to plastic cups. To do this, all crops are abundantly moistened. Then the seedlings are carefully removed along with the earthen clod and transferred to a new container. The free space is filled with soil, compacted and abundantly watered with water at room temperature. Cups are placed on windowsills where there is a lot of sunlight. 2 weeks before planting in open ground, the seedlings begin to harden. Every day she is taken out into the street. First, it is kept for 30 minutes. After 2 days, the period is increased. And so on until full acclimatization in the natural environment. Next, consider how experienced florists take care of the culture.
The culture does not like drafts, so containers should be kept away from vents and doors.
Loving care is the key to success
Wild flowers may appear to thrive under all conditions. In fact, nature "takes care" of them. There is a suitable soil for every species. It will rain from the sky, and with a thunderstorm there will be feeding. Cultivated flowers expect all this from their fans. Therefore, planting and caring for a dawn flower includes a number of activities.
Flowerbed location
Likhnis has been successfully developing on one site for no more than 5 years. Therefore, it is placed on a flower bed in a place where there is an abundance of sunlight. Only diffused shadow is allowed.In addition, the culture looks great in group and single plantings.
Dwarf varieties are planted:
- on the alpine slides;
- rockeries;
- for framing garden alleys and borders.
Tall specimens of Lichnes are used for the design of gazebos, outbuildings, fences, as well as artificial reservoirs.
Asters, daylilies, carnations, primroses are ideal neighbors for lychnis. Even a flower planted in a container can be used to decorate a veranda or balcony.
Moisturizing
In most cases, the plant is content with precipitation that comes from the sky. However, with prolonged drought, lychnis needs additional moisture. Water the flowers with a spray bottle. This will help distribute the water evenly throughout the flower bed.
After moistening, it is advisable to fluff the soil and remove the weeds.
Top dressing
Throughout the season, the plant is fertilized at least 3 times. The first feeding is carried out before the lychnis bloom.
The solution is prepared from the components:
- water;
- superphosphate;
- urea;
- potassium sulfate.
Chemicals are taken one tablespoon at a time and diluted in 10 liters of clean water. The second time fertilization is applied during flowering, and the third - in early autumn.
For 1 m², you will need about 3 liters of the prepared substance.
Pruning and preparing for winter
After flowering, erect peduncles remain on the bushes, which inhibit the appearance of new specimens. Therefore, they are removed in a timely manner. Thanks to this procedure, the dawn releases new inflorescences for a long time.
In the southern regions, the plant miraculously tolerates cold. However, in the middle lane, additional cover is required. Most often, flowers are mulched with fallen leaves or peat.
Having learned what the cultivation of lychnis from seeds is, we understand the simplicity of the task. It can be sown directly into open ground or containers. And caring for a culture does not require special skills. So let's decorate our site with this bright flower.