Intoxicating heliotrope with its scent: planting, growing and caring
Delicate and sophisticated, heliotrope fills the evening garden with a heady vanilla aroma. These lush, purple shrubs are a great decoration for the landscape design of a country house. It is possible to grow culture both on a personal plot and in an apartment. To do this, you need to choose those varieties that are most adapted to the natural conditions of the region. Subtropical latitudes serve as a favorable environment for a flower. In this regard, planting and caring for heliotrope, photos of some species are given below, requires professional knowledge.
Some features of the flower
Breeders have bred about 300 species of this crop. In temperate latitudes (with frosty winters), only annuals are grown, although many acquire perennial varieties for home conditions.
You can add splendor to the bush and flowering with the help of mineral fertilizers. Top dressing is applied every 14 days until the first bud ovaries appear.
The flowering period lasts more than one month, starting in July (depending on the area) and ending with the first drop in temperature. This representative of the Buryachnikov family grows exclusively in open areas that are sufficiently warmed up by the sun. The name of the heliotrope flower comes from 2 Latin words: "to turn" and "sun". They aptly describe the nature of the plant. Outwardly, this prim bush has the following features:
- Leaves. The color is dark green and the shape resembles a small upside-down boat. Due to the symmetrically located veins, the leaves have a relief structure. On the stem, they are staggered and planted on small petioles.
- Flowers. One shield accommodates dozens of small flowers. The diameter of such a bloom is about 25 cm. The peduncle is long and straight. They are mostly done by the Great Artist in dark blue and purple tones. However, there are examples of a white shade (White Lady), as well as with a yellow / brownish center (Kurasovsky).
- Fruit. When they ripen, they split into four slices. If they are collected in time, they will be suitable for planting heliotrope next year. It should be borne in mind that in the northern regions the seeds do not have time to ripen, therefore they do not germinate well, and their flowers are small and poor.
The shrub should be planted on the sunny side of the infield. The land should be rich in humus and shallow groundwater. You need to water the flowerbed often, but make sure that the water does not stagnate. Moreover, in order for the culture to develop successfully, it needs to pinch the shoots, the tops. After all, some varieties reach 30-60 cm in height.
Weeds can drown out the root system, so it is important to weed the soil regularly. To prevent the soil from drying out in the hot summer, you can make mulch from leaves and grass.
Seed propagation
The heliotrope Marine is recognized as the most optimal exhibit for the garden, because it throws out lush bloom and branches well. Experts recommend growing it exclusively using seedlings. The seeds may not produce the necessary shoots. Gardeners practice starting sowing after the last frost has passed - in March. As a result, the first sprouts can be seen in a month, and gorgeous flowering in four. To speed up the process of growing heliotrope from seeds (you can see their photos), you should perform the following procedures:
- The cotton fabric is impregnated with a growth accelerator. Seeds are wrapped in it and left on a plastic tray. As the material dries, add the solution. The procedure is carried out within 2-3 days.
- Instead of ordinary soil, compressed peat tablets are used.
- Soak the seeds in the solution for 24 hours. Silver is used as a growth accelerator or zircon... 6 drops of the selected chemical element are added to a glass with warm liquid. Dry the seeds on a towel before sowing.
Such actions will protect the heliotrope plant from diseases and pests, and also make it more resistant to temperature changes. At the same time, the gardener will see the first shoots in 10 days, and not 30. When more than two leaves appear on the stems, and this will happen in one and a half or two months, the seedlings dive in 2 passes. First, they are transplanted in batches of 6-10 pcs. in one container. After they grow up a little, they are transferred to pots: individually or in groups (the distance between them is 10-15 cm).
It is important to tie up flowering branches so that the flowerbed looks solid. Otherwise, the heliotrope will "fall apart" on the site, turning into a carpet.
Cutting heliotrope
The heliotrope is a tree-like very demanding garden dweller. Still, thousands of gardeners propagate it using cuttings. March and April are favorable periods for this method. Cuttings are planted in peat soil fertilized with humus. The microclimate should be humid, and the temperature should not be lower than 18 degrees. It is advisable to create a miniature greenhouse for him. A can or film is most suitable, but do not forget about daily airing. When the roots appear, the sprouts are transplanted into separate containers. When the roots take root, they are safely transferred to a permanent place.
Landing
The presentable appearance of the plant depends on the planting substrate, lighting, feeding and regular watering. Leaves will wither and dull if the crop grows in the shade. Therefore, for her, you should choose the southern or southwestern side of the site. At home, the plant in high-quality and daily airing.
You should use a soil without clay admixtures. Preference should be given to loose and lighter substrates.
To plant a heliotrope flower, it is worth buying a special soil for shrubs and then providing the seedling with proper care, as shown in the photo. You can create a substrate yourself. This requires the following components:
- sod and deciduous land;
- coarse sand;
- high-quality manure humus;
- charcoal pounded into ash (1-2 handfuls);
- non-acidic peat;
- expanded clay is used as drainage.
Peat and soil are the largest parts in the substrate, and all the rest should be taken an order of magnitude less. Then you should dig a large hole, lay out drainage on its bottom, fill it with organic fertilizer, and then carefully lay the seedling. The roots must be straightened, and then covered with prepared soil in small portions. At the end, press the ground near the root collar and water the bush abundantly.
Some sprouts can be pinched off to make the flowerpot more voluminous.
Care
Since herbaceous heliotrope is a very picky plant for open ground, it is advised to water it with soft and settled water (20-25 ° C). It is advisable to spray the shrub every 2-3 days, but it cannot withstand excess water. During the intensive growing season, the soil must be regularly and abundantly moistened. Before each watering, gardeners recommend checking the soil moisture. It should not be wet or dry. Organic and mineral fertilizers, as already noted, are introduced before the beginning of the flowering period. Two-time feeding every month to protect the heliotrope from exhaustion.
Rainwater is best suited for irrigation. It should settle a little and warm up well in the sun.
Mulching - an effective method in creating a humid microclimate for the Peruvian heliotrope, as well as other hybrids of this family. You can create such a shelter from any type of organic matter, namely:
- compost;
- sawdust;
- foliage.
As a result, the gardener will save on water, as well as weeding. At the same time, under such an organic “cover”, the soil will always be loose and moist. Mulch is made up to 10 cm high.It is sad, but heliotrope is a tasty morsel for:
- spider mite (sign - leaves are crumbling);
- whitefly;
- fungal bacteria (gray mold and mold);
- aphids.
In the fight against fungal pests, antiseptic preparations (fungicides) are used. Spraying is carried out once a week until the disease disappears completely. To destroy the tick, it is enough to simply spray the bush abundantly 3 times a day using soft water.
In October, it is advisable to dig up a bed with the remaining parts of the plant. For the winter, it is recommended to apply fertilizer so that it rotted in the ground before the next planting.
You can make a perennial from an annual. To do this, at the beginning of autumn, it is dug up with a clod of earth (diameter 30 cm). Transferred to a large pot with a large hole at the bottom. Place the flowerpot in a room with a temperature of at least 7 ° C. Watered with a pallet, because the culture is at rest.
Despite its whimsicality, this inhabitant of the Mediterranean takes root well in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. However, in regions with harsh winters, heliotrope is often grown at home.