Charming Balls Of Armeria. Reproduction, Care

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

Adorable babies with balls of inflorescences attract attention in the garden most of the summer. Looking at them, there is a desire to settle these wonderful pets in the flower beds near the house. How to propagate your favorite plants? Take care of proper care of the army?

Breeding types

For armeria, two main methods of reproduction are used:

• vegetative (cuttings, division of rhizomes);

• seed.

Cross-pollinated culture in the second variant splits traits into parental forms. Close planting of plants with different colors results in a mixture of colors. Therefore, the stores offer seeds of several shades of pink in one pack.

Let's take a closer look at each of the methods.

Cuttings

The procedure is carried out throughout the summer. Carefully with a knife separate the daughter basal rosettes with a piece of the base without digging the uterine bush. Cuttings are planted in the prepared ridges for further rooting in rows 10 cm apart.

The plantings are well moistened, covered with a film or non-woven material on top. The humid climate inside the cuttings allows plants to grow roots faster and requires less watering. After 1-1, 5 months, the young are planted in a permanent place.

Dividing the bush

With prolonged cultivation in one place, the Armeria bushes gradually grow. It is recommended to carry out anti-aging plant division after 3 years. In early spring, adult specimens are completely dug up. Remove rotten roots. Cut into several parts with a sharp knife. The sections are sprinkled with ash. They are planted in a permanent place 20-25 cm apart, spilling the soil well.

Seed method

Armeria seeds require stratification. Planting material is sown in three ways:

• directly into the ridges (early spring or late autumn);

• at home (mid-February);

• greenhouses (late February - early March).

Ridges are prepared in the fall. Dig a shovel onto a bayonet, fill it with humus. Rows are cut every 15 cm. Before frost, seeds are distributed over the surface, lightly sprinkling with soil, with a layer of no more than 4 mm. Install arcs.

Early-spring sowing is carried out in early April in nurseries previously dug out, spilled with warm water.

Cover with foil on top. Watering is rare as the soil dries up. In the phase of 2-4 true leaves, they are fed with Kemir's complex fertilizer. If possible, they dive at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other in nurseries.

Seeds sown in common bowls are kept at home for 2-3 weeks at low temperatures (in the refrigerator). Then they are transferred to sunny windowsills, covered with a film.

The emergence of seedlings is extended over time. Gradually remove the shelter. Water with a moderately weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent blackleg. In the phase of 2-4 true leaves, they are seated in separate cups, slightly deepening the base of the leaves.

They are fed with a complex fertilizer for flowers 1-2 times a month with a weak concentration. Before planting on flower beds, they are accustomed to the conditions of open ground, leaving the seedlings in the shade of trees for the day.

Landing

Prepare a place for landing in advance. Alkaline soils are deoxidized by adding ammonium nitrate. The rotted organic matter is scattered over the surface. Dig up, picking out the malicious roots of the weeds. They are waiting for the subsidence of the substrate, the end of the period of returnable spring frosts.

Holes are cut every 20-25 cm, spilled with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The young are planted, directing the taproots straight down. Sprinkle with loose soil, gently compacting the soil around the plants.

Sprinkle water over the top. Mulch with peat, sawdust, straw cutting, reducing evaporation, preventing the emergence of annual weeds.

Care

In early spring, a complex mineral fertilizer is applied between the rows. Water as the topsoil dries up during dry periods. They loosen the soil around the plants, removing "competitors".

To preserve strength and decorativeness, the faded "balls" are removed by cutting off the stem at the level of the leaves. This technique leads to re-flowering in late summer. The bolls left until the moment of full ripening give a single self-seeding for the next year.

Seed collection

Collecting your own seeds for propagation is easy. The brownish dry balls are cut off together with the peduncle. Tied in bunches, hung upside down over a newspaper in a shady place under a canopy.

Thresh, dry the seeds on paper. Placed in bags indicating the name, date of collection. Store no more than 2 years in a dry place.

Beautiful armeria bushes, originally grown from seeds, will later provide a sufficient amount of planting material for breeding. The surplus can be shared with relatives. Saplings will be a wonderful gift for the holiday, they will decorate any corner of the sunny garden.