Content
- 1 General description of the Chinese aster
- 2 The best varieties of Chinese asters
- 3 Breeding features
- 4 Application in landscape design
- 5 Methods for growing Chinese asters from seeds
- 6 Growing Chinese asters from seeds at home
- 7 Planting and caring for Chinese aster outdoors
- 8 Outdoor care for Chinese aster
- 9 Diseases and pests
- 10 Conclusion
Chinese aster is a herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family. In botanical reference books, it can be found under the name "Callistefus". The culture is distinguished by a wide variety of colors and unpretentious care, thanks to which it has gained wide popularity. Different types of Chinese asters can differ not only in color, but also in the shape of the petals, plant height, and purpose. Therefore, each florist can choose any options to his liking.
Aster bush can be spreading or pyramidal in shape
General description of the Chinese aster
The birthplace of callistephus is China, where the plant has been cultivated since ancient times, personifying elegance and beauty. The flower was secretly brought to the countries of Europe in the 17th century by a French monk. Since then, the astra began to travel around the world.
Legends and interesting facts
In translation from Latin "aster" means "star". Therefore, the flower personifies the dream of the unknown, is a talisman and a gift from God to man. In Greece, it is believed that an aster, planted at the entrance, is able to protect a house from harm and trouble.
In China, there is a legend that two monks, trying to climb to the stars, climbed the highest mountain in Altai. But when they reached the top, they were disappointed. The stars were also inaccessible and distant as before. Tired and hungry, they returned back, and at the foot of the mountain they saw a whole clearing with beautiful flowers. And then they realized that the stars are not only in the sky, but also on earth. The monks named the plants asters. And since then they began to grow them in the monastery.
There is also another belief that the Chinese aster grew out of a speck of dust that came to Earth from a star. Therefore, her buds are so similar to her. And if you go out into the garden at night, you can hear a whisper. These are the stars in the sky communicating with asters.
Chinese aster - perennial or annual
Callistephus is an annual plant. But unlike perennial species, Chinese aster is characterized by larger flowers, a huge variety of shades and a compact bush shape.
Plant height varies from 20 to 90 cm. Aster is distinguished by erect flexible shoots, which branch vigorously. Leaves are oval, with a jagged edge and a sharp end. The flowers are fluffy baskets. But in fact, they are inflorescences and consist of two types of flowers - reed and tubular, which many people mistake for petals.
Marginal ligulate flowers can be of different shades, except for orange, green and black. And the tubular ones, which are located in the center, are only yellow. Moreover, in terry varieties, they are practically not visible.
The best varieties of Chinese asters
Chinese aster is a herb for open ground. Thanks to selection, about 500 species of this culture were bred.
Among them:
- Erfurt dwarf. A stunted species bred in Germany. It is characterized by a compact pyramidal bush, the height of which reaches 20-30 cm. It forms large inflorescences with a diameter of up to 10 cm. The color is in a classic color scheme. The first buds open after 3 months.
- The gray-haired lady. Peony aster 70 cm high. A characteristic feature is the silvery-white tips of the petals. The main shade of this series can be pink or lilac-blue. The bush has a compressed pyramidal shape, forms about 10 peduncles per season. The "Gray Lady" has double or semi-double inflorescences, 9-12 cm in diameter. The first buds open in July.
- Unique. A needle-like type of Chinese aster, distinguished by a rich selection of colors with a subtle aroma. Forms high bushes up to 70 cm, with numerous branches. Radiant inflorescences reach 13 cm in diameter.
- Harz. A spectacular needle-like variety with huge inflorescences 16-18 cm in diameter. The height of the bushes is 70 cm. Forms strong shoots, therefore it is suitable for cutting. Long petal needles are densely planted and slightly curled in the center. The series of the Chinese aster "Harz", as seen in the photo, is distinguished by a wide variety of shades.
- Pampushka. A pom-pom plant variety that includes one- and two-color shades. Forms compact branchy bushes 50 cm high. The marginal flowers form a long wide skirt, and the central ones are dense, short.
Breeding features
Chinese asters, unlike perennial species, need to be planted every year. The plant propagates only by seeds. They should be harvested in the fall, after they are fully ripe.
Application in landscape design
The variety of callistephus species allows the plant to be used for landscaping the site. Dwarf Chinese asters are ideal for ridges and curbs. And tall species are used for group plantings.
Dwarf forms of Chinese asters are suitable for growing in containers
It is good to combine Chinese aster with spring bulbous flowers, since at the end of the flowering of the latter, it only begins to form buds and grow bushes and, thereby, preserves the decorativeness of the flower bed. Calendula and marigold are ideal partners for callistephus.
Aster gets along easily and goes well with any garden flowers.
Methods for growing Chinese asters from seeds
Chinese aster can be grown in a seedling and non-seedling way. In the first case, flowering occurs much earlier and allows you to collect ripe seeds at the end of the season. In the second case, the buds open only in August.
Growing Chinese asters from seeds at home
This method is more reliable, since it allows you to track the growth of Chinese aster seedlings from the beginning to planting in open ground. This significantly increases the number of seedlings, but requires hardening before planting in the ground.
When to sow Chinese asters for seedlings
When growing Chinese asters from seeds, you can plant seedlings in early April and continue until the first half of May. Early species bloom after 90-95 days, and later ones after 110 days.
Preparation of containers and soil
To plant Chinese asters on seedlings, you need to select wide, but shallow bowls 10 cm high with drainage holes. Each variety should be planted in a separate container. A suitable soil can be prepared by mixing turf, sand and humus in a 1: 1: 1 ratio and adding 200 g of wood ash to 1 bucket of substrate. To disinfect the soil, it is necessary to pour it with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Algorithm for planting Chinese asters for seedlings
The planting procedure for the Chinese aster does not require complicated steps.Therefore, it can be carried out by anyone, even a novice florist.
Procedure:
- Place a 1 cm thick drainage layer on the bottom of the container.
- Pour the substrate on top, level and compact.
- Water the soil.
- Use a wooden stick to make grooves 0.5 cm deep.
- Place seeds in them evenly, sprinkle with earth.
- Maintain a row spacing of 2 cm.
- Cover containers with glass or foil.
Chinese aster seeds germinate in 7-8 days
Seedling care
When shoots appear, the containers must be rearranged to a bright place and the maintenance regime must be lowered to 15 degrees. This will inhibit the growth of the aerial part and stimulate the development of roots.
The main care consists in regular watering as the substrate dries. As soon as the Chinese aster seedlings grow a little and get stronger, they need to be adapted to external conditions. To do this, you should initially remove the glass for 30 minutes, and with each subsequent day, increase the interval by another half hour. After a week, the shelter can be removed.
When 1-2 pairs of true leaves are formed, Chinese aster seedlings should be planted in separate containers. The soil can be used the same as for seeds.
Transfer to the ground
It is necessary to plant Chinese aster seedlings grown from seeds in open ground when the probability of return frosts completely disappears. The optimal period is the second half of May or early June, depending on the region.
By this time, the plant should be 7 cm high and have 5-6 true leaves. When planting, a distance of 20 cm between seedlings should be maintained.
Planting and caring for Chinese aster outdoors
Sowing seeds can be carried out directly into open ground. With this method of cultivation, the Chinese aster turns out to be more hardy.
Timing
Planting Chinese aster seeds in the ground can be carried out in spring and autumn. In the first case, this should be done in the second half of May, when the soil warms up to a depth of 15-20 cm.
In the second case, sowing is recommended at the end of November so that the seeds do not have time to germinate before frost. Planting Chinese asters before winter can be used in the southern regions.
Site selection and soil preparation
For Chinese asters, open sunny areas should be selected, but it is also permissible to grow Chinese asters in partial shade. The maximum decorative qualities are manifested when planted in light fertile soil with a neutral acidity level.
A bed for Chinese aster should be prepared in 2 weeks. It needs to be dug up, cleaned of weeds and added to the soil for each square meter of humus (4 kg), superphosphate (40 g) and potassium sulfide (3 g).
Sowing seeds
Before planting, the site should be leveled and loosened to a depth of 4-6 cm. Then make grooves at a distance of 15 cm and water them. Then spread the seeds and sprinkle them with earth. The first watering should be done for 3-4 days.
Seeds are planted in open ground in three stages
Outdoor care for Chinese aster
Chinese aster belongs to the category of unpretentious plants, so it is not difficult to take care of it.
The basic rule is to regularly loosen the soil between the rows after rain or watering and remove weeds on time. It is also important to huddle the bushes to a height of 6-8 cm before branching, which stimulates the growth of the root system and makes the plants resistant. Chinese aster easily tolerates drought, but does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil. Therefore, it needs to be watered rarely, but abundantly, at the rate of 30 liters per 1 sq. m.
One-year-old aster should be fed three times per season. The first time during the period of active growth of shoots. At this stage, you should use 30 g of ammonium nitrate per 10 liters of water. The second and third time, feeding is done during the formation of buds and flowering.During this period, it is necessary to use superphosphate (50 g), and potassium sulfate (40 g) for the same volume of water.
Diseases and pests
The Chinese aster, like its perennial relative, is susceptible to diseases and pests. Therefore, when characteristic signs appear, urgent measures are recommended.
Possible problems:
- Fusarium. Affects adult plants. A characteristic feature is a sharp yellowing of the bush on one side, followed by drying out. Diseased plants cannot be treated, so they must be burned. As a preventive measure, Chinese aster cannot be planted in the same garden bed for 5 years. The most common cause is fresh manure, so only humus should be used when growing.
- Kidney aphid. Attacks the Chinese aster at the seedling stage, which leads to deformation of the leaves. To combat aphids, the bushes should be treated with "Inta-Vir", "Fitoverm".
- Slugs. The pest attacks plants in high humidity conditions. Holes in the leaves are a sign of damage. For the fight, it is recommended to pour wood ash and gravel at the base of the bushes.
Conclusion
Chinese aster is a flower for open ground, which was grown in the old days. But thanks to the efforts of breeders, the plant remains relevant to this day, and is also widely used in landscape design. This popularity is due to its high decorative qualities and unpretentious care.
