How to feed the delphinium

Delphinium is a beautifully flowering, ornamental plant that, with proper care, will delight the eye for many years. Proper and timely feeding of delphiniums is necessary for long and bright flowering. Since the plant forms powerful stems and leaves, fertilizers are applied 3 times during the summer period.

Features of feeding delphinium

Delphinium has gained great popularity among flower growers for its high growth and bright, long flowering. Delphinium is divided into 2 types – annual and perennial, but for beautiful and fragrant flowering, they need to be fed.

Flowers are fed in spring and summer, but experienced flower growers recommend applying additional fertilizer in early autumn, after flowering. The key to beautiful flowering is the right site and soil composition. When planting a plant, the soil is dug up and flavored with rotted manure, humus or compost, but in order not to harm the delphinium, you need to know that when the soil is acidified, the flower may not bloom and die.

With a lack of nutrients, the delphinium often begins to hurt. The first signs of the disease can be detected by the appearance of the plant:

1. Lack of nitrogen – the delphinium lags behind in growth and development, the foliage becomes smaller and discolored, flowering is rare, there is no aroma. Overabundance – building green mass to the detriment of flowering.
2. With a lack of phosphorus, the leaf plate turns brown or completely darkens.
3. The lack of potassium appears on the foliage in the form of a light border, which dries up, curls and the leaf falls off.
4. Magnesium deficiency – the delphinium lags behind in growth and development.
5. With a lack of calcium, the root system and the top of the flower suffer, the rhizome grows, which leads to the rapid depletion of the plant.
6. If the flowers quickly fall off, the top dries up, and the foliage is deformed, then the delphinium needs to be fed with boron.

When to feed the delphinium

Delphinium during the summer period builds up a powerful green mass, and the plant spends a lot of strength and energy on this process. Perennial specimens need to be fed regularly, as the deep root system sucks out many useful substances from the soil, which are necessary for rapid development and beautiful flowering.

Feeding the delphinium in spring

The first dressing is applied after the snow melts, at the beginning of the growing season. Before fertilization, soil analysis is carried out. Clay soil is flavored 1 time, light – 2 times with an interval of 2-3 days.

The site is carefully loosened and ammonium sulfate, superphosphate and potassium chloride are added. Top dressing is scattered superficially on well-spilled soil.

For abundant and long flowering, the delphinium needs to be fed in late spring, when the plant begins to produce buds. To do this, you can use manure strictly in the recommended dosages.

Feed preparation method:

• mullein is diluted in water at the rate of 1:10;
• slurry insist on the sun for about 2-3 days;
• ready-made working solution is enough to feed 20 young seedlings;
• additionally, phosphorus-potassium supplements are added under the delphinium.

Feeding the delphinium in autumn

The third feeding under the delphinium is made before the second flowering. During this period, manure and potassium-phosphorus supplements are introduced, only the amount should be reduced by 1,5 times.

How to feed the delphinium

Delphinium is fed with organic, mineral and natural fertilizers prepared independently. Using all types of fertilizer, you can grow a powerful, flowering bush that will bloom for a long time and fragrant throughout the summer.

Organic fertilizing

When organic matter is added, the delphinium will produce large buds, begin to bloom actively, the flowers will acquire a bright appearance and an unforgettable aroma. Organic top dressing that can be applied to the delphinium:

1. A good result is obtained by slurry diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10. Organic top dressing can be combined with mineral. For this, 1 liter of mullein infusion is diluted with 1 tbsp. l. mineral fertilizer complex and a bucket of warm water. Under each plant use up to 3 liters of solution.
2. Mulch with hay, cut grass. It will not only retain moisture and stop the growth of weeds, but will also be an additional organic top dressing.
3. 50-100 g of “Biohumus” added under each bush will help young seedlings take root faster, restore strength to an adult plant, give flowering a bright color and a pleasant aroma. When applying the preparation “Biohumus”, the foliage will turn into a rich color, and the safety of the buds will increase by 1 month.
4. Wood ash is an effective organic fertilizer. It contains many trace elements that have a beneficial effect on growth and development. The ash is mixed with the ground or an ash infusion is made (1 tablespoon of ash per 1 liter of warm water).

   

5. Leaf humus will provide the plant with a balanced diet.
6. The use of succinic acid – 1 g per 0,5 buckets of water. The prepared top dressing will make the buds strong, large and long-blooming, and the foliage acquires a rich olive color. Amber top dressing can be applied only once a season.

Mineral feed

These fertilizers are often applied when growing a young plant. The procedure is carried out 2 times a month. Technology of application of mineral dressings:

1. Young shoots are fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers with the addition of growth stimulants.
2. In parallel with top dressing under a young delphinium, you can add a weak solution of potassium permanganate or the drug “Maxim”. This top dressing will disinfect the soil and save young seedlings from various diseases. Processing is carried out once a week before planting seedlings in open ground.
3. When grafting, the drug “Root” or “Kornevin” is used. 2 weeks after planting the seedling in a permanent place, the stalk is sprayed with the Quick Effect complex fertilizer.
4. Before planting a seedling, rotted compost and the Kemira mineral fertilizer complex, prepared at the rate of 1 tbsp, are added to the hole. l. in a bucket of warm water.
5. The first treatment of a rooted seedling is carried out with a mixture of azofoska, urea, superphosphate or potassium sulfate. Fertilizers are diluted in 10 liters of water, at least 2 liters of the finished solution are consumed for each plant.

Many gardeners replace chemical fertilizers with natural ones. Green top dressing can be prepared with your own hands. There are several proven recipes:

1. Tea bags and ground coffee – improve soil structure and increase the flowering period of the delphinium.
2. Citrus dressing – the zest of an orange, lemon or tangerine is poured with boiling water and left to infuse for 24 hours.
3. Banana peel is very rich in potassium. The peel is crushed to a powder, mixed with the ground and scattered around each bush.
4. Yeast is a natural growth stimulant. 10 g of raw materials are diluted in 1 liter of warm water with the addition of 1 tbsp. l. granulated sugar. Yeast top dressing is insisted for several hours until foam forms in a warm, sunny place. The prepared solution is diluted in a ratio of 1:5 and the delphinium is shed, spending 1 liter of the working solution.
5. 50 g of onion peel is poured into 2 liters of boiling water and infused for at least 2-3 hours. The infusion is used for irrigation, as well as for the prevention of pests and diseases.
6. Green top dressing – nettles and dandelions are crushed. The grass is put in a bucket or barrel for ¼ volume, poured with warm water and left in a warm place to infuse. For better fermentation, black bread or yeast can be added to the barrel. To feed the delphinium, the prepared solution is diluted with water at the rate of 1:10.

Feeding rules

Delphinium is a poisonous plant, therefore, when caring for it, protective measures must be observed. After feeding, wash exposed skin thoroughly with warm water and soap. During feeding, work is carried out in compliance with safety measures, wearing:

• protective coat;
• glasses;
• gloves;
• respirator;
• closed shoes.

In case of contact with the drug on open skin or mucous membranes, the affected area is washed with warm water, and if an allergic reaction occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor.

To help, and not harm the plant, you need to know the simple rules for fertilizing:

1. Top dressing should not be applied to dry soil. Before use, the soil is abundantly shed with clean settled water in order to avoid burns of the root system. Watering is carried out strictly under the root, trying to prevent moisture from getting on the leaves and flowers.
2. You can not make top dressing immediately after transplanting the delphinium. The first dressing is applied 14 days after landing in a new place.
3. In autumn, fertilizers that do not contain nitrogen are applied under the delphinium, since this microelement will contribute to the growth of green mass, and the plant will go into hibernation in a weakened state.
4. During the period of active growth, nitrogenous top dressing can be applied once every 10-14 days.
5. It is better to underfeed the plant than to overfeed it, and to save the roots from burns, all top dressing should be diluted strictly according to the instructions.

Conclusion

Top dressing of delphiniums is necessary for abundant and long flowering. Subject to agrotechnical rules, the plant will delight with bright and fragrant flowers that will appear before the first frost.