Cineraria: Planting And Care

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

Cineraria will suit both lovers of flowering perennials and decorative deciduous plants. It is only important to choose the right type of flower. If you want to decorate your site with exquisite carved leaves of a dove-gray hue, you need to stop at the seaside cineraria or ash-tree rosemary. Those who love colorful borders and bright flower beds more should plant a hybrid cineraria

Features of the extraordinary seaside cineraria

The seaside cineraria has a very unusual appearance for a summer plant. The pinnate leaves are very similar to miniature antlers. At the same time, the pubescent foliage has a silvery tint, which gives the impression that the plant is covered with frost. Despite the fact that in landscape design, perennials are classified as decorative deciduous, it should not come as a surprise to the gardener when the plant blooms. However, its opened buds are not of high aesthetic value. They are small in size, dirty yellow in color, often hidden in the thick of the bush.

This variety came to us from the Mediterranean countries. And since the climate in our latitudes is significantly different from the homeland of the perennial, in local conditions it is more often cultivated as an annual. Grown through seedlings. Sowing in containers is carried out in late winter - early spring. Seedlings dive into boxes of about 200 pcs. for one container. The plant is transplanted to a permanent place in the open ground of a flower garden in June.

The seaside cineraria is undemanding to the soil and illumination of the site, it can be planted in a shady corner. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the plant acquires its original ash-gray color exclusively under bright sunlight. In flower beds, it is harmoniously combined with carpet plants. Can be used as a border near dark-leaved cannes, pelargonium, salvia.

Growing decorative flowering hybrid cineraria

The Canary Islands are considered the homeland of the hybrid cineraria. It is grown as an annual and biennial plant. Unlike its seaside cousin, this species has large leaf blades, but they modestly hide under a lush dome of many bright flowers. Inflorescences are known for a wide variety of colors: pink, red, lilac, blue, white, two-colored, can be simple and double.

Cineraria hybrid is propagated by both seeds and cuttings. In order for the plants to delight longer with their variegated petals, it is recommended to sow at several times. Considering that 8-9 months should pass from the moment of sowing to the appearance of buds, this procedure can be started already in May-June. Then bright plantings will decorate the flower garden next year in early spring.

Sowing seeds is carried out in containers with a soil mixture consisting of leaf and humus soil with sand. Seedlings are grown with a pick. For grown seedlings, the nutrient substrate is prepared from the following ingredients:

• leaf land - 4 hours;

• soddy - 4 hours;

• humus - 2 hours;

• sand - 1 tsp.

Seedling care consists in daily watering. After rooting in a new place, the boxes with plants are taken out into the fresh air, accustoming them to open-air conditions. On hot days, containers with cineraria are shaded and sprayed with water.

Depending on the development, the seedlings can be dived again or planted in separate pots. The diameter of the containers should be about 7-8 cm. After that, they are sent to cold greenhouses until September-October. In autumn, the plants are "settled" already in 11-centimeter pots and left in light greenhouses. When the flowers take root, the temperature of the content will need to be reduced to approximately + 5 ° C. Since December, the volume of irrigation is reduced - until February, the cineraria stops growing. And in the spring you can expect the appearance of buds.