Can mirabilis be grown as a houseplant?

Mirabilis Yalapa, a native of Mexico, has successfully taken root in our climatic conditions as an annual. One of the few plants that open multi-colored buds from evening to morning, emitting a unique smell. Who once planted it in his garden is unlikely to give up its beauty. Moreover, it is not difficult to grow, and you can reproduce in several ways. In the article we will tell you about growing mirabilis from seeds, give advice on when to plant, how to propagate.

Flowers of different colors grow on one bush of mirabilis

Sowing mirabilis seeds in open ground

Like most annuals, mirabilis can be sown in warm greenhouses in the second decade of April or in open beds in early May. Sowing sequence:

• For germinating seeds, a universal soil mixture, neutral reaction, is suitable.
• Before planting, the grains are soaked overnight. Unripe seeds float up, they are immediately removed, they will not germinate. The rest are kept in water for 6 - 7 hours.
• Placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for another 2 hours. Good results of germination and strengthening of plants are given by growth stimulants, for example, "Epin - extra".
• Seeds are sown to a depth of 1.5 - 2 cm, at a distance of 5 - 8 cm. With this interval, the seedlings are transplanted into flower beds from sowing without picking.

Planting material from greenhouses is transferred to flower beds:

• in the suburbs and in the middle lane - at the beginning of June;
• in the Urals - in the third decade of June;
• in the southern regions - at the end of May.

Tip # 1. Depending on the region, mirabilis is planted in a permanent place after return frosts. To bring flowering closer, seeds are sown in advance for seedlings.

Mirabilis seeds have a hard shell that must be scratched (scarified) before sowing.

Preparation of seedlings in boxes, pots, cassettes, peat tablets

This propagation method ensures good rooting and brings flowering time closer. You can grow seedlings in a greenhouse or at home, on a windowsill. For this purpose, planting boxes, seedling pots, cassettes and peat tablets are used. Read also the article: → "Review of the use of peat tablets for seedlings." Features of germinating seeds in boxes, pots, cassettes, peat tablets:

Capacity	Sequence of work
Landing box, 10 - 12 cm high	Fill with plant seedling mixture, which consists of turf, sand, compost in a ratio of 2: 1: 1. The soil is compacted and moistened. At a distance of 3 - 5 cm, push the grooves, 1.5 - 2 cm deep. Place the seeds at intervals of 3 - 5 cm. Sprinkle with substrate. Pour from a watering can. Cover with a transparent lid or plastic lid.
Seedling pots or cassettes, 8 cm diameter	A universal substrate is placed in each pot (or cell of the cassette) flush with the edges of the container. Compacted so that the soil is 0.5 cm below the side. Watering. A 2 cm depression is made in the center of the container. Drop the seed. (There is only one grain in each pot or cell.) Pressed down. Watering. Cover to retain moisture.
Peat tablets	Place tightly in a planting box (or pallet). To fill with water. Wait until the tablet has increased fivefold. Make a 2 cm hole in the center. Place the grain in it. Crimp with two fingers. No need to water. Cover with transparent foil.

It is better to sow one grain in each pot or cell of the cassette.

For successful germination, the following conditions are provided:

• The temperature is maintained within the range from +180 to +220.
• Lighting - at least 14 hours. Supplementary lighting if necessary.
• Watering as the soil dries up, once every 5 - 7 days.

Seedlings hatch in 15 days. Crops in boxes dive at the stage of two or three leaves. Planting in pots, cassettes and peat tablets does not need thinning. This is their advantage over the traditional cultivation of seedlings.In addition, planting material with a lump takes root in flower beds almost without loss, because the root system is not damaged. See also the article: → "Timing of sowing seeds for seedlings."

Planting and care in flower beds

Mirabilis loves the sun and warmth, so a well-lit, draft-free place is chosen for it. Unlike most annuals, it prefers light to medium loamy soils. Does not tolerate acidic soils, prefers neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. Responsive to fertility, grows thicker on rich mixtures, blooms more abundantly. The site for landing is dug on a full bayonet of a shovel. On light soils, clay is applied 18 - 20 kg / m2. Fertilizers add:

• Calcium nitrate is a mineral fertilizer that does not cause acidification of the soil, unlike other nitrogen fertilizers;
• Potassium salt;
• Superphosphate.
• Wood ash;
• Humus.

Tip # 2. When planting in a permanent place, they maintain a distance, depending on the variety. Between low varieties - 30 cm, large ones are placed with an interval of 50 - 60 cm.

Care during and after flowering

Mirabilis is extremely unpretentious. It does not need to be watered often, but during irrigation, the water must penetrate to a depth of 20 cm, that is, 20 liters of water will be needed for every square meter. The plant can tolerate short-term drought, but does not tolerate flooding. The long root, similar to a carrot, quickly decays and dies, and with it the ground part.

Growing flowers "night beauty"

You can extend flowering, increase the size and color of flowers by cutting off wilted petals. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the remaining buds. If the collection of seeds is not planned, then remove all dried petals. As a rule, mirabilis is not mulched so that excess moisture does not accumulate. But from time to time they loosen and remove the weeds.

Fertilizers for mirabilis - 5 best brands

Mirabilis is responsive to feeding. In addition to the basic fertilizer before planting, during cultivation, three sessions of plant nutritional support are carried out:

• 1st - before flowering,
• 2nd - in a month,
• 3rd - at the end of August.

The uniform frequency of dressing ensures flowering before frost. For mirabilis, the same substances are used as for most garden, flowering crops, with the exception of those that acidify the soil.

Fertilizer name	Fertilizer type	Characteristic	Timing and application features
"Calcium nitrate - Buisk fertilizers"	Mineral	Alkalizes the soil, contains calcium in a form available to plants.	Before boarding
Powder Feeding Calcium	Mineral	Contains chelated calcium, which is easily absorbed by plants. Strengthens the root and ground systems, improves immunity.	Spring. Early summer before flowering.
Fertilizer Kit BioThrive Grow + BioThrive Bloom	Organic	Promotes good growth and abundant flowering	It is applied during the flowering period.
Gumistar	Biofertilizer	Vermicompost-based.	Use only during warm seasons.
Citovit	Mineral with supplements	Complex of macro and micro elements	Designed to stimulate growth and flowering.

The first feeding is carried out when planting in the ground.

Prevention of mirabilis from diseases and pests

The popularity of mirabilis can be explained not only by its beauty, but also by its high resistance to pathogens. Despite this, the possibility of infection cannot be ruled out. To prevent this from happening, preventive measures are taken. A reliable way is soil optimization through effective microorganisms. The introduction of biological products increases the humus content in the soil and inhibits the pathogenic flora. Gardeners use the following drugs:

• Emochki;
• Baikal - EM -1;
• Agrozin;
• Vermisol;
• Gutamat.

Good preventive results are given by growth stimulants that strengthen the immunity of plants:

• Epin - extra;
• Emistim;
• Agrostimulin;
• Dominant.

These substances not only promote plant growth, but also encourage plants to produce substances that protect them from diseases and pests.

Advantages and disadvantages of varieties

Many growers, growing mirabilis, prefer a mixture of seeds. It is these offers that are most often found on sale. But there are also monophonic varieties. The peculiarity of hybrids is determined not only by the color, but also by the size of the plant. The most popular are:

Name	Height	Flower color
Iolanta	50 cm	Diverse, white-pink gamut prevails
Mathis	30 - 80 cm	White, yellow, orange, crimson, purple, bright red or bicolor
Yellow lollipop	60 - 80 cm	Bright yellow
Red lollipop	60 - 80 cm	Red
Grapefruit champagne	80 cm	Carmine, with a bright crimson star in the center
Tea Time Formula Mixture '	30 cm	Mixed

The advantage of hybrids is unpretentiousness. They are undemanding to planting and care conditions. From botanical species and among themselves, differ in size and color of flowering. Some are more resistant to adverse factors:

• Series "Champagne" - all varieties:
• From mixtures - Iolanta.

This unique plant on one bush combines flowers of different colors and shades, some have stripes and blotches.

The disadvantage is that when planted with seeds, they may not repeat the properties of the variety next year, the height of the plants and the shades of the flowers change. The seeds of some hybrids do not germinate at all. But there is a way out. At the end of flowering, the rhizome of mirabilis can be preserved until next spring.

Vegetative propagation by tuber

Gardeners distinguish perennials in a separate category that do not winter in the open field. Heat-loving plants can be grown for decades, provided the roots are preserved. Every autumn, rhizomes of pompom dahlia, Indian cannes, and some types of lilies are dug up and sent for storage. This group includes mirabilis.

Its large root, the shape resembles a carrot root crop, for which the growers called it "carrot". In order to plant it again in the flower garden in the spring of next year, in the autumn after flowering, you need to free it from the ground, dry it well and send it to a dry, dark place with a temperature of + 50. The rhizome containers are quite voluminous, the size of a ten-liter bucket for one piece. For successful savings, it is covered with dry sawdust (but not coniferous) or sand.

Recommendations for sprouting rhizomes:

• Before planting in open ground, mirabilis are germinated, otherwise flowering can not be expected. At the end of February, the root is taken out of storage, freed from the sand.
• They are treated with a root formation stimulant.
• Placed in a container, the size of which allows the roots to fit freely.
• Fall asleep with soil of the same composition as in the garden.
• Watering.

The germinated plant is transplanted into open ground when stable warm weather sets in, in late May, early June.

The root is guaranteed to preserve the mirabilis variety

Growing in winter in greenhouses, at home

There is another way to preserve mirabilis in winter, it can be planted in a greenhouse or on a windowsill. Remembering that this is a light-loving plant, you need to provide it with a temperature of + 200 - +250 and lighting for 14 hours.

In indoor and balcony floriculture, undersized varieties are planted and placed on the south side. Despite the undemandingness of moisture, at home it will be necessary to water the plantings more often, due to the smaller amount of soil. This is the main difference between indoor and garden cultivation of mirabilis.

When choosing fertilizers, you should not look for any special means; substances for feeding flowering indoor plants are well suited. And for alkalization of the soil, the best remedy is crushed egg shells, 20 g per ten-liter pot.

Use in landscape design

Landscape designers value mirabilis for its expressive shape, size, and of course for its evening flowering. Its role is especially noticeable in evening landscapes. It grows successfully alone as a tapeworm, complements large mixborders, and coexists with other annuals. Read also the article: → "Unpretentious annual flowers for a summer residence."

Tall varieties look good in separated compositions against the backdrop of small shrub trees. Works well with plants that need neutral loamy soils. An approximate assortment of woody and herbaceous plants combined with mirabilis:

Trees and shrubs	Perennials	Annuals
Boxwood evergreen	Gypsophila paniculata	Large Antirinum (Snapdragon)
Amur velvet	Sedum prominent	Cornflower blue
Crown mock	Speckled bell	Bindweed tricolor
Skumpia leather	Decorative bow	Turkish carnation
Juniper Cossack	Armeria seaside	Calendula officinalis
Thuja western	Yucca hairy
Barberry Thunberg	Prickly artichoke

Flower border from mirabilis

Category: "Questions and Answers"

Question number 1... For the first time preserved the roots of mirabilis. When should they be planted in the garden?

It depends on the region. Definitely when return frosts will take place.

Question number 2... I heard that mirabilis winters in warm regions. I live in the Krasnodar Territory, can it last until winter?

This is a heat-loving plant, if you do not dig it out for the winter, it is better to cover it with agrofibre and spruce branches.

Question number 3... Can I sow seeds before winter?

Self-seeding of mirabilis successfully winters in warm regions. In the suburbs and the Middle Lane, it is better not to risk and plant the seeds collected in the summer in the spring of next year.

Mistakes when growing mirabilis

1. If you plant a mirabilis in a shaded place, from a lack of light, it will bloom much later than what grows in the sun. If it is too dark, then flowering will not come at all.
2. Gardeners often plant mirabilis in the same slightly acidified soil as most annuals. On such a soil, it either does not take root, or loses its decorative qualities.
3. When grown indoors, mirabilis are often planted in cramped dishes. The roots do not have enough space, from which the plants suffer, this can be seen from the leaves, which bend inward.

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Mirabilis Yalapa is an unusual abundantly flowering plant on which flowers of different shades grow at the same time.

Mirabilis: growing from seed

The only way to propagate such a plant is to use seeds. Before sowing, it is necessary to file their shell with a nail file, otherwise the seeds will germinate very poorly. Sowing is carried out in a peat-sand mixture, deepening by about half a millimeter. After sowing, the container is placed in a well-lit place with a temperature of about 18 degrees.

When shoots appear, they are dived in separate pots.In this case, you can use the usual substrate for indoor plants.

Mirabilis: the nature of growth and flowering

Mirabilis is a rapidly growing shrub that reaches a height of up to 60 cm. Tubular flowers reach 4 cm in diameter. The main feature of such a plant is that flowers can be of different shades. Each individual flower remains on the plant for a very short time, but a new one immediately appears in its place. In nature, such a plant is perennial, but at home it is grown as an annual.

Mirabilis: features of care

Throughout the growth period, the plant should be given regular, moderate watering without flooding the ground too much. In order for flowering to last as long as possible, it is necessary to increase watering with the beginning of this process. Top dressing is applied every three weeks.

In the house, mirabilis yalapa feels normal at room temperature and in a well-lit place.

Possible problems

If the leaves of the plant began to turn yellow for no reason, this may be due to rot at the base of the stem, which was caused by too much watering.

Among pests, mirabilis infects aphids, in the fight against which an insecticide will help.

Mirabilis is also called the night beauty. Its popularity is growing every year. They fell in love with him for being unpretentious in care and undemanding to soils. The flower is very beautiful, especially it shows all its beauty at night.

Mirabilis

Origin

In the place where Mexico is now, the Aztecs used to live. They were the first to notice this plant and began to grow it. The result is different types, differing in shape and color.

Homeland of the night beauty

After the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards, the plant spread to Spain, England and many European countries. After some time, Mirabilis has already become known in Egypt and Morocco, where it gained immense popularity.

In Egypt, they loved the flowering bush so much that they even began to call it "the pearl of Egypt."

Name

In warm countries, there are more than 50 types of Mirabilis. In our conditions, the most common variety you can see is called Mirabilis Jalapa (Mirabilis jalapa). The plant blooms for a long time until freezing. The rest of the varieties, unfortunately, do not take root, as they are thermophilic plants. Perennial Mirabilis can also be found in the wild. Since he does not tolerate the winter well, he has to grow it every year.

Mirabilis jalapa

Description

A flower of the Niktaginov family. Mirabilis is a compact, bushy plant. The most common bushes are about 70-80 cm high. Less often you can see the meter-high Mirabilis. The stems are quite dense and straight. The leaves are elongated, the root looks like a carrot. The flowers resemble funnels. They can be orange or yellow, and there are also raspberry and lilac. You can see the variety of colors of Mirabilis in the photo of flowers. In addition, there are spotted, multi-colored and striped.

The plant transforms with the onset of night. When the flowers bloom, they begin to exude a pleasant scent that attracts insects. Mirabilis can bloom until November. The aroma is light and unobtrusive, discernible at close range from flowers. After flowering, dark brown seeds are formed. Their germination reaches 3 years.

Mixed varieties

The peculiarity of Mirabilis is in its structure. The flower has no corolla. The flower itself is actually a cup. In other plants, it is green, while Mirabilis has a cup instead of a corolla. Another interesting feature is that the surface of the leaves is sticky.

Location

The night beauty came to us from warm countries, so the plant loves warmth and light. It is recommended to choose a place for planting that is illuminated and at the same time warm, without drafts. It also grows in the shade, but the bloom will not be as abundant.

The soil

Mirabilis grows in any soil. If the soil is not fertile or not quite suitable, the flowering will not be as lush and bright as we would like.Basically, the flower prefers loamy soil. The plant does not tolerate stagnant water, acidic soils. In addition, drainage is required.

Care

In general, Mirabilis refers to unpretentious plants. They only need timely watering, loosening the soil and removing weeds.

Organization of watering

The night beauty loves regular watering. Water should not be poured directly onto the flowers; it is imperative to direct the stream directly under the root. You need to water every day. If this is not possible, then you can organize an irrigation system. This requires the following steps:

1. Take a plastic bottle. The best option is a five-liter container.
2. Make holes at the bottom to allow the water to drain.
3. Dig a shallow hole next to the plant so that a 5-liter bottle of water will enter.
4. Place a plastic container in the hole.

This will allow the water to gradually drain from the bottle straight to the roots. This method allows you to keep the soil moist for a long time.

Drip irrigation

Top dressing

As for dressings, they are not required. The plant blooms profusely without them. You cannot add fresh organic matter to the soil! This can lead to the death of the entire bush. In order for the flowering to be more lush, and the leaves to acquire juiciness, you can use mineral dressing. 2-3 times will be quite enough during the growing season.

Loosening the soil

The night beauty is very fond of loose soil. It is recommended to loosen row spacings and remove weeds in time. The loose earth helps oxygenate the roots and retain the right amount of moisture in the soil.

Loosening the soil

Pests, diseases

Night flowers do not suffer from the attack of pests, they are not at all afraid of them. Also, the plant is resistant to diseases. There are times when Mirabilis is affected by rust. This disease is the appearance of brown spots on the leaves. In case of illness, do not hesitate. Get rid of all infected foliage. The plant can be treated with a fungicide.

Another unpleasant disease is root decay. Mirabilis is usually affected by this ailment during the period of heavy rains due to high humidity. In this case, the damaged plant must be removed. Treat an infected area of ​​land with a fungicide.

Reproduction

The most common method of growing Mirabilis is through seedlings. In general, night flowers are propagated in three ways:

• Seedlings;
• Tubers;
• Cuttings.

In addition, seedlings are purchased in specialized stores. Pay special attention to the quality of the purchased material. The plant should not be lethargic and stained. A damaged bush with shriveled buds is not recommended to purchase. Otherwise, he simply will not be able to take root.

Seedling method

Garden flowers called Mirabilis are grown, as a rule, by seedlings. There is a possibility of planting seeds directly into the open ground. Sowing begins in early May, when the weather is warm. But with this method, there is a risk that germination may be delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions, and flowering will begin much later. That is why gardeners choose the seedling method of growing the Night Beauty.

Seedling

Seeds can be planted in a common container, and then dive into separate pots. Since the seed is large enough, it is recommended to sow it immediately in separate pots. Containers must necessarily have holes in the bottom. This will prevent the stagnation of excess moisture, and contribute to the saturation of the roots with oxygen.

In late March or early April, you can start sowing. The optimum temperature for germination is +18 ° C.

To accelerate germination, it is recommended to place the seed in a damp cloth. It is necessary to withstand for 6-7 hours. After that, the seeds are laid out in containers, 1-2 pieces in each. Planting depth - up to 2 cm. The plant requires moderate watering.

When 14 days have passed, shoots will appear.Until warm weather is established outside, allowing the plant to be planted in open ground, the seedlings must be periodically hardened. To do this, put it on the veranda or directly on the street for a while. When the threat of frost has passed, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place of growth.

Tuber propagation

The tubers are dug up in the fall and stored until spring at + 5 ° C. You can also buy them in the store. In the spring, the tubers will begin to sprout. At this time, they are planted in the ground. The only drawback of this growing method is that tubers can die over a long period of winter.

Mirabilis tubers

Cutting method

The cuttings method is not one of the popular ways of growing the Night Beauty. It is also not effective and requires a lot of effort. To grow Mirabilis in this way, you need to do the following:

1. You need to find a lignified twig on the plant.
2. Cut it off and dry it, but only lightly.
3. Immerse the cuttings in a container with a growth stimulant and leave for a while.
4. When 1-2 weeks have passed, you can transfer it to a moist substrate.

It will take about two weeks for the plant to fully root, if everything is done according to the instructions.

Partners

Mirabilis decorates hedges, they also look beautiful in flower beds and individual flowerpots. You can plant petunias or marigolds next to the Night Beauty. In addition, daisies and daisies will become good neighbors.

Landscape design

The plant is popular among gardeners as it does not require much maintenance and grows in any soil. Amazing Mirabilis decorates the site with its bright greenery during the day, and at night it blooms and spreads a pleasant aroma.

Watch also a video on the topic:

Similar articles

Amazing ... This is how the name of a very remarkable plant, mirabilis, is translated into Russian. The genus mirabilis has more than 50 species, distributed from the southern states of the United States to Chile. And only one species of Himalayan mirabilis (Mirabilis himalaicus) is found in the Old World, from the Western Himalayas to Southwest China.

Mirabilis jalapa, or night beauty (Mirabilis jalapa)

In the rooms you can often see mirabilis yalapa (Mirabilis jalapa), or Night Beauty, is a perennial herb up to 80 cm high with a root thick as a radish, the color of wet asphalt, covered with slightly peeling silvery scales. It is a sin not to show such a "miracle", so the plant is planted so that the root tip is visible. And the mirabilis seems to be standing on stilts. Such plants are called pachical (pachys - thick, caulis - trunk).

In the open field, this species is cultivated as an annual - it does not tolerate our harsh winters.

And the flowers of mirabilis are strange. What we see are not petals at all, but a large, colored cup with a long tube. Have longiflorum mirabilis (Mirabilis longiflora) this tube reaches 17 cm. The flowers smell very nice, but something tropical, alien. They unfold in the afternoon in order to fade in a few hours. But they are replaced by new ones, and so on - until early morning. It is not for nothing that mirabilis is called a night beauty. And she is pollinated by night butterflies - hawk moths. Blooms profusely from late May to November.

Mirabilis multiflora (Mirabilis multiflora)

Mirabilis care

Mirabilis is a light-loving and heat-loving plant, even in winter the temperature should not drop below 15 °. During the growing season from the end of May to November, the plants are watered 2-3 times a month, and if they are exhibited on a sunny balcony or dug in the garden for the summer, then much more often. During the season, they are fed with liquid fertilizer 2-3 times.

From the end of November, when annual shoots partially die off, and until mid-March, the night beauty is at rest. At this time, it is watered every 2 months. You can save the plant if, after removing the thin adventitious roots, place it in fibrous high-moor peat with sawdust and store it at a low temperature, like dahlias.

And in the spring, overwintered mirabilis is planted in a substrate consisting of 2 hours of clay-sod land, 1.5 hours of decomposed peat, 1 hour of coarse washed river sand, 0.5 hours of washed brick chips, 0.25 hours of dolomite flour ...

Mirabilis longiflora (Mirabilis longiflora)

Landing mirabilis

Mirabilis is propagated by seeds, which in our conditions ripen only in greenhouses. They remain viable for 3-5 years. The seeds are large, so they are sown 1-2 in small pots or bowls, so as not to dive later. They sprout in 10-15 days.

For sowing, a well-steamed substrate is taken, consisting of 1 hour of sod land, 1 hour of decomposed and neutralized peat and 1.5 hours of coarse river sand or fine gravel.

After 1-3 months, the grown seedlings are planted in a substrate for adult plants.

Propagated by mirabilis and cuttings. Semi-lignified cuttings are cut, the cut is dried for an hour, and dipped in stimulant powder. Root in a greenhouse at 20-22 ° in a substrate consisting of 2 hours of neutralized high-moor peat and 1 hour of fine gravel for 10-18 days. Roots are formed faster with lower heating.

Himalayan Mirabilis (Mirabilis himalaicus), now Oxybaphus himalaicus

The rooted cuttings are planted in pots in a mixture for mature plants. During the growing season, the cutting forms a thick root, like a seedling.

In addition to mirabilis yalapa and its garden forms, they also grow mirabilis multiflorous (Mirabilis multiflora), Frabel's mirabilis (Mirabilis froebelii) and long-flowered.