Content
Lychnis chalcedonica (Lychnis chalcedonica) or Common Dawn is a perennial species from the Clove family. A dicotyledonous flowering plant is widespread in the European part of Russia. The design uses a wild crop and varieties created on its basis.
Description and characteristics
Likhnis chalcedony can bloom in one area for more than 5 years. The culture is unpretentious in care, is highly frost-resistant, does not respond to temperature changes in the spring. The only requirement is well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic soils.
Common dawn is a light-loving culture, the color brightness of which depends on the amount of ultraviolet radiation
In the shade, the plant loses its decorative effect. Likhnis chalcedony responds poorly to high air humidity and the impact of the north wind. A place protected from drafts is assigned on the site.
Dawn belongs to wildflowers. The main accumulation of culture is noted in meadows, forest edges, glades. Occurs on a hill at the foot of the mountains among rocky debris. Likhnis chalcedony practically does not grow singly, forms dense groups covering rather large territories.
External characteristics of culture:
- Likhnis chalcedony grows in the form of a bush formed by numerous stems up to 80 cm long. Shoots are erect, thin, densely pubescent with long white hair, which makes the branches look silvery.
- Likhnis chalcedony forms many leaves: basal larger ones in the form of an elongated oval; stems rounded or lanceolate, alternating. The leaf plates are hard, dark green, with smooth edges. The pubescence is long, dense in the lower part, shorter in veins on the surface.
- The flowers are simple, consisting of five wide petals separated at the top. Form a spherical, dense inflorescence at the end of the stem. In a wild species, the color of the flowers is scarlet or orange with a carmine shade.
- The fruit is an egg-shaped capsule, the seeds are dark red, oval in shape.
- The root system is superficial, with numerous weaves.
Several cultivars for decorative gardening have been created on the basis of the common dawn. Lychnis Red ball is presented in bright burgundy and crimson colors. The flowers are large, inflorescences are 10-15 cm in diameter.
The Red Ball variety blooms from July to September
This is one of the tall species of Lychnis. The stems grow up to 120 cm.
Likhnis chalcedony Rauraife with white paniculate inflorescences and large flowers. Belonged to a stunted form, the plant forms a dense compact bush with a height of 50 cm.
Rauraife bloom period - June-August
Planting and caring for Lychnis chalcedony
Likhnis chalcedony is placed on a permanent place of growth in early spring, approximately in mid-May. If there is a threat of recurrent frosts, the dates are not shifted. A frost-resistant culture is not afraid of a sharp drop in temperature. For spring planting, you can use the seed sowing method or dividing the bush. At the end of the growing season, immediately after flowering, you can also divide the mother bush, plant seedlings from cuttings.Sowing of seeds is allowed in the southern regions.
The soil is prepared on the day of planting. The site under Likhnis chalcedony is being dug, 1m2 add 10 kg of coarse sand and mix well with compost (8 kg).
Landing Algorithm:
- The root is treated with an antifungal agent.
- The pit is made with a drainage pad. The depth and width of the planting hole is 20 cm.
- Likhnis chalcedony is placed in a recess, the roots are untangled and covered with nutritious soil.
- The soil is compacted and watered.
Transplanting seedlings is also carried out in drained pits. To correct the depth, add a substrate. The next year, chalcedony lychnis will form a root completely in a season.
After reproduction in a generative way, the plant will enter reproductive age in 2 years.
Agrotechnics consists of the following activities:
- The irrigation regime for chalcedony lychnis is adjusted according to seasonal precipitation. If there is enough rain, then additional watering is not required. In dry summers, watered with a large volume of water once a week.
- Weed weeding is aesthetic in nature, they do not bring much harm to the plant.
- The root circle is mulched. If this technique is applied, then loosening is not carried out.
- Fertilize chalcedony lychnis before budding with potassium sulfate, superphosphate, urea, 30 g per 10 l of water for one plant. The second feeding is carried out in September with the same composition, only instead of urea, organic matter is included in the solution.
The aboveground part of the Chalcedony Lychnis at the end of the growing season completely dies off, the stems are cut at the root. The plant is frost-resistant, can hibernate without shelter. If the region is unfavorable for cultivation, then the bush is covered with straw.
Reproduction methods
In the wild, the flower Likhnis chalcedony or Dawn ordinary reproduces by self-seeding and root shoots. In gardening, they use the generative method, cuttings and dividing the bush.
Growing Lychnis chalcedony from seeds
Planting material ripens at the end of September, the boxes are cut and laid out on a flat surface. In a warm room, they will open on their own in about a couple of weeks. Seeds are sown on a garden bed before winter and covered with straw, in spring the material is harvested.
You can grow seedlings in a container.
Plants that have reached a height of 10 cm are dived into separate containers and planted in the garden in the spring
If you plan to sow the material in open ground in the spring, then 2 months before work, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator.
Cuttings
Cuttings are harvested from strong stems. The work is carried out in mid-June. The material is taken from the middle part. The sections are treated with charcoal. All lower leaves are removed from the stem, leaving 2-3 on the upper part.
A substrate is prepared from sand, peat and compost. Superphosphate and nitrogen fertilizer are added. You can grow the material outdoors or fill containers with nutrient mixture and place the cuttings in them. In any case, the rooting site of the Chalcedony Lychnis should be open. Future seedlings are periodically watered. After 1.5 months, they will take root and the Chalcedony Likhnis is transplanted to a permanent place.
Cuttings are cut 15-20 cm long
Dividing the bush
The generative method for reproduction of the Chalzenon Lychnis is not often used on the site. For the plant to bloom, it takes 2 years of vegetation. Cuttings take root, but not all. The most effective way is dividing an adult plant. To rejuvenate the bush, this procedure is carried out once every 5 years.
The bush is dug up, the remains of the soil are removed. Cut off dry and damaged areas on the roots. The procedure is carried out in the spring. Likhnis chalcedony is propagated in autumn after flowering. After transplanting, the stem is cut off, it is advisable to cover the plant for the winter.
Lychnis chalcedony is divided so that each stem has part of the root processes
Pests and diseases
In the wild, the culture practically does not get sick. With improper agricultural technology, a fungal infection may appear on the site:
- root rot;
- spotting;
- rust.
There is only one reason for infection - waterlogged soil. The bush of Likhnis chalcedony is transplanted and the irrigation regime is adjusted. If a disease is detected, they are treated with any fungicide.
Of the parasitic insects, the main harm to Lychnis chalcedony is brought by aphids and leafworms. If the spread of pests is not massive, then the plant is treated with a concentrated soap solution; with a large accumulation, an insecticide will be required.
Application in landscape design
In ornamental gardening, mainly varietal varieties of Likhnis chalcedony are used. Tall varieties are used in group plantings with flowering and ornamental crops. They make out flower beds, rabatki. With the help of Lichnis, hedges are created. The Rauraife variety is used to create white gardens.
Medium Dawn is suitable for a rock garden, rockery or rock garden
Below are a few examples with a photo of the use of Likhnis chalcedony in the design of the landscape of a garden or a summer cottage.
White hydrangea harmoniously combines with the red inflorescences of the Dawn
Linear planting will help to delineate the areas of the site
A mixborder created with color contrast always attracts attention
The common dawn is often included in the composition in the style of the wild.
Conclusion
Likhnis chalcedony is a perennial rhizome plant with a long flowering period. Cultivars based on a wild-growing species are widely used in ornamental gardening. Common dawn is unpretentious in care, drought-resistant, frost-hardy. The culture is characterized by high vitality.
