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More and more varieties of ornamental plants and flowers from warm countries migrated to areas with cool climates. One of these representatives is Venidium, growing from seeds of which is no more difficult than an ordinary flower. The homeland of the handsome man is South Africa. A flower accustomed to the heat in the southern regions germinates well from seeds sown directly to a flower bed. For areas with a cold climate, seedlings are preferred.
Flower characteristics
Venidium has a spreading bush up to 80 cm high. The stems are slightly covered with a silvery-gray edging. The branched root system does not grow deeper, but spreads out in the upper layer of the soil. The color of the leaf blades and stems is bright green.
The flower looks like a sunflower. The dark core is surrounded by bright oblong petals. The flowers are large, up to 14 cm in diameter. A contrasting ring stands out in a different color at the base of the petals, and the inflorescence itself is orange, white or yellow. Less common are pink sunflowers. Depending on the variety, the tops of the petals are pointed or slightly rounded.
Flowering time
Venidium is popular with gardeners because of its long flowering. Sunflowers bloom in June and continue to delight the eye until late autumn. An achene with open chambers is formed from the faded heads. After full ripening, the seeds crumble and are carried by the wind.
Many domestic gardeners have not yet acquired an outlandish flower, but in vain. Venidium will take its rightful place in the garden, as well as in the flowerbed near the house. The plant is unpretentious to care for. During the summer, the inflorescences fade and new ones appear immediately. The bush is constantly covered with beautiful sunflowers. Venidium seeds are increasingly appearing on the shelves of flower shops. Whoever raised them at least once will never give up such beauty again.
Variety of varieties
In nature, there are up to twenty species of Venidium. Several varieties have been cultivated, and even hybrids have been bred.
Venidium Fastuosum
The most popular type of venidium is called lush. The variety is more common among domestic gardeners and in other countries. Large bright flowers grow excellently not only in a flower bed, but also on the balcony of a multi-storey building. A lush sunflower bush grows to a height of about 70 cm.The diameter of the inflorescence is up to 12 cm.
White prince Zulu
The unusually beautiful white sunflower is characterized by elongated petals with rounded tips. At the base of the inflorescence, the characteristic brown ring is formed. The core of a sunflower is purple. Due to the white color of the petals, this Venidium variety is sometimes called chamomile.
Orange Prince
The Venidium variety can rightfully be called an ornamental sunflower. Bright orange petals with a brown ring at the base are slightly curved. During flowering, the core is brown, and when the seeds begin to ripen, it begins to darken.
Venidium calendulaceum
In nature, the leg-shaped variety is considered a perennial plant. Venidium grows well in an indoor flower pot. The diameter of the inflorescences is small - up to 4 cm.Bright yellow elongated petals without a colored ring at the base and a dark core form a flower that resembles a calendula.
Breeders did not disregard Venidium. When crossing varieties, hybrids were bred with pale cream and other color of the petals. There are even dwarf plants up to 30 cm high. One of these hybrids is Dwarf Hybrids. The dwarf flower is able to grow in small indoor flowerpots on the window, on the street, on an alpine hill and other places. The plant requires a minimum of soil.
Sowing seeds and methods of growing a flower
Self-cultivation of Venidium from seeds at home occurs in two ways:
- Sowing seeds in open ground is more practiced in the southern regions. The seeds have time to germinate in early spring and give healthy shoots before summer. The method is not suitable for the middle lane. The Venidium will grow, but it will start flowering a month late.
- The seedling method of growing in cold regions allows the gardener to see the flowering of a sunflower in early summer.
The process of sowing and growing Venidium is the same as for garden crops. Any boxes or glasses are used for seedlings. The flower loves loose soil with neutral acidity and good drainage.
The video tells about growing flower seedlings:
Seed sowing time
Gardeners who have not dealt with this flower are interested in what Venidium is, growing from seeds, when to plant and other leading questions. Sowing seeds for seedlings begins in early March. Venidium seeds are not too small, which allows them to be sown one at a time from a distance. This will allow you to avoid picking in the future. If the sowing of seeds is done chaotically, the plants are transplanted after 6–7 leaves have grown. By this time, the seedlings had already matured.
Sowing rules
The photo shows the cultivation of Venidium from seeds in a container. To get good seedlings, the following rules are observed:
- The container is disinfected before planting. Small stones with sand are poured at the bottom. Prepared fertile soil is laid on top of the drainage. You can collect soil from the garden or buy it in the store.
- Small grooves are cut in the soil. It is advisable to spread the seeds at a distance of at least 3 cm. The seedlings will be sparse, which will save you from the process of diving seedlings.
- From above, the seeds are covered with a thin layer of loose soil - up to 5 mm. Watering is carried out by spraying from a spray bottle. Irrigation with small drops of water will not wash the seeds out of the soil.
- After watering, the container is covered with a transparent film or glass and left until germination. The germination process can be accelerated by maintaining a constant air temperature in the range of 20-24aboutFROM.
- The shelter allows you to create an optimal microclimate for the seeds. However, before the appearance of Venidium sprouts, the crops are ventilated daily. When the top layer of the soil dries up, spraying with warm water is performed.
- High-quality Venidium seeds, subject to the sowing rules, will sprout about the fifteenth day. With the appearance of the first shoots of seedlings, it is important to provide bright light. The shelter must be removed.
When the seedlings grow up, they gradually begin to reduce the temperature in the room. Over time, the seedlings are taken out to a cool place, and hardened outside before planting.
If you do not want to tinker with seedlings, Venidium seeds are sown directly on the flower bed when the ground is well warmed up. With this method of growing a flower, the grains can be sown thickly. Some may not rise from the cold, birds will peck or be blown away by the wind.After germination, it will be possible to leave healthy shoots, and remove the extra weak ones.
Planting seedlings on a flower bed
Seedlings grown from Venidium seeds are planted in flower beds after the end of the night frost period. For each region, the time is determined individually. In the middle lane, usually Venidium transplant can be done from the first days of May.
It is better not to choose a shaded area with drafts. Venidium is the flower of the sun. The plant loves bright light, warmth, a place closed from the wind. Favorable conditions will affect the rich color of the flower.
Before planting, the seedlings are sorted. To obtain a lush flowering Venidium bush, only strong, well-developed seedlings are selected. Lean plants will produce the same flowers. Seedlings are planted at a distance of at least 30 cm. The crown and Venidium roots grow in breadth. With a narrow landing step, the bushes will have little room for development.
Due to poor adaptation after transplantation, they try to carefully remove the Venidium seedlings from the box and put them in the hole with a lump of earth that has not collapsed. On a sunny day, the plant is provided with shade. When the flower fully adapts, spreads the leaves, the hassle of care will be reduced.
Care features
Many gardeners like Venidium for its unpretentiousness, as well as ease of care:
- The flower is native to hot countries where there is an arid climate. Frequent watering will not benefit the Venidium. Waterlogging of the soil creates favorable conditions for the development of the fungus. The disease affects the stem near the root. In a rainy summer, there is a threat of natural death of sunflowers.
- Faded heads are cut off with scissors at the very base. Below the cut, two new buds emerge, from which new sunflowers bloom. The process continues until late autumn. Timely removal of faded heads contributes to the growth of the bush.
- Non-dwarf venidiums need a garter. High stems break during rain or strong wind.
- The flower has enough nutrients in the ground. To increase the size and brightness of inflorescences, Venidium can be fed with complex fertilizer.
- Of the pests, aphids are dangerous to the flower. The phenomenon is not frequent, but it does occur. Spraying with insecticides will help get rid of aphids.
- As with any plant, excess foliage takes up nutrients. Partial thinning will result in better flowering.
With a minimum of maintenance, Venidium will decorate the home area throughout the warm season. Reproduction can even occur by self-seeding.
Southern handsome man in landscape design
You don't need to be a professional designer to decorate your yard with Venidium. Compositions can be made from different varieties. If there is a vacant lot, it will be beautiful to sow the entire area with orange flowers. Dwarf Venidium is planted with petunia or nasturtium. A tall flower will make friends with a daylily or rudbeckia.
Seeds from non-hybrid Venidiums can be harvested on their own to grow new seedlings. Some of the grains will sprout on their own, sometimes even in another unexpected place.
