Gatsaniya flower: planting and care
The gatsania flower is also called African chamomile, it is a perennial plant native to Africa. She took root in our latitudes, but as an annual. Differs in a variety of flowers with different texture of leaves, therefore it is used to decorate the garden and flower beds.
Gatsania has about 40 varieties of different colors, among which there are even striped and spotted ones. It belongs to the Aster family and grows up to 30 cm high.
The gatsaniya flower is distinguished by its bright color in various shades.
The leaves are elongated, have a dense structure with a fleecy underside that helps to retain moisture. The flower has the shape of a basket with bright petals up to 9 cm in diameter.
The plant does not like shade and even partial shade; it should be planted only in sunny areas. Neighborhood of tall crops that can shade the flower is not desirable.
Planting gatsania and caring for it
The flower is drought-resistant, easily tolerates a short-term lack of watering and strong gusts of wind, but it cannot cope with the winter cold. Therefore, for the winter, it must be dug up, placed in a pot and transferred to a room with lighting and a temperature of up to 15 ° C. Water the plant periodically during the winter.
Plant the gacinia in a permanent place in the spring when the soil warms up. Try not to damage the roots, otherwise it will take a long time to take root.
You can propagate the plant in 2 ways.
- Seeds. Prepare a container with loose earth, it is good if it comes with cells. Plant the seeds shallowly: place them on top at a distance of 1-2 cm, crush them with earth and spray with water. If you are planting in cells, then place a seed in each. Cover the container with plastic wrap and ventilate every day. Water the seedlings through a tray or spray. Seedlings will appear within 2 weeks. At the end of May, transplant the seedlings into open ground at a distance of 25 cm from each other.
- By cuttings. Choose a strong lateral shoot and cut with a sharp knife closer to the base. Remove the upper part, leaving 10 cm at the bottom. Place the stalk in moist, loose soil, cover with a glass jar and put in a warm, bright place, but without direct sunlight. Roots are formed within 1,5 months.
Plant seeds for seedlings no later than March, as the culture will bloom only after 2,5-3 months. If you can provide the plant with additional light, you can sow the seeds earlier. In this case, flowering will begin in early spring and will continue throughout the summer. But planting seeds directly into open ground will allow you to enjoy flowers only in the middle of summer.
After planting, gating does not require special care. It is important not to overmoisten the soil or shade the bushes. It is useful to feed at the stage of active growth before flowering, especially on depleted soil. All types of fertilizers are suitable for this.
Gatsania bushes are small, so they can be planted along paths. And by alternating flowers of different colors, you can create compositions and decorate the borders between different parts of the garden.