Chionodoxa violet beauty planting and care in the open field

There is no precise classification of the Chionodox plant in the literature. In some sources, this is a separate genus, and in some it is referred to as Proleski.

Chionodoxa is a perennial that grows on the peninsula of Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. It is one of the earliest decorative flowers that can beautify your garden as soon as the snow begins to melt.

This culture is bulbous. Its shoot usually does not grow higher than 12-15 cm, the leaves are long - up to 10 cm, the flowers are bell-shaped, mostly blue or pink in color, but can also be white, lilac, purple.

Varieties and types

The most common type is Chionodoxa Lucilia... It has small bulbs that drive out narrow foliage. The peduncle is high - up to 20 cm, the flowers are small, lilac in color.

Most of the varieties obtained from this species:

• Rosea,

• Alba,

• Pink giant,

• Violet Beauty,

• Blue giant,

Chionodoxa giant has this name because of the wide foliage of a dark green color, but the herbaceous bush itself is not larger than that of relatives. The diameter of the purple flowers is about 4 cm, which is also slightly larger than that of Lucilius.

Chionodox Forbes has the largest shoot size among the genus - about 23 cm. The inflorescence is also large - up to 15 cm. The flowers are blue, but the bottom of the petals smoothly turns to white.

Chionodoxa dwarf a small bush driving out a couple of leaves and a peduncle with small flowers.

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Chionodoxa planting and care in the open field

Caring for the chionodox plant in the open field is simple and takes a minimum of time. The flower should be planted in sunny or slightly shaded areas. In places where the snow melts quickly, flowering will begin early, in the shade it will come later. The soil at the planting site should be nutritious, have drainage and neutral acidity, there are no special requirements for the composition.

Crop care involves a small amount of action. In the spring, you cannot walk and stamp on the place where the bulbs are planted, otherwise you can harm the young shoots.

Colchicum, some species of which are also very early, but there are also those that bloom in the autumn, the plant is easily grown when planting and nursing in the open field. You will find recommendations for growing and caring in this article.

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Fertilizer for Chionodox

In the spring, with the beginning of active growth, which begins immediately with the arrival of heat, there is a need for fertilizers, among which nitrogen is in the first place.

Top dressing is scattered over the soil, so that it does not touch the leaves and shoots.After that, the soil is slightly loosened so that fresh air flows to the bulbs, as well as for faster assimilation of dressings.

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Watering Chionodox

Otherwise, there is almost no need to care for the flower. Watering is required extremely rarely, as there is enough melting snow and precipitation.

It is important that moisture does not stagnate in the roots, otherwise they will rot.

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Chionodox transplant

Bushes can grow in one place for a long time, but it is recommended to transplant every 5 years, planting the bulbs in new places.

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Chionodox in winter

This plant has a high resistance to frost, therefore, with the approach of winter, it does not need any warming operations.

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Chionodox reproduction by cunning

Chionodoxa reproduces by seed and vegetatively by bulbs. Bulb propagation is a little easier and therefore preferable.

Up to 4 new ones usually appear on one old bulb. In the fall, they are dug up, carefully separated and planted to a depth of about 7 cm, observing about 5 cm between individuals.

But there is a problem, which is that it is difficult to dig up the bulbs because they form contractile roots. These formations diverge inward and to the sides, and after they die off, a void remains next to the bulb and it falls through. This causes inconvenience with digging, makes it slow. It is advised to carry out the procedure during flowering, since chionodox, surprisingly, does not suffer from this, and the rhizome is easier to separate during this period.

If you want to dig up the bulbs and plant them later, then the best time for this will be the second half of summer, when the ground part begins to turn yellow and dry. After digging up, the material is dried and stored in the dark and dry at a temperature of about 17 ° C.

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Chionodox growing from seeds

The seeds are sown directly into the soil in the garden immediately after ripening. Self-seeding is a frequent occurrence for this plant.

But it is worth remembering that with seed reproduction, varietal characteristics are lost and the flowers grow wild.

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Diseases and pests

Another great advantage of chionodox is its high resistance to pests and diseases.

Among diseases, a flower can only be damaged by stagnation of moisture, which is why bulbs begin to rot... If this happens, then it is better to immediately destroy the plant so that the disease does not spread to other individuals.

Among pests, most often inconveniences are caused by mice... To get rid of them, poison is spread next to the plants, they try to find holes and fill them with water.

Also, the problem can be onion mite, which grinds off the onion, it crumbles to dust and rots. It is better to get rid of diseased bulbs, and treat the rest with acaricides or fumigate with sulfur gas.

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Chionodoxa is a genus of herbaceous bulbous perennials of the Asparagus family, growing on the island. Crete and in the countries of Asia Minor. The plants got their fancy name for their early flowering (from the Greek "chion" - snow and "doxa" - pride), because the first blue-blue buds peep out into the light directly from under the snow. Many of us are familiar with the close relative of the chionodoxa - scilla (scrub), but the tender blue-eyed baby undeservedly remains in the shadows. And completely in vain! Little chionodox (and its height does not exceed 25 cm) is an ideal culture for rockeries, rock gardens and spring flower gardens. The trunk circles of fruit trees, decorated with chionodox bushes, look very elegant and natural. It is impossible not to fall in love with this miniature beauty - she is sweet, unpretentious, cold-resistant and very pretty.

Types and varieties

In nature, the genus Chionodox is represented by 7 species, and all of them are of interest to flower growers:

• Chionodoxa whitish is a short bulbous perennial with pale pink flowers.
• Chionodoxa Forbes (Tmoluza) is an indigenous inhabitant of the highlands of Turkey.In some sources it is referred to as a type of chionodox Lucillia. This is a fairly tall (about 25 cm) plant with blue-white flowers, collected in long loose clusters. There are white and pink-flowered forms of the species. Best varieties: Alba, Pink Giant, Blue Giant.
• Chionodose of Mrs. Lok - lavender-blue flowers without a white center are located on peduncles 2-4 pieces.
• Chionodosa Lucillia is a very popular representative of the genus in culture, named after L. Boissier, the wife of a famous French botanist. A compact plant growing in the alpine belt of Asia Minor with large (up to 3 cm in diameter) flowers of blue-blue, pink or white color. Varieties: Violetta, Rosy Queen, Alba, Violet Beauty.
• Giant chionodosa is an early-flowering bulbous beauty with blue-violet flowers.
• Chionodose dwarf (Cretan) is a cute, but very rare, crumb with small (up to 1 cm in diameter) flowers and ovoid bulbs.
• Chionodoxa Sardinian is a bulbous plant with a strong stocky peduncle bearing 10–12 not very large bright blue, pink or white flowers.

Chionodox species often interbreed with each other, forming new hybrid forms with intermediate traits, so that you can independently get a new unique variety. In floriculture, cultivars obtained by similar experiments are known: Artemis, Watercolor, Atlantis, Absolute, Arctic, Aphrodite, Andromeda.

In addition, if forbes chionodox and double-leaved scilla grow at a distance of flight of the bees, then soon you will become the happy owner of chionoscylla - adorable small (10-15 cm) plants with bright blue asterisk flowers, collected in dense brushes of 10-12 things.

When to plant

The best time to plant Chionodoxa is from late August to early September, when root ridges will appear on the bottoms of the bulbs.

Site preparation

Like many spring flowers, Chionodoxa adores sunlight, but thrives well in partial shade. The soil on the site should be loose, well fertilized, moderately moist and non-acidic. To make your beauty comfortable, bring some forest land with rotted leaves and fragments of tree bark to the flower garden.

The best neighbors for chionodoxa will be early flowering crops - primroses, liverworts, hellebores, muscari, hyacinths, crocuses, pushkinia, adonis, dwarf irises and white flowers.

Seed cultivation

Chionodox is rarely propagated by seeds, since this is a troublesome occupation, and the germination of the material leaves much to be desired. Have you decided to try it? Then at the end of June, cut the yellowed boxes from the bushes, get seeds from them and immediately sow them in open ground. The seedlings will bloom only after 3-4 years, and it will be possible to transplant the young Chionodox only in the fifth year of life.

Planting bulbs

The layout of chionodoxa in a flower bed depends on the size of the bulbs: large specimens are planted in holes 6–8 cm deep with an interval of 8–10 cm. Smaller bulbs are buried 4–6 cm in the ground, keeping a distance of 6–8 cm between them.

Basic care

Chionodox can rightfully be considered one of the most unpretentious early flowering crops, because it is easy and pleasant to grow it. Judge for yourself:

• The most important procedure for a culture is systematic abundant watering, and water should be supplied in the morning, avoiding droplets from falling on the flowers.
• After each watering, the soil under the plants is loosened to a depth of 2–2.5 cm and cleaned of weeds. To loosen and weed less often, mulch the area with dry peat or humus.
• Chionodox responds to feeding with lush and long flowering, so in early spring, pamper the beauty with "Nitrofoskoy" or any other complex fertilizer.
• Every 3-4 years, adult bushes are transplanted, after separating the baby onions. The procedure is prescribed, as a rule, at the end of September - beginning of October.Although the chionodox transplant tolerates well, therefore, if necessary, you can do its relocation even during flowering.

And one more thing: the cheerful sister of the woodland breeds superbly by self-seeding, and if you do not like surprises in the form of plants that have come from nowhere, cut off the testes from the chionodoxa in time.

Reproduction methods

Annually, the flowering bulb of chionodoxa forms 2–4 baby onions. During transplantation of adult bushes, the "youth" are separated, dried and stored in a dry, dark place at a temperature of +17 ° C before planting.

Ants contribute to the self-seeding of crops to a large extent. The fact is that on the seeds of chionodoxa there is a fleshy formation - a delicacy for insect workers, which drag the seed around the surroundings. So do not be surprised when you meet a blooming beauty far from your native flower garden.

Pests and diseases

Like other bulbous plants, chionodoxa is susceptible to fungal diseases, the development of which is facilitated by unfavorable growth conditions and disturbances in agricultural technology:

• Gray mold - Coats the leaves of chionodoxa and the top of the bulb with a gray mold, as a result of which the bushes turn yellow and dry out. Affected specimens must be disposed of immediately.
• Sclerotinia, fusarium, septoria are diseases that cause rotting of bulbs and yellowing of foliage. During storage, infected onions become covered with reddish-brown spots, harden and die.
• Achelenchoides is an infection that simultaneously affects the ground part of the bushes and the bulbs, as a result of which chionodox loses its attractiveness and begins to lag behind in development. Infected bulbs turn brown and become covered with necrotic spots. Achelenchoides cannot be treated, so diseased specimens should be dug up and destroyed, and healthy onions should be soaked for half an hour in hot water (about + 45 ° C) for prevention.

The pests of chionodoxa are rodents and larvae of the root meadow mite, which damage the bulbs of plants. Field and house mice are also not averse to eating juicy sprouts that have made their way out from under the snow. Ticks and their offspring are destroyed with systemic insecticides (Akarin, Agravertin, Aktellik), and poisoned baits are laid out in the flower garden against rodents.

Preparing for winter

At the end of flowering, the flowering shoot of the chionodox is cut off, and the foliage is removed after it has completely wilted. The culture's resistance to low temperatures is very high, therefore, in the open ground of the middle lane, the blue-eyed baby hibernates without any problems, however, it is advisable to cover the bushes growing in open areas at the end of autumn with a heap of dry foliage or spruce paws.

One of the most interesting ornamental plants of all growing in the gardens of central Russia is the early flowering bulbous chionodoxa. Planting and caring for her is not particularly difficult. However, in order to grow this wonderful bright flower, you need to know and follow some rules.

Description of the plant

In nature, only six species of chionodox grow. All of them are found only in Asia Minor and Cyprus. Chionodoxa is a low-growing plant with two basal leaves and very bright, bell-like flowers. The most common colors are white, blue, light blue and pink. The buds most often have a diameter of about 4 cm and consist of six petals fused at the bottom. Chionodox bulbs are ovoid and light in color. In an adult plant, they can reach a length of 1.5-3 cm. Chionodox bloom in early spring and wither in the midst of summer.

Reproduction

Chionodoxa reproduces (photos clearly demonstrate its grace and beauty) most often in bulbs. In this case, the plant may bloom next year. However, if you wish, you can try to grow chionodoxes from seeds. But with this method, it will bloom only after 3-4 years.In one place, this flower can grow without loss of decorative qualities for quite a long time. Transfer and seating should be done approximately once every five years. Very often these interesting flowers begin to spread “on their own” throughout the area. The fact is that ants like to take away their seeds. However, the flowers grow wild in this case.

Choosing a seat for landing

So, you have made the decision to plant a plant such as Chionodoxa on your site. Planting and caring for her are procedures that require certain knowledge and skills. First, you will need to choose the right place for the flower bed. Chionodoxes love areas that are sheltered from the wind and well-lit by the sun. They can also grow in the shade, but the flowering will not be so abundant. This beauty feels best in wet areas. Chionodoxes look very good on alpine slides, in flower beds, rose gardens and even on lawns. Sometimes they are planted under apple trees. The fact is that while the latter release leaves that create a shadow, the chionodox already have time to bloom.

Soil preparation

This way, you now know where Chionodox will feel best. Planting and caring for it will be successful only if the soil is properly prepared. In this regard, chionodoxa is a rather whimsical plant. The soil should be very nutritious and loose. Drainage will have to be arranged under the bed. The fact is that if water lingers on the flowerbed, the bulbs can simply rot. Drainage can be made from ordinary rubble. Its layer is covered with water-permeable dornite and everything is covered with earth. In order to make the soil looser, you can add a little sand to it. In terms of nutritional value, the quality of the soil is improved by the addition of humus. Of course, all stones and roots of weeds should be removed from the garden.

Planting material

Chionodoxa is a flower that produces about 2-4 bulbs in one season. Dig them out for planting in September - October. At the same time, the leaves should already begin to turn yellow. The excavated planting material is stored in a cellar or basement at a temperature of + 17 ° C, in boxes under a layer of sand. The bulbs are planted in two weeks. You can plant them in early spring. However, they will bloom later in this case.

How to plant

Before planting, the soil must be loosened. The planting depth depends on the size of the bulbs. Usually it is about 6-8 cm. The distance between the holes is about 5 cm. After planting, the bed must be carefully covered with polyethylene. And if mice live on the site, it is recommended to lay spruce branches on top of the film. This will prevent rodents from spoiling the bulbs. At the beginning of April, the spruce branches and the film will need to be removed.

Chionodox care

The Chionodox plant (you can see a photo of varieties of different colors on this page) is not particularly whimsical. However, of course, the flower bed will need to be weeded and loosened periodically (once a week). As for watering, you need abundant watering. The soil under the chionodox is moistened once every two days. The first feeding is done immediately after the sprouts hatch. They increase the nutritional value of the soil under the plants, simply scattering a thin layer of some nitrogen fertilizer over the flower bed. Sometimes the top dressing is added over the snow.

Chionodox transplant

Chionodox is transplanted, as already mentioned, once every 5 years. In this case, it is better to dig up the bulbs at the end of July. You need to store them in the cellar. A flower bed is prepared in the same way as for planting. The bulbs are planted in the soil in mid-October.

Forcing flowers

To obtain beautiful flowers in winter, forcing is used. Chionodoxa, like all bulbous plants, is very suitable for this purpose. In early spring, larger bulbs are taken from healthy plants. They are planted in pots, deepening 5-8 cm. The soil is prepared in the same way as when planting in a garden.The bulbs are dropped by 2-3 cm so that they are completely covered with soil. The soil is slightly crushed from above. Pots with planting material are buried in a shady place of the site. In November, they need to be moved to the basement or cellar. After two months, the containers are taken out and placed in a sunny place in a cool room. Plants will be the first to develop leaves. After a while, they will release flower stalks. After the chionodoxes have faded, the watering is reduced. Next, the bulbs are dug up and transferred to the basement. They are stored in the same way as ordinary planting material before planting in the ground.

Plant diseases

Chionodox flowers are ill and are affected by insects quite rarely. However, sometimes such troubles do happen. They usually suffer from the same diseases as other bulbous plants. First of all, it is gray rot. Also, these flowers can become infected with bulb rot or achelenchoides. The latter disease is especially dangerous. Infected plant bulbs turn brown and start to rot. At the same time, light brown spots can be seen at the bottom. In the section, ring rot is visible. Diseased plants lag significantly behind healthy plants in development and practically do not bloom. Damaged bulbs must be destroyed. Healthy ones can be used as planting material, but only after disinfection. To do this, they are treated with ordinary hot water (45 ° C).

Chionodox species

There are only five main varieties of this plant:

1. Chionodox lucilia. This variety comes from Asia Minor. It got its name from Lucille Boissier. Grows up to 20 cm tall. Her leaves are grooved linear. On one plant there can be two or three of them. This variety blooms in April, less often in May. Flowering lasts about 20 days. Lucilias have been bred in gardens and orchards for a long time - since 1764. Garden forms can be white or pink. White lucilia in inflorescence usually have 3-4 brushes and bloom for about two weeks. Pinks have a purple tint. Their bulbs are much larger than those of whites (up to 3.5 cm in diameter). The most famous variety of pink lucilia is Pink Giant.
2. Giant Chionodox. This species grows in the alpine mountains. It is a small plant with an ovoid bulb. Differs in leaves narrowed upwards. The peduncle can reach 10 cm in height. One to five flowers grow in the inflorescence. The petals of this variety are purple. This giant chionodox is named for the size of the bud - 3.5-4 cm in diameter. This variety blooms earlier than lucilia for several days. As a cultivated plant, it began to be cultivated in 1878.
3. Lok's Chionodox. This is a very beautiful plant with blue flowers. The buds are quite small - only 1-2 cm in diameter. In inflorescences, 2-4 flowers are most often collected.
4. Chionodox Forbes. In nature, it is found mainly only in Turkey, and then high in the mountains. Compared to other varieties, they began to breed it not so long ago - in 1976. The petals of Chionodox Forbes are blue with a white area around the eye. In height, this variety can reach 25 cm. An inflorescence of 15 flowers is formed on the peduncle. The sizes of the latter reach 1-3.5 cm. The inflorescence looks very interesting, since its height is greater than its width. Chionodoxes of this species are found with white and pink flowers. The main distinguishing features include the fact that it reproduces only by bulbs. In appearance, this variety is very similar to Lucilia.
5. Chionodoxa is whitish. Differs in white-pink inflorescences with a slightly lilac tint. The flowers of this variety are also small - they are about one centimeter in diameter. In the inflorescence there are usually 1-3 buds, and in height it reaches 10-15 cm.

This is actually a very interesting plant - Chionodoxa. Planting and caring for her are not troublesome and even pleasant procedures.In the event that you do everything right, you will definitely grow healthy, abundantly flowering beautiful plants.

Khiondoksa is a perennial characterized by early flowering. Distributed in the nature of the Mediterranean and Asia Minor. The name of the flower consists of two roots, meaning snow and pride in translation. The people interpret the name as "Snow Beauty" or "Glory of the Snows". The plant has earned such a name due to its early and incredibly beautiful flowering. Chiondoksa blooms in April, immediately after the snow melts. Later varieties decorate the garden in early May. In June, the primrose loses its aerial part.

Chiondoksa flowers resemble stars with six petals of a lilac, white or pale blue hue. The stems of the plant are thin, brownish in color. Leaves broadly lanceolate, deep green. The height of the chiondox is 10-15 centimeters. The root system of the plant is a miniature bulb with a diameter of 2-3 centimeters.

Varieties and varieties of Chionodoxa with photos

The plant crosses easily, therefore, in the process of cultivation, more and more varieties and varieties of flowers appear in abundance.

Currently, the following types of chionodox are officially registered:

• Chionodox Lucilia... Flowers with a diameter of 3 centimeters bloom on a single stem 20 centimeters high, forming an inflorescence of 2-3 specimens. Flowering begins in early April. There are white and pink varieties of this species. The most popular variety is Pink Jainet, with pink flowers.
• Chionodoxa the Giant... Large flowers up to 4 centimeters in diameter are painted in bright blue, form inflorescences of 2-5 pieces. Peduncles up to 10 centimeters high. The popular variety Ch. gigantea f. albahort, with white flowers.
• Chionodox Forbes... Differs in later flowering and high peduncles (up to 25 centimeters). The flowers are blue or purple, the inflorescences are racemose. The peculiarity of the flowers is a white center with flattened stamens. An interesting variety of this species Pink Giant with pink, large flowers.
• Chionodoxa Sardinian. The flowering of this species is the longest, up to 3 weeks or more. The flowers are deep blue, with a weakly pronounced white spot in the center, 2 centimeters in diameter. There are also varieties with pink and white flowers.
• Chionodoxa is dwarf. One of the rare species in cultural cultivation. Blue flowers with a pronounced white zone in the center, no more than 1 centimeter in diameter. The height of the peduncle is about 15 centimeters, 2-3 pieces in the inflorescence.
• Chionodoxa Violet Beauty. Flowers in the shape of lilac bells with white highlights on the inside of the petals and a yellow center.

Chionodoxa Lucilia blue

Planting Chionodox

Chionodoxa refers to plants that do not require special attention. But some rules for planting and growing chionodox must be observed.

Choosing a site for planting and soil requirements

Chionodox is capable of growing in any conditions: in the sun and partial shade, so planting and caring in the open field usually does not cause problems. The only difference is the flowering time. It all depends on how early the snow melts in the selected area. In the sun, flowering begins in April, in partial shade - much later.

Hirnodoxa is quite demanding on the composition of the soil

The plant is demanding on the composition of the soil:

• Neutral acidity... To grow chionodox, the soil must be deacidified with lime or wood ash. In acidified areas, the plant will feel depressed, in acidic areas, chionodoxa will not be able to grow.
• Maximum fertility. A large amount of organic matter must be introduced into the soil.
• Low density. Swampy and clayey soils are contraindicated.

Landing features

To grow successfully, it is important to know when to plant a flower so that it starts growing on time. The optimal time for planting bulbs is late summer and early autumn.Planting in autumn is done in September, at the same time as tulips. The flower will take root and may even sprout. This will mean that the bulb has taken root. It overwinters successfully and will begin to grow immediately after the snow cover melts. For planting, deciduous soil is mixed with humus. Sand is added to clayey areas. The bulbs are buried by 8-9 centimeters, the distance between plants is 6-9 centimeters.

Bulb transplant can be carried out all year round, even during flowering. But this must be done carefully, removing them along with a lump of earth so as not to damage the roots.

Plant care

Planting and caring for chionodox in the open field is extremely simple. The plant practically does not require attention to itself. But in early spring, when bulbs start growing, you need to be extremely careful when working on a flower bed. Delicate sprouts can be accidentally damaged and the growth of the flower will stop. Care must be started when shoots appear on the surface.

Chionodoxa is unpretentious in care

Features of watering and feeding

It is not necessary to water the flowers immediately after the snow melts, since there is enough moisture in the soil at this time. Further watering is regulated depending on weather conditions and soil conditions. As a rule, the plant does not need them, since there is quite enough moisture in the soil in the spring.

Chionodox feeding begins in the earliest spring. Plants weakened during the winter primarily need nitrogen, therefore, immediately after the emergence of shoots, organic fertilizer is scattered around them and slightly loosened the soil. It is impossible to make liquid top dressing during this period, since too wet soil will lead to rotting of the bulbs.

Fertilizers can be poured onto the area where chionodoxes grow, even before the snow melts. In this case, the dressing will dissolve and penetrate along with the melted snow to the roots of the flowers.

Further care consists in lightly loosening and removing weeds. After flowering, the foliage of the chionodoxa begins to turn yellow, but it cannot be removed. If thick stems spoil the flower bed with their yellow color, you can selectively lightly "comb" them with a rake. But it is better to carefully remove them with your hands so that the bulbs are not removed from the soil. This procedure is carried out several times, gradually freeing the plant from dried foliage.

In order for chionodox to bloom well, feeding should be started in early spring.

After freeing from dried foliage, you can forget about chionodox until spring: she does not need further care. For the winter, you can sprinkle the area with a small layer of dry foliage, although the plant winters well without shelter. Experienced growers recommend covering the plantings with spruce branches, but the purpose of such a shelter is protection from rodents, and not from frost. It is necessary to remove the spruce branches immediately after the snow begins to melt in order to open the shoots to the sun's rays.

Chionodoxa cannot be transplanted during the period of yellowing of the leaves until they completely die off. It is also forbidden to prune drying foliage: it must first dry completely.

Plant propagation

Chionodox seeds

Chionodoxa reproduces by seeds or baby bulbs:

• Seed method - a longer way to get blooming chionodoxa. The flowering of specimens obtained from seeds begins only in the third year. There are no problems with the germination of seeds, they germinate quickly, in early spring. Sowing is carried out in a special area, where bulbs suitable for flowering are formed in two seasons.
• Reproduction by baby bulbs. Small bulbs begin to form in abundance around the mother in the fourth year of her life. For reproduction, the curtain of the plant is dug out of the soil, slightly dried and divided. If the procedure is carried out before or during flowering, the bulbs should be planted as soon as possible so that the roots do not dry out.

Forcing flowers at home

If desired, chionodox can be grown at home in a flower pot.

You can grow charming little star flowers at home by planting the bulbs in a pot. For distillation, large, healthy bulbs are placed in a nutrient substrate in the fall and placed in a dark room with a temperature of 0 to +2 degrees, but not higher. When kept in the cold, the bulb sets up flower buds.

Direct distillation is carried out in a warm room. A month before the required flowering time, the pot is placed in a warm room, where the temperature does not exceed + 13 ... + 14 degrees. This technique mimics the natural conditions required for chionodoxa. As soon as the flower forms full-fledged shoots, it is placed on the window in the room. Bulbs used for home forcing are planted in the open ground in the fall.

The same bulbs cannot be used for forcing indoors for two years in a row!

Diseases, pests and control of them

The main danger when growing chionodoxa is bulb decay or a disease called achelenchoides due to waterlogging. The bulbs become covered with brown scales and begin to rot. Weak shoots grow from rotten bulbs, and peduncles may not form at all.

Damaged bulbs must be thrown away immediately, without regret. Prevention of the disease is the treatment of planting material with a disinfecting solution before planting, compliance with the humidity level, and the release of growing areas from weeds.

Of the pests for chionodox, rodents, snails and aphids are dangerous. You need to fight them with the help of special hipreparations.

Chionodoxa: combination with other plants and in landscape design

Chionodoxa looks great both in single plantings and in combination with other primroses: crocuses, forest trees, snowdrops, lilies of the valley.

Chionodox on the background of forsythia

It is important to choose plants with the same soil requirements. You also need to correctly calculate the flowering time in the flower bed.

Chionodoxa is combined with contrasting flowers that bloom simultaneously with it or a little later, for example, with white flowers, daffodils. Chionodoxes are complemented by blue and blue muscari. The combination of chionodoxes with stones looks very beautiful, therefore it is recommended to plant them on an alpine slide.

Thick clumps of chionodoxes are an excellent decoration for tree trunks. The shade of the foliage does not prevent flowering, since by the time the tree blooms, the flowering of the chionodox ends and the plant enters a dormant period.