Monarda planting and care in the open field preparing for winter

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. 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 - 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.

Monarda is a plant with decorative and medicinal properties

With bright and fragrant red, pink, purple and white flowers, Monarda is one of the favorite plants of gardeners. It not only pleases with its luxurious appearance, but is used as a medicinal plant and a spice. This perennial from the genus Labiata grows naturally in the northern regions of America and Europe.

The flower was named after Nicholas Monardes, a Spanish botanist who described the monarda in 1574 in his book. The plant reaches 1 m in height, has lanceolate leaves and two-sided tubular flowers.

Landing

Monarda is an unpretentious plant, it will delight with lush flowering, if the place and time of planting are chosen correctly.

Seat selection

Monarda is a light-loving plant, therefore, for planting it, it is better to choose sunny areas or light partial shade. The site must be protected from strong winds that can break the shoots of the plant. Monarda grows well on fertile light soils, heavy and acidic soils inhibit and slow down growth.

In swampy areas, the plant will not take root.

Planting timing

The best time to plant a monarda is the beginning of autumn or spring. Seeds are sown in open ground from March to May (depending on the region of planting), and they are engaged in dividing the bush in September or May.

Soil preparation

The soil for planting begins to be prepared in the fall: it is carefully dug up, weeds are removed, manure, potassium salts, peat and superphosphate are added. If acidic soils are chosen for monarda, liming must be carried out. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied in the spring.

Landing features

Before planting, it is necessary to calculate the row spacing, it should be 60-70 cm. This is enough for adult overgrown plants to feel comfortable.

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Reproduction

Monarda reproduces in three ways: by seeds, cuttings and dividing the bushes, and self-seeding of plants also occurs in the fall.

Seed propagation

Monarda seeds in central Russia ripen in September. They are sown at the end of February in seedling boxes, in open ground sowing is done in May, in warm regions in March. Before planting, the seeds are combined with dry sand, this mixture is evenly distributed into the soil. Planting depth - no more than 2 cm. Monarda seedlings suffer greatly from weeds, so weeding should be done as often as possible.

Flowering during seed reproduction occurs only in the second year.

Rhizome division

For vegetative propagation, you need to choose a mother bush - this is a healthy plant with large flowers that is older than 3 years. It is dug up in early spring and divided into several parts. One powerful bush can produce up to 30 seedlings. They are well watered and transplanted to new sites. A plant planted in this way blooms in the first year.

Cuttings

The shoots of the monarda are pressed to the damp ground, the roots appear in two weeks. After that, the shoots are divided into cuttings (root lobe and bud) and planted.

Care

Thanks to proper care, the monarda will delight you with bright and lush flowers, healing properties and a spicy scent. A healthy plant will be able to resist disease and pests.

Top dressing

The plant needs constant mineral and organic fertilizers. They should not be one-time, but regular, it is better to choose a special complex.

For more information on planting and caring for a monard, see the video:

Watering

Monarda needs to be watered regularly, otherwise powdery mildew may appear. Do not forget about mulching the soil with peat or chopped weeds. In dry and hot weather, the plant is watered once every 3-4 days.

Pruning

After the growing season, the plant must be pruned. To avoid diseases and loss of decorative properties, it is necessary to remove dried leaves and shoots in a timely manner.

Preparing for winter

Monarda tolerates severe frosts well, so it does not need additional preparation for winter.

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Disease and pest control

The plant under the influence of high temperatures can be affected by powdery mildew. To prevent this from happening, the monarda is regularly watered, and the soil is loosened and mulched. For a flower, leaf beetles are dangerous, which can be fought with the help of chemical and biological preparations. If the monard is used as a spice, then chemical treatments are contraindicated, it is better to choose manual collection of beetles.

Monarda leaves affected by powdery mildew

The plant can become infected with tobacco mosaic virus and rust. As soon as the first signs appear, the affected areas should be removed, and healthy bushes should be sprayed with a fungicide. Monarda is not attacked by pests that live in the earth, since its roots contain essential oil.

Varieties

In central Russia, three types of monarda can often be found in gardens:

1. Tubular monard (fist-shaped). This species is of particular value due to its essential oil properties; the plant contains a large amount of thymol. This type of monarda is used in medicine, perfumery and cosmetology. The dwarf variety of tubular monarda with light lavender flowers is very popular.
2. Double monard. These are the tallest plants among other monard species. The inflorescences are brightly colored: lilac, red, white, purple or pink. The scent of this flower is similar to that of bergamot, it is soothing and relaxing.
3. Lemon monarda is a representative of the family of luciferous plants. It is an ornamental plant and a spicy-flavored vegetable that can be used to prepare a variety of culinary delights. The crushed leaves give off a lemon scent, hence the name of this species. The plant blooms from May to July, and its bright purple flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The stems and leaves contain an essential oil.

Monarda lemon - a spicy flavoring plant

Hybrid varieties derived from fist and twin species are also popular:

1. Praerinachl is a plant with bright crimson petals with a purple tint.
2. Cambrige Scarlet, Machogene, Balance are varieties with scarlet flowers, plants can reach 1 meter in height.
3. Machogene is an early variety with dark red flowers, the plant feels comfortable not only in the sun, but also in the shade.
4. Snow Maiden and Snow White are varieties with delicate white petals.
5. Lovers of blue, pink and lilac flowers will surely appreciate the varieties RouseQuin, Bluestocking and Fishes.
6. Squaw is a flower with deep red petals, ideal for regions with cold winters.
7. "Adam" is a compact bush with red-scarlet inflorescences.
8. Panorama is a variety that can only be propagated by seed to maintain a variety of colors. Inflorescences are purple, crimson, lilac, red, pink and white.

Monarda Snow White - delicate flower with snow-white petals

Application in landscape design

Monarda will be a great addition to a flower bed, border, mixborder and pharmaceutical garden. It looks great in groups with the same shades of colors, harmoniously complements phlox, aster, rudbeckia, felphinium, astilbe, geranium, heliopsis, chamomile, veronica, cereals and aconitum. The dried monarda is used in winter bouquets.

Monarda is an ornamental plant with medicinal properties, it can also be used as a spice. It is demanding on the soil and does not tolerate shade, its stems are easily broken by the wind, but if you provide this flower with optimal growth conditions and proper care, it will become a luxurious decoration of a garden, mixborder or local area. Monarda has many varieties, but they are all united by decorativeness, healing properties and lemon aroma.

Jul 15, 2015Elena Tymoshchuk

Flower Monarda - planting and care in the open field are of particular interest to many flower growers, because an ornamental plant will not only decorate the yard and summer cottage, but will also be useful for those who adhere to alternative medicine, since the exotic has a wide range of medicinal properties ...

Valuable properties of monarda

Monarda is considered a fragrant medicinal plant with high decorative qualities; it is loved to grow in flower beds, container borders and just in the garden. A monard flower, planting and caring for which in the open field does not require significant effort, will attract attention with its original appearance and fragrant aroma. Monarda is distinguished by dark green foliage and inflorescences, which can have a wine, hot pink, white or red-pink hue.

The flower is able to maintain its decorative effect for a long time - at first it blooms for a long time in a lush color, and in the fall it decorates the site with beautiful peduncles, on which there are original nuts-fruits that birds love to peck. Monarda perfectly tolerates winter colds with temperatures down to -25 ° C. If we talk about which neighbors the monarda prefers, it is worth remembering phlox, aconite, sage, yarrow, cereals, catnip, rudbeckia, veronica and astilba.

The valuable properties of monarda are widely known; the flower is used as a spice that improves digestion. Monarda is an excellent honey plant; it is useful to add fragrant leaves with flowers to tea, which acquires a tart aftertaste and mint-citrus aroma. Monarda flowers are incredibly useful and pleasant to the taste, they help to increase immunity, helping to resist various infectious diseases and colds. Monarda contains several essential oils and a complex of vitamins - C and group B.

The flower can be used for inflammation, burns, asthma, various spasms, stomatitis and bronchitis. Monarda oil is a preservative of natural origin and can be used in the complex therapy of atherosclerosis and radiation sickness. But, you should not use Monarda in childhood, pregnant women, lactating women and people who have an individual intolerance to the flower. Famous varieties of monarda are Citrus, Dudchaty, Hybrid and Dwarf.

Monarda - planting in the open field

When planting a monarda in open ground, several important points should be taken into account:

1. The nature of the lighting - the monarda loves the warmth of the sun's rays, but at the same time the flower is able to multiply and bloom in areas with periodic shadow. Attention should be paid to good wind access to the flower, in order to exclude a lack of oxygen and drying out.
2. Soil composition - when planting a monarda, you should choose areas of land with an alkaline or neutral composition.Acidic soil will inhibit the growth of the monarda, and reduce the decorative effect of the flower. Therefore, preliming should be performed. Before planting monarda in the spring, you should properly prepare in the fall. After digging the soil, you need to apply the following fertilizers for each square meter:
   • peat, manure, compost - from 2 to 3 kg
   • potassium salt - from 20 to 30 gr
   • superphosphate - from 40 to 50 gr
   • lime - from 20 to 30 g

   In the spring, before the direct planting of the monarda, you should make
   nitrogen fertilizers (Nitroammofosk) in the calculation of 20 to 30 g per 1 m².

3. Landing procedure - the monarda should be planted in a permanent place
   after at least 3 pairs of leaves appear on the seedlings, between the flowers
   a distance of 60 cm should be maintained, and the subsequent transplant of the monarda should
   performed once every 5 years

After planting, you need abundant watering, which the monarda loves so much. In the future, the flower needs proper care, thanks to which beautiful bright inflorescences will appear on it after a while.

Caring for the Monarda

The beautiful monard flower needs careful attention, being somewhat capricious - it can grow well on infertile soils, although fertilization leads to a lush bloom. In general, the monarda plant, planting and caring for which in the open field will require a significant amount of free time and patience, will thank you with luxurious and lush flowering:

1. Watering - should be quite frequent, but moderate, since excess moisture can lead to powdery mildew in the monarda, and at high temperatures and no precipitation, the monarda should be watered daily
2. Fertilization - the frequency of fertilizing for monarda should be 1 time in 2 weeks, starting from May and ending in September, and nutrient complexes Agricola or Kemir can act as fertilizers for monarda (5 ml of fertilizer per 1 liter of water). Suitable for a flower and organic matter in the form of a mullein diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10
3. Loosening should be carried out with great regularity and the subsequent removal of weeds.
4. Mulching is carried out on hot summer days with low rainfall, and deciduous humus or peat should be used as mulch for monarda

Attention should be paid to the control of pests and diseases of the monarda; the use of foundation or copper sulfate will help here. If the monarda is planned to be used for food purposes, processing should be carried out with infusions of garlic, onions or tansy.

Monarda - preparing for winter

In addition to all of the above, the final stage of care should be performed, this is the preparation of the monarda for winter, consisting of a number of steps:

1. Digging - carried out in cases where a one-year monard is planted; after digging up, the flower should be burned, since there may be various pests on the leaves; the land where the monarda grew should be dug up and prepared for next year
2. performance of insulation - required to protect the monarda from freezing in the event of a frosty and little snowy winter; it is better to insulate with spruce branches or a thick layer of mulch
3. collection of monarda seeds - carried out in the last days of August, seeds can be stored for 3 years if storage conditions are met

If breeding of the monarda is not planned for next year, the seeds should be left on the flower for the birds, who will happily peck them in the winter.

Now you know, dear readers, that a monard flower, planting and caring for which in the open field is not too difficult, can be grown and get beautiful flowering without problems. With proper care, the monarda will thankfully bloom, invariably attracting the attention of guests and households. The flower can be safely used for medicinal and food purposes. Fragrant fragrant tea with monarda will not leave anyone indifferent, giving a great charge of vivacity and energy.