Content
Large periwinkle is a very unpretentious flowering plant. And the variegat variety is also decorative due to the variegated green and white foliage. It is not difficult to take care of him, but it is still necessary to know in advance the most important nuances regarding planting, agricultural technology, reproduction.
Botanical description of the great variegatus periwinkle
Large periwinkle is a perennial evergreen shrub from the Kutrovy family. Its variety Variegata (Variegata) differs from the "original" two-colored white-green leaves.
The botanical characteristics of the great variegat periwinkle are as follows:
- superficial (goes 10-15 cm deep), actively growing in breadth root system, roots are thin, "fibrous";
- the stems of the plant are creeping, about 1.5 m long, herbaceous or semi-lignified, with pronounced internodes, from which, when in contact with the soil, roots easily germinate;
- peduncles are smooth or with sparse "villi", height - 0.6-0.7 m;
- leaves are hard, smooth, glossy, oppositely located, 7-9 cm long and 5-6 cm wide, almost round, sharply tapering to the tip, with distinctly prominent veins;
- the color of the leaves of the plant is a creamy white border and spots on a rich green background (the intensity of the manifestation of "spotting" depends on the cultivation conditions and the age of the bush);
- petioles are short (1.5-2 cm), "fleecy";
- flowers are axillary, single, five-petal, 5-6 cm in diameter, lavender or blue-lilac with an almost imperceptible aroma.
Other important features for gardeners of the plant periwinkle large Variegata:
- long (April-September) annual flowering;
- ease of reproduction both by generative (seeds) and vegetative (cuttings, rooting of cuttings, plant division) methods;
- frost resistance up to -30 ° С;
- the ability to adapt to direct sunlight and deep shade;
- drought resistance;
- undemanding to the quality of the substrate;
- good resistance to pathogenic fungi and harmful insects.
Variegated periwinkle is planted mainly where a green flowering "carpet" is needed. The plant looks beautiful on landscape flower beds, alpine hills, rockeries. Less often, low curbs are formed from it. It does not bloom too profusely, but the decorativeness of the flower bed does not suffer from this.
The periwinkle of the great Variegata grows rapidly, covering the space allotted to it with a solid "green carpet"
How to plant by seeds
Growing periwinkle large Variegat from seeds is not a very popular method of breeding it. The plant will begin to bloom only 3 years after the seedlings are planted in the ground.
Seed preparation
Before planting, the seeds of periwinkle variegated are rejected, discarding those that will definitely not germinate. They are soaked in a saline solution (a tablespoon for 0.5 liters of water). Enough 10-15 minutes for the seeds without embryos to float to the surface.
The second important stage of preparation is disinfection.Self-collected seeds are soaked in a fungicide of biological origin (Alirin-B, Maxim), diluted according to the instructions, for 15-20 minutes. For the same purpose, a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate is used, but then the processing time increases by 1.5-2 hours. If desired, a few drops of any biostimulant (Kornevin, Epin) are added to the liquid to accelerate seed germination.
Growing seedlings
For seedlings, seeds of periwinkle large Variegat are planted in the last days of March or in the first ten days of April:
- A shallow wide container with 2/3 drainage holes is filled with seedling soil or a mixture of peat and fine sand (1: 1). The soil is moderately moistened.
- Seeds are planted one at a time to a maximum depth of 2 cm with an interval of 3-4 cm. The soil is not covered, sprinkled with a spray bottle.
- The container is tightened with black plastic wrap or covered with a thick cloth and put away in a dark place. Landings are provided with a temperature of 23-25 ° C. The container is ventilated daily for 5-7 minutes, getting rid of the accumulating condensate.
- The first shoots appear in 7-10 days. Immediately thereafter, the container is transferred to light. Water sparingly, as the top layer of the soil dries up.
- In the phase of the 4th true leaf, a pick is carried out. Seedlings of periwinkle large Variegat by this time grow to 8-9 cm.
The seedlings of periwinkle large Variegat are transferred to the ground in the first decade of May. Holes with an interval of 20-25 cm are dug so deep that an earthen ball with roots can fit in them. You can throw a handful of humus at the bottom. After planting, the plants are watered moderately. Do not deepen the root collar.
Landing in open ground
Periwinkle large Variegata can be sown directly into the ground both in spring and autumn. The main thing is to choose a cool, cloudy day for this. When sowing in winter, it is important to calculate the time so that 2-3 weeks remain before the first frost. If you hurry, the seeds will have time to germinate, the seedlings will die in winter. In spring, the time is not so important, but you should not rush and plant a plant when the threat of return frosts still persists.
Site selection and preparation
The optimal substrate for the great variegat periwinkle is nutritious and loose. But he can easily "put up" with the soil of the inferior quality. Acidity is not important for him, the plant will take root in both moderately acidified and alkaline substrates.
Periwinkle great Variegata feels great in partial shade. In dense thickets, it will also survive, but it will not bloom, the variegated color of the leaves will disappear.
In direct sunlight, the periwinkle of the large Variegata will have to be watered more often, but it will endure such conditions
Preparation of the planting site for a plant is standard:
- dig up the soil to a depth of one shovel bayonet;
- remove weeds, other plant debris, stones;
- add humus (up to 5 l / m²) and complex fertilizer for flowering garden plants to very “poor” soil;
- add sand to "heavy" soil, add powdery clay to "light" soil (approximately in the same proportion as humus).
Planting stages
The planting of periwinkle seeds of the great Variegat itself is extremely simple:
- Immediately before the procedure, the soil is slightly loosened.
- Make grooves up to 2 cm deep, spill the bottom with water. When it is absorbed, a thin layer of sand is poured.
- Seeds are sown at intervals of 15-20 cm. Some gardeners prefer to sow them more often, and then replant the seedlings, avoiding "crowding".
- The grooves are sprinkled with soil, tamped. The flowerbed is watered again.
Watering and feeding
The periwinkle large Variegata growing in fertile soil needs feeding once every 3-4 years, not more often. In the spring, when the soil thaws enough, humus or rotted compost is introduced (2-3 liters per adult plant over 5 years old). After 12-15 days, it is watered with a solution of any mineral nitrogen fertilizer (15-20 g per 10 l).
In autumn, plants are fed with phosphorus and potassium (dry or diluted with water). Nitrogen is excluded at this time, it interferes with normal preparation for winter. Natural alternative to fertilizers - wood ash, dolomite flour, ground eggshells.
Periwinkle variegata is most sensitive to a lack of moisture in the soil in the first two years after planting. It is recommended to control the soil moisture level and water the plant when it dries 3-5 cm deep.
The following factors affect the frequency of watering:
- season (in spring, during the active growing season, the plant especially needs watering)
- type of substrate (water evaporates faster from light soil);
- outdoor weather (more frequent watering is needed in the heat).
Watering frequency of periwinkle large Variegat | ||
Plant age | Watering frequency | |
During the heat | In cool cloudy weather | |
1-2 years | Every 2-3 days | Once every 4-6 days |
3-4 years | 4-6 days | 8-10 days |
5 years and older | 7-10 days | 12-15 days |
The nuances of planting a periwinkle large Variegat and caring for it:
Diseases and pests
Periwinkle rarely suffers from diseases and insects. But it is still recommended to inspect the plantings for suspicious symptoms. The plant can be affected:
- powdery mildew (a whitish powdery coating on all parts of the plant);
- rust (saffron-yellow "fleecy" plaque on the inside of the leaves, gradually "thickening" and changing color to rusty).
To combat fungal diseases on plants, fungicides are used. The drugs tested by several generations of gardeners are Bordeaux liquid and copper sulfate. More modern means are Topaz, Skor, Horus, Kuprozan. The concentration of the solution, the number and frequency of treatments is determined by the instruction.
Powdery mildew is one of the most common diseases that can affect almost any garden crop.
Of the pests of periwinkle, the great Variegata can attack:
- Aphid (small insects of different colors - from salad green and yellowish to black-brown). They stick around the plant with whole colonies, preferring to settle on the tops of shoots, buds, young leaves. Affected tissues become discolored, dry and die off.
- Shield (grayish-brown "tubercles", gradually increasing in volume). Like aphids, it feeds on plant sap. The tissues around the sucked pests gradually change color to red-yellow.
Any universal wide-spectrum insecticide (Fitoverm, Aktara, Iskra-Bio) is suitable for combating aphids. The scale insects are destroyed by Aktellik, Fufanon, Phosphamide.
Reproduction methods
To reproduce the periwinkle of the large Variegat, gardeners resort to one of the vegetative methods. It turns out easier and faster.
Cuttings
The stalk is the tip of a periwinkle shoot of a large Variegat, about 20 cm long. The lower cut is made at an angle of about 45 °, and half of each leaf is also removed. Sprinkle the base of the cutting with any powdery root stimulant.
Plants are planted in late August or early autumn according to the same algorithm as periwinkle seedlings. The interval between them is 20-30 cm.
Periwinkle cuttings of great Variegat take root in 15-20 days
Dividing the bush
This method is only suitable for adult periwinkle bushes of the large Variegat (5 years and older). The procedure is carried out in late spring or early autumn. The bush is dug out of the soil, the earth is shaken off from the roots. If possible, they are untwisted by hand, where it does not work out, they are cut with a knife. One plant is divided into 2-3 approximately equal parts, immediately planted in a new place.
Preparing for winter
In relatively warm regions, the great Variegata periwinkle hibernates calmly without any special training. But in temperate climates (and in more severe ones) it is better to play it safe.
In the fall, the periwinkle bush of the large Variegat is cut off, removing the shoots that are clearly outside the flower bed, dry, broken. This is also useful for the formation of buds for the next season. The soil is weeded, it is advisable to mulch it.
The flower bed is tightened with covering material or covered with spruce branches. As soon as enough snow falls, throw it on top, creating a snowdrift. A crust of hard crust forms on the surface; it is recommended to break it several times during the winter.
Photo in landscape design
In the photo you can see what a flower looks like in plantings near the house.
Periwinkle large Variegata is successfully used by gardeners as a ground cover plant
The “lawn” from the periwinkle of the Great Variegat looks very elegant
Periwinkle border of great Variegat is an interesting border for both flower beds and garden paths
The periwinkle bushes of the great Variegat look good, "braiding" the stones of the alpine hills
Conclusion
Periwinkle large Variegata is appreciated by gardeners for its ability to "cover" large areas, adapt to a wide range of climatic and weather conditions, cold resistance and rare undemanding care. The agrotechnics of the plant is extremely simple, planting and caring for periwinkle, its reproduction is within the power of even beginners.
