2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
When pronouncing the word "phacelia", everyone immediately remembers a melliferous plant with pale lilac small inflorescences. And I was lucky enough to get acquainted with its decorative type of phacelia Californian bell. Completely unlike her wild cousin
One has only to plant a decorative phacelia once, and you will fall in love with it for life. Sky blue up to 3 cm in diameter, charming cuties with yellow long expressive stamens are somewhat reminiscent of eyes with fluffy eyelashes, wide open in amazement to meet the new day. Words cannot convey the beauty that blooms in the beds every day from the end of May to August. Better to see this miracle live once.
Unusual leaves of a grayish-green hue with a carved edge have a slight pubescence. The stem and petioles of the leaf plate are maroon, fragile, fleshy. Strongly branched shoots form a lush bush 25 cm high. At the end of each branch there are up to 12 buds, collected in a brush. The roots are short, pivotal.
Looks beautiful in flowerpots, on an alpine slide, along the edge of a rabatka, mixborder. It is better to plant phacelia in arrays than to scatter one bush at different ends of the flower bed.
Preferences
Due to the weak root system, frequent watering is necessary during dry periods. Loves moist, loose, fertile soils. Prefers full sun, but feels good in partial shade.
Planting and leaving
It propagates only by seed. As an annual, it quickly enters the flowering phase a month after germination. Therefore, it can be sown from April to early June.
This procedure is carried out immediately to a permanent place, building a small greenhouse in a certain area of the flower bed. Seeds are spread on a moistened surface in small groups with a distance of 15 cm between them. Sprinkle lightly with earth. Seals well.
After 1, 5-2 weeks, the first shoots appear. In phase 2 of true leaves, excess plants are carefully removed without disturbing the clod. Leave 3-4 bushes in a group.
He does not tolerate a transplant to another place. If the need arises, then the soil is well moistened. Carefully dig out the seedlings. They are transferred in heaps to a new place, compacting the soil around the roots. Water abundantly.
In the process of growing, every 2 weeks, phacelia is fed with complex fertilizer Kemira Lux. Moisturize without waiting for the earthen coma to dry. To reduce evaporation, the soil is mulched with fine sawdust, humus.
A month after germination, the shelter is removed. At this time, the bushes are picking up buds and are already ready to bloom. They exude a faint honey scent, attracting bees.
For seed purposes, several specimens are left growing on a separate bed. Throughout the summer, small brown grains are harvested from them.
On the main plantings, dried inflorescences are removed so as not to spoil the decorative effect of the plant. This technique promotes the formation of new buds.
In the literature, they write that the Californian bell gives abundant self-seeding. I have never seen this in my flower beds. New crops had to be sown every year.
Weeds are carefully weeded throughout the season. They try not to touch the plants themselves, so as not to break off fragile shoots, not to damage the root. When the bushes grow, they will not leave a chance for weeds to break through the dense carpet of young shoots.
Chemical treatments for pests and diseases are not needed. Despite its small stature and graceful structure, phacelia perfectly resists these misfortunes.
Regular watering, removal of dry inflorescences, top dressing will help the Californian phacelia to survive the adverse weather conditions of the summer period. They will thank caring gardeners with abundant flowering of sky-blue "eyes".
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