Content
Godezia Monarch is one of the most popular varieties of this herbaceous annual. It is popular in landscaping due to its compactness and beautiful flowering. This godetia is planted with seeds or seedlings. To grow successfully, it is important to properly care for the flower.
Description of Godetia Monarch
Godetia Monarch (godetia Monarch) forms compact spherical bushes with a height of 0.2-0.3 m.The plant is cold-resistant, therefore it is grown even in northern latitudes. Main characteristics:
- bell-shaped flowers, diameter 4-5 cm;
- silky petals;
- the color is white, pale or bright pink, crimson;
- at the base of the petals there is a carmine spot;
- flowers are simple, have 4 petals;
- profuse flowering;
- narrow-lanceolate leaves with smooth edges;
- increased frost resistance;
- flowering begins in June when planting seedlings and in August when planting seeds in open ground, it continues until frost (October);
- the fruit is a cylindrical box;
- the seeds are very small;
- the root system is compact, the branches are small.
Monarch godetia seeds are usually sold as a mixture, flowers of different shades grow
Application in landscape design
Thanks to its long and lush bloom, Godetia Monarch is a welcome guest in the garden. It can be used to decorate all kinds of flower beds. Effectively surround taller neighbors with it or combine with other low-growing plants. Photos of flowers of godetia Monarch in a flower bed do not fully convey their real beauty.
Godezia Monarch looks good alone if you combine different shades of the same variety
The flower is great for rabatki, leading edges of borders. Its neighbors can be: ageratum, lobelia, nasturtium, undersized carnations, tricolor violet, cineraria.
A good background for Godetia Monarch will be a lawn or various green plants that do not bloom.
Godetia Monarch can be grown on balconies. The flower looks good in pots and planters.
Growing Godetia Monarch in a pot allows you to move it around the garden, creating new combinations
Godezia Monarch can be planted in a line along the house or make some bright accents
Breeding features
Godetia is an annual plant, therefore it reproduces in only one way - by seeds. It is not necessary to buy them every time, since the seed can be prepared by yourself. Subject to certain conditions, its germination lasts 3-4 years.
Only ripe seeds need to be collected. To do this, after flowering, you need to wait about a month. When the boxes begin to darken, they should be carefully cut and dried. After that, you can shake out the seeds.
Growing godetia Monarch from seeds
To grow seedlings of godetia Monarch from seeds, they must be planted in the last days of March or at the very beginning of April. First, they are sown in one box or container, then dive into individual containers.
To grow seedlings, it is advisable to buy a ready-made soil mixture suitable for flowering plants. It can be independently composed of equal parts of garden soil, peat and sand.It is imperative to disinfect the soil - freezing, heating in the oven or steaming, or another suitable method.
Algorithm:
- Make a drainage layer in the selected container. Expanded clay is well suited for this.
- Fill container with loose soil.
- Soak the seeds for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Such treatment is the prevention of diseases and pests.
- Mix seed with sand. This is for convenience, but is optional.
- Moisten the soil in the planting container, wait for the moisture to be absorbed.
- Spread the seeds evenly over the surface, sprinkle with earth. The layer is no more than 0.5-1 cm. You can make grooves with an interval of 3-4 cm and a depth of 0.5 cm.
- Organize a transparent cover - glass, film, container lid.
- Place the container with crops in a warm place with good lighting.
It will take about 1.5-2.5 weeks before the first shoots appear. During this period, it is necessary to ventilate and moisten the crops daily. For this, it is better to use a spray bottle.
With the appearance of the first seedlings, the shelter must be removed. Drafts are not allowed.
A pick is carried out when the plant has 2 real leaves. For planting, you can use small pots, cups - the optimal diameter is 4 cm. You can plant 2-3 bushes in one container, then its size should be larger. It is important to trim the center roots, removing a quarter of the length.
2 weeks after the pick, the seedlings must be fed. Complex formulations should be used. Flower fertilizer "Ideal" is effective.
All containers for growing seedlings must be thoroughly washed and sterilized - this is the prevention of many diseases
Planting and care in the open field
Godetia Monarch is planted in open ground with seeds or seedlings. The landing time depends on the chosen method. After it, the plant must be provided with comprehensive care.
Timing
Monarch godetia are planted with seeds in open ground from mid-April to the end of the month. If the seedlings were first grown, then they are moved to the garden in late May or early June. Seedlings should be 5-7 cm tall.
It is recommended to plant seedlings in the evening after sunset or early in the morning before it appears. In the second case, choose a cloudy day if possible.
In regions with warm and mild winters, podwinter sowing of Monarch godetia is practiced. During this period, it is better to plant the plant in open ground with seeds. The plants that have emerged from them have higher resistance to adverse weather and stronger immunity, which means a lower risk of diseases.
Site selection and soil preparation
Godezia Monarch prefers sunny areas. At the same time, the plant does not tolerate extreme heat, therefore, with forecasts for such a summer, it is worth choosing a place with a shade in the middle of the day. Cover can also be used to solve the problem.
The soil for the flower should be loose and rich in organic matter. The best option is loamy, slightly acidic or neutral soil. It must be properly prepared:
- Apply fertilizers - for 1 m², 0.3 kg of ash, 5 kg of humus, 2 tbsp. l. potassium-phosphorus combination (nitrophoska is effective).
- Dig up and thoroughly loosen the selected area.
- Spill the earth abundantly. Use a shallow watering can.
Godetia Monarch does not like dry and clayey soil, this is bad for the growth and development of the flower
Landing algorithm
If you plant Godetia Monarch seedlings, then the algorithm is as follows:
- After fertilizing, digging and watering, mark the area. Recommended layout 20x20.
- Make recesses for seedlings of 5 cm. It is convenient to form them with a shovel handle.
- Remove bushes from pots carefully and together with an earthy clod.
- Carefully place the seedlings in the pits one by one, drip and mulch.
When planting Godetia Monarch with seeds, the soil is prepared in the same way. For the convenience of sowing, it is better to make grooves.This is a must if you want to create even rows of flowers. The seeds are deepened by 1 cm.
After emergence, thinning is necessary. There should be 20-25 cm between the bushes.
Watering and feeding schedule
Regular but moderate watering is very important for Godetia Monarch. The flower does not tolerate drought, especially on hot days. Waterlogging is also destructive for him.
Another important care measure is feeding. For abundant flowering of godetia, you need to give a full-fledged mineral fertilizer with a low nitrogen content once every 3-4 weeks. Use nitrophosphate effectively. To prepare the solution, dissolve 1 tbsp. l. fertilizer in 12 liters of water.
Loosening, weeding, mulching
One of the mandatory measures for the care of the Monarch godetia is loosening the soil. This should be done systematically, combined with weeding. It is necessary to loosen the ground after watering, rains. Together with weeding, such a measure contributes to the development and strengthening of plants, improves soil aeration.
For mulching, you can use peat, straw, sawdust, pine needles. Such materials prevent moisture evaporation, weed growth, crust formation on the soil.
Installation of supports
Godetia Monarch is a dwarf variety, therefore it does not need support. They are necessary for shrubs with a height of 0.5-0.6 m. Planting the Monarch godetia in the foreground allows you to hide the support of its larger neighbors from views.
Flowering care
While Godetia Monarch is blooming, it is important to regularly observe basic care measures - water, weed, loosen. In order for the flowering to be as lush as possible, the seed pods must be systematically removed. The plant spends force on their development, which can be directed to the buds.
It is recommended to remove wilted flowers. It is better to do this every week.
Diseases and pests
One of the main problems of Godetia Monarch is root rot, also called black leg. It can be caused by fungi or high humidity. Affected roots turn black and begin to rot. Sick annuals must be removed and burned.
For the prevention of root rot, moderate watering, disinfection of the soil and garden tools are important.
Godezia Monarch can suffer from downy mildew. The disease manifests itself as stunted growth, thinning of the stems, and a whitish bloom on the back of the leaves. For the fight, fungicides are used - Alirin-B, Baktofit, Vectra, Raek. Bordeaux liquid, colloidal sulfur, copper sulfate are effective.
Peronosporosis is a fungal disease that can affect many garden plants and horticultural crops.
One of the main enemies of Godetia Monarch is the aphid. Plants because of it quickly weaken, their vital activity is disrupted. The pest is very dangerous because it multiplies quickly. It feeds mainly on tender young leaves and buds.
Of the folk methods, it is good to fight aphids with soap or ash-soap sprays. Infusions of garlic, onions, tobacco, dandelions, chamomile, sorrel, citrus peels are effective.
Aphids are often carried by ants, so you also need to get rid of them.
Conclusion
Godezia Monarch is a beautiful annual with lush and long flowering. It is important for him to provide proper comprehensive care. The flower is grown in the open ground and on balconies. You can plant it with seeds or seedlings.
