Is it possible to grow a monarda at home?

Of the 20 species of the Lamb family of annual and perennial grasses, which originate from the North American continent and are widespread from Mexico to Canada, the Monarda plant is noteworthy. Carl Linnaeus, in the name of the flower, immortalized the name of the Spaniard Nicholas Monardes, who devoted his life to healing and botany, and in 1574 published a book about the plants of America.

In his book, Monardes mentioned another name for monarda: the plant was then known as the soulmate of Virginia or Canadian Origano. Once in the Old World, the monarda attracted attention primarily as an essential oil plant and from the 19th century it became better known as bergamot, American lemon balm or lemon mint.

Description of monarda

Monarda in landscape design photo in a flowerbed with other flowers

Perennial and annual monarda belongs to rhizome plants. Its branched or straight stems rise to a height of 1.5 meters. Monarda leaves are fragrant, have an oblong-lanceolate shape with a straight or serrated edge. Quite small, with a pleasant smell, two-lipped flowers are collected in dense, up to 7 cm in diameter, racemose or capitate inflorescences. White, yellow, red, speckled flowers are located one above the other along the entire length of the stem.The fruit of the monarda is a nut with seeds inside.

Ripening, the seeds do not lose their germination for 3 years. You can use one site for planting a plant up to 7 years old. Monarda is appreciated not only for the attractive shade of the flower, but also for its unique aroma, which has found its application in cooking as a spice and as an additive to tea. Its qualities of a honey plant are also undeniable.

How to plant monarda seeds in the ground

How to sow monarda with seeds directly into the ground photo of seedlings

Sowing monarda in spring

If the monarda is cultivated in the southern regions, then its seeds are sown directly into the ground. Do this in February, choosing a sunny warm day. A couple of the next, still cool, months will contribute to the natural stratification of seeds. And only in the month of April one can expect the appearance of strong and friendly seedlings, which after a while should be thinned out.

If at the time of sowing there is snow on the ground, you should clear the plot of land and cover it with foil. The ground under the film will warm up well and will be ready for loosening. Before planting seeds in it, the top layer of soil is mixed with sand. Seeds are sown to a depth not exceeding 2.5 cm. It is better to sprinkle the seeds on top with sand, not soil.

Sowing monarda before winter

Many people practice the autumn sowing of monarda after the seeds have been harvested. It is necessary to wait for a cold snap, with night frosts up to 5 ° C. Each region has its own climate, but around winter you can sow already at the end of October, when there is no risk of seed germination in warm weather.

The garden bed is prepared in advance so that the earth settles and grooves are made at a distance of 20-25 cm. They also sow as little as possible and not deeply, up to 2.5 cm.

With the arrival of spring, the grown seedlings dive to get beautiful and strong bushes. It should be noted that the flower rises slowly.

Growing monarda from seeds for seedlings at home

Monarda from seeds at home photo of seedlings

This method of growing monarda is preferred first of all.

• So that the seedlings are ready by April, they begin to sow them in January. For this, boxes or containers with drainage are used, into which special soil is poured for growing flowering.
• Seeding depth 1.5-2 cm
• Maintain the temperature at 20 ºC using a stretched cling film or sachet.

The first shoots should be expected after 3-4 weeks. It will take another 3 weeks for the grown seedlings to release the first true leaves. When 2-3 leaves appear, the plants should be cut into individual cups or spacious containers to increase the feeding area according to the scheme: 4x4 or 3x3.

Water it sparingly so as not to flood the seedlings and not to provoke the development of rot. Provide a lot of light, do not allow too high temperatures so that the seedlings do not stretch out. If this happens, carefully add the earth to the level of the leaves so that the plants do not deform.

When the first two pairs of real leaves appear, the monarda seedlings need to start hardening: take the boxes out onto the street or balcony. Starting from an hour or two, increase the time to a full day. One to two weeks of hardening is enough to prepare the plants for transplanting to a permanent outdoor location.

Optimal conditions for planting monarda in the ground

Monarda will please the eye only if the conditions that are necessary for the growth of the plant are created, although they are not difficult. The flower loves sunny, sheltered from the wind, places. The semi-shaded areas of the garden do not scare him either. The soil prefers light, lime-rich. Waterlogged acidic soil negatively affects plant growth.

Spring is the most favorable time for planting crops, although the planting site is prepared in advance, in the fall.To do this, weeds are destroyed and the area is dug up together with peat, manure (at the rate of 2-3kg per 1m2) and a complex of mineral fertilizers, which includes potassium salt (30 g / m2), superphosphate (50 g / m2), lime (40g / m2 ). Before planting in the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are added to the soil (30g / 1m²).

Landing monarda

How to plant a monarda in the ground photo

When 3 pairs of leaves are formed on the seedlings, and this will happen a couple of months after the appearance of the first shoot, they are transferred to open prepared soil.

When planting, they maintain a distance between the bushes equal to 60 cm. After planting, the monarda must be watered abundantly. She is not afraid of spring frosts down to -5 ºС and easily tolerates them. With seed planting, the flowering of monarda can be observed only after a year. If the monard is planted using seedlings, then some of its specimens can please with their flowering in the year of planting.

How to care for a monarda in the garden

The main thing is to ensure frequent but moderate watering of the plant in the summer. If the heat is established for a long time, then the monarda should be watered daily. A hot season with a lack of watering can bring a disease dangerous to the plant - powdery mildew. It will be good during this period to mulch the soil under the monard with peat and constantly loosen it.

To feed the crop, use granulated Agricola or Kemira twice a month during the entire growing season. A mullein diluted in a ratio of 1 to 10 will not interfere with her. To prevent insects, the plant is treated with Fundazol or Bordeaux mixture in the spring and autumn.

How to propagate a monarda by dividing a bush

Unfortunately, during seed reproduction, there is no need to talk about the preservation of varietal traits if you grow beautiful hybrid forms.

To preserve the variety, you will have to deal with dividing a bush 3-4 years old. When to transplant a monarda? This can be done twice a year: in April, if the soil is well warmed up, or with the onset of autumn. To do this, the roots are freed from the ground from the dug bush and divided by eye.

Ready-made new bushes are planted at the same level as before dividing, in pre-prepared holes. Since the transplanted bushes will grow strongly in a couple of years (up to 1 m in diameter), then it will be necessary to transplant this plant by dividing the bush quite often.

Propagation of monarda by cuttings

How to propagate monarda by cuttings photo

You can use the cuttings method when propagating a plant.

• To do this, choose 7 - 10 centimeter cuttings, which are formed from the grown green shoots of the monarda, but have not yet begun to bloom.
• The leaves in the lower part of the cutting are completely cut off, the upper ones are cut by 1/3 part.

How to plant a monarda with cuttings

• Cuttings are planted in a pre-prepared box or pots with a loose nutrient substrate and removed in a dark place.
• You can just put the cuttings in the water.
• After 2-3 weeks, the root system will form in the cuttings of the monarda and they will be ready for transplanting into open ground. It is better to do this in August.

Possible diseases and pests of Monarda

Monarda possesses paradoxical resistance to both diseases and numerous plant pests. Scientists attribute this phenomenon to the presence of essential oils in the roots of the plant. Despite this, with insufficient watering, when there is an unbearable heat, powdery mildew can affect the monarda. A verified irrigation regime and soil mulching will help get rid of it. Very rarely, a plant can attack a tobacco mosaic virus or rust virus and settle in a weevil.

How to collect monarda seeds

How to collect monarda seeds photo

Seed ripening occurs at the end of August and at the beginning of September. When the plant fades, you need to be careful. To prevent the seeds from spilling out, you need to cut off the dried testes and put them in a shady place until they are completely ripe and dry.When the baskets dry well, the seeds easily spill out of the tubular seedlings.

There are several ways to handle the harvested seeds. First, they can be sown immediately. The resulting seedlings will find their permanent habitat only in the spring. Secondly, the seeds are well stored and do not lose their germination for 3 years. If there is no need to update the monard, then you can use them later. It is important to remember that a monarda grown from seeds of hybrid plants will never retain its parental properties. The seed method is used only for cultivating varietal plants.

Preparing monarda for winter

Leaving seeds that you don't need on the bushes can be a great food for hungry birds in the fall. What remains of the annual culture is removed from the flower bed in late autumn. In the spring, self-seeding sprouts will appear in the same place.

As for the perennial monarda, it is frost-resistant (it can withstand temperatures of - 25ºC). If the frosts in your area are much stronger, you need shelter for the winter:

• Make hilling 20-25 cm high.
• Cover the top with a layer of straw or hay 10-15 cm thick.
• To prevent the shelter from being blown away by the wind, press down on the mulch with boards and bricks.

In winter, it will be good to pour a layer of snow on top. In the spring, with the onset of warmth, they remove the shelter and remove the pile of earth so that the plant wakes up early.

Monarda varieties with photos and names

Annual types of culture:

Citrus monarda or lemon Monarda citriodora

Citrus monarda or lemon Monarda citriodora growing from seeds planting and caring for photos

It is almost the only annual, reaching a height of 15 - 95 cm. Its narrow lanceolate leaves, stem and small lilac flowers contain essential oil, which is not inferior in composition to the essential oil of basil and mint. Therefore, citrus monarda is cultivated both as a decorative flower and as a spice.

Hybrid monarda Lambada Monarda lambada

Monarda hybrid Lambada Monarda lambada cultivation and care of a photo

It is the brainchild of Dutch breeders. When crossed, several Citriodora groups were used, the aroma of young leaves of which is very similar to lemon.

Point monarda Monarda punctata

Spot monarda Monarda punctata cultivar Leu photo Cultivation and care

It is also called horse mint. The attractiveness of this species is given by the bright orange leaves located around the inflorescence. The flower can reach 80 cm in height.

Types of perennial monarda:

Double monarda Monarda didyma

Double monarda Monarda didyma planting and care photos

In the wild, it is found near the Great Lakes, the first description of which dates back to 1656. It grows up to 80 cm tall. It is a herbaceous perennial with erect stems in the shape of a tetrahedron. Opposite, edged, leaves are oval toothed with a pointed end. They grow up to 12 cm long and have reddish stipules. The petiole is almost absent.

The plant's rhizome grows horizontally. Smallish lilac or purple flowers are collected in dense, up to 5 cm in diameter, capitate-type inflorescences. The leaf-like shape of the bracts, matching in color with the flowers, lends elegance to this species.

Fist or tubular Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot

Fist or tubular monarda fistulosa growing from seeds photo

Naturally grows in forests in the East of the North American continent. In Europe, it is cultivated for spices. This multi-stemmed perennial grows up to 0.6 - 1.20 m in height. Its simple, serrated leaves are covered with hairs.

Small lilac flowers are connected in false whorls. The flowers are surrounded by red stipules, which gather in capitate spherical inflorescences. On a single peduncle there are 5 - 9 inflorescences, each of which has a diameter of 5-7 cm.Known since 1637. The dwarf-shaped fist monard Victoria was bred in Russia.

Hybrid monarda x hybrida

Hybrid monarda monarda x hybrida cultivation and care of the photo

This name combined the varieties obtained by breeders of Great Britain, Germany and the USA by combining the double and fistula monarda. The height of the hybrids reaches 1 meter.
The number of color shades is striking in its variety. Here are some of them:

• white: Snow White, Snow Maiden, Schneewittchen
• burgundy: Bordeaux Moldova, Prarienakht
• reds: Adam, Balance, Cambridge Scarlet, Petite Delight, Mahogeny
• lavender: Elsiz Levende
• magenta: Cardinal, Prairie Glow, Sunset
• purple: Zinta-Zinta, Pony, Fishee
• Purple-purple hue: Blaustrumpf, Blue Stocking.

Monarda cambridge scarlet monarda cambridge scarlet photo

The Panorama variety unites a monarda of a variety of color shades from snow-white, pink to crimson, purple and burgundy.

The healing properties of monarda

Perennial flower monarda photo useful properties

Homeopathy widely uses monarda as a source of essential oil, vitamins C, B1, B2 and other active biological components. Of course, the most valuable thing in monard is essential oil, known for its bactericidal properties, which have antianemic, antioxidant, anti-stress, reproductive effects.

The systematic use of this oil clears the aorta from sclerotic plaques, helps to cope with radiation sickness, viral flu, and to tighten weak immunity. It is recommended to use Monarda for the following diseases: pneumonia, otitis media, cystitis, indigestion, diseases of the oral cavity. It relieves headaches, fungal infections of the nails and feet.

Cosmetologists include monarda in the composition of preparations intended for oily (acne prone) skin, used as a component of a cream of the age category 45+.

Seasonings for fish and vegetable dishes are prepared from the leaves of monarda. They are brewed like tea, added to soups and salads.

To whom the monard is contraindicated in any form

Of course, the monard is useful, but its excessive use is harmful to the body. First of all, the monard is contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as for children under 5 years of age. It is excluded not only the use of monarda inside, but also in the form of raw materials for an aroma lamp.

Fragrant, fragrant and such a bright monarda today is rightfully considered one of the most impressive inhabitants of flower gardens. This plant is modern both in its lines and in a huge palette of varieties, and, if possible, choose varieties of different heights and flowering periods.

A wonderful honey plant and an irreplaceable medicinal crop can become one of the best bright summer flowering perennials. In versatility, monarda easily competes with such favorites of landscape design as lavender, sage, catnip and veronica. But it also has its own exclusive features. After all, it is so unpretentious that it can easily fit into the concept of a garden that requires minimal maintenance.

Growing conditions required by monards

Monarda has earned her title of the unpretentious queen of the modern garden mainly for its ability to quickly adapt to different lighting conditions without losing an attractive and vibrant flowering. And in the sunniest areas, and where partial shade reigns, this perennial develops equally quickly, pleases with a bright cold color of dense foliage and medium-sized, but original fragrant whorls up to 8 cm in diameter from flowers attracting insects. Even in a fairly dense penumbra, the monarda forms up to 100 inflorescences per season in adulthood. But at the same time, in places where the plants will be illuminated for less than 3-4 hours a day, the monard should not be planted: it is shade-tolerant, but not shade-loving.

Pay attention to the wind conditions on the site.In places sold by the wind, the curtains of the monarda disintegrate, the shoots are bent, and the plant itself looks sloppy. For this perennial, warm, protected areas with a maximum light draft are needed.

Choosing a soil for monarda

It is also quite easy to pick up the soil for the monarda. It does not tolerate acidic soils, swampy, overly compacted, neglected areas. For the rest, any, even not too fertile, garden land will do for her. Loam and sandstone typical for flower gardens are ideal for monarda. Avoid overly acidic soils and it is better to plant this beauty in neutral or alkaline soil.

Landing specifics

Monarda is usually grown, leaving wide aisles, but placing the plants themselves close enough. The optimal distance is about 30-40 cm in a row and up to 70 cm in aisles. When planting 1 bush, 40-50 cm is left to neighboring plants. Before planting seedlings or monarda delineations, it is necessary to improve the soil. Dig the soil deeply, and then scatter the ready-made substrate for flowering crops or organic fertilizers in the form of humus and compost over its surface in an amount of about 3 kg per square meter of soil. Too acidic soil must be limed by adding 40 g of lime per square meter. Dig up the soil again or cover the fertilizer in the ground with a rake.

Thoroughly level the soil, make deep planting holes in it and water each one to soak with water. Only after that, plant the plants in individual pits, maintaining their usual level of deepening. Immediately after planting, the monarda needs several maintenance watering at intervals of 2-3 days.

Simple care for a non-capricious monard

Caring for a monarda is no different from caring for other garden perennials of the so-called group of unpretentious generalists. In fact, it comes down to rare watering, top dressing and pruning before wintering.

This plant will need watering only when the drought coincides with the flowering period of the monarda in July and August. If the amount of natural precipitation is insufficient, all plants on flower beds and in decorative compositions suffer from a lack of moisture, then the monarda will not refuse deep supporting watering. Saturate the soil with water to a depth of about 20-30 cm. The monard is not afraid of droughts during the rest of the year, and it will not die from it during flowering. But the absence of compensating watering will necessarily affect the beauty of the inflorescences, and the lack of comfortable humidity will reduce the resistance of the monarda to powdery mildew.

In order for the monarda to please not only with the endurance and beauty of the greenery, but also with bright flowering, starting from the second year of cultivation (and on poor soils - from the first), two additional fertilizing is necessary for this crop:

1. The first is carried out in early spring or a month after planting. For a plant, you need to add 1 tbsp. complex mineral fertilizer (best of all nitrophosphate) or a portion of any fertilizer for flowering plants per 10 liters of water. This mixture is enough for 2 square meters of soil.
2. The second feeding is carried out to improve the ripening of plants and to lay flower buds for the next year immediately after the end of flowering. For it, use 1 tablespoon of sulfate and potassium fertilizers per 10 liters of water (it is best to use potassium sulfate and superphosphate).

Pruning monarda comes down to just harvesting the aerial parts of plants before the arrival of winter. In late autumn, the entire aerial part of the bush is cut into a stump. The cut shoots of the monarda must be removed from the site and immediately destroyed. In monarda, the ripening of the seeds does not in any way affect the duration of flowering, therefore it is not at all necessary to remove the faded shoots on your own.

In one place, a monard can grow for 5-6 years. Rejuvenation is traditionally carried out with signs of loss of decorativeness and baldness of the center of the curtain.But it is better not to wait for the bushes to die off and lose their attractiveness, but to carry out timely separation every 3-4 years. This will keep the monarda always attractive and abundant.

Reproduction of monarda

A new generation of plants can be obtained by vegetative methods and from seeds. When propagated by seeds, the monarda can mutate, the varietal characteristics of the plants are not preserved, therefore, when growing rare varieties of monarda and if you wish to preserve the color, only the method of separating the bushes should be used.

The division of the bushes is carried out during rejuvenation, digging out sods with a large clod of earth in spring or autumn. The central part of the bush is removed, and the lateral ones are divided into 2-3, sometimes more strong divisions and each is used as an independent plant. In each part, separated from the bush, at least 3-4 strong shoots and a large bunch of roots should be preserved.

Monarda seeds are sown directly into open soil on special ridges or use the seedling method.

For seedlings, seeds must be sown at the end of March, only slightly covering with soil and maintaining the moisture of the substrate until shoots appear. Care for young seedlings is standard. Monarda is transferred to the ground from the end of May.

Sowing in open soil is carried out only in June and July. Before sowing monarda, a large amount of organic fertilizers, in particular compost and humus, must be added to the soil into the soil. Furrows are made on the surface of the soil at a distance of 15-20 cm, they are watered abundantly and only then the seeds are sparsely sown. They are covered from above with as thin a layer of soil as possible and immediately cover the entire bed with non-woven material or film. The shelter is removed only after the emergence of seedlings. Watering the seeds before germination is necessary up to 3 times a week. Plants are grown with double thinning, first by 10, and then by 20 cm until next year. Young seedlings are very fragile, they can easily be drowned out by weeds, so crops will need frequent weeding. They are transferred to a permanent place in the spring, planting 5-6 plants in one hole.

Pests and diseases

Monarda belongs to the most resistant garden plants. She is not afraid of pests or diseases, and even with signs of stains on the leaves, it is most likely a downy mildew, which only spoils the appearance, but will not cause any harm to either the plant itself or neighboring crops. Downy mildew in monarda manifests itself only with excessive drying out of the soil and prolonged drought, as well as with thickened plantings, when air circulation is difficult. By properly planting a monarda and not forgetting about maintenance watering in the summer, you actually guarantee the attractiveness of this plant.

Monarda clinopodia, white bergamot

Very rarely, a monarda in the vicinity of a diseased plant can become infected with rust or tobacco mosaic, but usually these diseases spread to monarda only on ultra-light soils.

The roots of this plant, as well as the greenery, contain a large amount of essential oils. They have a fungicidal effect on the soil, contribute to the healing of neighboring plants and act as a prophylaxis against insect pests.

Fragrant, fragrant and such a bright monarda today is rightfully considered one of the most impressive inhabitants of flower gardens. This plant is modern both in its lines and in a huge palette of varieties, and, if possible, choose varieties of different heights and flowering periods.

A wonderful honey plant and an irreplaceable medicinal crop can become one of the best bright summer flowering perennials. In versatility, monarda easily competes with such favorites of landscape design as lavender, sage, catnip and veronica. But it also has its own exclusive features. After all, it is so unpretentious that it can easily fit into the concept of a garden that requires minimal maintenance.

Growing conditions required by monards

Monarda has earned her title of the unpretentious queen of the modern garden mainly for its ability to quickly adapt to different lighting conditions without losing an attractive and vibrant flowering. And in the sunniest areas, and where partial shade reigns, this perennial develops equally quickly, pleases with a bright cold color of dense foliage and medium-sized, but original fragrant whorls up to 8 cm in diameter from flowers attracting insects. Even in a fairly dense penumbra, the monarda forms up to 100 inflorescences per season in adulthood. But at the same time, in places where the plants will be illuminated for less than 3-4 hours a day, the monard should not be planted: it is shade-tolerant, but not shade-loving.

Pay attention to the wind conditions on the site. In places sold by the wind, the curtains of the monarda disintegrate, the shoots are bent, and the plant itself looks sloppy. For this perennial, warm, protected areas with a maximum light draft are needed.

Choosing a soil for monarda

It is also quite easy to pick up the soil for the monarda. It does not tolerate acidic soils, swampy, overly compacted, neglected areas. For the rest, any, even not too fertile, garden land will do for her. Loam and sandstone typical for flower gardens are ideal for monarda. Avoid overly acidic soils and it is better to plant this beauty in neutral or alkaline soil.

Landing specifics

Monarda is usually grown, leaving wide aisles, but placing the plants themselves close enough. The optimal distance is about 30-40 cm in a row and up to 70 cm in aisles. When planting 1 bush, 40-50 cm is left to neighboring plants. Before planting seedlings or monarda delineations, it is necessary to improve the soil. Dig the soil deeply, and then scatter the ready-made substrate for flowering crops or organic fertilizers in the form of humus and compost over its surface in an amount of about 3 kg per square meter of soil. Too acidic soil must be limed by adding 40 g of lime per square meter. Dig up the soil again or cover the fertilizer in the ground with a rake.

Thoroughly level the soil, make deep planting holes in it and water each one to soak with water. Only after that, plant the plants in individual pits, maintaining their usual level of deepening. Immediately after planting, the monarda needs several maintenance watering at intervals of 2-3 days.

Simple care for a non-capricious monard

Caring for a monarda is no different from caring for other garden perennials of the so-called group of unpretentious generalists. In fact, it comes down to rare watering, top dressing and pruning before wintering.

This plant will need watering only when the drought coincides with the flowering period of the monarda in July and August. If the amount of natural precipitation is insufficient, all plants on flower beds and in decorative compositions suffer from a lack of moisture, then the monarda will not refuse deep supporting watering. Saturate the soil with water to a depth of about 20-30 cm. The monard is not afraid of droughts during the rest of the year, and it will not die from it during flowering. But the absence of compensating watering will necessarily affect the beauty of the inflorescences, and the lack of comfortable humidity will reduce the resistance of the monarda to powdery mildew.

In order for the monarda to please not only with the endurance and beauty of the greenery, but also with bright flowering, starting from the second year of cultivation (and on poor soils - from the first), two additional fertilizing is necessary for this crop:

1. The first is carried out in early spring or a month after planting. For a plant, you need to add 1 tbsp. complex mineral fertilizer (best of all nitrophosphate) or a portion of any fertilizer for flowering plants per 10 liters of water. This mixture is enough for 2 square meters of soil.
2. The second feeding is carried out to improve the ripening of plants and to lay flower buds for the next year immediately after flowering. For it, use 1 tablespoon of sulfate and potassium fertilizers per 10 liters of water (it is best to use potassium sulfate and superphosphate).

Pruning monarda comes down to just harvesting the aerial parts of plants before the arrival of winter. In late autumn, the entire aerial part of the bush is cut into a stump. The cut shoots of the monarda must be removed from the site and immediately destroyed. In monarda, seed ripening does not affect the duration of flowering in any way, so it is not at all necessary to remove faded shoots on your own.

In one place, a monard can grow for 5-6 years. Rejuvenation is traditionally carried out with signs of loss of decorativeness and baldness of the center of the curtain. But it is better not to wait for the bushes to die off and lose their attractiveness, but to carry out timely separation every 3-4 years. This will keep the monarda always attractive and abundant.

Reproduction of monarda

A new generation of plants can be obtained by vegetative methods and from seeds. When propagated by seeds, the monarda can mutate, the varietal characteristics of the plants are not preserved, therefore, when growing rare varieties of monarda and if you wish to preserve the color, only the method of separating the bushes should be used.

The division of the bushes is carried out during rejuvenation, digging out sods with a large clod of earth in spring or autumn. The central part of the bush is removed, and the lateral ones are divided into 2-3, sometimes more strong divisions and each is used as an independent plant. In each part, separated from the bush, at least 3-4 strong shoots and a large bunch of roots should be preserved.

Monarda seeds are sown directly into open soil on special ridges or use the seedling method.

For seedlings, seeds must be sown at the end of March, only slightly covering with soil and maintaining the moisture of the substrate until shoots appear. Care for young seedlings is standard. Monarda is transferred to the ground from the end of May.

Sowing in open soil is carried out only in June and July. Before sowing monarda, a large amount of organic fertilizers, in particular compost and humus, must be added to the soil into the soil. Furrows are made on the surface of the soil at a distance of 15-20 cm, they are watered abundantly and only then the seeds are sparsely sown. They are covered from above with as thin a layer of soil as possible and immediately cover the entire bed with non-woven material or film. The shelter is removed only after the emergence of shoots. Watering the seeds before germination is necessary up to 3 times a week. Plants are grown with double thinning, first by 10, and then by 20 cm until next year. Young seedlings are very fragile, they can easily be drowned out by weeds, so crops will need frequent weeding. They are transferred to a permanent place in the spring, planting 5-6 plants in one hole.

Pests and diseases

Monarda belongs to the most resistant garden plants. She is not afraid of pests or diseases, and even with signs of spots on the leaves, we are most likely talking about downy mildew, which only spoils the appearance, but will not cause any harm either to the plant itself or to neighboring crops. Downy mildew in monarda manifests itself only with excessive drying out of the soil and prolonged drought, as well as with thickened plantings, when air circulation is difficult. By properly planting a monarda and not forgetting about maintenance watering in the summer, you actually guarantee the attractiveness of this plant.

Monarda clinopodia, white bergamot

Very rarely, a monarda in the vicinity of a diseased plant can become infected with rust or tobacco mosaic, but usually these diseases spread to the monarda only on ultra-light soils.

The roots of this plant, as well as the greenery, contain a large amount of essential oils.They have a fungicidal effect on the soil, contribute to the healing of neighboring plants and act as a prophylaxis against insect pests.

Of the 20 species of the Lamb family of annual and perennial grasses, which originate from the North American continent and are widespread from Mexico to Canada, the Monarda plant is noteworthy. Carl Linnaeus, in the name of the flower, immortalized the name of the Spaniard Nicholas Monardes, who devoted his life to healing and botany, and in 1574 published a book about the plants of America.

In his book, Monardes mentioned another name for monarda: the plant was then known as the soulmate of Virginia or Canadian Origano. Once in the Old World, the monarda attracted attention primarily as an essential oil plant and from the 19th century it became better known as bergamot, American lemon balm or lemon mint.

Description of monarda

Monarda in landscape design photo in a flowerbed with other flowers

Perennial and annual monarda belongs to rhizome plants. Its branched or straight stems rise to a height of 1.5 meters. Monarda leaves are fragrant, have an oblong-lanceolate shape with a straight or serrated edge. Quite small, with a pleasant smell, two-lipped flowers are collected in dense, up to 7 cm in diameter, racemose or capitate inflorescences. White, yellow, red, speckled flowers are located one above the other along the entire length of the stem. The fruit of the monarda is a nut with seeds inside.

Ripening, the seeds do not lose their germination for 3 years. You can use one site for planting a plant up to 7 years old. Monarda is appreciated not only for the attractive shade of the flower, but also for its unique aroma, which has found its application in cooking as a spice and as an additive to tea. Its qualities of a honey plant are also undeniable.

How to plant monarda seeds in the ground

How to sow monarda with seeds directly into the ground photo of seedlings

Sowing monarda in spring

If the monarda is cultivated in the southern regions, then its seeds are sown directly into the ground. Do this in February, choosing a sunny warm day. A couple of the next, still cool, months will contribute to the natural stratification of seeds. And only in the month of April one can expect the appearance of strong and friendly seedlings, which after a while should be thinned out.

If at the time of sowing there is snow on the ground, you should clear the plot of land and cover it with foil. The ground under the film will warm up well and will be ready for loosening. Before planting seeds in it, the top layer of soil is mixed with sand. Seeds are sown to a depth not exceeding 2.5 cm. It is better to sprinkle the seeds on top with sand, not soil.

Sowing monarda before winter

Many people practice the autumn sowing of monarda after the seeds have been harvested. It is necessary to wait for a cold snap, with night frosts up to 5 ° C. Each region has its own climate, but around winter you can sow already at the end of October, when there is no risk of seed germination in warm weather.

The garden bed is prepared in advance so that the earth settles and grooves are made at a distance of 20-25 cm. They also sow as little as possible and not deeply, up to 2.5 cm.

With the arrival of spring, the grown seedlings dive to get beautiful and strong bushes. It should be noted that the flower rises slowly.

Growing monarda from seeds for seedlings at home

Monarda from seeds at home photo of seedlings

This method of growing monarda is preferred first of all.

• So that the seedlings are ready by April, they begin to sow them in January. For this, boxes or containers with drainage are used, into which special soil is poured for growing flowering.
• Seeding depth 1.5-2 cm
• Maintain the temperature at 20 ºC using a stretched cling film or sachet.

The first shoots should be expected after 3-4 weeks. It will take another 3 weeks for the grown seedlings to release the first true leaves.When 2-3 leaves appear, the plants should be cut into individual cups or spacious containers to increase the feeding area according to the scheme: 4x4 or 3x3.

Water it sparingly so as not to flood the seedlings and not to provoke the development of rot. Provide a lot of light, do not allow too high temperatures so that the seedlings do not stretch out. If this happens, carefully add the earth to the level of the leaves so that the plants do not deform.

When the first two pairs of real leaves appear, the monarda seedlings need to start hardening: take the boxes out onto the street or balcony. Starting from an hour or two, increase the time to a full day. One to two weeks of hardening is enough to prepare the plants for transplanting to a permanent outdoor location.

Optimal conditions for planting monarda in the ground

Monarda will please the eye only if the conditions that are necessary for the growth of the plant are created, although they are not difficult. The flower loves sunny, sheltered from the wind, places. The semi-shaded areas of the garden do not scare him either. The soil prefers light, lime-rich. Waterlogged acidic soil negatively affects plant growth.

Spring is the most favorable time for planting crops, although the planting site is prepared in advance, in the fall. To do this, weeds are destroyed and the area is dug up together with peat, manure (at the rate of 2-3kg per 1m2) and a complex of mineral fertilizers, which includes potassium salt (30 g / m2), superphosphate (50 g / m2), lime (40g / m2 ). Before planting in the spring, nitrogen fertilizers are added to the soil (30g / 1m²).

Landing monarda

How to plant a monarda in the ground photo

When 3 pairs of leaves are formed on the seedlings, and this will happen a couple of months after the appearance of the first shoot, they are transferred to open prepared soil.

When planting, they maintain a distance between the bushes equal to 60 cm. After planting, the monarda must be watered abundantly. She is not afraid of spring frosts down to -5 ºС and easily tolerates them. With seed planting, the flowering of monarda can be observed only after a year. If the monard is planted using seedlings, then some of its specimens can please with their flowering in the year of planting.

How to care for a monarda in the garden

The main thing is to ensure frequent but moderate watering of the plant in the summer. If the heat is established for a long time, then the monarda should be watered daily. A hot season with a lack of watering can bring a disease dangerous to the plant - powdery mildew. It will be good during this period to mulch the soil under the monard with peat and constantly loosen it.

To feed the crop, use granulated Agricola or Kemira twice a month during the entire growing season. A mullein diluted in a ratio of 1 to 10 will not interfere with her. To prevent insects, the plant is treated with Fundazol or Bordeaux mixture in the spring and autumn.

How to propagate a monarda by dividing a bush

Unfortunately, during seed reproduction, there is no need to talk about the preservation of varietal traits if you grow beautiful hybrid forms.

To preserve the variety, you will have to deal with dividing a bush 3-4 years old. When to transplant a monarda? This can be done twice a year: in April, if the soil is well warmed up, or with the onset of autumn. To do this, the roots are freed from the ground from the dug bush and divided by eye.

Ready-made new bushes are planted at the same level as before dividing, in pre-prepared holes. Since the transplanted bushes will grow strongly in a couple of years (up to 1 m in diameter), then it will be necessary to transplant this plant by dividing the bush quite often.

Propagation of monarda by cuttings

How to propagate monarda by cuttings photo

You can use the cuttings method when propagating a plant.

• To do this, choose 7 - 10 centimeter cuttings, which are formed from the grown green shoots of the monarda, but have not yet begun to bloom.
• The leaves in the lower part of the cutting are completely cut off, the upper ones are cut by 1/3 part.

How to plant a monarda with cuttings

• Cuttings are planted in a pre-prepared box or pots with a loose nutrient substrate and removed in a dark place.
• You can just put the cuttings in the water.
• After 2-3 weeks, the root system will form in the cuttings of the monarda and they will be ready for transplanting into open ground. It is better to do this in August.

Possible diseases and pests of Monarda

Monarda possesses paradoxical resistance to both diseases and numerous plant pests. Scientists attribute this phenomenon to the presence of essential oils in the roots of the plant. Despite this, with insufficient watering, when there is an unbearable heat, powdery mildew can affect the monarda. A verified irrigation regime and soil mulching will help get rid of it. Very rarely, a plant can attack a tobacco mosaic virus or rust virus and settle in a weevil.

How to collect monarda seeds

How to collect monarda seeds photo

Seed ripening occurs at the end of August and at the beginning of September. When the plant fades, you need to be careful. To prevent the seeds from spilling out, you need to cut off the dried testes and put them in a shady place until they are completely ripe and dry. When the baskets dry well, the seeds easily spill out of the tubular seedlings.

There are several ways to handle the harvested seeds. First, they can be sown immediately. The resulting seedlings will find their permanent habitat only in the spring. Secondly, the seeds are well stored and do not lose their germination for 3 years. If there is no need to update the monard, then you can use them later. It is important to remember that a monarda grown from seeds of hybrid plants will never retain its parental properties. The seed method is used only for cultivating varietal plants.

Preparing monarda for winter

Leaving seeds that you don't need on the bushes can be a great food for hungry birds in the fall. What remains of the annual culture is removed from the flower bed in late autumn. In the spring, self-seeding sprouts will appear in the same place.

As for the perennial monarda, it is frost-resistant (it can withstand temperatures of - 25ºC). If the frosts in your area are much stronger, you need shelter for the winter:

• Make hilling 20-25 cm high.
• Cover the top with a layer of straw or hay 10-15 cm thick.
• To prevent the shelter from being blown away by the wind, press down on the mulch with boards and bricks.

In winter, it will be good to pour a layer of snow on top. In the spring, with the onset of warmth, they remove the shelter and remove the pile of earth so that the plant wakes up early.

Monarda varieties with photos and names

Annual types of culture:

Citrus monarda or lemon Monarda citriodora

Citrus monarda or lemon Monarda citriodora growing from seeds planting and caring for photos

It is almost the only annual, reaching a height of 15 - 95 cm. Its narrow lanceolate leaves, stem and small lilac flowers contain essential oil, which is not inferior in composition to the essential oil of basil and mint. Therefore, citrus monarda is cultivated both as a decorative flower and as a spice.

Hybrid monarda Lambada Monarda lambada

Monarda hybrid Lambada Monarda lambada cultivation and care of a photo

It is the brainchild of Dutch breeders. When crossed, several Citriodora groups were used, the aroma of young leaves of which is very similar to lemon.

Point monarda Monarda punctata

Spot monarda Monarda punctata cultivar Leu photo Cultivation and care

It is also called horse mint. The attractiveness of this species is given by the bright orange leaves located around the inflorescence. The flower can reach 80 cm in height.

Types of perennial monarda:

Double monarda Monarda didyma

Double monarda Monarda didyma planting and care photos

In the wild, it is found near the Great Lakes, the first description of which dates back to 1656. It grows up to 80 cm tall. It is a herbaceous perennial with erect stems in the shape of a tetrahedron. Opposite, edged, leaves are oval toothed with a pointed end. They grow up to 12 cm long and have reddish stipules. The petiole is almost absent.

The plant's rhizome grows horizontally. Smallish lilac or purple flowers are collected in dense, up to 5 cm in diameter, capitate-type inflorescences. The leaf-like shape of the bracts, matching in color with the flowers, lends elegance to this species.

Fist or tubular Monarda fistulosa wild bergamot

Fist or tubular monarda fistulosa growing from seeds photo

Naturally grows in forests in the East of the North American continent. In Europe, it is cultivated for spices. This multi-stemmed perennial grows up to 0.6 - 1.20 m in height. Its simple, serrated leaves are covered with hairs.

Small lilac flowers are connected in false-type whorls. The flowers are surrounded by red stipules, which gather in capitate spherical inflorescences. On a single peduncle there are 5-9 inflorescences, each of which has a diameter of 5-7 cm. It has been known since 1637. The dwarf-shaped fist monard Victoria was bred in Russia.

Hybrid monarda x hybrida

Hybrid monarda monarda x hybrida cultivation and care of the photo

This name combined the varieties obtained by breeders of Great Britain, Germany and the USA by combining the double and fistula monarda. The height of the hybrids reaches 1 meter.
The number of color shades is striking in its variety. Here are some of them:

• white: Snow White, Snow Maiden, Schneewittchen
• burgundy: Bordeaux Moldova, Prarienakht
• reds: Adam, Balance, Cambridge Scarlet, Petite Delight, Mahogeny
• lavender: Elsiz Levende
• magenta: Cardinal, Prairie Glow, Sunset
• purple: Zinta-Zinta, Pony, Fishee
• Purple-purple hue: Blaustrumpf, Blue Stocking.

Monarda cambridge scarlet monarda cambridge scarlet photo

The Panorama variety unites a monarda of a variety of color shades from snow-white, pink to crimson, purple and burgundy.

The healing properties of monarda

Perennial flower monarda photo useful properties

Homeopathy widely uses monarda as a source of essential oil, vitamins C, B1, B2 and other active biological components. Of course, the most valuable thing in monard is essential oil, known for its bactericidal properties, which have antianemic, antioxidant, anti-stress, reproductive effects.

The systematic use of this oil clears the aorta from sclerotic plaques, helps to cope with radiation sickness, viral flu, and to tighten weak immunity. It is recommended to use Monarda for the following diseases: pneumonia, otitis media, cystitis, indigestion, diseases of the oral cavity. It relieves headaches, fungal infections of the nails and feet.

Cosmetologists include monarda in the composition of preparations intended for oily (acne prone) skin, used as a component of a cream of the age category 45+.

Seasonings for fish and vegetable dishes are prepared from the leaves of monarda. They are brewed like tea, added to soups and salads.

To whom the monard is contraindicated in any form

Of course, the monard is useful, but its excessive use is harmful to the body. First of all, the monard is contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as for children under 5 years of age. It is excluded not only the use of monarda inside, but also in the form of raw materials for an aroma lamp.

Monarda - like all plants of the Lamiaceae family, such as basil, mint, rosemary, thyme, sage, marjoram, lemon balm, thyme and oregano, successfully combines medicinal, culinary and decorative properties.

Other names for monarda: bergamot, spider balm, American lemon balm. Homeland - North America and Canada.

It is a beautiful, highly fragrant, perennial plant with magnificent shaggy inflorescences of raspberry, pink, red, which attract pollinators and decorate the garden. It blooms for a very long time - from June to September. The seeds ripen from August to October.

Monarda cultivation

Monarda grows best in the sun, but also tolerates light shade well. In the sun, it becomes more aromatic and fragrant. Now I have four monarda bushes growing, like all fragrant plants, along the paths. They are all in bloom, and bees, butterflies and moths are constantly buzzing around them, and when you pass and touch the plant, you can hear an amazing aroma.

Monarda feels at ease in any soil. The main thing is to water and fertilize on time with organic matter (manure, compost).

In order for the plant to be beautiful and healthy and not to get sick with powdery mildew, which often happens, it is necessary to ensure good air circulation around it and try not to water it with a watering can from above.

Landing monarda

Monarda bergamot can be sown in spring with seeds directly into the ground to a depth of about 2 cm, at the end of May, if the ground is warmed up. The seeds germinate for a long time, and the sprouts grow slowly. And in order not to lose seedlings and accelerate growth, it is better for them to build a greenhouse from a five-liter bottle or cellophane.

A more reliable way to grow bergamot from seeds is to plant the seeds in a pot at home in March and by the beginning of spring you already have a decent plant.

Division and reproduction of monarda by rhizome and pruning

With good care, the monarda grows strongly, so the plant must be divided and transplanted every 3 years so that it is beautiful and neat. It is best to do this in early spring. To do this, you need to dig up the root, discard its old, internal parts, divide and plant the young rhizomes in a new place.

In the fall, the plant must be pruned 15 centimeters from the ground.

Diseases of monarda, powdery mildew

Monarda is especially susceptible to powdery mildew fungal disease. The diseased plant looks like it has been sprinkled with talcum powder. To reduce the risk of powdery mildew, you can plant the plant in a sunny, ventilated place and water it better in the morning so that the earth dries out faster. If the plant does get sick, you can use special fungicides to fight the fungus.

Monarda medicinal properties

Bergamot is often used to treat diseases of the digestive system. Leaves and flowers are good anthelmintic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, antipyretic, local irritant and immunostimulating agent. Infusion of monarda is used in the treatment of flatulence and colic in the abdomen, as well as for the treatment and prevention of diseases of the throat, teeth and gums.

Monarda is used to remove bee, wasp and mosquito bites. Just rub the leaf with your hands and put the gruel on the bite. Or better yet, chew on the leaf, make a small poultice, and secure it with adhesive tape. This procedure will relieve pain immediately and reduce swelling. Repeat as needed.

Medicinal tea from monarda
Pour 200 ml of boiling water over two tablespoons of crushed leaves and flowers, leave for 20-30 minutes, strain, add sugar to taste and drink 1/4 cup 3 times a day.

Monarda contraindications

Despite the medicinal properties of monarda, it has contraindications. The plant and preparations from it are categorically forbidden to be taken by pregnant and lactating women, as well as children under three years old.

Before using the plant for medicinal purposes, be sure to consult your doctor.

Monarda in cooking

Fresh leaves of the plant are good for adding to drinks, desserts, pastries and ice cream, and tea with monarda, aroma and taste reminds my favorite Earl Gray tea.

Monarda's taste is indescribable, it is both salty and spicy and sweet ... It contains carvacrol, thymol, which give it a unique spicy taste of oregano or thyme, and therefore it is very good in soups, sauces, marinades. Bergamot also goes well with beans, eggs, meat, game, pasta and salads.

Spring salad
Take the young leaves of the monarda. Add green onions, cucumbers, radishes, boiled egg and potatoes. Season the salad with sour cream.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.

How to grow a monarda

Very often, the monarda is used to draw up flower arrangements in the garden. The plant is planted in a flower garden in groups of the same color with perennials (asters, loosestrife, stock rose, chamomiles, phlox, yarrow), medicinal plants and tomato, giving it a greater aroma and improving taste. Looks great as a single plant in a flower bed or rabat. Monarda has many different names, and to a greater extent because of the similarity of the aroma: bergamot, lemon mint and lemon balm.

Monarda characteristics: perennial plant, blooms in June-July, frost-resistant, unpretentious in care, not susceptible to diseases and pests, flowers can be of different shapes and colors (but always disheveled and shabby), have a pleasant aroma. Monarda is a plant belonging to the medicinal, spicy and ornamental group of plants.

Place and soil for growing monarda

Choose a plot for cultivation based on your preferences: in partial shade, the monarda blooms for a long time and brightly, in a sunny area it will grow in breadth and give abundant greenery.

The soil for growing monarda is preferable fertile, enriched with humus or humus with a moisture-retaining property, light calcareous, but the plant will also grow on heavy clay soil. It grows poorly on highly acidic and moist soil. Monarda is grown in place of Iberis, Gypsophila and other annual flower crops.

Caring for the monard

Several simple operations for the care of the monard - loosen, water when the soil dries up, weed and feed.

In summer, mulch with peat or humus to retain moisture.

To prolong the flowering of the monarda, you need to remove the faded flower heads.

Shelter for the winter is not required. The entire above-ground part of last year's plants must be cut in the spring for new greenery to appear - this is for warm regions. Plant roots will not be affected in winter. For cold areas, the green parts of the plants are cut off in late autumn, and the rosette is covered with spruce branches or dry leaves.

Monarda can be affected by downy mildew, it will not cause much harm to plants, but the appearance can spoil. For its prevention, it is enough to keep the soil moist, you can mulch and prevent thickened plantings. Of the pests, the weevil can attack the monardu, but only on light soil. The secret of such a plant's resistance to diseases and pests lies in the content of essential oil in the roots, which is often a repeller.

Top dressing: feed twice a year. The first feeding with nitrophos and lignohumate during planting and after flowering with superphosphate and potassium sulfate. Or 10 days after planting, a complex mineral fertilizer (40 g per 1 sq. M) is introduced into the open ground. Apply organic fertilizers a second time 2 weeks after the first feeding.

Reproduction and planting of monarda

Monarda can be propagated vegetatively (by dividing the bush), seedlings (a good way for poor soil) and seeds.

For seedlings sow monarda seeds in a box in March-April to a depth of 0.5-1 cm. You will see the first sprouts in 6-10 days. Plants are picked after 17-20 days. Feed with a nitrogen fertilizer solution. In mid-May, monarda seedlings can be transplanted into open ground, making holes every 25-30 cm (1 hole - 1 plant).

Propagation by seeds of monarda held in June-July. The soil is dug up and 3 kg of humus is introduced, the surface is leveled with a rake. The earth is slightly compacted and furrows are made at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other, watered. Dry seeds are sown, sprinkled with soil, lightly tamped and covered with foil for 3 weeks, watering 1-2 times a week. It will be possible to transplant to a permanent place in a year, planting 5 plants in a hole.It is necessary to feed with full mineral fertilizer during watering. Watering is necessary abundantly, but rarely.

With seed reproduction, some species characteristics are lost, which will not happen with the vegetative method (division of the bush).

Division of the monarda bush - a frequent breeding method for gardeners. It is used in the spring every 5-6 years, since at this age the central part of the bush falls out.

Very comfortably propagate the monarda with root segments... In the fall, dig out a bush of a plant that is already 3-4 years old and divide it into parts so that each of them has roots and young shoots. Plant as seedlings and water. In the spring, feed with mineral fertilizer. Water, especially in dry, hot weather, to avoid powdery mildew.

From the practice of gardeners: sow the seeds of monarda in May in the heated ground to a depth of 1-2 cm. After 2-3 weeks, sprouts appear. Lush and vibrant flowering will begin only after 3-4 years.

The most common varieties of monarda: lemon monarda, double monarda, tubular monarda, hybrid monarda.

Monarda - both annuals and perennials, attracting a variety of useful properties. It is decoratively attractive and has a pleasant aroma. Plant parts widely used in food preparation as a spice, added to tea. During flowering, it acts as a honey plant. Outdoor planting is not difficult if you follow the rules of care.

Is it possible to grow a monarda in the country from a seed

Monarda at home can be grown both directly from seeds and seedlings.

Seeds

The timing of planting seeds in the ground will differ in different regions... In southern latitudes, seeds are planted in the soil in February for stratification purposes. In the middle regions of our country, sowing of seeds is carried out from May to July.

After landing from above the grooves are covered to form a greenhouse... It is opened after the appearance of the first shoots, not earlier than three weeks later. Plants grown in this way are planted in a permanent place after a year.

Monarda seeds

Seedlings

At the end of winter, seeds are sown in containers and placed under film or glass... The first shoots are expected in a couple of weeks while maintaining the temperature at least 18-20 degrees.

In a month, the seedlings dive into separate cups... After the appearance of the third pair of leaves, the seedlings are moved to the garden to a pre-prepared place.

Monarda grown from seedlings blooms already this year, while monarda grown from seed will bloom only in the second year.

Popular types of monarda for the garden

Gardeners grow a huge variety of monarda varieties. Among them, there are both annual and perennial plants.

Annuals

1. Lemon... Grows from 15 to 95 cm in height. The flowers are lilac in color, the leaves are lanceolate. Monarda contains essential oils identical to those of peppermint, lemon balm and basil. This makes this variety valuable as a spice.
2. Point... Popularly called "horse mint". Reaches 80 cm in height. It is valued for its colorful orange-colored bracts.

Perennial

1. Tubular... It reaches a height of 80-120 cm. The leaves are serrated at the edges, velvety to the touch. The flowers are lilac, spherical with red bracts.
2. Double... Grows up to 80 cm in height. Leaves are oval, up to 12 cm long, pointed at the end. Flowers of lilac or purple color with bracts of the same shade, reach 6 cm in diameter.
3. Hybrid... Under this name, various varieties are combined, bred by crossing the previous two perennial species. Hybrids grow up to a meter in height. Flowers have different colors: purple, lilac, pink, red, etc.

Rules for planting plants in open ground

In order for the plant to delight you with its beauty and aroma, you must carefully prepare for planting. To do this, first of all you need to select seedlings... Also important factors are the place of planting and the composition of the soil.

The choice of planting material

It is recommended to purchase seedlings or seedlings in specialized stores or firms engaged in professional breeding of monarda.

Monarda seedlings are recommended to be purchased only in specialized stores.

When buying, pay attention to the following factors:

• grade, he must match your climate;
• the appearance of the seedling, there should be no signs of illness or damage by pests;
• the soil in the container should be moderately moist and clean;
• when buying parts of an adult monarda, carefully examine the roots, they should be strong and healthy, without visible damage.

The landing site for monarda should be sunny and protected from the wind as much as possible.

Soil preparation

Monarda undemanding to soil composition, however, it has been noticed that it grows better on nutritious and loose soil.

Monarda grows better on nutritious soil

The landing site is prepared in advance, in the fall. The plot of land intended for the monarda is dug up and loosened, removing all weeds. At the same time, humus and peat are introduced into the ground, as well as mineral fertilizers.

If the acidity of the soil is increased, it is recommended to add a small amount of lime.

Landing technology

Monarda with seeds should be sown in autumn in open ground or in February for seedlings... Saplings are planted in a permanent place late May - early June.

The planting process includes the following steps:

1. Prepare wells deep little more than an earthen ball sapling.
2. Distance between holes not less than half a meter, since the root system of the monarda is developing very intensively.
3. Drainage is laid at the bottom of the hole. In this capacity, brick chips or expanded clay are used.
4. A seedling is placed in the center of the hole, sprinkling with soil.
5. The earth around is compacted.
6. Water the young plant abundantly.
7. Soil surface is mulched using bark or sawdust.

Care

Caring for a monard includes several stages.

Watering rules

Monarda prefers watering moderate but frequent... On hot days it is necessary to water the monarda every day.

It is recommended to mulch the soil around to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture from the surface.

It is recommended to mulch the soil around the monarda

Fertilizers

During the period of active flowering, the plant needs additional feeding.

Fertilizers are applied and throughout the warm period... When planting in open ground, complex mineral fertilizers are used. Organic fertilizers are applied after 3-4 weeks.

Pruning and reproduction

There are several ways to breed monarda. It is worth noting that among them there is a seed method. But unfortunately it is ineffective - varietal characteristics of the mother plant with this method are lost... Therefore, preference is given to other methods.

Dividing the bush

Division of the monarda bush

This procedure is usually carried out in early spring or at the end of flowering in the fall. The bush is dug out of the ground, the roots are freed from the soil and divided into 3-4 parts... New plants are planted in a prepared place.

The survival rate of such divisions is excellent. For this way it is better to use a mature plant... In this case, young bushes adapt faster, and the maternal one will rejuvenate.

Cuttings

From an adult plant cut cuttings up to 10 cm long... This procedure is carried out before flowering, in the spring.

Monarda cuttings after planting

The lower leaves are cut off, the cuttings are rooted in wet sand. You can plant rooted cuttings in July-August in open ground.

In order to rejuvenate the bush, it is recommended to replant the monarda every five years.

Preparing for winter

When growing a plant in the middle zone of our country, it need to prepare for wintering... To do this, the aerial part of the plant is cut off and covered with peat or fallen leaves.The root system tolerates winter frosts well.

Pests and diseases

Monarda practically not affected by pests... The high content of essential oils in various parts of the plant repels insects.

Powdery mildew on monarda leaves

As for plant diseases, they do not appear often and due to errors in caring for a flower. There are two main diseases that monarda is susceptible to:

• powdery mildew; occurs when the irrigation regime is violated. To get rid of this ailment, it is enough to normalize the watering system.
• rust; to cure the plant, you need to treat the soil around the flower with copper-containing preparations.

Caring for the monarda is not laborious, but this plant has many useful properties. To make it delight you with fragrant flowering and the benefits of the essential oils contained in the plant, follow the simple rules and recommendations for growing.