Cineraria seaside planting and care in the open field

Cineraria maritime or silvery (Cineraria maritima) is a perennial evergreen low shrub culture with leaves of unusual shape and color, which give an openwork look and solemnity to the entire plant as a whole. Cineraria belongs to the Aster family and is widespread in the rocky regions of the African continent, as well as in the Mediterranean and on the island of Madagascar.

Distinctive features of the bush are highly branched shoots with a hard, sometimes lignified surface, pinnately dissected leaves with dense silvery pubescence, inflorescences - baskets of yellow flowers of small diameter and fruits - achenes. The average plant height is 40-50 cm. The flowering period of cineraria begins from the second year of life and lasts from the beginning of summer to the end of September. The shrub can be grown as an annual garden plant or as an indoor crop.

Care for seaside cineraria in the open field

Seaside cineraria is considered very unpretentious, but when growing it, it is advisable to observe a number of conditions for full growth and development, as well as to maintain high decorativeness.

Location and lighting

The culture feels great both in the sun and in partial shade. But in the presence of bright sunlight and an open area, its decorative effect is manifested in full force. Indoor cineraria is recommended to be grown on a windowsill with a southern direction. Here the plant will receive the maximum amount of sunlight possible at home.

Soil composition

The composition of the soil for a plant does not matter much. Experienced flower growers recommend using a universal soil mixture with a soil that is neutral in composition. But what must be observed is the presence of a full-fledged drainage layer and good air permeability and water permeability of the substrate.

Temperature

Silvery dry indoor air and high temperature have an adverse effect on indoor cineraria. Optimal conditions for the warm season are 15-20 degrees Celsius, during the winter cold - from 4 to 6 degrees. The plant may not survive a lower temperature.It is possible from October to March to transfer the bush to a cool room without negative indicators (for example, a cellar, basement or loggia).

Watering

Seaside cineraria as a garden plant can do without watering for a long time, since it has a deep root system, which can itself get water from the soil at great depths. Indoor cineraria cannot afford this, so watering must be carried out regularly and abundantly. Lack and excess of moisture in the soil equally negatively affects the plant. Frequent overflow of water can lead to rotting of the rhizome.

Fertilization

Nutrient dressings for silver cineraria are recommended to be applied regularly at intervals of 15-20 days. The most suitable are complex mineral fertilizers with a low nitrogen content. The most effective fertilizers are "AVA" and "Kristalon".

Transfer

Transplanting is carried out as needed, when the root part becomes cramped in the flower container. When pulling shoots in winter due to lack of light, it is recommended to use cuttings. Cuttings about 10 cm long are cut from long shoots, rooted and planted in separate pots in spring.

Reproduction methods

For propagation of seaside or silvery cineraria, cuttings and seeds can be used. Seeds are sown in early spring, and seedlings are transplanted into open ground in the last days of May.

Diseases and pests

A possible disease is leaf rust. It appears when the room temperature is high and the humidity level is high. It is very difficult to save the plant.

Possible pests are spider mites and aphids. Simple folk methods will not bring the desired result due to the strong pubescence of the leaves and stems. Only special insecticidal preparations intended for indoor and garden plants will come to the rescue.

Cineraria seaside: growing and care (video)

Most of the Aster family is cineraria. An ornamental plant crosses easily, which allows you to get new hybrids. Seaside cineraria flowers are ideal for borders, flower beds, lawn restrictions and zoning on the site.

Description and characteristics of seaside cineraria

Cineraria seaside refers to a perennial species, but due to sensitivity to cold weather in central Russia, it is planted only for the season.

An exception is the southern regions, where a shelter under a film helps flowers survive frost.

The Mediterranean is considered the birthplace of culture, ideal climatic conditions contribute to the natural growth and development of plants.

The flower has bushy branching structure, on which are located silvery leaves of an unusual pinnately cut shape. The height of the cineraria does not exceed half a meter. Openwork drooping leaves are of decorative value even without inflorescences.

The flowering period of a perennial in natural conditions lasts 1.5-4 months. Yellow corymbus inflorescences are more often removed by flower growers, since they do not have aesthetic qualities.

Plant loves sunshine, therefore, when choosing a location, preference is given to areas without shading. Under the dense branches of trees, leafy rosettes look faded, and the lack of sun does not saturate the flower with a beautiful silvery shade.

Most popular varieties

Plant species are quite varied in preferences and care requirements. Florists include those that are less whimsical and differ in aesthetic characteristics to popular cultures.

Bloody

Annual hybrid plant native to the Canary Islands. The appearance of the annual inflorescence is similar to that of daisies. Light green velvety leaves develop abundantly on the bush, creating volume.

During the flowering period, the bush is covered with a beautiful cap of flowers of different delicate shades (often pink or cornflower blue).

Graceful

Graceful originally from South Africa. Cirrus dissected leaves with sticky hairs sprout in the root zone.

The inflorescence consists of tubular petals (usually double) of various shades and a yellow core. The flowering period begins in June and lasts until mid-autumn.

Graceful

Cirrus

Is different uncharacteristic of this type of leaf shape: slightly elongated oval with wavy edges. No openwork is observed on them, the surface is absolutely solid green with a silver coating, as if covered with dust.

Cirrus

Silver dust

It belongs to undersized species, the height of the bush reaches only 25 cm... Silver-colored carved leaves create a lush crown.

Silver dust

Stelata

Is a hybrid of bloody cineraria, has an unusual color of petals - indigo and star-shaped inflorescences.

The plant reaches a height of 60-70 cm, during the flowering period the bush is covered with a luxurious cap.

The dark green leaves seem to be rather large in relation to the inflorescences, but this effect gives the bush volume, which is appreciated in border plants.

Stelata

Is it possible to grow flowers from seeds at home?

Unlike other types of cineraria, the sea is quite easily grown from seed at home, due to the good germination of the blanks. You can start sowing at any time of the year. The flowering of the plant occurs in 7-8 months.

Flower seeds are small, so they are not buried, but only scattered over the surface of the soil. So that the seedlings do not dry out, first should be soaked, although some growers do without this process.

The procedure for growing a plant includes the following steps:

• sowing in a box (sprouts appear in 5-7 days);
• picking into trays or pots (after the formation of two leaves on the shoots);
• landing in open ground.

The main conditions are considered: optimal temperature conditions (from + 14 ° to + 16 °), humidification from a sprayer and good lighting.

Regular watering will deepen the seeds with trickles of water, which will significantly reduce the percentage of germination.

Rules for planting flowers in open ground

Plant seeds for seedlings follows in early April. If the plant is grown only for decorative purposes, it is worth giving preference to the seeds of hybrids (marked with F1). Flowers grow to about the same size, are characterized by a beautiful color.

For harvesting seeds it is better to choose cineraria of common varieties, they have good germination and will give excellent shoots.

An ideal soil for sowing seeds is considered to be slightly acidic, loose soil. A mixture of peat and sand is more suitable for the seed germination stage. When planting in a separate pot or in open ground, universal soil is suitable.

After sowing the seeds, it is better to cover the box with glass or foil. This will ensure uniform germination of the shoots.

If the soil on the site is dense or loamy, it is recommended to first introduce peat and fertilizer from decayed foliage into it.

Planting is carried out in prepared holes, located at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. The seedling is planted together with the soil in which it developed. The planted plant is lightly crushed by soil and watered.

Care after landing

Cineraria does not need special care, but there are still some nuances. For example, a plant loves moisture, so requires regular watering... But the water should not stagnate in the soil, so it should be loosened, not allowing it to take on a crust.

If the root system experiences an excess of moisture, decay may occur.

Active crop growth requires periodic feeding, especially if the soil is not fertile. Mineral fertilizers intended for flowering plants should be introduced twice a month.

In the spring, it is recommended to use nitrogen baits that will ensure the correct formation of the leaves. In summer, cineraria needs phosphorusstimulating the ovary of inflorescences.Organic fertilizers are introduced several times per season.

Pruning cineraria for bushiness

Ornamental deciduous crops reproduce using seeds and cuttings... A 10 cm long cut shoot takes root perfectly in a portable wooden box.

Features of the process:

• the cut of the cutting is sprinkled with root;
• 10 cm soil layer is covered with coarse sand (5 cm);
• the soil is moistened with a weak solution of potassium permanganate;
• the stuck stalk is closed with a plastic bottle;
• watering is carried out on top of the protection;
• after rooting, the bottles are removed.

Store the cuttings in a box in a cool place until spring.

Rooted cuttings of cineraria

Pests and growing problems

The unpretentiousness of cineraria lies not only in good germination and rapid development in the open field, but also in resistance to various diseases. Pests rarely settle on the plant.

There are only cases of aphid, spider mite and whitefly invasion.

To solve the problem with insects, periodic control of the culture will help in order to detect individuals under the leaves and on the stem, as well as timely treatment with an insecticide (Fitoverm, Neoron, Karbofos).

Landscaping applications and compatibility with other plants

Cinerarium is associated with many flower growers with a curb plant. Bushes on the front tier of the flower garden look no less impressive. Designers often use a silver color as a frame for a decorative object or a border along the lawn.

If the sites have stony masonry, alpine slides or artificial reservoirs, the plant will find its place in the general composition with other crops.

Recommended partners for cineraria:

• marigold;
• sage;
• petunias;
• phlox;
• love, etc.

A variety of varieties and hybrids allows you to create decor in the garden and on the indoor balcony only from cineraria alone. Using bright colors of leaves and inflorescences, you can transform both the facade of the building and the recreation area.

Cineraria (lat.Cineraria) is a semi-shrub herb belonging to the Astrovye family. Translated from Latin, the name of the plant is translated as "ashy". Originally from the tropics of Madagascar and Africa. There are more than 1300 varieties of cynenaria: they differ in appearance and sometimes it is difficult to guess about their relationship. There are decorative leafy and decorative flowering varieties. These are one- or biennial plants with a height of 30-90 cm.

The stem is well branched, large leaves are attached on long petioles, the leaves are oval, lyre-shaped, most often pinnately dissected. Their color is silvery, in decorative flowering ones it is green. The leaves and stems are pubescent. Cynenaria flowers are similar to chamomile. Plain or double flowers are collected in corymbose inflorescences. Corolla color can be white, yellow, red, purple, blue. Flowering occurs in mid-June and lasts until late autumn (up to frost).

Growing cineraria from seeds

Cineraria seeds photo

When to plant cineraria seedlings?

It is necessary to grow seedlings for early flowering. Sow cineraria seeds in early March.

• Fill crates with an equal mix of peat and sand.
• Do not cover small cineraria seeds, but spread over the soil surface, compact with a wooden ruler, spray from a fine spray.
• Cover crops with foil or glass.
• Air the greenhouse, periodically spray crops.
• Seedlings will appear in 7-10 days.

Cineraria from seeds photo shoots

• Provide delicate seedlings with bright, diffused lighting.
• With the appearance of 2 real leaves, dive and plant in peat pots.
• Further care consists in timely watering and maintaining bright diffused lighting, air temperature 20-22 ° C.
• When it gets warm, take the seedlings outside to harden. Plants accustomed to the sun and wind will painlessly transfer planting into the ground. Temper for at least a week.

Planting cineraria in the ground

Seedlings of cineraria seaside or silvery photo

• Plant in open ground from mid-May.
• Choose an area with bright lighting, but shade will be required at noon.
• The soil needs fertile, drained, neutral or slightly alkaline reaction.
• Dig holes in accordance with the size of the root system of the plant, keep a distance of 20-25 cm between plantings.

Seedlings of cineraria blooming ready for planting photo

• Transfer together with an earthen clod. Slightly compact the soil, water.
• If there is a threat of frost, cover with spunbond overnight.

Vegetative propagation of cynenaria

Decorative deciduous varieties are propagated vegetatively: by dividing the bush and cuttings.

Dividing the bush

• Divide the bush in the spring.
• Dig out a bush, each section should consist of a part of the rhizome and a ground shoot.
• Plant the cuttings in a permanent place of growth, water well for successful rooting.

How to propagate silver cineraria by cuttings

Reproduction of seaside cineraria by cuttings photo

In summer, propagate by cuttings.

Cut the cuttings 10 cm long, remove the bottom leaves. Use loose seedling soil. Pre-spill the soil with a slightly borous solution of potassium permanganate. Keep the cuttings in a solution of a growth stimulator for a day, stick them into the soil by 1.5-2 cm, compact the soil around the cutting.

Cover with a cap from a cut plastic bottle, ventilate daily for 30 minutes. When new shoots begin to appear, gradually accustom to life without "shelter". Rooted cuttings should spend the winter in a cool room, and in the spring, transplant them into open ground.

Outdoor cineraria care

Balanced watering is necessary: ​​an excess of moisture leads to decay of the root system, from a lack of moisture the plant weakens. But it is better not to water it again than to overmoisten the soil.

Loosen the soil, remove weeds.

Remove wilted inflorescences so that new ones will soon appear in their place.

In decorative leafy species, remove the buds as soon as they appear so that flowering does not take away strength and does not spoil the appearance.

Feed decorative leafy plants exclusively with mineral fertilizers, decorative flowering plants - with mineral fertilizers and organic matter. Apply top dressing every week.

Diseases and pests

Powdery mildew, rust are possible diseases of cynenaria. Remove the affected areas, treat with a fungicide.

Cynenaria can harm spider mites, aphids, whiteflies. It is necessary to carry out an insecticide treatment.

Preparing cineraria for winter

Most often, cynenaria does not tolerate wintering in the open ground and the bushes die, but you can try to save them by covering them with dry leaves and spruce branches for the winter.

You can dig it up, plant it in separate containers and leave it for the winter in a cool, bright room.

Types and varieties of cineraria with photos and names

Cineraria silvery or seaside Cineraria maritima

Cineraria seaside Сineraria maritima or silvery photo

Grown as an ornamental deciduous plant. The color of the leaves is silvery green.

Varieties:

• Silver Dust - undersized bush with lacy leaves;
• Cirrus is a sprawling bush, oval-shaped leaves with jagged edges.

Cineraria hybrid Cineraria hybrid aka red or bloody

Cineraria hybrid Cineraria hybrid aka red or bloody photo

An ornamental flowering plant about 30 cm high.Round-shaped leaves are 10-20 cm long.

Varieties:

• Grandiflora - cynenaria 50-70 cm high, flower diameter is 5-8 cm;
• Double - a bush 35-70 cm high with a flower diameter of up to 5 cm;
• Stellata - reaches a height of 70-90 cm, the diameter of the flowers is 2-4 cm;
• Sympathy - flowers are distinguished by a varied combination of two shades.

Cineraria graceful Senecio elegans

Graceful groundwort or graceful cineraria Senecio elegans photo

Blooming view.The stem reaches a height of 60 cm, branches well. Inflorescences-baskets consist of simple or double flowers.

Varieties:

• Ligulosus - has double flowers;
• Nanus is a dwarf cynenaria about 25 cm high.

Cynenaria in landscape design

Cineraria silvery in mixborder photo

Decorative deciduous varieties look great in border plantings. They will be an excellent backdrop for lobelia, phlox, petunias.

Blooming cynenaria are good in group plantings in flower beds.

If you want not to be mistaken in choosing a plant that will decorate your site, then plant cineraria marine, sheseaside cineraria, Primorsky groundwort (Cineraria maritima, Senecio cineraria) of the Asteraceae family. Its graceful bushes with carved silvery-white leaves seem to be powdered with hoarfrost. This plant with openwork leaves is loved by designers and amateur flower growers. In the Moscow region, seaside cineraria can be grown in flower beds and outdoor flowerpots as an annual or in a house as a perennial indoor plant. In more southern regions, this culture winters well without any shelter. Cineraria is suitable for winter bouquets. Many growers call this species silver cineraria, or silver.

Cineraria sea

Description of cineraria

The Mediterranean is the birthplace of marine cineraria. There and in the southern regions of our country, it grows like a perennial. In the Moscow region it is much colder, therefore, in the open field, cineraria is grown only as an annual.

Silvery cineraria blooms uninterestingly. Yellow inflorescences only spoil the appearance of low openwork bushes, so it is recommended to ruthlessly remove them.

The height of shoots of Seaside cineraria of most varieties rarely exceeds 25 cm, but there are also larger varieties, for example, “Cirras"(" Cirrus ").

There is another popular type of cineraria. This is bloody cineraria, or bloody groundwort, (Cineraria cruenta, Senecio cruentus) from the Canary Islands. Seeds of this species are sown early, in December, for seedlings. flowering begins in 8 - 9 months. This thermophilic plant in flower pots appears on sale in the spring in many stores. It looks like a luxurious bouquet.

Care of seaside cineraria on the site

Cineraria marine is an unpretentious ornamental deciduous plant, which is often cultivated as an annual. It tolerates temporary drought well, but in the first month after planting the seedlings, the land must be regularly moistened. Then, watering is remembered only in dry and hot weather.

In a sunny place, photophilous cineraria with leaves covered with silvery felt becomes prettier. It is reconciled with partial shade.

Cineraria is able to live on different soils, but prefers light nutrients. You don't need to fertilize it. Experienced amateur flower growers know that if the marine cineraria is nurtured and nurtured, grown in loose nutritious soil, kept in a sunny place, watered from time to time and occasionally fertilized, then it will be lush and incredibly beautiful. The seaside tree grower retains its decorative effect for a long time, from late spring to mid-autumn. All these qualities of the plant are appreciated not only by amateur flower growers, but also by urban gardeners.

A very cold-resistant culture calmly withstands autumn frosts. Seaside cineraria, left for the winter in the suburban areas, freezes, so it is thrown out in the fall or dug up and transplanted into flower pots. In more southern regions in our country, it survives in the open-air flower beds in winter. For safety net, the bushes can be covered from above with a covering material or insulated in another way. In the spring, do not immediately cut off the wilted leaves. Most of them soon come to life under the rays of the warm sun. There, bushes of this species grow into voluminous clumps.

Seaside cineraria as a houseplant

The most beautiful plants at the end of summer can be transplanted into flower pots or boxes. For some time they are kept on a light windowsill.It is better to overwinter plants in a cool place. During this period, the ground flowers are watered only occasionally. In the spring they are transplanted into the garden.

In the second year of life, seaside cineraria blooms. The small yellow inflorescences are cut off immediately. They violate the integrity and reduce the decorative effect of the bushes, the main advantage of which is silvery foliage.

Popular varieties of seaside cineraria

Seed propagation (in the Moscow region only through seedlings) allows amateur flower growers to grow their favorite varieties. We usually buy seeds, although the quality of our seeds is much higher. Their germination rate is close to 100%, and purchased seeds in beautiful bags sometimes germinate poorly. Therefore, I buy several packages of seaside cineraria from different manufacturers at once.

I like the fast growing variety "Silver dust". This low compact plant 15 - 25 cm high is decorated with lace of carved silvery leaves with slight pubescence. It is this popular variety that is often planted by urban gardeners. Some seed-producing companies sell the Silver Dust variety under the nameSilver Dust"(" Silver Dust ").

Cineraria sea grade "Silver dust"

Cineraria "Silver»15 - 25 cm high has deeply dissected silvery-white leaves.

The rather tall (45 cm high) variety looks completely different.Cirras"(" Cirrus ") with serrated silvery-green oval leaves. Young bushes may not immediately turn silver-white, they only acquire this paint over time.

Cineraria seaside, grade "Cirras"

Low-growing variety "Andromeda»(15 cm) has pinnately-divided leaves covered with silvery felt underneath. In August, inflorescences of small flowers appear, which are removed. This is one of the most perfect varieties!

Cineraria sea, grade "Andromeda"

Variety "Candicans»Differs in the rounded shape of gray-silvery foliage.

Low-growing variety "Diamond powder»With a height of only 20 cm has a silvery ash-carved foliage.

Growing cineraria from seeds

Seaside cineraria is usually propagated by seeds from the end of January to the second decade of March. Earlier dates allow you to get seedlings for decorating verandas, glazed loggias and balconies. February crops are suitable for growing seedlings for flower beds and outdoor pots, various vertical structures and living figures.

It is advisable to pre-treat purchased seeds with Epin, aloe juice or other stimulants in order to increase their germination. The best germination result is with surface crops. Dusting the planting site with soil can reduce the number of seedlings. I arm myself with two toothpicks and spread the small enough seeds over the surface of the soil. They need to be slightly pressed into the moistened soil mixture, and then cover the container with glass, a transparent lid, or place it in a plastic bag. At a temperature of about 22 - 24 ° C, seedlings appear in 7 - 10 days, in a cooler room - a few days later.

The seedlings develop slowly at first. The pick is carried out at the stage of a pair of true leaves. By this time, a good root lobe is growing, which cannot be injured when diving. After another month, I transplant the grown seedlings into small individual pots or other containers. Seedlings left in the planting tank without picking noticeably lag behind in development.

From mid-May to early June, the seedlings of the groundwort are planted in a flower garden. The distance between the bushes of low-growing varieties should be at least 20 cm, higher ones - about 25 cm. During the spring night frosts, the planted seedlings are covered with lutrasil or other non-woven material for safety reasons.

Soon, young bushes grow, become beautiful and strong. Sometimes they bloom at the end of summer, which allows you to collect seeds from them. I cut off most of the inflorescences.

Cutting and dividing the bush

Some amateur flower growers propagate the seaside wildflower by cuttings. To do this, cuttings about 10 cm long are cut from mother plants and cleaned from the lower leaves. Before rooting (in the soil), dust the end of the cutting with the available preparation to stimulate root formation.

In cut branches of cineraria marine, placed in water, the roots appear in a week.

The division of overgrown bushes is less commonly practiced. This is also one of the breeding options for seaside cineraria.

Cineraria seaside as a decoration of the site

For seaside cineraria there is always a place on the site. It will not be superfluous on flower beds, in alpine slides, hanging baskets, flowerpots and balcony boxes. There are never too many seedlings of the Primorsky rosewort, because it is still a wonderful ornamental and border plant. The bushes planted in a row are bordered by flower beds and ridges. They are planted around the perimeter of flower beds with variegated flowers, for example, with multi-colored viola or petunias. The seaside groundwort can become a background and emphasize the color of a plant growing nearby. It is often planted with sage (salvia), marigolds, petunias, ageratum, heliotrope and luxurious cannes.

Cineraria sea in a wall flower garden

Cineraria marine can be grown in flowerpots, balcony boxes, hanging baskets or other containers. This is convenient because at the end of summer, containers with silver bushes are transferred to a room and placed in a room on a windowsill, placed on a veranda, loggia or in a winter garden.

It is very easy to grow a luxurious living carpet... To do this, we first draw out of the blue any simple geometric figure (rectangle, etc.). Its dimensions should be such that the “carpet” is easy to care for. We loosen the soil and plant the seedlings at a close distance from each other.

With the seaside cineraria, you can make “silver stream". Let's start by sketching the contours of a winding tape at least 30 cm wide and at least three meters long. Then we free it from the turf, add fresh soil and plant cineraria seedlings. Soon, when it is accepted and expands, there will certainly be a feeling that a current has appeared in this silvery stream.

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