Knifofiya planting and care in the open field in siberia

Of the 75 known species of the cniphophia flower that can be observed in South and Central Africa and Madagascar, some grow in the mountains at a great height - up to 4 km from sea level.

There is no consensus among experienced flower growers in our country as to whether it is easy or difficult to cultivate these perennial plants in our conditions, but those who managed to do this appreciated all their charm. For the middle zone of the Russian Federation, only one, the most stable, species is directly suitable - the cniphophia Tukka.

Varieties and types

Berry knifofia - the most popular, with many varieties of species from South Africa. It is characterized by the greatest growth (up to 2 meters), xiphoid grayish-green foliage (elongated by 50 cm in length). In the upper parts, the flowers are painted in a coral-red hue, in the lower ones - in a greenish-yellow.

The end of flowering is accompanied by their hanging. The length of the dense spike-shaped inflorescence is completely about 25 cm. Flowering lasts for 50-60 days, starting in July.

The following varieties of berry knifofia are in particular demand:

• Flamenco Knifofia about 1 meter high, with dense red-yellow inflorescences resembling flaming torches;

• Knifofia popsicle the same height and with an unusual color of inflorescences (below the color is yellow, above - orange or coral red);

• Knifofia surprise flaunts with bright dark pink (lower parts of flowers) and creamy yellow (upper) shades.

Hybrid knifofia includes a considerable list of forms and varieties derived from berry kniphophy.

The most common are:

• Knifofia alcazar 90 cm high, with orange inflorescences;

• Knifofia the African guest which is a mixture of burgundy, maroon, yellow and pink inflorescences, up to 1.2 meters high;

• Knifofia bengal fire the same growth, with small red, coral and yellow inflorescences of a sultan-shaped or spike-shaped form;

• Knifofia fleming torch up to 60 cm in height, having red-yellow flowers;

• Knifofia emizing fan more than a meter in height, with small orange-red flowers in sultan-shaped or spike-shaped inflorescences (turn yellow at the end of flowering).

Knifofia tukka is the most resistant species to unfavorable climatic factors, which, with an increase of about 1 meter, is endowed with frost resistance and resistance to sudden changes in temperature.

Its inflorescences-spikelets, consisting of light red flowers, reach a length of 20 cm, leaves - 40. This knifophya blooms for about a month with the beginning in July. It is she who is recommended for growing in a temperate climatic zone.

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Knifofiya planting and care in the open field

Like all other exotic plants, knifofia came to our gardens from hot countries. In this regard, it is necessary to plant it and take care of it strictly definitely. With the exception of the previously mentioned knifofia tukka, it is recommended to grow in the southern regions, where the summers are hot and the winters are relatively warm and short.

As you approach the north, in particular in the middle lane, it becomes more and more difficult for this plant to winter in the open field. General guidelines for choosing a suitable site are good lighting and no drafts.

Eremurus is also a member of the Asphodelic family.It is grown when planting and nursing in the open field without much hassle, subject to the rules of agricultural technology. All the necessary recommendations can be found in this article.

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Watering knifofia

For the growing season, you need to prepare to water the knifofia abundantly so that its flowering is lush and the foliage is juicy.

It is best to do this early in the morning, observing an interval of 4-7 days. The plant generally tolerates not very long dry periods.

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Primer for knifophy

The requirements for the soil are fertility, good moisture and air permeability. Water stagnation is absolutely contraindicated, since dampness in most cases leads to decay of the root system.

Moreover, sandy, well-loosened soil is only welcome, and you can prevent excessive evaporation of moisture by mulching the ground within the radius of the stem with small pebbles or pebbles.

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Knifofia transplant

The transplant is performed only when there are problems with growth, or there is any disease.

For knifofia, this procedure is very painful in itself, and unless absolutely necessary, it is not carried out.

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Fertilizer for knifofia

Regular feeding will help to increase the volume of flowering and stimulate growth.

In early spring, you should feed it with complex fertilizers, and before planting you need to add organic matter (in the future, its introduction will also not be superfluous - every year in spring). As soon as flowering ends, potash fertilizers or ash are applied.

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Pruning bnifophy

Open field pruning is necessary. This is done in early spring after the covering material has been removed. When pruning, all yellowed and cold-affected foliage is removed.

After flowering ends, the peduncles are cut to the root, not paying attention to the seeds (there is absolutely no benefit in collecting seeds of hybrid varieties, since the species qualities of the mother plants are not inherited).

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Blossoming of knifophya

The bloom of bnifophya is special! Blooming of buds occurs gradually, and can start from the lower tiers or from the upper ones, depending on the species and variety. Another amazing feature of its inflorescences is their ability to change the color palette.

Each species / variety has an initial color (for example, red), which subsequently changes to another (for example, orange), and in some specimens more than once.

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Knifofia wintering

In different climatic zones, the wintering of knifofia is organized in different ways. In the south, it is capable of wintering in open ground conditions only if there is shelter. They begin to prepare it in the fall, tying the foliage so that moisture cannot penetrate the sockets, and sprinkling with leaves.

It is allowed to use spruce branches and film insulation, but in the latter case, holes must be made for ventilation, although sometimes they are limited to simple loose pressing of the film to the ground surface with the formation of gaps. These measures will increase the plant's frost tolerance threshold to -15 ℃.

In the north, it is by no means impossible to leave knifofia in the open air in winter - it is dug up, placed in a container with a nutrient substrate and a good layer of drainage, then transferred to a room. In this case, the temperature during the winter is maintained at +8 ℃. The return landing is carried out upon the onset of warm weather, when the threat of return frosts has completely passed.

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Knifofia growing from seeds

The seed method of growing knifofia involves the purchase of new seeds for two reasons:

• Firstly, the plant from the south is not used to giving seeds that can ripen on time in the middle lane.
• Secondly, as mentioned above, varieties of hybrid bniphophy do not transmit their qualities through seeds.

Sowing procedures are carried out in late March or early April.To do this, use shallow containers filled with a loose and light soil mixture. Deepening is not required, the seeds are simply evenly distributed over the wet surface of the substrate, sprinkled a little, covered over with a film and placed in a warm and well-lit place.

Seedlings should appear in 2-3 weeks. By periodically lifting the film, you can gradually accustom the plants to indoor conditions, and when 3 leaves appear, they should be planted in separate pots.

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Reproduction of knifophy by dividing the bush

Reproduction by dividing the bush is the most suitable for the middle zone of the Russian Federation. While the seeds are not relevant, the split specimen will even delight the next year with the splendor of flowering.

For division, they are taken already in late April or early May, digging up the parent plant and using a sharp knife to separate the daughter rosettes that form in the axils of the lower leaves. The cut is slightly dried, sprinkled with charcoal and after a few hours the plant is planted in a permanent place.

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Diseases and pests

The high incidence rate should also be attributed to the peculiarities of knifophy. If you follow all the rules of care, she is unlikely to get sick, but even so, there is a low probability of being affected by leaf-gnawing insects.

In such situations, insecticidal spraying saves. Once again, it should be emphasized that waterlogging of the soil significantly increases the risk of developing root rot, which fungicides help to get rid of, which are not severe degrees of development (terminally diseased plants must be immediately removed from the flower garden in order to avoid contamination of neighboring plants).

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Knifofia is a widespread perennial ornamental plant native to Africa. This is a rather unusual plant, from 50 cm to 3 meters high, with a spike-shaped inflorescence of tubular flowers. Flowers periodically change their bright color from red to orange and yellow, which can be clearly seen in the photo. Flowering lasts almost all summer - from July to the beginning of frost.

Knifofiya: planting and care in the open field

Despite the fact that the cultivation of plants is recommended mainly for southern regions with warm winters and hot summers, knifofia takes root well in the more northern zone.

Exist about 75 varieties of this flower, which are divided into several main types:

• Tukka is the most frost-resistant variety; it takes root well in Central Russia. Up to 80 cm high, the inflorescence of cniphophia reaches 15 cm, flowering begins in July and lasts more than a month.
• Berry is a tall, hardy plant (up to 2 m), grown in the open field. It has a large inflorescence up to 25 cm, the flowering period is 65 days, it is the most decorative of all species. On its basis, most hybrid varieties have been bred.
• Hybrid - a group of garden plants bred by crossing the berry variety with other species. The height is less than natural (up to 130 cm), the flowers have different shades, all the main qualities of the cniphophia are preserved (the duration of flowering, the size of the inflorescences, etc.).
• Macowena - has a length of 80 cm during the flowering period, the inflorescences reach up to 10 cm.The buds are orange-red, yellow when blooming. It tolerates moisture well.

Reproduction and planting of cniphophia

The plant is grown by seeds and vegetatively (by dividing the bush). Seeds are sown in the second half of March - early April in specially prepared boxes or pots. Sowing soil cniphophy should be loose and light, the seeds are evenly distributed over wet soil, without deepening, lightly sprinkling with earth. To speed up sprouting, they are covered with foil and placed in a warm, well-lit place.

The seedlings appear in about three weeks, after which the film is removed. After the formation of 2-3 leaves, plants are planted in another place for better acclimatization.The first inflorescences appear only after 2-3 years. At the end of May, seedlings are planted in open ground. Planting bushes of cniphophia is done at a distance of 20-35 cm from each other.

The division of the bush is carried out in late April - early May. To do this, the bush is first taken out of the box, and then carefully separate the daughter sockets, the cuts are dried and sprinkled with charcoal. After a few hours, you can start planting plants for growing in a permanent place. As a result of this procedure, the plant can bloom next year.

Knifofia is a thermophilic plant and it is quite sensitive to low temperatures, therefore, planting of bushes in open ground is carried out after the end of frost (not earlier than mid-June). Loamy soil mixed with sand is best for this. You can prepare a mixture of turf, leafy soil, sand and humus. To prevent water from stagnating near the roots, drainage should be done to ensure good water permeability.

Plants are planted on the sunny side, and since the cniphophia is quite large, there should be enough space between the bushes. The plantings are planted at a distance of 30-40 cm and watered abundantly. For some time, the sprouts are shaded from the sun's rays so that they take root better.

Plant care

Growing by seeds and vegetatively, caring for plants is not particularly difficult. It is only necessary water regularly, weeding and mulching the soil. Watering should be moderate, as excessive moisture negatively affects the plant. However, on sunny days, it is made more abundant.

For the winter period, the knifofia is prepared in a special way in order to protect it from freezing. After flowering, the flower stalks are cut off from the plants, the leaves are tied in bunches and everything is covered with sawdust, fallen leaves or spruce branches of coniferous trees. The top is additionally covered with roofing material, leaving small ventilation holes to avoid overmaturity.

If the winter is with little snow or too wet, then the plants may die from freezing. To be on the safe side, knifofia bushes are transplanted into special containers in which the soil periodically needs to be moistened... The containers are kept in a dry basement at a temperature of 1-8 degrees. Planting of plants for growing in the open field is carried out only at the end of May - beginning of June.

If the bushes remain hidden in the ground, then they must be gradually opened to acclimatize to sunlight. It is not recommended to prune the leaves for the winter period, since knifophya is an evergreen plant. Otherwise, it can negatively affect flowering. In the spring, before the start of the season, plant care begins, they are examined, dry leaves are removed and healthy ones are cut.

Top dressing and fertilization of knifophytes

Fertilizing is done twice in the entire season. After the appearance of young leaves, fertilizing is carried out with mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen and organic substances. Diluted chicken manure can be used. As an organic fertilizer compost, humus, peat are used... In the second half of summer, after flowering, potash fertilizers or ash are applied, which helps the plants to endure the winter. Dark stones can be placed near the cniphophies, which emit additional heat necessary for growing flowers.

Pests and diseases

If the plant receives proper care, regular watering, and feeding with the necessary fertilizers, then it is not susceptible to diseases and feels good. Excessive watering can cause root rot.

In this case, the method of treating cniphophia is fungicide treatment. If the plant no longer responds to treatment, then it must be urgently removed, as there is a risk of contamination of other flowers.

Of insects that can harm a plant are aphids, spider mites, thrips... They are destroyed by spraying with an insecticide.

Plant care and growing tips

• It is better to plant bushes or seeds of cniphophia in an elevated, sunny place; there should be no cold drafts on the site.
• For better flowering, the plant must be watered regularly and abundantly, it is better to do this in the morning. At the same time, fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is applied.
• Knifofia does not tolerate stagnant moisture and dampness, so the soil must be nutritious, moisture and air permeable.
• It is necessary to check the moisture content of the soil to avoid rotting plants, rotted weeds can also be the cause of this, so flower care and regular weeding are needed.
• Seed propagation, division and planting of the cniphophia bush is done every five years.
• If in winter the air temperature drops to -15 degrees, then it is better to transfer the plant to a special room.

Growing and caring for the flowers of knifophia is not very difficult. For several years, the plants continue to retain their decorative properties. In landscape design, they are often used both in a single form and in combination with other plants... In the photo you can see the compositions of the kniphophies in the form of an alpine slide or rockery.

Cnifofia flower

Probably, in every garden, among the flowers familiar from childhood, there is a corner with exotic plants from other continents. The garden literally transforms before our eyes and ceases to seem too ordinary, like everyone else. Plant an African guest with a knifophia. This article will tell you how to grow knifofia in the open field, as well as how to choose the right variety for further reproduction with the necessary care for the plant.

Knifofia: varieties and varieties

Some species of this African plant, as well as hybrids of perennial bniphophy, are distributed throughout the globe as ornamental garden plants.

Types of kniphofia are divided into groups:

Berry. This is the tallest group. Some popular varieties:

• Dr. Kerr Lemon;
• OrangeBeauty Orange;
• Macowen.

Berry knifofia

Tukka. This is the most stable species for our climate.

Knifofia tukka

Hybrid. Most of the hybrid varieties are bred on the basis of berry knifofia. The most popular varieties:

• Cobra;
• Cardinal;
• Rocket;
• Atlanta.

Hybrid knifofia

Attention! Existing plant names: knifofia, kniphofia, tritoma, notoskeptrum.

Planting a plant

Knifofia prefers moderately humid sunny places, sheltered from the wind. The soil must be nutritious and free of moisture stagnation. At the end of May, seedlings of knifofia are planted in a permanent place. The distance between the bushes is 20-35 cm. If a rosette obtained by dividing the plant is planted, then the distance should be about 30 cm between the bushes.

Plant care

Cultivation of knifophy does not require any special hassle. The difficulty lies only in preparing the plant for winter. The main care includes weeding from weeds, mulching and timely watering, fertilizing with fertilizers twice a season.

Every 5 years, the plant requires division and reproduction of the bush with rosettes. At the end of flowering, the peduncles are cut off, and the leaves are tied in a bunch for the winter and covered with sawdust or leaf litter, coniferous spruce branches. Cover from above with any waterproof material.

The main task of the gardener is to protect the knifofia from freezing in winter.

But if there is little snow in winter or a wet winter, then the knifofia can die from freezing or from damping off. It is better to play it safe and transplant the plant into a container for the winter period. Tie the leaves and place the container in a dry room with a constant temperature of 1-8 degrees. It will periodically need to moisten the soil. The plant is planted in open ground at the end of May. If there are sheltered plants in your garden, then you should gradually open them so that they get used to the sunlight.After the appearance of the first leaves, fertilizing is performed.

Fertilization and feeding of knifofia

In the spring, when the first green leaves appear on the plant, it is necessary to feed the cniphophy with nitrogen fertilizers. This can be an infusion of chicken manure, diluted in the right proportion, or mineral fertilizer bought in a store. The plant responds well to the application of organic fertilizers:

• compost;
• humus;
• peat.

For the rapid development of the plant, spring feeding is required.

In the second half of the growing season, potash fertilizers or ash can be applied. This will help the plant to better endure the period of winter dormancy.

Reproduction of the plant of knifofia

Perennial bnifophyia in the open field can be propagated by seed or by dividing the bush.

Seeds Knifofia is rarely grown, since in the middle lane the seeds of the plant do not have time to fully ripen. Therefore, it is possible to plant perennial knifofia only by using purchased seed material. Seeds are sown in seedling pots in early spring to speed up seedling, cover with glass. After three weeks, the first shoots will appear, the film is removed, and when the plant has three leaves, it dives. In early summer, the plant can be planted in the garden in a permanent place. After 2-3 years, the first inflorescences will appear.

Seeds of knifophy

Dividing the bush allows you to achieve flowering cnifophya within a year after planting. In early May, the bushes are dug up and daughter rosettes are separated from them. They are planted in prepared holes at a distance of 30-40 cm and watered well. After planting, young bushes should be shaded for the first time, so they will take root better.

Advice. Knifofia loves moderate watering, excess moisture can lead to the death of the plant.

Diseases and pests

With good care, timely watering and top dressing with potash fertilizers, the knifofia will not be capricious and sick in the open field. With excessive watering, the plant can get sick with root rot, if this does happen, then immediately take measures for treatment - pour it with fungicide. If time has already been lost and the plant is not subject to recovery, then remove the affected plant from the flower garden as soon as possible so that other flowers in your garden do not get sick.

Spider mite

Insects are also not averse to feasting on an African beauty. These are mainly leaf-eating and sucking insects: aphids, spider mites, thrips. Spraying with an insecticide will help here.

Attention! All sucking insect pests love plants overfed with nitrogen and other fertilizers.

Knifofia: combination with other plants

When composing a composition for a mixed planting of knifophya with other plants, one should take into account the flowering time, as well as the care and watering requirements for the plants to be comfortable.

Knifofia in the flowerbed

In landscape design, knifofia is often combined with other perennials:

• sage;
• bearded iris;
• gypsophila;
• decorative cereals;
• eremurus;
• lupine;
• dahlias.

Knifofia in landscape design

Perennial knifofia does not lose its decorative effect throughout the growing season, therefore it is often used in landscape design. She looks great as a solo soloist on the lawn, as well as in combination with other plants in flower beds, she feels good near ponds and in dry gardens.

Knifofia feels good in different conditions

Tall varieties can be used as a screen, but low-growing varieties in landscape design can decorate a rockery or an alpine slide. Knifofia looks great not only in the garden, cut inflorescences will stand in a vase for at least two weeks as a home decoration.

Planting knifofia: video

Types of bnifophy: photo

Every year, the list of exotic and unusual plants in our flower beds is replenished. What was inaccessible just a couple of years ago is now in the order of things. Guests from Africa, Australia, South America bloom with bright spots, delighting others with their spectacular appearance.One of the most curious examples is knifofia. Growing, planting and caring for it is not so difficult, but the appearance can become a real decoration of the territory and its highlight. A large number of bred hybrids, differing in flower shape, size, color, allow you to create amazing compositions.

Growth area and name

Known now as the flowers of knifofia (planting and care, cultivation - hereinafter referred to in the text), the plant is a perennial herb from the genus of the same name and subfamily Asphodelova. Natural habitat - East and South Africa. At the moment, the genus has about 75 species, several of them are especially common in horticultural culture. The unusual name is associated with the name of the 17th century German botanist. Johann Jerome Kniphof.

Biological description

All species are perennial grasses, with some being evergreen. As a rule, they are tall (1.5-2 m), but there are also low species. The largest plant is Knifofia Thompson, whose peduncles reach a height of up to three meters. The leaves of the plants are collected in a root bunch (rosette), from the middle of which unusual and spectacular flowers appear. By themselves, small, but high decorativeness is achieved due to the fact that they are collected in an inflorescence of ears, located at the very top of a high stem. Knifofia, planting and caring for which will not take much time, vaguely resembles the shape of lupines, but the inflorescences are more graceful, as if ruffled.

Berry knifofia

One of the species of the named genus. Distributed in southeastern Africa. All over the world it has been cultivated as an ornamental plant since the beginning of the 18th century. It is on its basis that a large number of hybrids have been bred by breeders. The plant is tall, up to 1.2 m in height with a powerful yellowish rhizome. The leaves are lanceolate, serrated at the edges, gray-green. Flowers in buds are red, then they can turn into orange, yellow, carmine shades. Berry knifophy, planting and care in the open field, which is simple, will decorate any site. Almost all hybrids bred on its basis are distinguished by their high growth (up to 1.5 m in height) and good survival rate. The most popular varieties are:

• D-r Kerr - has a powerful meter-long peduncle with an inflorescence up to 20 cm long, lemon-yellow color (pictured). Duration of flowering - up to 60 days (from mid-summer).
• Orange Beauty is a hybrid with similar characteristics, the color of the flowers is bright orange.
• Fire Flame - the same flowering time, meter-long peduncle, but the inflorescence is slightly larger (25 cm) and has a scarlet-red hue.

Site location and soil

Most of the exotic plants in our gardens were originally brought from countries with hot climates. Knifophia is no exception. Planting and caring for it in the open field, in this regard, acquire its own characteristics. It is recommended primarily in southern regions with hot summers and short, warm winters. The further into the northern zone, the more difficult its vegetation process will be. In the middle lane, for example, the probability of wintering in the soil is very small.

In any case, choose open, sunny places for the plant in an area where there are no cold drafts. It absolutely does not tolerate lowlands, stagnant moisture and dampness. Therefore, the soil requires nutritious, with good air and moisture permeability.

Growing seedlings

In order to grow an adult plant from seeds, experts recommend using purchased planting material. This is due to several factors. Knifofia, planting and care in the open field for which is very simple, is still a southern plant, and in the conditions of the middle lane the seeds simply do not have time to ripen. However, assuming there was enough time for the flower, collecting material from the hybrids is a futile exercise. In the second generation, they give a splitting of characters and do not have the external properties of the parent specimen.

Sowing seeds is carried out in late March – early April in a shallow container with a loose and light substrate. You do not need to deepen them, just distribute them evenly over the moistened soil surface and only lightly sprinkle them. Cover the top with plastic foil and place in a warm and well-lit place. Seedlings usually appear after 2-3 weeks. Seedlings must be gradually accustomed to room conditions by opening the film. As soon as three real leaves appear, they must be dived into separate pots.

Reproduction by dividing the bush

The most relevant method of plant propagation in central Russia. As already mentioned, the seeds do not have time to ripen, but the rejuvenated bush will delight with its flowering next year. The optimal timing is late April – early May. The mother bush must be dug up and with a sharp knife separate the daughter rosettes formed in the axils of the lower leaves. The cut can be slightly dried and sprinkled with charcoal. After a few hours, start planting the plant in a permanent place.

Knifofiya: planting and care in the open field

Frost resistance in knifophya is weak, therefore, the care of the plant, depending on the climatic zone in which it is grown, will be slightly different. Planting seedlings in the ground is carried out only after the threat of recurrent frosts has passed.

The soil must first be dug up, if required, a good humus must be introduced and drainage done. The depth of the fossa depends on the size of the plant. In any case, they need to be filled with fertile soil, watered and then planted with young plants. At first, they must be shaded, gradually accustoming to the sun's rays. Leave the distance between plants 30-40 cm, flowering occurs the next year after planting.

If you want a spectacular, unusual and at the same time unpretentious plant in your garden, then let it be knifofia. Planting and caring for a flower is elementary simple. During the growing season, it is important to take care of three aspects.

First, regular and abundant watering. It is essential for succulent leaves and abundant flowering and is best done in the early morning hours. In parallel with it, carry out two fertilizing with fertilizers. The first application of nitrogen preparations should take place as soon as the leaves appear in the spring. Second, after flowering, use potash fertilizers and, for example, ash.

Secondly, weeding, loosening and mulching the soil. Keeping the peri-flowering space in order not only improves the aesthetics, but is also beneficial for the plant itself.

Third, a shelter for the winter. In the southern regions, it is optional, but starting from the middle lane it is simply necessary. The plant is evergreen, so in no case should the leaves be cut off, they are carefully folded, bending to the ground. Otherwise, next year, the knifofia, of course, will come to life, but it is unlikely to bloom, as it will actively increase the green mass. Use peat chips and coniferous spruce branches for shelter, and on top of a special material that does not allow moisture to pass through.

Timely and proper care of knifophya will provide you with a stunningly unusual and amazingly beautiful plant. The flower looks equally good, both in single plantings (large sods), and in group - around reservoirs, in mixed flower beds. It can be used for cutting into bouquets.