Content
The history of bulbous flowers
For thousands of years, bulbous plants have not only been used by humans as food, but are also a source of beauty and inspiration for them. In addition, some of them have become objects of religious symbolism.
Spring crocuses
The lily was especially respected, which for the ancient Greeks was a symbol of purity and innocence. In Greece and Egypt, India, China and Korea, at the dawn of our era, crocuses, lilies, daffodils, redwoods, onions, hyacinths were well known and loved. The inhabitants of the island of Crete have cultivated crocus for thousands of years and exported the stigmas of this plant, which to this day are the most valuable seasoning for food called saffron.
Lily white
Such popular bulbous plants as hyacinth, imperial hazel grouse and tulip, which are now popular in Europe, came to Europe from Turkey. In Constantinople, hundreds of shops sold flower bulbs, and lush and colorful tulip festivals were held annually in Istanbul and other Turkish cities. And only by the end of the XVI century. this adorable graceful flower made its way to Holland, where it caused an incredible boom. The Dutch were seized by a real "tulip fever". They gave away estates and hectares of land, sold property, left huge fortunes - and all this to get some especially rare tulip bulb. Over time, the "fever" subsided, but the Dutch loyalty to this beautiful flower has survived to this day. By the way, it was here that the world's first black tulip called "Rose Berle" was bred. Holland is now considered to be the world's largest tulip producer. She is also the undisputed leader in the industrial cultivation of many types of bulbous plants.
Charming tulips
Other European countries, albeit to a lesser extent than Holland, were also passionate about tulip cultivation. Bulbs of these flowers were highly prized in England and for a long time were available only to wealthy people. But by the end of the 19th century. the price for them fell, and now everyone could afford to plant luxurious tulips. In addition, delicate daffodils and snowdrops were grown in English country gardens, and plant hunters brought new types of magnificent flowers from different parts of the world.
The popularity of bulbous plants is growing every year. Breeders are breeding new varieties, flower growers delightfully decorate their garden plots with a luxurious rainbow scattering of spring primroses, a carpet of bright summer charms and the delicate charm of bulbs that bloom in autumn.
The story that began many centuries ago continues.
Next chapter>
Larisa Petrovskaya - Bulbous flowers: choose, grow, enjoy a summary
In the 17th century, flower bulbs were worth their weight in gold. They were presented in velvet cases as a gift to the powers that be. Today, bulbous flowers adorn our flower beds, balconies, terraces, window sills, flaunt in bouquets. Crocuses, daffodils, tulips are the first to meet spring; irises and lilies delight us in the summer months; crocosmia, freesia and gladioli bloom until late autumn.
Flowers that will transform your site and make your life more beautiful: grow together!
Bulbous flowers: choose, grow, enjoy reading online for free
Bulbous flowers: choose, grow, enjoy - read the book online for free, by Larisa Petrovskaya
Larisa Georgievna Petrovskaya
Bulbous flowers: choose, grow, enjoy
From the author
Many years ago, when roses and orchids were my favorites among flowers, and a modest flower bed with several daffodils and tulips that regularly bloomed every spring, adorned the most remote corner of the garden, I had no idea how beautiful the world of bulbous flowers can be - bright, delightful , sparkling and shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow under the rays of the warm spring sun. But once in the closet on the mezzanine I found a package, looked into it and gasped! There was a package of flower bulbs I once brought from Amsterdam ... My God, how long did it lie there? I still don't understand how I managed to forget about the purchase! 100 bulbs of different sizes had a rather strange and dull look. Realizing that it is unlikely that something will grow out of them, I opened the package and began to sort out the bulbs. Some still seemed quite decent. Perhaps, somewhere in the depths of them, a spark of life still glimmered. And I decided to take a chance and plant them. Outside the window was mid-October, the autumn sky was gloomy looking at me, and I walked through the dull garden in search of a corner where I could attach my "foundlings". And I remembered a beautiful July day, the Amsterdam flower market and bags of bulbs, modestly lying among the sea of fragrant beautiful bouquets of exquisite roses and touching clusters of multi-colored flowers of graceful phalaenopsis. The bulbs were large and small: crocuses, daffodils, tulips, freesias, gladioli, hyacinths ... Packaged in 10, 20, 50 and even 100 pieces, they somehow did not make any impression in their nondescriptness. The only thing that could interest a flower lover was the price. Apparently, being tempted by a rather low price, I became the owner of an assorted package of 100 onions.
Memories flashed and disappeared, I finally found a suitable small lawn between two old apple trees and, having no idea if I was doing the right thing, poured all the bulbs on the yellowed grass. Having dug small holes, I distributed the long-suffering "Dutchmen" over them, sprinkled it with earth on top, slapped it lightly with my palm and, with a sense of accomplishment, went to drink coffee.
One wonderful April morning, when the warm sun rays were already in full swing in the garden, barely free from the remnants of snow, I looked out the window and was stunned! Between two old apple trees, not yet awakened from hibernation, there is a magnificent carpet of multi-colored crocuses.
Blue, white, yellow - they were touchingly reaching out to the sun with their delicate buds, rejoicing in the light, warmth and awakening life. They won my heart and opened the way for me to a new wonderful world - the fabulous and magical world of bulbous plants ... And now I am sharing this magic with you, dear readers!
Lovely carpet of multicolored crocuses
Chapter 1. Place of bulbous plants in the general classification of plants
Bulbous perennials are distinguished as a separate large group among decorative perennials.
These are lovely, beautifully flowering plants with high decorative qualities.
They burst into the spring garden with fireworks of bright colors, enchanting us with their grace, delighting with a delicate and delicate aroma. They are good both for decorating flower beds, flower beds, ridges, borders, and for composing magnificent bouquets that decorate the interior.
Fireworks of colors
The biological characteristics of bulbous plants make it possible to classify most of them as plants with a short growing season. During this short period, the plants have time to release leaves and flower stalks, intensively grow and bloom, and accumulate the necessary nutrients in the bulbs. After that, the part of the plant that is above the ground dies off, and the bulb receives a fairly long dormant period.The advantage of bulbous plants over other plants is that they are able to exist even in conditions of prolonged drought, since the bulb contains enough nutrients for life.
The history of bulbous flowers
For thousands of years, bulbous plants have not only been used by humans as food, but are also a source of beauty and inspiration for them. In addition, some of them have become objects of religious symbolism.
Spring crocuses
The lily was especially respected, which for the ancient Greeks was a symbol of purity and innocence. In Greece and Egypt, India, China and Korea, at the dawn of our era, crocuses, lilies, daffodils, redwoods, onions, hyacinths were well known and loved. The inhabitants of the island of Crete have cultivated crocus for thousands of years and exported the stigmas of this plant, which to this day are the most valuable seasoning for food called saffron.
Lily white
Such popular bulbous plants as hyacinth, imperial hazel grouse and tulip, which are now popular in Europe, came to Europe from Turkey. In Constantinople, hundreds of shops sold flower bulbs, and lush and colorful tulip festivals were held annually in Istanbul and other Turkish cities. And only by the end of the XVI century. this adorable graceful flower made its way to Holland, where it caused an incredible boom. The Dutch were seized by a real "tulip fever". They gave away estates and hectares of land, sold property, left huge fortunes - and all this to get some especially rare tulip bulb. Over time, the "fever" subsided, but the Dutch loyalty to this beautiful flower has survived to this day. By the way, it was here that the world's first black tulip called "Rose Berle" was bred. Holland is now considered to be the world's largest tulip producer. She is also the undisputed leader in the industrial cultivation of many types of bulbous plants.
Charming tulips
Other European countries, albeit to a lesser extent than Holland, were also passionate about tulip cultivation. Bulbs of these flowers were highly prized in England and for a long time were available only to wealthy people. But by the end of the 19th century. the price for them fell, and now everyone could afford to plant luxurious tulips. In addition, delicate daffodils and snowdrops were grown in English country gardens, and plant hunters brought new types of magnificent flowers from different parts of the world.
The popularity of bulbous plants is growing every year. Breeders are breeding new varieties, flower growers delightfully decorate their garden plots with a luxurious rainbow scattering of spring primroses, a carpet of bright summer charms and the delicate charm of bulbs that bloom in autumn.
Chapter 2. Characteristics of bulbs and peculiarities of their cultivation
Most bulbous and corms can be grown outdoors, in the garden, on alpine slides, flower beds. Correctly selected plants will ensure the continuity of flowering from early spring to late autumn, revitalize your garden and give it a special charm.
Plants that bloom in early spring are often the favorites of flower growers among bulbous plants. Snowdrops, crocuses, muscari, hyacinths, daffodils, tulips, ixia ... After a long dull winter, their bright spring bloom pleases the eye, warms the soul and cheers up. Bulbous ones that bloom in summer are no less popular. Grouse and lilies, allium and camassia, hymenokallis and crocosmia - thanks to the variety of shapes and colors, they will adorn your garden until autumn.
Now let's take a closer look at the features of growing individual bulbous plants.
Allium (decorative bow)
Decorative bows (alliums) belong to the lily family. Their wide variety allows flower growers to use alliums to decorate garden plots, flower beds, borders, rock gardens, rockeries.
Decorative bow
More than 130 types of alliums are used in ornamental gardening. Blue, pink, purple, lilac, purple balls of inflorescences of this unpretentious plant look charming both in single and in group plantings.
Most types of ornamental onions bloom in May-June. Peduncles with balls of inflorescences stand well in the cut and can decorate your interior for 1.5-2 weeks. In addition, decorative bows look great in dry bouquets. To do this, you just need to place the peduncles in a dark, ventilated room for two to three weeks, hanging them down with the inflorescences.
Decorative bows can be used when organizing a garden of continuous flowering, creating compositions from them with other flowering annuals and perennials. Combined with irises, delphiniums, peonies, milkweed or hosts, they will be a great decoration for your garden plot.
Alliums love good light, so sunny areas are the best for these plants. With an abundance of light, both the leaves and the inflorescences of allium will delight you with bright colors for a long time. Since decorative bows are unpretentious, caring for them is not difficult. It is only necessary not to forget that the soil for planting this type of bulbous must be well-drained, moderately fertile and light. Water stagnation should not be allowed - this can cause the death of the plant. A short drought will not harm ornamental onions, but you should be aware that you should not overdry the soil in the first half of the growing season. At this time, the formation of leaves and peduncles occurs, and this process can stop with a lack of moisture. When preparing the soil for planting allium, it is necessary to add a full range of mineral fertilizers to it. Ornamental onions, like other bulbous ones, are very sensitive to insufficient potassium in the soil. Wood ash is a good fertilizer.
Most types of ornamental bows are planted in the fall. Planting time is the third-fourth decade of September, when the soil temperature drops to + 9 ... 10 ° C. The bulbs are planted to a depth so that there is a layer of earth on top, approximately equal to three heights of the bulb itself. Before planting, the grooves are moistened with warm water, the bulbs are laid, covered with a layer of soil, compacted and mulched with peat or humus on top.
Caring for plants during the growth period is usual - this is weeding, loosening the soil, mulching, watering and feeding. One top dressing (with complex mineral fertilizers) is carried out in the spring, during the regrowth of leaves and flower arrows. Another top dressing (potassium-phosphorus fertilizers) - at the end of summer. Fertilizers are applied to the soil dry.
Reproduction of decorative onions is quite simple: it can be done both by seeds and by dividing the bulbs. Seeds for propagation must be well ripened, otherwise the color of the plants will be pale, weakly saturated. Seeds are sown either in spring or autumn, depending on the species. Seedlings need a lot of light to grow, so they dive into well-lit ridges. Bushes grown from seeds can be divided from the third year of life. Delenki represent areas of rhizomes with two or three intact shoots and well-developed roots. When propagating by seed, it should be remembered that many types of onions bloom only in the 4-5th year.
When dividing, the babies are separated from the mother's bulb and planted separately. Adult bulbs are placed at a distance of 15-30 cm from each other so that the plant has the opportunity to grow, since the transplant of decorative onions is recommended no more than once every 3-4 years. Do not interfere with the natural vegetation process of onions. As with other bulbous plants, the aerial part of the ornamental bows must die off naturally.
Galanthus (snowdrop)
Galanthus belongs to the amaryllis family.It has been known to lovers of bulbous flowers since time immemorial. Many types of this delicate and fragile primrose have been popular since the middle of the 18th century. They are called snowdrops because of their early flowering. At the first warm spring rays of the sun, flowers appear literally from under the snow. The British call Galanthus a snow drop or a snow earring, the Germans came up with an equally poetic name for it - a snow bell. Galanthus is of undoubted interest for the decorative design of the garden.
Snowdrop
The plant looks very picturesque both in large groups and in the form of small white "islands" located between the bushes of slowly growing perennials with branchy leaves, such as hosts or peonies. The snow-white lawns of snowdrops, located among the greenery of the lawns, are very decorative, but they look no less attractive in the form of an elegant carpet spread under the trees and bushes.
Combining Galanthus with other early flowering plants - spines, primroses, muscari - you can achieve very effective color combinations that can revitalize any corner of your garden. In addition, delicate bouquets of snowdrops can delight your eyes and decorate the interior for a long time, since they are perfectly preserved in cut.
Snowdrops prefer well-lit, open areas, but they may well grow in shade. The main thing is that during active growth they are illuminated for part of the day.
The soil for them should be sufficiently loose, moist, nutritious and have good drainage. Stagnant water, like heavy, clayey soils, can kill the plant. For planting, it is best to use dormant bulbs - dense, heavy, with an intact base, without regrown roots or stems, and not affected by mold. If the bulbs are purchased long before planting, they should be placed in dry shavings or sawdust and in a perforated plastic bag for fresh air. In this form, they can be stored for 2-3 months.
The best time to plant snowdrops is at the end of September. However, if the average daily temperatures remain above + 10 ... 12 ° C, the planting time can be shifted to the beginning of November.
There is no great need to adjust the planting depth for snowdrops - the plants will do it on their own. The only rule is that the depth should not be less than 5 cm. With a strong deepening, the plant will release a peduncle and form a new bulb on it, but already at the required depth. You can use this feature of snowdrops during their reproduction. If you want to get a lot of babies out of the bulb, you can do this by planting the bulbs at a shallower depth. With this planting, they become smaller, but children are actively formed, with deep planting, the bulbs become larger.
For active growth and flowering, snowdrops need additional fertilizing and abundant watering. During this period, liquid inorganic fertilizers are applied, with an increased content of potassium and phosphorus. Potassium is useful for the formation of bulbs, phosphorus for abundant flowering.
Snowdrops reproduce by bulbs or seeds. During the summer, 1-2 new bulbs are formed, and the seeds after ripening, if not harvested, fall into the ground and germinate on their own. Snowdrops grown from seeds bloom in 4–5 years. Plants can stay in one place without transplanting for a long time. However, it is recommended to carry out a transplant every 5-6 years. This should be done not earlier than August-September, when the aerial part of the plant completely dies off.
Hyacinth
Hyacinths belong to the genus of flowering plants from the hyacinth family. Of the entire family, the most widespread in the world is oriental hyacinth. Hyacinths began to grow from the beginning of the 15th century, since then more than 300 varieties of this magnificent plant have been bred, delighting us with a variety of colors and a fragrant aroma.
The hyacinth bulb is perennial and must be handled with care.The flowering bulbs can be up to 10 years old, sometimes more, after which the flowering weakens and the bulb should be replaced.
For the normal formation of the inflorescence of the next year, the hyacinth bulbs must be dug up and kept until autumn in a certain temperature regime.
For planting hyacinths, a well-lit place, protected from strong winds, is chosen. It is best to prepare it in August, two months before planting the bulbs. The soil must be deeply cultivated, the depth must be at least 40 cm. For digging, apply fertilizers (60–80 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfate, 15 g of magnesium sulfate), sand and peat.
Hyacinth
Hyacinth bulbs can be planted from mid-October to mid-November. If planted too early, hyacinths can start growing and die in winter, and if too late, they will not have time to take root before the soil freezes to the depth of planting. At the end of October, the planting site should be insulated with leaves or other material from those that are at hand, and protected from rain and snow with a foil. And after planting, re-lay the insulation.
When planting hyacinths, it is necessary to choose medium-sized bulbs - they give more weather-resistant flower stalks.
Immediately before planting, carefully inspect the bulbs, treat with foundation or hold for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
For hyacinths, as for all bulbous plants, it is very desirable to plant in a sandy "shirt". At the same time, the technology does not change: clean river sand is poured into the bottom of the groove or hole in a layer of 3-5 cm. The bulb is slightly pressed into it, then covered with sand, and then with soil. This technique will eliminate rotting of the bottoms of the bulbs, protect against infection in the soil, and improve drainage. If the soil is dry, the planting should be watered to improve the rooting of the bulbs. Planting depth - from 8 to 12 cm, depending on the size of the bulb, that is, the soil layer above the bulb should be 3 times its height. On very light soils, the planting depth should be 2 cm deeper, and on heavy soils 2 cm less.
With the onset of stable cold weather, you need to take care of the shelter of the plantings of hyacinths. To do this, you can use mulching materials such as dry peat, humus, sawdust, as well as dry fallen leaves and spruce branches. However, remember that hyacinths sprout very early, so in the spring, as soon as the soil begins to thaw, the shelter must be carefully removed.
For a long and abundant flowering of hyacinths, they need regular feeding. The first is carried out at the very beginning of the growing season, immediately after the emergence of sprouts.
During this period, ammonium nitrate is used - 20-30 g per 1 m2.
The appearance of buds is a signal that it is time to carry out a second feeding. To do this, you will need 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 40 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium chloride per 1 m2.
The emergence of buds
For the third feeding, you need to wait until the end of flowering and support your pets with food from 40 g of superphosphate and 40 g of potassium chloride per 1 m2.
In addition to top dressing, hyacinths need loosening of the soil, weeding and watering in dry weather. These activities are especially important during the period of budding, flowering and two weeks after the end of flowering.
When the leaves of the hyacinths turn yellow, it's time to dig up the bulbs and store them. The most suitable period for this will be the end of June - the beginning of July. Annual digging is one of the conditions for the successful cultivation of this magnificent and vibrant spring flower. In addition, in the process of preparing the bulbs for storage, you can carefully examine them, separate the children for further growing, process the bulbs to avoid diseases and protect them from pests, sort them by size and quality. Healthy and strong bulbs will go for storage, but diseased ones will need to be destroyed.Immediately after digging, the bulbs are dried for 5–7 days at a temperature of +20 ° C in a dark, ventilated room, cleaned of soil and root residues, then sorted by size and placed in boxes in no more than two layers. Large babies are separated and stored separately, small ones are left with the parent bulb. If the bulbs are few, they can be conveniently stored in labeled paper bags.
So, we put the dried, peeled from leaves and roots, sorted bulbs for storage.
Storing the bulbs is the most critical period. It was at this time that the process of inflorescence formation takes place in them. Its different stages require different temperatures in a certain duration and sequence. Further storage of large flowering bulbs will take place in two stages: the first - at elevated temperatures, the second - pre-planting. At the first stage, which will last 2 months, the bulbs must be kept at a temperature of + 25 ... 26 ° C. The second stage - 1 month - at + 17 ° C. The humidity in the room should not be too low, otherwise the bulbs will dry out. If you want to shorten the first stage by a week, then in the first week of the first stage, you need to raise the temperature to +30 ° C, but the room where the bulbs are stored must be well ventilated.
At first glance, it may seem to you that caring for hyacinths is very troublesome. But if you adhere to certain rules in their content (and without this it is impossible to grow any plant), then these beautiful spring primroses will constantly delight you with their abundant flowering and delicate aroma.
Hymenokallis
Hymenokallis belongs to the amaryllis family. In different countries, this delicate flower was given different names: the Bride's Basket, Angel Trumpets, Membrane Flower ... The Peruvian daffodil is called it in England.
The homeland of the hymenokallis is the western islands of South America and the islands of the Caribbean. The culture of this plant is more than 200 years old, about 50 species are known in nature.
Hymenokallis is very attractive and graceful. In the presence of a bright green mass, it is decorative and without flowers. Lush cascades of leaves look great both in group plantings, and in single ones - on a lawn or an alpine slide. The plant is quite large, the leaves grow up to 50-60 cm in length, and the peduncle - up to 70 cm in height. The top of each peduncle is decorated with 5-6 snow-white fragrant flowers 10-12 cm in diameter.
Cultivars with pink or light yellow flowers are quite rare.
To speed up the growing season, hymenokallis bulbs can be germinated in room conditions before planting. If in mid-February they are planted in small containers in moist peat or sawdust, placed in plastic bags and provided the temperature required for germination is + 10 ... 15 ° C, then by the time the bulbs are planted in the ground, the vegetation process has already begun and the first green leaves. When germinating indoors, do not forget that from time to time the bulbs need to be ventilated and made sure that the bottoms do not rot. For this, the containers in which the bulbs are planted must have good drainage in order to exclude stagnant water.
Hymenokallis with pink flowers
The beginning of May is the most suitable time for planting bulbs in open ground. The soil is preferably loose, well-drained, with the addition of humus earth and sand. The bulb is buried 6–8 cm in the ground.
The plant is warm and light-loving, so a sunny place is chosen for it. The flowering time of hymenokallis can be determined depending on the size of the bulbs. Large ones bloom earlier, in July, small ones - later. The minimum temperature they need for growth is + 12… 13 ° C, the optimum is + 17… 20 ° C. With insufficient watering, the plant forms small bulbs and may refuse to bloom, therefore watering should be abundant throughout the entire period of growth and flowering.However, waterlogging should not be allowed, since this can adversely affect the plant - the leaves will turn yellow, die off and the bulb will die. Therefore, it is not recommended to water under the root of hymenokallis. It is best to do this as follows - prepare small grooves 10 cm from the root collar of the plant and water over them.
Since hymenokallis quickly grows green mass, the plant needs additional feeding throughout the growing season. The first can be combined with planting, and the last one should be carried out in early or mid-August. It is advisable to use a complex fertilizer. In the first half of the growing season, nitrogen and phosphorus should prevail in top dressing, in the second - potassium and phosphorus.
Hymenokallis is propagated by baby bulbs during transplantation, by dividing the bulb into parts or by seeds. The transplant is performed every 2-4 years, usually during the rest period. Babies are formed only on bulbs that have reached the age of 3-4 years. Therefore, it is important to carefully store the uterine bulbs in order to be able to propagate the plant. As one of the methods of propagation, propagation of the plant is practiced by dividing the bulb into 4 parts. Before planting, the sections are dried and treated with charcoal.
When propagated by seeds, they are sown in loose moist soil immediately after collection and left to germinate until spring. In this case, the soil must be constantly moist. Young seedlings dive into small pots and place them in a container of water to keep it at the level of the middle of the pots. By the end of May, the plants are transplanted into larger pots filled with a loose nutrient mixture consisting of turf and sand.
After flowering, hymenokallis retains the decorative effect of lush green leaves for some time. However, when it gets cold, the leaves die off, so the plant is cut off, the bulb is dug up, trying to preserve the roots. After that, the bulbs are washed, dried well and stored at temperatures up to +10 .. 13 ° C. Perforated plastic bags are ideal storage.
Bulbs are placed in bags and shipped in a dry, cool and well-ventilated area. If necessary, they are taken out and additionally dried.
Gladiolus
Gladiolus belongs to the iris family. Its name, translated from Latin, means "small sword". Tall, slender, elegant gladioli with exquisite and delicate flowers have long won the hearts of millions of flower growers around the world. And now it is difficult to believe that a few centuries ago they were exterminated as annoying weeds. And only by the 18th century. the attitude towards them changed and interest arose in the decorative properties of this plant.
Depending on the size of the flower, gladioli are divided into miniature, small-flowered, medium-flowered, large-flowered and giant. In addition, they are divided according to the timing of flowering - from very early to very late. Thanks to this, with the right choice of planting site and proper care, you can enjoy these lovely flowers from mid-summer until the very frost.
Gladiolus
Gladioli, like many other flowering plants, are very light-requiring. They will bloom luxuriantly and generously only in a sunny place and on condition that the soil is fertile.
Garden varieties of gladioli are not left for wintering in the ground. Every year in April-May, the bulbs are planted in open ground and dug up for storage in October. Lowering the temperature to -5 ° C is dangerous and undesirable for the bulbs and can lead to their death. In order for gladioli to bloom together, it is recommended to grow them in the same place for no more than 3-4 years. Then you need to provide them with another, no less sunny and cozy place with rich and fertile soil. To make gladioli feel comfortable with you, a flower bed for planting them must be prepared in advance.In the fall, dig to a depth of 50 cm, remove all weeds, apply the necessary fertilizers - compost, peat, manure. Cover the fertilizer layer with a layer of soil, without stirring, and leave until spring.
With the arrival of the first heat, it is recommended to remove the snow from the flower bed, cover the surface of the flower bed with plastic wrap so that the soil thaws faster and warms up better.
Bulbs can be planted in mid-April. Before that, it is necessary to pre-disinfect the bulbs (soak them in a solution of karbofos for 20-30 minutes at the rate of 2 g per 1 liter of water at a temperature of +20 ° C). Rinse the treated bulbs with water and keep them in the foundation solution for 10-12 hours.
In order for gladioli to bloom on your site for several months, you need to plant the bulbs with a break of 1.5-2 weeks.
Planting is best done on a dry and warm day, while the soil temperature should not be lower than + 10 ... 12 ° C. The planting depth of the bulbs is 10-15 cm. The distance between them depends on the variety, the size of the bulb and the flower and can be in the range from 10 to 40 cm.
Along the bottom of the holes prepared for planting the bulbs, it is necessary to evenly apply a complex mineral fertilizer (60 g per 1 m2), sprinkling it with a layer of earth 4–5 cm. Then cover it with a layer of river sand, on which to plant the bulb. Regular watering of beds with planted gladioli bulbs is necessary, since drying out of the soil can lead to deformation of the peduncle. Within a month, the next morning after watering, it is necessary to loosen the soil in the flower bed, taking care not to damage the bulbs. After the first shoots appear, it is recommended to mulch the soil with humus to protect it from weeds and keep moisture in the flower bed. As the plant grows, it should be carefully huddled. Watering the flower beds is carried out between the plants, and to improve future flowering, you can feed the gladioli with fertilizer with a high phosphorus content.
By the end of September - beginning of October, the flowering of gladioli usually ends, you can start digging the bulbs and prepare them for storage. This is best done on a dry, sunny day. The bulbs are carefully dug up, cleaned of the ground, the above-ground part is cut off somewhere at a height of 1–1.5 cm above the bulb. Then the bulbs are treated with a solution of foundationol and for 5-6 days they are sent for drying in a well-ventilated room with an air temperature of + 20… 25 ° C, after which they are dried for 15-20 days at a temperature of +30 ° C.
When the drying process is finished, the bulbs are cleaned of old scales, residues of earth, the children are carefully separated, sorted according to the size of the bulbs and placed in boxes or cardboard boxes, laying layers with paper.
Store the bulbs in the dark, the room temperature should not exceed +5 .. 8 ° C.
Gladioli reproduce by children, which are separated from the mother's bulb during preparation for winter storage. This is a very convenient method that does not require special knowledge and skills. In addition, with this method of propagation, the varietal qualities of the flower remain unchanged.
To decorate a garden plot with gladioli, you need to know how simple the rules are. First of all, you should not plant gladioli next to other equally tall and bright flowers. They will compete with each other and will not give you the harmony you want.
For example, instead of adjoining tall, large dahlia bushes with gladioli, you can use their border varieties, which will successfully complement your floral arrangement.
In addition, how unattractive a single gladiolus bush looks, how charming they look in a "bouquet" in combination with other flowers.
Luxurious "bouquet" in your garden
At the same time, it is important to choose the right color scheme so that your "bouquet" looks luxurious and pleasing to the eye. It is known that pleasant combinations are obtained from colors with a bright, saturated color with flowers of delicate, pastel colors.
A good solution for placing gladioli on your site can be their border planting. In this case, your garden path will be bright and sophisticated. Plant gladioli bulbs along the path in dense rows of 4-5 bulbs, matching them by color, close to the edge of the path, place low border annuals of suitable colors - and you will get a charming combination of beauty and elegance even when gladioli have finished blooming and as a decoration for the border. you will only be left with their pointed leaves.
Ixia
Ixia belongs to the iris family. This genus is represented by about 25 plant species, their habitat is South Africa. In our flower culture, garden hybrids are used.
Ixia is a perennial plant, its height reaches 40-50 cm, flowers are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences of 6-12 pieces. Blooms in mid-summer. The flowers are bright, the petals closer to the center are darker, almost black and form a dark center characteristic of ixia flowers, the size of the flowers reaches 4 cm in diameter, they are wide open during the day, and close at night. Ixia's color palette is very rich and varied. Blue-white, red, cream, white, pink, orange, yellow, red-white, white-cream inflorescences of this elegant flower will be a worthy decoration of your site.
Ixia
This charming plant looks great both in border plantings, and in a rock garden, and in a container, and in small picturesque groups in a flower garden. When cut, it retains its decorative qualities for up to 2-3 weeks.
Charming beauty
Ixia is a light-loving plant, so you need to choose a sunny place for planting. The soil is required to be loose and nutritious, with good drainage.
Ixia bulb is small, round, 3-5 cm in diameter. Leaves are basal, narrow, lanceolate.
Planting ixia bulbs is best done as late as possible, just before the frost. This is usually mid-November. The bulbs are planted in the ground to a depth of 7–8 cm, covered with earth, insulated on top with straw, leaves, which are removed in early spring. In areas with low winter temperatures, Ixia bulbs can be planted in early spring in thawed soil. In this case, they are dug out for winter storage, stored at a temperature of +5 ... 8 ° C and in the spring they are planted in the ground to a depth of 5 cm.
During the growing season, the plant needs abundant watering and feeding.
After flowering, Ixia bulbs are left in the ground until the end of July - early August. By the end of the growing season, the roots of the plant die off, and a large number of small children appear at the base of the corm. The bulbs are dug up, cleaned from the ground, disinfected in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate, dried, sorted and stored in boxes in a dry, ventilated room until they are re-planted in the ground.
Ixia can be propagated by children or by seeds. Flowering occurs in 1-3 years. Ixia also multiplies by dividing overgrown nests. If there are large bulbs, then you can quickly propagate the plant by dividing the bulb into divisions with a sharp knife so that in each part there is a well-developed bud and part of the bottom with a root. The cut sections must be disinfected by sprinkling with charcoal, and then planted in the ground in the same way as the bulbs.
Ifeion
Ifeion belongs to the onion family. There are about 25 natural species that grow in the subtropics and tropics of America, from Mexico to Chile and Argentina.
This gentle and touching plant has long been familiar to many flower growers and fell in love with them for the exquisite charm that it brings to the garden decor every year. Six-pointed stars of fragrant flowers, 2-3 cm in diameter, gracefully rise at the ends of strong peduncles. Flowers of white, light blue, deep blue, dark blue or purple hue appear in May-June. Each bulb produces 3-4 peduncles with flowers-stars, and when planted in a dense group, the plants resemble a frozen holiday fireworks.
Ifeion can be attributed to a fairly unpretentious bulbous plants. He prefers a sunny location, and it is better if it is sheltered from the wind. Grows successfully even with light shading. The soil is recommended for him nutritious, loose, light, with abundant leafy humus and well-drained. Blooms in May-June. In the first year after planting, the ifeion does not bloom very much, but by the next year, growing, generously shares with us the beauty of a lush and abundant flowering.
Ifeion
At the end of the growing season, after the ground part of the plant dies off, it can be dug up, the bulbs are cleaned, dried and stored in a well-ventilated room at a temperature of + 17 ... 20 ° C until autumn planting. Ifeion bulbs are small, ovoid. They are planted in September-October to a depth of 5–8 cm, sprinkled with earth and covered with insulation for the winter, using non-woven material such as spunbond.
The plant propagates quite simply. The second half of August and September are best suited for breeding. The nests of the bulbs are carefully dug up, divided into 2-3 parts and immediately planted in new places. Nest division can be carried out every 3-4 years. In addition, ifeon is easily propagated by seeds.
In the decorative design of the garden plot, the ifeion is usually used on alpine hills, in border plantings, its bulbs are planted under trees, and picturesque compositions are made in flower beds and on flower beds.
Camassia
Camassia belongs to the hyacinth family. Under natural conditions, it grows on mountain slopes, mountain meadows, near streams in the temperate zones of North America. In Europe, the plant has been known since the beginning of the 19th century.
This charming, unpretentious plant was appreciated by flower growers all over the world. White, cream, bright blue, blue, bluish-purple, blue-purple, lavender, purple lush clusters of 40-50 star-shaped flowers look spectacular in any corner of the garden, on an alpine hill, in a rocky garden, on a lawn or in the shade of spreading trees.
Camassia grows equally well in a sunny place and in partial shade. The soil should be heavy, retaining moisture. The plant is completely undemanding to care, only in dry times does it need additional watering.
The camassia bulb is spherical or ovoid, 1–5 cm in diameter, black or brown. The bulbs are planted at the end of September and October. The planting depth is 12-15 cm, the distance between the bulbs is 10-15 cm. It is advisable to mulch the planting sites with a two-three-centimeter layer of humus or peat to a height of 6-7 cm. This will protect the bulbs from freezing in severe frosts.
Camassia
In early spring, when the snow begins to melt and the soil surface gradually thaws during the daytime, you can feed the Camassia bulbs. For this, a full range of mineral fertilizers is used. Nitrophoska is best suited for this purpose. Fertilizer is evenly scattered over the area where the bulbs are planted, at the rate of 50-60 g per 1 m2. Camassia leaves grow long before the inflorescences appear. They are gray-green in color, elongated, 15 to 60 cm long. By the end of spring, spectacular arrow-shaped peduncles appear, the length of which varies from 20-30 cm to one and a half meters. Up to 100 charming stars bloom on carpal inflorescences from 10 to 40 cm long. Flowering begins in May-June and lasts 18–20 days.
After flowering, triangular boxes with black seeds ripen on the peduncles, and the leaves turn yellow and dry out.
You can propagate Camassia with daughter bulbs, seeds and dividing the nest into parts. When propagating by seeds of flowering, you need to wait 3-4 years, but this is the most suitable way to get a lot of planting material. Since the germination and initial development of a Camassia seedling take place at a low temperature, the seeds of this plant need long-term cold stratification, the period of which should be at least 4–5 months.Therefore, in order to get young seedlings by spring, seeds are sown in the ground in autumn. They are buried to a depth of 2-3 cm, watered and mulched.
Adult bulbs stay in one place for several years and during this time they manage to form a nest of 8-10 bulbs of different sizes and ages. The nest turns out to be a fairly dense planting, but such thickening does not interfere with the lush flowering of the Camassia. However, it is recommended to plant such nests after 5–6 years. They are carefully dug out, the roots of the bulbs are not cut off. Daughter bulbs are separated, the nest with adult bulbs is divided into several parts and immediately planted in new places. This can be done in August, when the leaves of Camassia dry up and the plants lose their decorative effect. Daughter bulbs of Camassia can be stored for a month before planting them in the ground. To prevent them from drying out, it is recommended to place them in moist peat and keep them in any room with good ventilation, out of direct sunlight.
Camassia is successfully used not only for decorating garden plots, flower beds, borders, but also for decorating hedges made of coniferous plants. In addition, it is great for cutting and all kinds of options for flower decoration of interiors.
Krinum
Krinum belongs to the amaryllis family. Its homeland is tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, America.
A powerful bulbous plant that amazes the imagination not only with its beauty, but also with its size. A bulb up to 15 cm in diameter can grow a peduncle up to 1 m high, crowned with luxurious flowers 17-18 cm long. open ground with good filling of planting holes can grow and bloom without transplanting for more than 10 years.
The soil for crinums should be well-retained and well-drained. Outdoor crinums bloom regularly from June to September. These are rather unpretentious plants, they grow well both in the light and in partial shade, however, with a lack of light, they bloom weaker. In mild winters, they remain in the ground for the winter, so mulching with straw or peat is necessary. In areas with cold, frosty winters, a plant with an earthen clod and roots is best moved in the fall to a large pot (up to 10 liters) and kept in a greenhouse or in another room with a low temperature. In April, the krinum can be returned to the ground, the planting depth is 15 cm. With the beginning of growth, it is necessary to provide it with abundant watering and feeding 2-3 times a month, alternating mineral and organic fertilizers (at the rate of 20 g per 10 l of water).
Krinum
Crinum is propagated by daughter bulbs and seeds. Many seeds develop in plants living in the open field. This is facilitated by free pollination. At the end of flowering, the fruit is formed in the form of a box with fleshy round seeds inside. Krinum seeds contain a large supply of water, and the embryo develops in them even after abscission. Therefore, the seeds do not need a moist environment; they are able to germinate even in completely dry soil. When exposed to a humid environment, the development of the embryonic root begins. The seed takes root, the root system of the new plant is actively growing. In the first year, the seedling does not have a dormant period, but it must be transplanted every 3-4 months. By the end of the first year, the young plant grows a crown of 4–5 leaves and a rather large bulb.
End of introductory snippet.
In the 17th century, flower bulbs were worth their weight in gold. They were presented in velvet cases as a gift to the powers that be. Today, bulbous flowers adorn our flower beds, balconies, terraces, window sills, flaunt in bouquets. Crocuses, daffodils, tulips are the first to meet spring; irises and lilies delight us in the summer months; crocosmia, freesia and gladioli bloom until late autumn.
Flowers that will transform your site and make your life more beautiful: grow together!
Larisa Georgievna Petrovskaya
Bulbous flowers: choose, grow, enjoy
From the author
Many years ago, when roses and orchids were my favorites among flowers, and a modest flower bed with several daffodils and tulips that regularly bloomed every spring, adorned the most remote corner of the garden, I had no idea how beautiful the world of bulbous flowers can be - bright, delightful , sparkling and shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow under the rays of the warm spring sun. But once in the closet on the mezzanine, I found a package, looked into it and gasped! There was a package of flower bulbs I once brought from Amsterdam ... My God, how long did it lie there? I still don't understand how I managed to forget about the purchase! 100 bulbs of different sizes had a rather strange and dull look. Realizing that it is unlikely that something will grow out of them, I opened the package and began to sort out the bulbs. Some still seemed quite decent. Perhaps, somewhere in the depths of them, a spark of life still glimmered. And I decided to take a chance and plant them. Outside the window was mid-October, the autumn sky was gloomy looking at me, and I walked through the dull garden in search of a corner where I could attach my "foundlings". And I remembered a beautiful July day, the Amsterdam flower market and bags of bulbs, modestly lying among the sea of fragrant beautiful bouquets of exquisite roses and touching clusters of multi-colored flowers of graceful phalaenopsis. The bulbs were large and small: crocuses, daffodils, tulips, freesias, gladioli, hyacinths ... Packaged in 10, 20, 50 and even 100 pieces, they somehow did not make any impression in their nondescriptness. The only thing that could interest a flower lover was the price. Apparently, being tempted by a rather low price, I became the owner of an assorted package of 100 onions.
Memories flashed and disappeared, I finally found a suitable small lawn between two old apple trees and, having no idea if I was doing the right thing, poured all the bulbs on the yellowed grass. Having dug small holes, I distributed the long-suffering "Dutchmen" over them, sprinkled it with earth on top, slapped it lightly with my palm and, with a sense of accomplishment, went to drink coffee.
One wonderful April morning, when the warm sun rays were already in full swing in the garden, barely free from the remnants of snow, I looked out the window and was stunned! Between two old apple trees, not yet awakened from hibernation, there is a magnificent carpet of multi-colored crocuses.
