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More and more varieties of ornamental plants and flowers from warm countries migrated to areas with a cool climate. One of these representatives is the venidium, growing from seeds of which is no more difficult than an ordinary flower. The beauty is native to South Africa. A flower accustomed to heat in the southern regions germinates well from seeds sown immediately in a flower bed. For areas with a cold climate, the seedling method of cultivation is preferable.
Flower characteristics
Venidium has a sprawling form of a bush up to 80 cm high. The stems are slightly covered with a silver-gray edge. The branched root system does not grow in depth, but spreads in the upper layer of the soil. The color of the leaf plates and stems is bright green.
The appearance of the flower resembles a sunflower. The dark core is surrounded by bright oblong petals. The flowers are large, up to 14 cm in diameter. At the base of the petals, a contrasting ring stands out in a different color, and the inflorescence itself is orange, white or yellow. Pink sunflowers are less common. Depending on the variety, the tops of the petals are pointed or slightly rounded.
Flowering time
Gardeners like Venidium because of its long flowering. Sunflowers bloom in June and continue to please the eye until late autumn. From the faded heads, an achene with open chambers is formed. 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 flower bed near the house. The plant is unpretentious in care. During the summer, the inflorescences fade and new ones immediately appear. The bush is constantly covered with beautiful sunflowers. Venidium seeds increasingly began to appear on the shelves of flower shops. Whoever raised them at least once will never refuse such beauty again.
Variety of varieties
In nature, there are up to twenty types of venidium. Several varieties have been cultivated, and even hybrids have been bred.
Fast sale
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 the flower bed, but also on the balcony of a multi-storey building. A lush sunflower bush grows about 70 cm high. The diameter of the inflorescence is up to 12 cm.
The White Prince of Zulu
An unusually beautiful white sunflower is characterized by elongated petals with rounded tips. At the base of the inflorescence, a characteristic brown ring forms. The heart of a sunflower is lilac. Due to the white color of the petals, this variety of Venidium is sometimes called chamomile.
Orange Prince
The Venidium variety can rightly be called an ornamental sunflower. Bright orange petals with a brown ring at the base are slightly arched. During flowering, the core is brown, and with the onset of seed ripening, it begins to darken.
Sale of calendula
In nature, the nail-shaped variety is considered a perennial plant. Not bad venidium grows 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 resembling a calendula.
Breeders did not leave Venidium unattended. When crossing varieties, hybrids with pale cream and other petal colors were bred. There are even dwarf plants up to 30 cm high. One of these hybrids is Dwarf Hybrids. A dwarf flower is able to grow in small indoor flowerpots on a window, on the street, 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 grains in open ground is more practiced in the southern regions. Seeds have time to germinate in early spring and give healthy shoots before the beginning of summer. For the middle band, the method is not suitable. Venidium will grow, but flowering will begin a month late.
- The seedling method of growing in cold regions allows the gardener to see the sunflower bloom in early summer.
The process of sowing and growing venidium is similar to that for garden crops. Under seedlings use any boxes or glasses. The flower loves loose soil with neutral acidity and good drainage.
The video talks about growing seedlings of flowers:
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 grains are not too small, which allows them to be sown one at a time at a distance. This will allow you to avoid picks in the future. If the sowing of seeds is done randomly, the plants are transplanted after the growth of 6-7 leaves. By this time, the seedlings had already grown stronger.
Sowing Rules
The photo shows the cultivation of Venidium from seeds in a container. To get a good seedling, observe the following rules:
- Before planting the container is disinfected. Small stones with sand are poured to 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 desirable to spread the seeds at a distance of at least 3 cm. The seedlings will be sparse, which will eliminate 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 with 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. You can speed up the germination process by maintaining a constant air temperature in the range of 20–24оC.
- Shelter allows you to create an optimal microclimate for seeds. However, before the appearance of Venidium sprouts, the crops are aired daily. When the top layer of soil dries, spray with warm water.
- High-quality seeds of Venidium, subject to the rules of sowing, will germinate on about the fifteenth day. With the advent of the first sprouts of seedlings, it is important to provide bright light. Cover must be removed.
When the seedlings grow up, they gradually begin to lower the temperature in the room. Over time, the seedlings are taken out to a cool place, and hardened on the street before planting.
If you do not want to mess with seedlings, the seeds of Venidium are sown directly on the flower bed when the earth is well warmed up. With this method of growing a flower, grains can be sown densely. A part 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 sprouts, and remove the extra weak ones.
Planting seedlings in a flower bed
Seedlings grown from Venidium seeds are planted in flower beds after the end of the period of night frosts. For each region, the time is determined individually. In the middle lane, usually a 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.
Seedlings are sorted before planting. To get a lush flowering bush of Venidium, only strong, well-developed seedlings are selected. From skinny plants the same flowers will turn out. Seedlings are planted at a distance of at least 30 cm. The crown and roots of the Venidium grow in breadth. With a narrow landing step, there will be little room for bushes to develop.
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 clod of earth that has not collapsed. On a sunny day, the plant is provided with shade. When the flower is fully adapted, spreading the leaves, the hassle of care will decrease.
Features of care
Many gardeners like venidium for its unpretentiousness, as well as ease of care:
- The flower comes from 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 rainy summers, there is a threat of natural extinction of sunflowers.
- Faded heads are cut off with scissors at the very base. Below the cut, two new buds are born, 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. Tall stems break during rain or strong wind.
- The flower has enough nutrients in the ground. To increase the size and brightness of the inflorescences, the venidium can be fed with complex fertilizer.
- Of the pests of the flower, aphids are dangerous. The phenomenon is not frequent, but it occurs. Spraying with insecticides will help get rid of aphids.
- As with any plant, excess foliage takes away nutrients. Partial thinning will result in better flowering.
With a minimum of care, the venidium will decorate the home area throughout the warm season. Reproduction can occur even by self-seeding.
Southern handsome man in landscape design
To decorate your yard with a venidium, you do not need to be a professional designer. Compositions can be made from different varieties. If there is a free wasteland, it will be beautiful to sow the entire area with orange flowers. Dwarf Venidium is planted along with petunia or nasturtium. A tall flower will make friends with a daylily or rudbeckia.
Seeds from non-hybrid Venidiums can be collected independently to grow new seedlings. Some of the grains will sprout themselves, sometimes even in another unexpected place.