Content
Delphinium is a flowering, ornamental plant that, with proper care, will delight the eye for many years. For a long and bright flowering, correct and timely feeding of delphiniums is necessary. Since the plant forms powerful stems and leaves, fertilizers are applied 3 times during the summer.
Features of feeding delphinium
Delphinium has gained great popularity among gardeners for its high growth and bright, long flowering. Delphinium is divided into 2 types - annual and perennial, but for a beautiful and fragrant flowering, they need feeding.
Flowers are fed in spring and summer, but experienced flower growers recommend additional fertilization in early autumn, after flowering. The key to a beautiful bloom is the right site and soil composition. When planting a plant, the soil is dug up and flavored with rotted manure, humus or compost, but in order not to harm the delphinium, you need to know that when the soil becomes acidic, the flower may not bloom and die.
With a lack of nutrients, the delphinium often begins to hurt. The first signs of the disease can be detected by the appearance of the plant:
- Lack of nitrogen - delphinium lags behind in growth and development, foliage becomes smaller and discolored, flowering is rare, there is no aroma. Oversupply - an increase in green mass to the detriment of flowering.
- With a lack of phosphorus, the leaf plate turns brown or completely darkens.
- A lack of potassium manifests itself on the foliage in the form of a light border, which dries out, curls and the leaf falls off.
- Magnesium deficiency - delphinium lags behind in growth and development.
- With a lack of calcium, the root system and the top of the flower suffer, the rhizome grows, which leads to a rapid depletion of the plant.
- If the flowers quickly fall off, the top dries up, and the foliage is deformed, then the delphinium needs to be fed with boron.
When to feed delphinium
During the summer, the delphinium builds up a powerful green mass, and the plant spends a lot of strength and energy on this process. Perennial specimens need to be fed regularly, since the deep root system sucks out many useful substances from the soil, which are necessary for rapid development and beautiful flowering.
Fertilizing the delphinium in spring
The first feeding is applied after the snow melts, at the beginning of the growing season. Soil analysis is carried out before fertilization. Clay soil is flavored 1 time, light - 2 times with an interval of 2-3 days.
The site is carefully loosened and ammonium sulfate, superphosphate and potassium chloride are added. Top dressing is scattered superficially on well-shed soil.
For abundant and long-term flowering, the delphinium needs to be fed at the end of spring, when the plant begins to release buds. To do this, you can use manure strictly in the recommended dosages.
Method of preparation of top dressing:
- mullein is diluted in water at the rate of 1:10;
- the slurry insists on the sun for about 2-3 days;
- the ready-made working solution is enough to feed 20 young seedlings;
- additionally, phosphorus-potassium dressings are introduced under the delphinium.
Fertilizing delphinium in autumn
The third feeding for the delphinium is applied before the second flowering.During this period, manure and potassium-phosphorus fertilizing are applied, only the amount should be reduced by 1.5 times.
How to feed the delphinium
Delphinium is fed with organic, mineral and natural fertilizers prepared independently. Using all types of fertilizers, you can grow a powerful, flowering bush that will bloom for a long time and fragrantly throughout the summer.
Organic feed
When organic matter is introduced, the delphinium will release large buds, begin to bloom actively, the flowers will acquire a bright appearance and an unforgettable aroma. Organic food that can be applied to the delphinium:
- A good result is obtained with slurry diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Organic dressing can be combined with mineral dressing. To do this, 1 liter of mullein infusion is diluted with 1 tbsp. l. mineral fertilizer complex and a bucket of warm water. Up to 3 liters of solution are used for each plant.
- Mulch with hay, cut grass. It will not only retain moisture and stop the growth of weeds, but will also be an additional organic fertilizing.
- 50-100 g of "Biohumus" added under each bush will help young seedlings to take root faster, restore strength to an adult plant, give flowering a bright color and a pleasant aroma. When applying the "Biohumus" preparation, the foliage will turn into a rich color, and the safety of the buds will increase by 1 month.
- Wood ash is an effective organic fertilizer. It includes many trace elements that have a beneficial effect on growth and development. Ash is mixed with earth or an ash infusion is made (1 tbsp. L ash per 1 liter of warm water).
- Leaf humus will provide the plant with a balanced diet.
- The use of succinic acid - 1 g per 0.5 bucket of water. The prepared dressing will make the buds strong, large and blooming for a long time, and the foliage will acquire a rich olive color. Amber dressing can only be used once a season.
Mineral dressing
These fertilizers are often applied when growing a young plant. The procedure is carried out 2 times a month. Mineral dressing technology:
- Young seedlings are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers with the addition of growth stimulants.
- In parallel with feeding a young delphinium, you can add a weak solution of potassium permanganate or the drug "Maxim". This top dressing will disinfect the soil and save young seedlings from various diseases. Processing is carried out once a week before planting seedlings in open ground.
- When grafting use the drug "Root" or "Kornevin". 2 weeks after planting the seedling in a permanent place, the cutting is sprayed with a complex fertilizer "Fast Effect".
- Before planting a seedling, rotted compost and a mineral fertilizer complex "Kemira" are added to the hole, prepared at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. on a bucket of warm water.
- The first treatment of a rooted seedling is carried out with a mixture of azophoska, urea, superphosphate or potassium sulfate. Fertilizers are diluted in 10 liters of water, at least 2 liters of the finished solution are consumed for each plant.
Many gardeners replace chemical fertilizers with natural ones. Do-it-yourself green dressing. There are several proven recipes:
- Tea bags and ground coffee - improves soil structure and prolongs the flowering period of the delphinium.
- Citrus dressing - the zest of an orange, lemon or tangerine is poured with boiling water and left to infuse for 24 hours.
- Banana peels are very high in potassium. The peel is crushed to a powdery state, mixed with earth and scattered around each bush.
- Yeast is a natural growth stimulant. 10 g of raw materials are diluted in 1 liter of warm water with the addition of 1 tbsp. l. granulated sugar. Yeast top dressing is infused for several hours until foam forms in a warm, sunny place. The prepared solution is diluted in a ratio of 1: 5 and delphinium is spilled, consuming 1 liter of the working solution.
- 50 g of onion husks are poured over 2 liters of boiling water and insisted for at least 2-3 hours. The infusion is used for watering, as well as for the prevention of pests and diseases.
- Green top dressing - nettles and dandelions are crushed. The herb is folded into a bucket or barrel by ¼ volume, filled with warm water and left in a warm place for infusion. For better fermentation, brown bread or yeast can be added to the barrel. To feed the delphinium, the finished solution is diluted with water at the rate of 1:10.
Top dressing rules
Delphinium is a poisonous plant, therefore, protective measures must be observed when caring for it. After feeding, you need to thoroughly wash the exposed skin with warm water and soap. During feeding, work is carried out in compliance with safety measures, wearing:
- protective gown;
- glasses;
- gloves;
- respirator;
- closed shoes.
If the drug gets on open skin or on the mucous membrane, the affected area is washed with warm water, and if an allergic reaction occurs, an urgent need to consult a doctor.
To help, and not harm the plant, you need to know the simple rules for fertilizing:
- Top dressing should not be applied to dry soil. Before use, the soil is poured abundantly with clean, settled water to avoid scalding the root system. Watering is carried out strictly at the root, trying to prevent moisture from getting on the leaves and flowers.
- You can not make top dressing immediately after transplanting a delphinium. The first top dressing is applied 14 days after planting in a new place.
- In autumn, fertilizers that do not contain nitrogen are applied under the delphinium, since this microelement will contribute to the growth of green mass, and the plant will go into hibernation in a weakened state.
- During the period of active growth, nitrogenous fertilizing can be applied every 10-14 days.
- It is better to underfeed the plant than overfeed and to keep the roots from burning, all top dressing should be diluted strictly according to the instructions.
Conclusion
Fertilizing delphiniums is necessary for abundant and long-term flowering. Subject to agrotechnical rules, the plant will delight you with bright and fragrant flowers that will appear before the first frost.
