2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
For those who love creativity, collecting unique bouquets of dried flowers, there is still time to sow the seeds of a herbaceous plant called "Lunaria" in a summer cottage flower garden. The Almighty awarded her with silver pods, the partition of which resembles a miniature moon or silver-white oval coins
Rod Lunnik
The genus Lunnik or Lunaria is not numerous. It is represented by only three species of upright herbaceous plants, which are perennial or biennial.
Outwardly unattractive, small, but fragrant flowers adorn tall bushes in spring. But it is not their aroma that attracts creative people, although the smell of violets is pleasant to many, but the fruits of the plant. Rather, not even the fruits themselves, but what remains of the pod when it is freed from the seeds.
And what remains of the pod is a silvery-white oval septum. It seems that the moon has descended from heaven and scattered on the bushes in small fragments not quite round in shape. Europeans call these miniature moons "papal coins", which can be used to pay the way to Paradise. And on Earth they are appreciated by amateurs who create masterpieces from natural materials.
Varieties
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Lunnik annual (Lunaria annua) is a vigorous bush that grows up to a meter in height, covered with beautiful large leaves in the shape of oblong hearts, able to show character on occasion (with an unevenly serrated edge). There are varieties with variegated leaves that have adorned their surface with a white border.
Many consider its fragrant flowers to be less decorative. Of course, these are not large roses or terry caps of other flowers, but quite cute inflorescences painted in white, purple, blue or crimson.
The main advantage of the plant is its fruits, called "papal coins" by Europeans. The only pity is that you can't buy anything for those coins. But you can use them to make winter bouquets and all kinds of fun crafts.
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Lunar come to life (Lunaria rediviva) - surpasses the previous species in longevity and growth, yielding in the size of flowers and decorativeness of fruits. This is a perennial herb, reaching a height of 1, 2 meters.
The leaves of the plant change their shape with the height of the stem. Heart-shaped at the base of the bush, they degenerate into ovate-lanceolate or ovate, climbing higher up the stem.
The cluster inflorescences are collected from white or purple flowers, which are smaller than the flowers of the annual lunar. But they fill the space around them with a scent similar to the scent of violets.
Growing
Lunaria is suitable for semi-shady flower beds, since it does not need good lighting, being content with partial shade. She stoically tolerates winter frosts without additional shelter.
Not picky about soils, grows on any garden soils. But he loves moisture, and therefore in the active period of growth, regular watering is desirable. Once a month, watering is combined with mineral feeding.
When the pods are ripe, which happens in the fall, the shoots are cut and hung in a warm drying room.
Lunaria can be affected by white rust. When purchasing seedlings in the store, you should check that there are no traces of the disease on the plant.
Reproduction
In May-June, seeds are sown in open ground. That is, those who have just met Lunaria, but love to be creative, still have time for action.
The grown seedlings are thinned out, replanting to a permanent place at the end of summer, when the plant gets stronger. You can enjoy the fruits of labor next summer.
A few moments for art lovers
• Reduce watering during the ripening period. This will give the dried fruit a more iridescent appearance.
• If natural color pods are needed for crafts, then you need to wait until they dry at the root, and then cut off the stems.
• If you need pods that can shimmer in different shades, they can be dyed. To do this, prepare water with aniline dye of the desired color, cut off the stems early in the morning, without waiting for them to fully ripen, and immerse the stems in this solution for a couple of days. Further, they are dried in the shade of ventilated rooms by hanging tied bundles upside down.
