Content
Planting and caring for Viscaria in the open field will not cause difficulties if you follow some rules. The plant can be grown in both seedling and non-seedling ways. At the same time, lyhnis seedlings (as Viscaria are called) are transferred to the flower bed only in the second half of May. In the future, you need to monitor the hydration and periodically apply top dressing.
Types and varieties of Viscaria
In the genus Likhnis (Viskaria), 30 species and varieties are known and described. They differ from each other in different heights (on average from 40 to 100 cm), color of flowers and other indicators. The most popular varieties of Likhnis flowers with a photo and a name will allow gardeners to choose the option they like.
Lichnis Viskaria
A shrub with a height of 45 cm to 100 cm. In the upper part, the shoots stick to the hands due to a natural secretion, therefore this species is also called tar. Flowers can be white and bright crimson, they are combined into panicles (5-7 pieces each). This type of Viscaria vulgaris (Viscaria vulgaris) includes two popular varieties that are cultivated in culture:
- Rosetta (rosetta) is an interesting plant with lush double inflorescences painted in raspberry shades.
- Flore Pleno (flore pleno) - miniature plants (25-35 cm in height) with graceful purple inflorescences up to 3 cm in diameter.
Lychnis chalcedony
This species (Lychnis chalcedonica) is also called Dawn for its characteristic fiery red flowers. The bushes of chalcedony lychnis are rather tall - they reach 80-100 cm. The flowers are combined into hemispherical inflorescences (heads), the diameter of which is 8-10 cm. Chalcedony lychnis is highly winter-hardy. This allows it to be grown in most regions of Russia.
Lush inflorescences of Lychnis chalcedony contrast effectively against the background of bright green leaves
Lichnis Haare
This is another red-colored Lychnis x haageana. It belongs to hybrid varieties, therefore it grows easily on different types of soil, blooms luxuriantly even with minimal maintenance. In height, the shoots of the Haare lychnis can reach no more than 45-50 cm. The leaves are elongated, ovoid. Inflorescences are graceful, racemose, each of them has from 3 to 7 flowers.
Lichnisa Haare flowers are distinguished by their bright color and original shape.
Lychnis Jupiter
Lychnis Jupiter (Lychnis flos-jovis) with lilac flowers has an unusual appearance. It occurs naturally in the foothills of the Alps. The bush is tall, up to 80 cm, inflorescences are also white, small in diameter - up to 2 cm.
Lychnis flowers Jupiter are distinguished by an interesting color and original shape
Lychnis crown
Likhnis koronchaty - medium-sized shrub from 0.4 to 0.9 m in height. It has pale green leaves, against which red and pink (less often white) flowers contrast perfectly. This type of Lychnis coronaria is represented by two common varieties:
- Angel Blush (Angel Blush) - a culture with rich pink or bright crimson inflorescences.
- Mysterious Island (Mysterious Island) (mix) - Viscaria with two colors (white and pinkish red).
Likhnis sparkling
Lychnis sparkling (Latin name Lychnis fulgens) grows in the harsh climate of the Eastern Siberian regions, it is also found in China and neighboring countries. Erect shoots grow up to 40-60 cm.
The main advantage of sparkling lychnis is attractive orange inflorescences
The flowers are quite large. The diameter of the inflorescences is 4-5 cm.
Lychnis Arkwright
This species of lychnis (Lychnis arkwrightii) is represented by low-growing bushes 35-40 cm in height. Leaves are deep green, elongated in shape. The flowers are orange, can be organized into inflorescences, there are also single variants.
Bright orange flowers of Arkwright's viscarias reach a diameter of 2.5-3 cm
Lychnis alpine
Alpine (Lychnis alpina) is the shortest variety of culture. The bush grows only up to 15-20 cm. It has good winter hardiness. In natural conditions, it can be found even in the tundra (Greenland, Alaska), as well as in the mountains (Alps). The leaves are bright green, the flowers are pale pink, collected in paniculate inflorescences.
Alpine viscarias flowers are painted pink or crimson
Lichnis breeding methods
The plant can be propagated in several ways:
- Seeds - seedling (growing at home) and non-seedling (planting directly into the ground).
- By dividing the bush - for this, adult plants are chosen at the age of at least 4 years. At the beginning of summer, they are divided into 3-5 divisions, each of which should have several healthy shoots, and then planted at a distance of 20-30 cm.
- By cuttings - this method is used for those types and varieties of viscarias that give double flowers. Cuttings with three internodes are obtained in June and immediately planted under a film in open ground. You can also grow at home in a container, and move to a permanent place in September. For the winter, they are covered with leaf litter, peat and other mulch.
Growing Viscaria from seeds
There are two methods of growing viscarias from seeds:
- Traditional seedling. In this case, seedlings are first obtained, and only then they are transferred into the ground.
- Seedless - sowing directly into open ground.
When to plant Likhnis for seedlings
It is recommended to sow lichnis seeds for seedlings in mid-March, with the expectation that the seedlings will be transferred to the flowerbed in the second half of May. The specific time for planting seeds depends on the region:
- in the south - at the end of February;
- in the middle lane - in early March;
- in the Urals and Siberia - in mid-March.
Seed preparation and sowing of Likhnis for seedlings
Preliminary preparation of viscarias seeds is carried out in 2 stages:
- First, they are put on one of the refrigerator shelves for a month and kept at a temperature of 5-6 degrees (you can wrap them in a cloth bag or in a dry towel).
- A few hours before planting in the ground, viscarias seeds are soaked in a solution of any stimulant - "Epin", "Zircon" and others.
Sowing soil can be purchased at the store or compiled on your own based on sod land, compost and humus (2: 1: 1). To give the desired porosity, add a few pinches of sand. The seeds are buried up to 1 cm, planted with an interval of 2-3 cm.
Seedling care at home
Caring for lychnis seedlings is not very difficult. It is grown at normal room temperature (the first weeks - in a greenhouse under a film or glass). If the weather is cloudy, it is advisable to highlight it with a phytolamp (although not necessary).
The soil is moistened regularly by spraying it from a spray bottle. The first shoots may appear after 2 weeks or a little later. After the appearance of 1-2 true leaves, the seedlings are transplanted into individual containers and so they are grown until the second half of May.
Viscaria seedlings dive after the appearance of 1-2 leaves and then grow in individual pots
Planting and caring for Lichnis in the open field
Caring for viscarias is simple - the main thing is to ensure regular feeding and watering, but at the same time, to prevent waterlogging of the soil (monitor the volume of water, do not water on the eve and after rain).
When to plant outdoors
Lichnis saplings are transferred to a permanent place in May:
- in the south - at the beginning of the month;
- in the middle lane - closer to the second decade;
- in the Urals and Siberia - in the last days.
It is necessary to be guided by the fact that the soil has warmed up enough, and night temperatures do not fall below 10-12 ° С.
Planting Likhnis perennial directly in open ground
Viscaria seeds can be planted directly in open ground without growing seedlings at home. This method of reproduction is less labor-intensive, but the appearance of the first flowers can only be expected next year. Seeds are planted either before winter (September - October) or in early spring (March - April). If the summer is short in the region (Ural, Siberia), it is better to plant in May or even June.
Initially, the site is dug up, a complex fertilizer is added (50 g per 1 m2) and plant the seeds under the film. If you do this in May or June, you can do without additional shelters. During the first weeks, it is regularly cleaned for airing. As soon as the seedlings reach 10 cm in height, the film can be removed, and the viscaria seedlings can be planted at intervals of 20-30 cm. In the future, you need to monitor regular watering.
Likhnis is best planted in an open area with maximum illumination.
Transplanting
Seedlings should be planted in well-lit places where moisture does not accumulate. Sequencing:
- The site is cleaned and dug up.
- Introduce a bucket of sand and two large spoons of superphosphate and potassium magnesium per 1 m2 soil (if the soil is depleted).
- Several shallow holes are marked with an interval of 20-30 cm.
- The bottom is drained with small stones.
- Seedlings are planted, leaving the root collar 1.5-2 cm above the ground surface.
- It is well watered with settled water and mulched with peat, sand, sawdust or other materials.
Follow-up care
In the future, caring for lychnis is reduced to regular watering: water is given weekly, and in drought - 2 times more often. After watering, the soil is thoroughly loosened, periodically weeded. All wilting inflorescences and leaves are immediately removed.
Top dressing is not applied very often: it is enough 2 or 3 times per season. You can give a complex mineral fertilizer or superphosphate mixed with potassium salt (the ratio is about the same). The first feeding takes place in April or May, and the subsequent ones - in June and July with an interval of 20 days.
Top dressing is especially important during bud formation and lychnis flowering.
Diseases and pests
Different types of viscarias are distinguished by good immunity, due to which they rarely suffer from diseases. However, if you do not follow the watering norms and give too much water, plants can suffer from root rot. In addition, damage by leaf spot and rust is not excluded.
Therefore, as a preventive measure, it is recommended:
- Do not overmoisten the soil - its surface should remain slightly damp.
- Do not plant the plants too tightly - the spacing should be at least 20 cm.
If the first signs of the disease appear (spots on the leaves, wilting, and others), the bushes must be immediately treated with fungicides - for this, any effective drug is used: Bordeaux liquid, Maxim, Fundazol, Profit and others. If the plant is quite badly damaged, it is better to dig it up and take it away so that the infection does not spread to neighboring viscarius bushes.
In summer, various pests can start on the stems and leaves of lychnis - aphids, whiteflies, leaf rollers, spider mites and others. Folk remedies work well with them (for example, a solution of wood ash, a decoction of tobacco, celandine, tomato tops, an infusion of garlic, chili peppers, and others). If the colony is growing rapidly, it is necessary to carry out treatment with insecticides: Fitoverm, Aktara, Decis, Confidor and others.
Seed collection and wintering
The type of viscaria fruit is a capsule. Its ripening begins after flowering, closer to the beginning of autumn. As soon as the box becomes dry, turns brown and begins to crack, you must:
- Tilt the stem of the plant.
- Shake all seeds into a natural cloth bag.
- Cut off wilted stalks and empty fruits.
Viscaria seeds are stored in normal room conditions, and at the beginning of February they begin to stratify in the refrigerator.
Lychnis in landscape design
Lychnis is more often used in different compositions:
- framing flower beds and paths;
- multi-tiered flower beds, mixborders, rocky hills;
- planting along the fence, near the entrance and recreation areas;
- single landings.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for Viscaria in the open field is carried out after growing seedlings or immediately with seeds. The timing depends on the region - usually seeds are sown for seedlings in March, and the grown lichnis bushes are transferred to open ground in the second half of May.
