Content
Large bright flowers on high stems decorating fences and flower beds of summer residents are familiar to everyone from childhood. Mallow attracts attention with its decorativeness and elegance. It exists in several species, by crossing which the magnificent terry mallow was obtained.
Terry flowers of mallow belong to a hybrid species, obtained as a result of many years of work of breeders. They resemble peonies in their appearance and form many beautiful shades - from pink to purple.
Plant characteristic
Malva also has other names - mallow, stockrose, marshmallow. In nature, there are more than 3 dozen varieties of flowers, including annual and perennial, wild and cultivated species. Most of them are represented by herbaceous plants growing up to 2 m. They are irreplaceable in landscape design and look great both in single and in group plantings, they can become an excellent colorful background for smaller plants in flower beds. Due to the long flowering period, terry mallow remains a decoration of the site until mid-September.
Site selection
It is better to take root flowers of terry mallow, planted immediately to a permanent place, where they will grow in the future. Therefore, it is important to immediately choose a suitable site. Perennial mallow loves open areas, sufficiently illuminated by the sun. In shady places, its stems are drawn towards the light and become thin and weak. Lack of light also reduces its flowering. The delicate petals and tall stems of terry mallow are easily damaged by the wind, so the site should be protected from drafts. Flowers grow well on light, fertile soils with good drainage - loams are ideal. At the same time, perennial mallow feels great on poor soils, if you regularly feed it.
When preparing a site for planting terry mallow, the following measures are necessary:
- deep digging of the soil;
- on problem soils, the addition of compost is required; it can be replaced with rotted manure;
- the drainage properties of the soil can be increased by adding coarse sand.
Growing options
The timing of planting terry mallow is determined by the way it is grown - from seeds or by seedling.
Growing by seeds
Having sown perennial mallow seeds in open ground in May or June, you can expect their flowering only next year. For sowing, you can collect your own plant seeds from already faded bushes in July-August to plant them next season.
The best germination is demonstrated by perennial mallow seeds collected two years ago. In the first year, the germinated plants form rosettes of large, slightly pubescent leaves and develop powerful branched roots. But you can get flowers earlier if you plant seeds in a greenhouse. For sowing seeds, no preparation of holes is required - they can simply be placed in a flower bed and sprinkled with earth. If you take care of regular watering, the first sprouts of perennial terry mallow will sprout in 2-3 weeks.
Experienced gardeners prefer autumn sowing of mallow seeds. They are planted in holes up to 3 cm deep with an interval of 40-50 cm. The holes are covered with loose fertile soil or peat. For the winter crops should be covered with fallen leaves or straw. Before sowing, the seeds are tested for germination.
Seedling method
With the seedling method, the seeds of terry mallow are sown at the beginning of spring - approximately in March-April, the grown seedlings are transferred to open ground by the middle of summer. In order to accelerate the emergence of seedlings, you should first soak the seeds in warm water for several hours, and after sowing, cover with glass or transparent film.
Since terry mallow does not tolerate transplanting well, it is better to immediately plant the seeds in peat cups. They can then simply be transferred to open ground. The seedling method does not always ensure flowering in the same year, but the earlier the plants are planted, the faster it comes.
The first sprouts of perennial mallow should appear in 10-15 days. During this period, you should ensure:
- constant temperature of about 20 degrees;
- regular watering, which will accelerate the development of seedlings;
- removal of weak specimens;
- hardening - it will help plants to adapt more quickly in the open field.
Some gardeners are engaged in picking seedlings when 3 true leaves appear in it, although this procedure is quite laborious and delayed in the growth of young terry mallow bushes. When picking, the plant should be transferred along with a lump of earth in order to keep its roots intact. A more preferable option is when several seeds are planted in a peat pot, and then the healthiest and strongest plants are left.
September will be the most comfortable time for plant transplantation - young bushes of perennial terry mallow will have time to strengthen their root system by the beginning of frost, and for the winter they can be well covered with a layer of peat or fallen leaves. By spring, the plants will gain enough strength for further development and flowering.
Propagation by cuttings
Terry mallow varieties are also propagated by cuttings planted in greenhouses or at home in boxes. However, this method can only be done by experienced gardeners, since it is characterized by a low degree of survival of cuttings. The advantage of propagation with cuttings is the possibility of obtaining plants of the same variety, with the same properties. Terry mallow cuttings, as seen in the photo, can be planted in spring or summer:
- for summer planting, cuttings cut from the stem are used;
- for spring - they are cut off already in adult plants in the root area.
Reproduction of terry mallow by cuttings should be done very carefully, observing the correct technology:
- a well-sharpened garden knife is used for cutting cuttings;
- the cut is treated with charcoal powder;
- leave them for 5-6 hours to dry the slices;
- ready-made cuttings of perennial mallow are placed in a nutritious substrate or peat pots;
- with the help of irrigation, they provide constant soil moisture;
- evidence of rooting of cuttings will be the appearance of fresh leaves;
- when the plants grow, they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Agrotechnics of flowers
Perennial terry mallow is considered an unpretentious plant. Caring for it consists in the timely implementation of the usual agrotechnical measures.
Organization of watering
The perennial mallow has a long and branched root system that goes deep into the ground. Therefore, there is no need for frequent watering - in sunny weather one or two times a week is enough, and in dry seasons the plants can be watered up to three times. Perennial mallow spends the greatest amount of moisture during the period of mass flowering, but even then water stagnation in the soil should not be allowed, otherwise the plant may die.
Correct feeding
Perennial terry mallow responds very well to regular feeding in small doses.Phosphorus and potassium salts must be added to the soil every 2.5-3 weeks, and organic ones - once a year. Especially a lot of nutrients are consumed by plants during the budding period, so it is necessary to feed them with complex fertilizer. During the entire growing season, flowers should be mulched with compost.
Other care measures
The root system of terry mallow, which goes deep into the soil, requires the creation of favorable conditions for the access of oxygen. It is necessary to periodically loosen the soil under the flowers. However, this procedure requires caution, since even minor damage to the roots is fraught with the death of the entire flower. Simultaneously with loosening, the soil should be freed from weedsotherwise they can drown out the growth of young plants.
Terry mallow is an ornamental plant that is used to create a variety of compositions, which is why it is so important to shape the plant by pruning. It should be done before or after the flowering period. During pruning, any dried or damaged shoots must also be removed.
Perennial mallow belongs to tall plants. If the area with double flowers is not protected from gusty winds, they require a garter to stable supports.
In middle and more northern latitudes, mallow flowers require shelter for the winter. It can be organized with the help of a thick layer of fallen leaves or straw, under which the terry mallow winters well. Spruce branches will also be a good shelter.
Fight disease
Of the diseases that most often affect perennial mallow, powdery mildew and leaf mosaic can be distinguished. It happens that its leaves are covered with brown rust spots. When the first signs of the disease appear, all diseased parts of the plants must be removed and burned, and the bushes must be treated with Bordeaux liquid and appropriate preparations. For the prevention of diseases, perennial mallow should not be planted for 3-4 years in those areas where crops susceptible to the same pathologies previously grew.
The result of waterlogging of the soil under the plants can be the appearance of slugs. Of other pests, mallow is more often affected by spider mites or aphids. Insecticidal or folk remedies are saved from them. For example, a soap solution of dry mustard effectively fights against aphids.
Conclusion
Simple care rules, a variety of varieties and the extraordinary charm of flowers make terry mallow irreplaceable in garden compositions and popular with summer residents.
