Growing physostegy from seeds for a spectacular garden design
This majestic perennial adorns fountains, artificial reservoirs, mixborders and fences. It is not surprising why growing physostegy from seeds is a hot topic for flora aficionados. The flower goes wonderfully with echinacea, phlox, dahlias. And against the background of juniper, thuja and dwarf firs, it looks like brightly burning candles. Physostegia begins to bloom in mid-August, when summer flowers have taken off their outfit, and autumn ones are just going to the "ball". She will delight the eye until the first frost, steadfastly meeting the winter. What does culture look like from the outside? Why are its varieties attractive? What's the secret to growing physostegy from seeds? How to plant in open ground and care for a plant? We will try to answer these questions.
True splendor of a flower
The plant is popularly known as a false snakehead.
The physostegia flower has powerful tetrahedral shoots. They rise above the ground from 60 to 120 cm. They comfortably accommodate "sedentary" lanceolate foliage with jagged edges. The creeping root system promotes the formation of lush clumps that turn the flower garden into a bright bedspread.
The buds are compactly collected in spike-shaped erect inflorescences. Their maximum length reaches 30 cm. The petals of each flower resemble lush lips or tubules.
Depending on the variety, they are painted in the following colors:
- snow-white;
- pink;
- purple;
- lilac;
- cherry.
The inflorescences exude a pleasant aroma and attract bees and various insects. After pollination, nut-shaped fruits are formed, inside which there is a valuable planting material. They begin to collect it at the end of summer and continue until mid-autumn. If necessary, the seeds are dried in a well-ventilated room. Store planting material in paper bags away from moisture.
Exotic varieties
According to scientific data, biologists have more than 10 varieties of this culture. Most of them grow in North America. However, only virgin physicalostegia is used as a decorative decoration. Taking the species as a basis, breeders have created original varieties. Let's get acquainted with the most common options.
Rose Bouquet
The plant grows up to 1.2 m. Differs in powerful shoots with bright green foliage. During the flowering period, physostegy wears an original outfit. Spike-shaped inflorescences consist of many lilac buds. They decorate the flower bed for 50 days, after which they turn into seed pods.
Pink queen
The variety is ideal for creating mixborders... The tallest specimens reach 70 cm. In summer, delicate spike-shaped inflorescences appear among the graceful greenery of pink physostegia virginiana. They smell good, which attracts bees, butterflies and other insects. The variety is grown from seedlings by sowing seeds in containers.
A similar color of the buds is characteristic of the Vivid variety. However, its maximum height is only 60 cm.
Alba
Bushes grow up to 0.8 m.Shoots are dense, rectangular in structure. Jagged foliage. The petals of the buds are painted in a snow-white color. Blossom in mid-July. They retain their beauty in cut for a long time. Used as background plants for mixborders.
Variegata
This species is often called glamorous variegated physicalostegy because of the original color of the leaf plates. The green foliage is decorated with a snow-white border. The plant reaches 0.9 m in height. The stems are strong and stable. The petals of the buds are colored deep pink.
Summer Snow
The variety belongs to tall plants that rise about 90 cm above the soil. The shoots are covered with green toothed foliage. Erect flower stalks are adorned with snow-white buds. Flowers are planted along artificial reservoirs on the territory of country houses.
Growing physostegy from seeds at their summer cottage
Like most plants, physostegia reproduces by self-seeding. The ripe fruit opens and the miniature seeds fall to the ground. Of course, this is the easiest way to plant such flowers on the site. However, creating a stylish flower bed will require a competent approach to planting and caring for physostegia, especially when breeding new varieties. Experienced gardeners grow crops using seedlings. The process starts in mid-March. First, containers are selected. These can be wooden boxes or plastic trays with a drainage hole. Fertile soil taken from the garden in the fall is used as a substrate.
Suitable soil can be purchased at specialized retail outlets.
A thin layer of drainage is placed on the bottom of the container so that the soil “breathes” and excess moisture leaves. Then spread the prepared soil and tamp it slightly. Using a spatula, shallow holes are formed at a distance of 1 cm from each other. Seeds are sown and covered with earth. Pour on top from a spray bottle. Cover with foil. They are taken to a well-ventilated room where the temperature is maintained at about 20 ° C.
Saplings do not like drafts and direct sunlight.
After about 15 days, the first shoots will appear. At this time, the film is removed. When two true leaf plates are formed, the seedlings dive into other containers. They are placed at a distance of 10 cm from each other. 14 days before planting in open ground, physostegy begins to adapt to the environment. The seedlings are taken out into the street for 30 minutes, and then the time is increased daily. When they feel comfortable all day long, they are planted in a flower bed.
With love we change the habitat
Competent planting in open ground and caring for physical fitness allow you to create glamorous mixborders near the dacha. The first step is to choose a suitable place where there is enough sun. As a last resort, partial shade will do. The main thing is that there are no drafts.
Next, prepare the flower bed:
- rake out fallen leaves and dry weeds;
- dig up the soil to the depth of the shovel bayonet;
- level the surface with a rake;
- make holes according to the mixborder scheme.
In order for physostegy to successfully take root in a new environment, the soil must be loose. Will fit:
- black soil;
- loam;
- sandy loam soil.
The plant is planted at a distance of 30 cm, as it grows rapidly. To protect other crops, limiters are installed in the flowerbed.
To a depth of 40 cm, so-called "barriers" are dug in from the following materials:
- slate;
- plastic;
- metal;
- wood.
If desired, physostegia is planted in special containers that keep the growth of the rhizome. An old bucket without a bottom or a piece of metal pipe is suitable for business.
The thickness of the soil layer above the dug-in container should be approximately 5 cm.
Gentle flower care
As you know, physostegy likes a moderate amount of moisture. Therefore, in dry times, it is watered as the topsoil dries up. If the summer is rife with rainfall, the plant will thrive without human intervention. However, no one cancels the loosening of the earth.
The root area can be covered with mulch, using humus or loose peat for this.
The poor soil is fed with minerals once a year. To do this, use ready-made fertilizers that are sold in flower shops. The procedure is performed before the buds bloom on the plant.
In mid-autumn, the shoots are completely cut off, leaving 5-7 cm high sprouts above the soil.
Cover if necessary:
- sawdust;
- spruce branches;
- peat;
- fallen leaves.
In the spring, the site is carefully cleaned. They loosen the soil, waiting for the first shoots. If during a hot period the plant suffers from aphid infestation, the greens are treated with insecticides (Antitlin, Aktellik, Biotlin). Fungal diseases caused by excessive moisture are eliminated with fungicides. Thanks to such loving care, the bright lights of the "American" guest will be lit on the site every year.
It turns out that growing physostegy from seeds is pretty simple. The main thing is to have planting material, containers, suitable substrate and gardening tips available. In addition, breeders offer chic varieties of Virginia Physostegy, which turn the garden into an exotic resting place. Let these flowers bring joy to all fans of flora.
Growing physostegy from seeds in the country - video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o7WTz-Gkwg