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Unpretentious flowering crops, including perennial glazing, are very popular with gardeners. Today we will tell you how to plant and care for perennial glazing in open soil.
Description of glazing
Gatsania is a member of the Asteraceae family. The plant is native to South Africa.
The average height of the shrub is 20–30 cm. The root leaves are collected in rosettes. The color of the leaf plates is predominantly dark green. The outer side is covered with a fine pile of a silvery shade.
It blooms in baskets with a diameter of 5 to 9 cm. The color and shape of the petals depend on the variety. The most common flowers are yellow, orange, bronze, sand, pink, red and white. The bases of the petals have dark spots.
Interesting species and varieties
The genus of gatsania has more than 40 varieties. However, only a few of them have taken root in Our Country.
Gazania long-shot (Gazania longiscapa)
Grows up to 15-20 cm in height. Differs in a saturated color of sheet plates. The petals are bright yellow in color. Inflorescence diameter – 7 cm.
Gazania harsh or shiny (Gazania rigens, Gazania splendens)
Blooms bright and rich. The color of the petals is rich yellow, orange or red. The diameter of the inflorescence varies from 4,5 to 6 cm. A characteristic feature of the species is whole basal leaves.
Gazania pottsii (Gazania pottsii)
Outwardly, Potsy’s gazing is very similar to the previous view. The main distinguishing feature is the large size of the inflorescences. The diameter of the opened flower reaches 12 cm.
Gazania peacock (Gazania pavonia)
Differs in narrow elongated sheet plates. The color of the leaves is rich green. Petals are yellow with a dark base. The average diameter of the inflorescence is 8 cm.
Video “Gazania Flower: Planting and Care”
This video talks about the features of planting and growing perennials in open ground.
Growing gazania from seeds
The seed method of propagation of gazania is characterized by a high percentage of germination. When choosing seed, you need to pay attention to the date of its collection (manufacturing).
Seed sowing
The substrate for sowing African chamomile seeds should be light, airy and nutritious. You can prepare the soil mixture yourself by mixing in equal proportions fine river sand, humus, deciduous and soddy soil. Ordinary plastic pots are used as containers for growing seedlings. The container must be deep and roomy so that the root system has room. Instead of plastic pots, you can use peat pots. When planting seedlings in open ground, the peat pot is not removed – it serves as fertilizer.
The optimal period for sowing seeds is mid-March. Seeds are planted in shallow “holes”, maintaining a distance of 2,5–3 cm. A thin layer of earth is covered from above. The soil is sprayed with a spray bottle and covered with a film or glass. Periodically, the glass (film) is removed to allow access to oxygen.
Seed care
At first, containers with planted seeds are located in a room where the average daily air temperature is + 19 … + 23 ° C. After 10-14 days, sprouts begin to hatch. The soil is periodically sprayed with a spray bottle, avoiding excess moisture in flower pots.
Keep track of the amount of lighting. With a lack of light, young sprouts stretch upward. If the weather is damp and cloudy outside, you need to install additional artificial lighting on the windowsill.
Picking and hardening seedlings
Densely planted seedlings need picking. Weak-looking and small young sprouts are subject to removal. Picking is not carried out if the recommended interval was observed when planting the seeds.
Seedling containers are moved to a cooler room. The optimum temperature regime is from +12 to +16 °C. Plants are starting to harden. Hardening means daily airing of the room. Please note that young sprouts do not like drafts.
Planting gazania in open ground
When the seedlings get stronger, you can proceed to transplanting flowers in open ground.
Terms of planting
It is possible to plant strengthened seedlings in open ground from May 15 to June 15. The day should be warm and sunny. Damp and cloudy weather is not the best time to plant African chamomile. Excess moisture in the soil and lack of sunlight can adversely affect seedlings.
Rules of landing
African chamomile is afraid of wind and drafts, but loves abundant sunlight. Therefore, try to avoid areas of the garden shaded by trees and shrubs.
For the growth and development of a perennial crop, soil nutritious for various microelements is suitable. The acidity level should be neutral. Flowers growing in peat pots are transplanted along with containers. Seedlings from plastic pots are removed very carefully and accurately. The slightest damage to the root system will lead to the death of the flower.
When planting perennial gazania, they maintain an interval of 20–25 cm. Densely planted seedlings can clog each other.
African chamomile care
The duration of flowering and the preservation of the viability of the flower depend on the correct care.
Watering and soil care
African chamomile is a drought-resistant horticultural crop. The plant tolerates a lack of moisture better than its excess. With sufficient rainfall, gazania can not be watered.
To access oxygen to the roots, loosening of the top layer of soil is periodically carried out. To protect the flower from weeds, you need to use mulch.
Fertilizers and fertilizers
Feed the garden flower once a month. For this, complex mineral fertilizers are used. On average, about 1–1 g of the drug is required per 20 m² of flower beds. Fertilizers are pre-diluted with water – the recommended rates should be found in the instructions for use.
Trimming
Pruning refers to the removal of dry flowers and flower stalks. This procedure is necessary for the formation of new buds.
Preparation for winter
Gatsania perennial refers to winter-hardy crops. In anticipation of cold weather, the flower is cut almost to the very root. It is not necessary to cover the plant.
To preserve the annual, gazania is transplanted into wooden tubs or plastic containers. Store the transplanted garden flower in a cool room with bright lighting. The optimum air temperature is from +8 to +10 °C.
Diseases and pests
One of the features of African chamomile is its high resistance to pathogens of various diseases. With an excess of moisture, the flower is affected by gray rot. Affected plants should be treated with Fitosporin solution.
As for harmful insects, the flowering bush attracts the attention of aphids, spider mites, snails and slugs. Parsley, sage, onion or garlic planted nearby will help prevent the appearance of parasites.
With an abundant invasion of insects, the insecticides Akarin and Ditoxin are used.
How to propagate African chamomile cuttings
African chamomile can be propagated by both seed and vegetative methods. But the latter option is used extremely rarely. The cutting method is applicable for some varieties of annuals and perennials that do not have seeds. Cuttings of a garden flower are carried out in the middle of summer.
The length of the cutting with a healthy and well-developed bud is at least 10 cm. The lower leaves can be removed. Then the cutting is immersed in the Kornevin solution prepared according to the instructions. Such manipulation is carried out in order to stimulate the growth of the root system. After 2-3 hours, the plant is planted in a small container, watered abundantly and covered with a glass cap. Transplantation in open ground is carried out in the spring. Until the moment of landing in the soil, the stalk is periodically watered and ventilated.
Gatzania in landscape design
African chamomile is actively used in landscape design. Unpretentious in care and sun-loving plant will be a worthy decoration of a garden plot or house adjoining territory. Flowers can be used to decorate garden paths and borders, alpine slides and rockeries, open alcoves and various kinds of fences.
To increase the decorative effect, we recommend planting annual and perennial crops in groups of 3-4 bushes.
Gatsania is considered a good-natured “neighbor” and gets along well on the same bed with many horticultural crops. However, common chamomile, iberis, gypsophila, dimorphotheca, venidium, lobelia, doroteanthus, ursinia, arctotis, gray fescue, seaside cineraria, ageratum and dwarf phlox are considered the most successful “neighbors”.
Gatzania can be grown outdoors and in flower pots. The plant looks interesting both in the garden and on the windowsill. In addition, African chamomile is often used to make floral arrangements. A wide range of applications is the reason for the increased interest of plant breeders in perennials.