Heat-loving gentle beauty Ixia paniculata
Oddly enough, but Ixia paniculata is a representative of the iris family, although, unlike the latter, it has flowers of the correct shape. This bulbous plant looks very beautiful during flowering, which is why it is widely used in floriculture.
Description of the species
Before flowering ixia is nothing special. From a small, up to 5 cm in diameter, corms in the spring sprout a thin and weak stem up to 40 cm high. Linear, long, light green leaves are located around it. In general, nothing interesting.
But with the arrival of summer, each bulb forms peduncles with white, loose inflorescences with a red center. Some species are creamy or slightly bluish in color. Up to 10 buds can bloom on one plant, each with an average diameter of no more than 4 cm.
It should be borne in mind that when planted in the immediate vicinity of several varieties of Ixia, they very quickly re-pollinate among themselves, forming a new plant with an interesting color.
Growing features
The bulbs can be planted both in spring and autumn, but in the latter case, they need to be deepened more in order to avoid freezing. It is better to choose a place that is well lit, where moisture does not stagnate, otherwise the plant may rot. It also does not hurt to take care of protection from drafts in advance.
In order for ixia to bloom for a long time and abundantly, adult large corms at least 3 years old should be selected for planting. Smaller specimens must first grow and gain strength.
Until the end of flowering, the plant needs regular watering, then it is stopped, and the flower prepares for rest. You also need to periodically loosen the soil gently.
Autumn, when the aerial part of the flower began to dry out, the bulbs are dug up and dried. Then they are stored in cardboard boxes and taken out to a cool dry place until spring. Some growers transplant Ixia from a flower bed into pots, but with this method of storing the bulbs in a warm room, they begin to germinate quickly. The plant does not have time to rest, which negatively affects its further flowering in the open field.