Secrets of growing a shy Aquilegia
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Aquilegia: description of flowers
Aquilegia is ideal for shady flower gardens, rose gardens, "forest" corners. Separate planting it is used in the garden to create the effect of naturalness, ease. The flower goes well with conifers, irises, bells, ferns, cereals, lupins. You can plant it next to decorative reservoirs, and undersized species - in rock gardens. Aquilegia is distinguished by beautiful and delicate rosette leaves on long petioles. And the flowers themselves have characteristic "spurs" (in which the accumulation of nectar occurs). The range of colors is wide: all shades of blue, lilac, violet, pink, raspberry, etc. There are also bicolor varieties of aquilegia.
Aquilegia seedlings are most often grown at home. Sometimes garden centers also sell ready-made "seedlings". The time for planting aquilegia seedlings in open land is May - June. The holes need to be dug taking into account what kind of root system the plant has, with a distance of 30 cm from each other. To grow young aquilegia, it is better to immediately plant them in separate "schools". And in the fall, transplant to permanent places.
Aquilegia: planting and care in the open field
The plant does not require any special conditions for the composition of the soil. However, he needs moist, light and nutritious soil. Loam is suitable, which it is advisable to dig up with compost. The acidity of the soil is not fundamentally important.
In early spring, aquilegia is fertilized with complex mineral fertilizers or mullein infusion. At the end of August and in autumn they are fed only with "mineral water".
Watering
Aquilegia is a moisture-loving plant, but regular watering in the shade is not always necessary: aquilegia spreads its roots inward and can take water from the lower layers. More frequent watering is needed for specimens growing in the sun.
Reproduction in the open field
Aquilegia reproduces well by seeds, moreover, it gives abundant self-seeding. It is enough in the summer, after the seeds have ripened, to thoroughly "beat" the bush with a broom, and new plants in large quantities are guaranteed. True, varieties hybridize over time. Therefore, it is safer to periodically buy seeds in the store or propagate your favorite aquilegia with cuttings.
Seeds of aquilegia are sown in open ground before winter or in February for seedlings in large cups.
Plants are cut in early spring, while the leaves have not yet blossomed. It is necessary to cut out a young shoot with a heel (from the root), dust it with Kornevin and plant it in wet river sand for three to four weeks, putting on a cut plastic bottle on top.
Aquilegia: diseases and pests
Powdery mildew, rust and gray rot are common in the aquilegia. This is usually due to excessive waterlogging in the shade and in thickened plantings. I fight diseases with Topaz (according to instructions). Do not mind eating aquilegia and various caterpillars, as well as aphids. In such cases, Fundazol, Aktara, Imidor are effective.
