2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Everyone knows Tradescantia, but few people think that this flower is not only indoor. It is grown with great success in gardens, occupies a leading place in flower beds, and winters well
My first acquaintance with Tradescantia happened 5 years ago. I have been looking closely at her for a long time, leafing through catalogs, meeting on garden sites. But I was afraid to acquire. A legitimate question arose: "How does she winter in our area?" Because on my mind, like many, there was only a room option. I decided to buy and do not regret it at all.
Species features
The garden specimen is represented by Anderson's Tradescantia, named after the famous botanist who studied this flower. It is a frost-resistant perennial that does not require shelter for the winter. For all the years of cultivation in my country house, the plant has never froze.
Tradescantia does not tolerate prolonged drought. Responds well to watering. Not whimsical. It grows in any soil. Feels great near water bodies in a shady place. It blooms profusely and for a long time, striking with bright colors. In the sun, the inflorescences quickly fade.
Elastic thick stems reach a height of 60 cm, but there are also undersized specimens not exceeding 20 cm. Each shoot carries clusters with many peduncles. The central stem blooms first. Then it branches and a "hat" of new buds is formed at the end of each shoot. Therefore, the plant pleases the eye continuously throughout the summer.
The leaves are narrow. Coloring, depending on the variety, varies from light green to purple. The inflorescence consists of 3 petals (white, pink, blue, blue, violet, lilac) and many fluffy stamens. In recent years, varieties with double flowers have been bred. They look especially impressive.
During strong winds, the bushes sometimes lie down. Therefore, they construct a small wire support for them, consisting of an expanding ring and 2 legs.
Place in the flower garden
Looks beautiful against the background of host, daylilies, low-growing irises, in single plantings near buildings and water bodies.
Care and reproduction
In dry weather, watering in small doses is required. Top dressing 2 times with complex fertilizer during the regrowth of new shoots and before flowering. Gentle loosening of the soil (roots are close to the surface). Mulching with humus, sawdust. Regular weeding.
For the winter, the aboveground part is recommended to be cut off. I do not do this. I release the shoots from the frame. They themselves lie on the ground. From above they are covered with snow. This is quite enough for a successful wintering.
Tradescantia reproduces in three ways:
• seeds;
• cuttings;
• dividing the bush.
The seed method is more interesting for those who want to start breeding this plant. Or if it is difficult to get planting material. Seeds are sown at home in early April and grown through seedlings. In this case, the colors are varied, not only the one that is presented on the package. Such specimens usually bloom for 3 years. In the literature they write that the bushes give abundant self-seeding by autumn. I have not had such cases.
The easiest way to propagate Tradescantia is by dividing the bush in early spring. Carefully dig out the bush. Free him from the ground. First, with a knife, and then they break the roots with their hands, leaving 2-3 shoots in each instance. They are seated at a distance of 30 cm from each other, in holes dug and spilled with water. Gently compact the soil.
Propagated by cuttings throughout the summer. Shoots with 3 buds are cut off. Rooted in water or in the soil of a small greenhouse. After 3 weeks, roots appear. Such plants in the first year require a small shelter for the winter.
The last 2 methods retain varietal characteristics and after 3 years they turn into luxurious bushes, ready for a new division.
Pests and diseases do not like Tradescantia, so there are no problems with treatments. Lush "balls", strewn with many delicate inflorescences, will not cause trouble with their cultivation and will delight for many years to come with their external beauty.
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