Doronicum Oblong-leaved

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Doronicum oblongifolium (lat. Doronicum oblongifolium) - one of the many representatives of the Doronicum genus, belonging to the Astrov family, or Compositae. In nature, it lives in the mountains located in Central Asia, as well as in Siberia, Kazakhstan and some regions of the Caucasus. It is an adherent of coastal areas, meadows and rocky areas. It is actively used in ornamental gardening, since it is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and high decorative effect.

Characteristics of culture

Doronicum oblong-leaved is represented by low plants, not exceeding 50 cm in height, and having a short rhizome, equipped with a neck covered with black filmy scales. Another feature of the plant is the presence of a single stem, slightly thickened and densely pubescent at the inflorescence, bearing two types of flowers - tubular and reed.

The basal foliage of the species under consideration is oblong, petiolate, elliptical, obtuse at the tips. The lower leaves are different, they have an obovate shape, equipped with winged wide petioles, unlike those found on the basal foliage. The foliage closer to the inflorescence is small, oblong, sharp at the tips. The inflorescence of the oblong-leaved doronicum is single, rather bright and attractive, equipped with a two-row wrapper with lanceolate pubescent leaves. The basket reaches 4-6 cm in diameter.

Pests and the fight against them

Despite the fact that the oblong-leaved doronicum belongs to the category of unpretentious plants, in some years and under unfavorable conditions it is affected by pests. Among them should be noted wireworms (steppe, shiny, black and wide), meadow moths, gray weevils, scoops and, of course, aphids. Failure to take action to eliminate pests leads to sad consequences, plants lose their former decorative effect, and sometimes even die.

It is quite difficult to deal with the listed pests, especially with wireworms. Wireworms are by nature the larvae of click beetles that appear in early spring. They devour the leaves and inflorescences of the doronicum, and later lay the larvae, from which the larvae later hatch - the very wireworms that carry a lot of troubles. Small larvae feed on the roots of plants, constantly migrating from one part of the garden to another, thereby causing the danger of damage to the future harvest of root crops and bulbs. It is not easy to eradicate a pest and, first of all, it is necessary to take care of preventive measures, which consist in high-quality and thorough care. But more on that later.

In addition to adhering to proper agricultural practices, if pests are found, it is necessary to seek help from insecticides. Diazonin-containing preparations have shown themselves to be on the good side in the fight against wireworms. This substance kills the larvae. They should process not only the soil, but also the planting material. Of the folk methods of combating wireworms, the most effective are preliminary sowing of oats or corn in the place where doronicum is planned to be grown. Wireworms willingly reach for crops.

Later, blende plants with wireworms are pulled out of the soil and destroyed. Before sowing oats or corn, the seeds must be treated with a universal insecticide, which causes massive death of wireworms. The main thing in the fight against wireworms is not to give up, you will have to suffer with this pest. Some gardeners, not having tried all the methods, often abandon their plots, losing the opportunity to delight themselves with blooming flower beds and delicious fruits.

Care

To prevent damage to the oblong-leaved doronicum, in fact, like other species, it is necessary to provide the culture with full care. And for this it is not at all necessary to spend all your free time at the flower garden, it is enough to carry out the required procedures as needed. First of all, you need to take care of the cleanliness of the area where the doronicum is grown. Weeding should be done as soon as weeds appear. They, by the way, are a direct threat to plants. Weeds not only take useful substances from doronicums, but also contribute to the creation of a favorable environment for the development of pests and diseases.

Regular loosening can also increase resistance to pest infestation. Organic matter and complex mineral fertilizers, required to ensure abundant flowering and active growth, will also be a good preventive measure against pests. And, by the way, top dressing gives a real chance to capture the flowering of doronicum for the second time in a season, as a rule, this process is observed at the end of August. Finally, do not forget about watering - moderate and regular.