Clarkia: grown from seed, when planted outdoors

Growing seedlings

The soil in terms of the degree of fertility can also be different. For some, it is preferable to dry and rich in humus, for others - moderately fertile with an alkaline reaction. Dull-leaved saxifrage prefers acidic soil, for a long-leaved area you need to lime, and because paniculata will grow well both on neutral, calcium-rich soil, and on slightly acidic.

Saxifrage with pink flowers

It is important to ensure that the soil around the plant is always moderately moist, but without stagnant water. Spraying (sprinkling) of plants is also useful, since they like high air humidity.

It is enough to feed saxifrage twice a season with complex mineral fertilizers.

You should know that these plants are very sensitive to various plant debris on their pads. For example, if leaves of trees fall on saxifrage, they will begin to wither away.

Delicate saxifrage

Vegetative propagation

Saxifrage easily reproduce by dividing the bush in August. The bush is dug up and broken into several divisions, which are planted in new places.

In June-July, some species of saxifrage, which form long lateral shoots, can be propagated by cuttings. Twigs up to 10 cm long are cut off and planted in loose peaty-sandy moist soil, shaded from above. Over the summer, the cuttings take root and form small independent rosettes, which are covered with a layer of leaves for the winter.

Planting saxifrage

You can transplant the plants into pots and put them indoors for the winter. The next year they are planted in the garden, and they will already bloom.

Saxifrags themselves reproduce by rooting cuttings. Their creeping shoots, when in contact with the ground, give roots and form new plants.

You can grow a flower by making seedlings. Growing saxifrage from seeds at home of the Purple Mantle variety is especially advisable in central Russia, since this will allow the plant to develop at an earlier date. Sowing seedlings is carried out in the middle or at the end of March. First, the seeds must undergo stratification, that is, cold treatment. Thanks to the procedure, the percentage of seed germination increases. The sowing container must be prepared not too deep and filled 3-4 cm with sandy peat soil. Then the substrate is moistened, the seeds are sown, pressing them tightly. Cover the container with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 weeks.

After the expiration date, the container is taken out of the refrigerator, installed near a light window, and it becomes a small greenhouse, which must be periodically ventilated by lifting the film. The ambient temperature must be at least 20 ° C, and the soil must be moistened with a spray gun. Finally, the film is removed after the shoots appear. Sprouts appear within 10 days. After the formation of 2 leaves, the seedlings are dived into separate cups.

It is necessary to plant saxifrage seedlings in a permanent place together with a lump of earth, taking it out of the glass with gentle movements. The distance between the bushes of seedlings during planting should be about 10 cm.

Clarkia care

After planting clarkia on your site, its further cultivation and care for it is not difficult.

An important rule is timely fertilization and watering. Soil moistening is required only in dry weather

During such periods, you can water the one-year-old no more than 1-2 times a week.

Use only complex fertilizers as top dressing, organics for a decorative annual will not work.The frequency of nutrient introduction is 1-2 times / 2 weeks. An annual can infect a mealybug, if you notice the products of its vital activity, spray the plant with phytoverm.

Features of the clarke graceful

The culture belongs to the annual peduncles of the fireweed family. Almost all of its varieties bloom very beautifully and for a long time, pleasing the eye with bright colors.

The height of the bush does not exceed half a meter. The graceful flowers of Clarkia unguiculata are small and compact. Stems are straight and branched, with a hairy edge.

Flowering plant

The leaves are colored bright green with a specific bluish bloom. They have an elongated, slightly oval shape, alternately located on the stem. A flower with a diameter of 3-5 cm can be simple or double. Inflorescences with a carpal or spike-like connection are of different shades. Single peduncles are extremely rare. The seeds, enclosed in an elongated box, open after full ripening.

Important! The main advantage of the flower is its high resistance to cold weather. For the normal flowering of clarkia, a lot of light is needed, therefore, when grown at home, windows facing the sunny side are chosen for it. Double clarkia flowers seem to peep out of the axils of the upper leaves

From a distance, the flower resembles a miniature stock-rose. Florists prefer to grow the plant outdoors, on windowsills and balconies. Cut bouquets are used to decorate rooms.

Clarkia's double flowers seem to peek out of the axils of the upper leaves. From a distance, the flower resembles a miniature stock-rose. Florists prefer to grow the plant outdoors, on windowsills and balconies. Cut bouquets are used to decorate rooms.

Clarkia is found in the wild in Chile and the western states of the United States. More than 30 plant species are known, but only three are used for decorative cultivation, of which breeders are developing new varieties. Clarkia flower was brought to Europe from the USA. It got its name from William Clarke, who brought it to the Old World in the 19th century.

Description of the flower

The flower grows no more than 85-95 cm. Shoots with this growth are erect, very branched due to the formation of new stems from the lateral sinuses. Light pubescence is often observed on the shoots. The edge has small fine villi. The leaves are green, found with a bluish tint. On the shoot are arranged alternately. The shape of each leaf is framed in a slightly elongated oval.

From the axils of the leaves, flowers are formed, which can be either simple or double. When opening, each flower is up to 3-4 cm in diameter. The petals are very different in color: from snow-white to burgundy shades. The inflorescence is formed mainly at the top of the shoot. The flower consists of a tubular calyx and four-lobed petals, of which there can be four or three on one flower.

If the clarkia is terry, then there are many such petals. When blooming, the scent spreads throughout the area, attracting insects to pollination. As a result of pollination, very small seeds are formed, which are in a capsule.

After planting the seeds, the plant will bloom in two months. Flowering usually lasts one and a half to two months.

Growing

You can grow a flower by sowing seeds in open ground or sowing seeds for seedlings. Or she herself will grow by self-seeding.

If the seeds are sown directly into the soil, then this should be done in late April or early May. You can sow late in autumn, before autumn frosts, if desired. The soil must be fertilized before planting. To do this, on a site from one square meter of land make half a bucket of peat soil, and superphosphate and potassium sulfate 15-20 grams each.

You can sow seeds in grooves, or several pieces of seeds in one hole. If sowing in grooves, then sowing is not very thick, otherwise you will have to plant seedlings.You do not need to cover with a layer of soil, just press down slightly, and sprinkle with a thin layer of soil or sand. If seeds are sown in autumn, they are covered with a small layer of soil, but no more than 1.5-2 cm.

The seeds are small, when they are heavily covered, then during the winter they will be deep inside the soil. And in the spring they will germinate for a long time. If the seeds managed to sprout in the fall, it's okay. They will remain under the snow until spring.

When there is no snow, but frosts come, you need to cover them with dry leaves or spruce branches. Of course, when sowing in the ground, some of the shoots will die from snow or cold rain, temperature changes or strong winds. In order not to risk it, many growers plant clarkia flowers through seedlings.

The seeds need to be sown in mid-March, then around June it will bloom. The soil should be slightly acidic. For this, a mixture of peat, leafy earth and sand is poured over with slightly acidic water. It can be done by adding citric acid crystals to the water.

The small seeds laid out do not need to be covered with soil. From above they are sprayed with warm water and covered with glass or film. The container must be placed in a lighted place, with a temperature of 20 degrees. Every day you need to lift the glass and ventilate. If necessary, the soil is sprayed with water at room temperature.

When the first seedlings appear, the cover is removed. You need to dive sprouts after the appearance of 4-5 leaves. The soil for the containers can be taken the same as when sowing seeds. Several pieces are planted in one container.

Landing in open ground

In mid-May, you can plant seedlings in prepared holes.

The soil should be prepared ten days before planting.

The soil for planting needs a slightly sourish. And fertile. If there is not enough acid, then you can dilute the soil with peat or acidic water. It is prepared using citric acid. In the case of highly acidic soil, mix it with sand. Fertilizers are applied both mineral and organic.

Information: Clarkia is planted in one hole in several pieces. From the container, without dividing the shoots and shaking off the soil, take out the contents and set them in the hole. Distances of 25-30 cm are maintained between the pits.

When plants grow up, they need support, because it is difficult for thin shoots to hold foliage with a large number of flowers. You can stick a rod or stick near the hole when planting, or later, as the plants grow. After planting, the bushes are watered. For splendor, you can pinch the top. Then the shoots will grow from the lateral sinuses.

Clarkia graceful - growing

Methods for breeding Clarkia graceful: growing from seeds by sowing them in open ground and seedling method. The second option is more common, so you can protect the seedlings from temperature fluctuations, cold rains and frosts. For clarkia graceful cultivation from seeds at home, gardeners who live in warmer climates are used

Seeds collected from their site will preserve their varietal qualities, which is important for flower growers

Clarkia flower - planting and care

Clarkia's main claim to growing conditions is planting on a sunny site. Otherwise, she is unassuming - she is not afraid of winds, easily tolerates spring frosts, prefers neutral or slightly acidic soils. Caring for adult crops, obtained from seedlings or in a non-seedling way, is equivalent. It is concluded in thinning, watering, feeding, crown formation. Clarkia - planting and proper care:

1. Before sowing, it is advisable to add 1 kg of peat and potassium sulfate with superphosphate to 1 st. spoon per m2. You can acidify the soil with a citric acid solution - 1.5 tbsp. spoons per 10 liters of water.
2. Seeds are soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for several hours before seeding.
3. When caring for flowers, watering must be observed regularly, but without excess moisture. It is produced when there are dry days or when the soil dries up.
4. Clarkia is fed only with mineral fertilizers twice a month during the budding period, especially in dry weather. For generous flowering, wood ash can be added to the soil.
5. To support the decorative effect of the bush, dying leaves and faded buds are removed. When pinching the tops, you can get thicker bushes, but the shoots should reach 25 cm in height.
6. The plants are tall, they are supported with pegs so that they do not break from the wind.
7. To collect seeds, the selected faded buds are tied with gauze. Otherwise, self-seeding of the plant may occur - this way it can also be grown, but in the spring you will have to thin out the flower garden from the shoots.

Clarkia growing from seed - when to plant?

Graceful clarkia, like many annuals, propagates by seed. They can be sown directly on the open field in the spring or fall. The timing determines the beginning of flowering:

1. Autumn (second decade of September) will bloom in May - early June. The seeds should not sprout, but even if this happens, they will overwinter safely under the snow and will continue to develop in the spring.
2. Plants of the spring backlog (end of April - first ten days of May) will bloom at the end of July.

To bring flowering time closer, many gardeners use the seedling version of growing graceful clarkia. The method is popular in the cultivation of terry and hybrid species. When clarkia is planted for seedlings: at the end of February - the first half of March, seeds are sown to obtain young plants. Flowering will come after 2 months and will last until frost. The growing season lasts 5 months, during which time the flowers have time to give full-bodied seeds that can be used in the next season.

Clarkia - landing

The seedling cultivation option is characterized by greater labor intensity and waste of time, but it justifies itself by early flowering. Planting clarke seedlings and care:

1. Sow small clarke seeds in shallow shared containers or individual cups.
2. For seedlings, a mixture of peat, sand, humus is used in 1 part with the addition of 2 parts of leafy earth.
3. The seeds are sown in the ground, pressed down with a board and sprayed from a spray bottle.
4. The containers are covered with glass and placed in a warm, bright place.
5. After 1-2 weeks, shoots will appear, the covering material is removed, the shoots are thinned out.
6. Seedlings are transplanted into open ground in the second half of May.
7. Depressions are made on the site with a distance of 20-40 cm. Plants extracted from containers with a lump of earth are placed in the holes. You need to stick a peg near each hole - it will serve as a support for the clarkia when it grows up.

Clarkia - planting and care in the open field

Correct planting of clarke in open ground:

1. Small clarkia seeds are sown in nests of 4-5 pcs at a distance of 20-40 cm.
2. They cannot be deepened into the ground - it is better to lightly press down with a plate and sprinkle with the thinnest layer of soil.
3. Seedlings appear after two weeks, they will need to be thinned out, but it is better not to get carried away too much - in a dense bush, a flowering culture looks more beautiful.

Clarkia care

Even an inexperienced summer resident can master the cultivation of clarke from seeds, since it practically does not require any special care. We water it regularly, but without excess, it does not tolerate stagnant water. Watering is carried out only as the soil dries up and on dry days.

Fertilizers for flowers

This plant prefers mineral fertilizing, therefore, organic matter is not applied under it. It is better to feed with mineral water a couple of times a month. Clarkia especially needs it in dry weather.

Preserving beauty

With proper cultivation of this plant, you can admire the beautiful flowers in July. To preserve the decorative effect of the bush, we regularly remove faded buds and dying leaves. To obtain thicker bushes, it is necessary to periodically pinch the tops of the inflorescences. We do this when the shoots reach a height of 20-25 cm.We support tall varieties with wooden pegs, since their long stems can break off in strong winds and under their own weight.

Getting seeds

About a month after the petals of the buds have fallen off, fruit-boxes containing small seeds are formed in their place. Their full maturity is evidenced by the brown color of the seed bolls. For growing clarkia, seeds are suitable, the age of which does not exceed 4 years. Before the onset of frost, we cut the stems of the plant almost flush with the ground.

Diseases and pests of plants

Sometimes, gray spots with dark edging appear on the flowers and leaves of the clarke. They are a sign of a fungal disease of the plant. To eliminate it, we spray all the bushes in flower beds with fungicides. We process it a couple of times a week. Most often, the appearance of a fungus indicates waterlogging of the root system.

One of the most dangerous pests for clarkia is the flea. Sometimes this insect destroys the future plant even at the germination stage. In some cases, even a delayed chemical treatment of crops can lead to their complete loss. To prevent this from happening, it is best to carefully cover areas with seed sowing with non-woven materials, for example, geotextiles. Thus, it is possible not only to prevent flea beetles from attacking seedlings, but also to ensure crop moisture.

Clarkia is also grown in pots and containers. Large varieties, in which shoots can reach 50-80 cm, are also used for cutting. This flower does not lose its decorative effect for up to 7 days, especially if the lower leaves are removed from the stems.

general description

Clarkia is an annual plant. Its stems are graceful and thin, can be either straight or branched. The stems are decorated with dark green oval leaves and flowers that will delight you with a variety of colors and bright blooms.

This plant got its name in honor of a priest from England named Clark, who, in fact, brought a flower to Europe from sunny California.

Clarkia is a lush bush that can grow in height from 30 cm to 90 cm.

An adult flower that has been properly cared for may look like the one in the photo.

In total, about 30 varieties of clarkia are known, although only a few of them are common in the temperate Russian climate:

1. Graceful clarkia. A plant with strong branchy stems up to 90 cm high. Flowers of this species can be simple and double, with inflorescences, the diameter of which does not exceed 4 cm.
2. Clarkia Pubescent, which does not grow higher than 30 cm. Flowers of this species have a wide variety of colors and differs Pubescent from Graceful in that it begins to bloom 14-15 days earlier.
3. Clarkia Terry (see photo). The name of the species itself speaks for itself, because the flowers of such plants are only double. The diameter of one flower is 6 cm. And the intertwining of flowers on the stem creates the image of spike-like plants.

Types and varieties

Today, there are about 35 varieties of clarkia, but only four varieties are of interest to breeders - they became the basis for obtaining a large number of decorative garden forms.

Terry

The height of this annual bush reaches 36 cm. Branched stems, elongated leaves, dark green. Terry flowers, the diameter is 3-4.5 cm, can have a wide variety of shades: from pure white to deep carmine.

Fantasy

Another beautiful plant that is distinguished by its lush color. Height stems - up to 75 cm, axillary flowers, in most cases double, can have a wide variety of colors. This variety is widely used to decorate the club, looks beautiful as part of group and single plantings, is often used for cutting.

Pretty

Among gardeners, it is better known as omitted. It is a stunted variety that only grows up to 40 cm.The leaf blades are elongated, narrow, solid, pointed at the end. The flowers are small - up to 3 cm in size, they can be double or simple. Their distinctive feature is the division of the petals into 3 lobes. The tint palette is very diverse. Flowers are formed one at a time or in small groups in the axils of the leaf plates. Clarkia pretty usually dismisses before the rest of her "sisters" for a couple of weeks.

Due to the original shape of the petals in the United States, this variety is often referred to as "elk antlers". It was he who became the basis for breeding the Ariana variety, which is in great demand among flower growers. A feature of the variety is the two-color flowers of white and purple shades, the height of the bush is 40-50 cm.

Graceful

The second name is "marigold", found in the natural environment in California. The height of the bush is 50–90 cm, the stems are quite strong, branching, woody near the base, but at the same time thin. The leaves are dark green, have a characteristic bluish tint, the shape is slightly elongated, the edge is sparsely toothed. The characteristic reddish veins are visible on the leaf blades. Clarkia flowers of this species are small - 3–3.5 cm, gather in cluster-like inflorescences. The tint palette is rich: there are bright scarlet, milky white and pale pink varieties. The first flowers appear in mid-June and delight their owners until October.

Clarkia graceful has become a "parent culture" for breeding several popular varieties:

• "Albatross" is a 6–7 cm high bush with snow-white velvety flowers;
• Salmon Perfection is a tall plant 90–100 cm long, double flowers, pale pink;
• "Sun" - a variety that grows up to 65–70 cm, salmon flowers, grow singly in the axils of leaf plates;
• Orange is a medium-sized shrub, 55–65 cm long, with deep orange flowers.

Clarkia of the "Radost" variety is very popular among domestic gardeners. Its erect, branched stems grow up to 50-60 cm. The diameter of the flowers is 3-4 cm. Flowering begins in June, the plant is covered with flowers profusely from bottom to top. The tint palette can be very diverse: from rich pink to crimson shades.

The variety "Brilliant" enjoys no less love; it is a branchy lush bush 65–80 cm high. It blooms very profusely and for a long time - from the first days of July until the end of September. The flowers are velvety, the colors are red-pink.

Growing problems

Clarkia graceful is a hardy plant. However, the following can spoil the appearance and even lead to the death of the plant:

• fungal diseases;
• invasion of pests;
• violations of agricultural technology.

A fungal disease is signaled by gray spots with a pronounced dark edge. They appear on flowers and leaves. The affected plant parts are immediately removed and destroyed. Tissues without signs of damage are treated with a fungicide.

If small white-coated insects are seen on the plant, this is a mealybug. The parasite greatly weakens the clarke by feeding on its cell sap, so measures must be taken immediately. The preparation rogor-S will help to cope with the mealybug.

Young plants attack leaf flies. They gnaw out parts of the leaf and can quickly kill plants. To prevent the attack of these insects, the seedlings are covered with a non-woven cloth. Already affected specimens are treated with Actara.

For your information! A well-chosen place for growth contributes to the active development of clarkia. The absence of stagnant moisture will save the root system from decay.

In general, clarkia is graceful - a good choice for composing annual flower beds or to complement perennial compositions. The plant is undemanding and with a long flowering period. In flower beds, it is successfully combined with asters, daisies, phlox.

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Clarkia cultivation methods

Clarkia is propagated, like other annuals, by seed
way. They are either grown in seedlings or sown in early spring in
open ground. Late April - early May is the best time to spend
of this work.

Sowing clarkia in open ground

On a sunny site, prepare the soil: they bring in completely
a little peat or humus (1 kg / m2) and a tablespoon
superphosphate and potassium sulfate. The earth is dug up and carefully harrowed. Cut into
shallow grooves with 20 cm row spacing.

The seeds are mixed with
sifted sand and evenly distributed in shallow depressions. Slightly
pressed to the ground and sprayed. It is permissible to sprinkle with the thinnest layer of soil.

After about 2 weeks, clarke shoots will appear. After two real ones are formed on them
leaflet, thinning is necessary. Leave 15-20 between the sprouts
see, however, it should be remembered that slightly thickened clarke bushes look more
effectively and form vivid compositions.

You can sow clarke before winter. Works are carried out in
September-October, so that the seeds do not have time to germinate. However, clarkia
refers to those plants, the seedlings of which winter safely under the snow
cover, and in the spring they will continue their development. Crops will also need
thinning.

Plants grown by sowing before winter are characterized by an increased
endurance and firmly endure adverse conditions. Clarkia bloom in
this case will come in mid-July.

If you want to bring the beginning of flowering closer, then you need
grow seedlings at home.

Growing clarke by seedlings

There is one way of growing clarke through seedlings
undeniable dignity. Tender sprouts are reliably protected from the influence of external factors,
whether it is unstable spring weather with sudden changes in temperature or
rains, winds and return frosts.

Sowing is carried out in March - early April in shallow containers.
with slightly acidic and loose soil. Since Clarkia seeds are practically dusty,
then it is not recommended to deepen them.

Before sowing, the seed is mixed with fine sand and how
can be evenly distributed over the surface. Then they are pressed with a palm or a plate.
to the soil and sprayed with a spray bottle. Cover with a transparent film, creating
conditions for a mini-greenhouse. Containers with crops are placed in a bright and warm place. On
the emergence of seedlings will take 10-14 days.

Clarke seedlings dive at an early stage of development, as
seedlings do not tolerate transplanting well. After the formation of two leaves, sprouts
transplanted into separate pots. The best option is peat
cups are containers that can be buried in the ground. In this case, the root system does not receive the slightest
injury and the plant adapts easily.

Of plastic
containers are transplanted by the method of transshipment together with a lump of earth.

Ready seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of May -
early June. By this time, returnable
frosts are already coming to an end in almost all regions.

On a note. When growing several varieties of clarkia in the garden, it should be remembered that these are flowers that are cross-pollinated and must be planted in different flower beds. Otherwise, their seeds will lose their varietal qualities.