Alpine aster

The fluffy green bushes of the perennial alpine aster have beautiful flower baskets and attract attention with their varied colors from the first days of summer until the onset of the autumn season. Since Alpine aster can be planted almost everywhere, and caring for them is simple, the flowers are cultivated even on rocky soils.

Aster began to be cultivated on plots back in the 16th century, now it is used in decorating landscapes - they decorate the foot of hills, frame borders, enliven designs with other vegetation.

Typical features of an aster.

Alpine aster is a ground cover perennial that attracts the attention of growers with its amazing beauty. Since the roots grow horizontally, a rich grass mat is formed, which prevents the growth of weeds and protects the soil from drying out.

The pubescent shoots of the flower grow vertically. The branching root system grows in a horizontal plane and forms shoots ending in single baskets. Shoot height - 5-40 cm. Flower width - 3-6 cm. Leaves of small size have a deep green color. If the site is well lit, then the aster will delight you with the formation of voluminous bushes that will not lose their green color even when leaving under the snow cover.

Alpine aster is similar to chamomile in that in the central part of the flower there is a fluffy circle of yellow hue, delicate petals extend from it in the radial plane. The flowers are delicate, not so striking, the beauty is set off by the bright green of the leaves.

The popularity of perennials for cultivating it in garden plots is understandable. The flower has certain qualities: it blooms for a long time, it is easy to care for it, it has various colors (from white to bright purple), it is combined with other vegetation.

Varieties.

Alpine aster flowers are widespread in different territories of northern latitudes. There are already 2500 varieties, among them there are annuals and perennials. But most varieties are cultivated only in the southern regions of Africa. Aster varieties differ in flowering periods, colors, and the size of the cups. The most famous varieties will be presented below.

Variety "White Alps".

A variety of aster perennial, which attracts attention with compacted green bushes, crowned with caps of white flowers. They are used in any design, it looks amazing.

Variety "Albus".

A variety of white aster plants, small in stature, reaching a height of 15-20 cm, the stems have white flower baskets that resemble chamomile, the flowers contrast against the green background, which is created by thick leaves.

Astra Blue variety.

Perennial alpine aster flower with blue petals, the inner part of the flower is a double circle of rich yellow color. The flowers are large, grow up to 8 cm wide, the bushes reach a height of 0.5 m. Flowers form a thick carpet on the borders. The variety blooms for a long time.

Variety "Illyria".

Alpine variety of short stature, chamomile-shaped flower cups of various colors, excellent looking on stone peas.The variety is resistant to the winter season. With seed reproduction, flowering of plants can be observed as early as the next season.

Variety "Astra Alpine Pink".

The best perennial plant. Likes to grow in well-lit areas, but can grow in partial shade. Inflorescences of pink color, up to 4 cm in size. This is an early flowering variety, the buds begin to be laid already in the days of May.

Variety "Alpine Blue Astra".

A perennial plant of short stature, having large flowers 6 cm wide. Coloring of flowers in a bright blue shade with a purple overflow, oblong leaves form a dense rosette of green color below.

Gloria variety.

The best perennial aster plant of low growth, has small blue flowers up to 3 cm in size. Flowering occurs in June, throughout the month.

Rosea variety.

Perennial herbaceous aster plant with small pink inflorescences. The overgrowth of the bushes is active, so replanting is necessary often. Propagated by division.

Variety "Astra perennial mix".

It is used when creating various bouquets in order to dilute them with mixed colors. Inflorescences are large, semi-double, rich in color.

How to grow flowers competently.

The variety is very unpretentious, cultivated in the open air. But in order for the flowering to be long-lasting and massive, favorable conditions are necessary for the life of the alpine aster.

If the place is well lit, then the bushes will grow and acquire a dense volumetric appearance.

If you lay a drainage layer at the planting site, this will increase the adaptation of flowers to new conditions, therefore, more plants will take root.

When plants are in bloom, they need a lot of watering.

Some varieties, especially tall ones, need to be fed regularly.

When frost occurs in the autumn season, the bush is trimmed to the level of the root collar.

When pruning is done in the spring season, frozen branches should be removed at the same time.

When part of the root system is exposed, asters are transplanted or sprinkled with soil.

Species that rapidly degenerate are seated, and healthy fragments are detached.

In the southern and middle latitudes, there is no need to shelter asters for wintering; in the north, shelter is made with the help of spruce branches or dry moss.

Seed reproduction.

In temperate latitudes, sowing seeds in open soil is carried out at the beginning of the second spring month and covered with film material. After 2-3 weeks, sprouts appear, they are transplanted to a permanent place. In the last summer days, the bushes will delight you with primroses. Next year you will be able to see how they bloom massively and a lot. It is recommended to cut the buds on juveniles in the first year, because flowering can have a bad effect on the transfer of winter and on further development.

Most cultivators sow seeds late in the fall in soil that is slightly frozen. The grains are sown in the furrows, covered with soil, and already in the spring, seedlings appear. In order to avoid density at the planting site, it is better to plant the grown bushes.

Seedlings appear actively only from fresh grains.

Growing seedlings.

Seedlings are easily grown from the seeds at home, and then they are easily transplanted into the ground. What needs to be done for this.

Seeds are sown in the last days of February or in the first spring month.

To prepare a potting mix, you need to take soil from the garden, mix it with 1/2 of the manure that has been perepil. In order not to bother yourself, you can purchase a ready-made mixture in the store.

The potting boxes must have a drainage system.

The seeds are buried 1-1.5 cm into the ground or are scattered over the surface layer of the soil and sprinkled with loosened earth.

Watering is applied in moderation, care must be taken to prevent crust formation on the surface layer of the earth.

Seed containers are placed on the sills on the south side to ensure good lighting.

When the first shoots appear, the temperature conditions drop to 16-18 degrees in order to avoid stretching the shoots.

The transplant is carried out when 3-4 true leaves appear on the plant.

Seedlings are grown without diving, provided that the seeds are sown in individual containers.

When the weather is warm, the seedlings undergo a hardening procedure.

In the first summer days, you can transplant seedlings to a permanent place, which must be disinfected in advance with a hot solution of manganese.

Another original way of cultivating asters is by sowing grains in boiling water. It helps to accelerate the germination of plants. The soil mixture, similar to the seedling mixture, is laid out in a plastic container with a transparent lid. The placement of grains on the surface layer of the soil occurs in several rows. Next, the soil substrate is poured along with the seeds with boiling water, then the container is closed and placed where it is warm. Seedlings sprout quickly, then the container is opened. The container is placed on the window, after 3-4 true leaves appear, the plants are transplanted to a permanent place.

During seed propagation, the characteristics of the variety are not always inherited, this must be taken into account when cultivating special, rare varieties.

Cuttings.

Propagation by cuttings is the most optimal breeding option for asters if you want the juveniles to inherit all the maternal characteristics. This method is available even for beginners, if, of course, you follow some rules.

Only healthy and strong cuttings are required to be cut.

When cutting young shoots into pieces, make sure that each petiole has 3 leaves.

Sections are subject to treatment with a preparation to stimulate root formation, for example, succinic acid.

Petioles are planted in a soil substrate, which includes turf, peat and sand.

In order for the petioles to take root faster, they must be covered with a film material.

Moistening of the soil is carried out moderately; strong drying and excess moisture should not be allowed.

The planted plants are ventilated daily - the film material is temporarily opened.

14-21 days after the rooting of the cuttings, the film is removed.

Adapted bushes are transplanted into the ground in the last summer days or in the first autumn month.

Reproduction by dividing the bush.

Most flower growers carry out aster propagation by dividing the bush, as they consider it easier and more effective. You can propagate the entire period - from the first summer days to the beginning of autumn. After the active growth of the plant begins, a careful separation of a part of the bush is carried out, plus the root is taken, then transplantation into the ground is carried out. At the same time, you need to remove weak and dry shoots. The planting site should not be in a low-lying area, as moisture can stagnate there, the root system will get sick and rot. The best option is loamy soil, which has been well dug up. Organic fertilizers and lime are added to the depleted soil to increase the calcium content. You can plant aster in the soil after marigolds and marigolds.

Agrotechnics.

A perennial can grow and bloom in one area for 5-7 years, but still the best period for the plant to actively develop and bloom is 3-4 years. After this period, the aster begins to bloom less. For a long, generous flowering of an aster, certain principles must be observed.

It is impossible for the soil to dry out strongly or, conversely, to become waterlogged. Watering is applied in moderation, the water must be settled.

Regular weeding will get rid of weeds, which take most of the nutrients from the soil.

Remove flowers that have already bloomed.

Loosen the soil regularly to allow oxygen to penetrate the flowers. Loosening is required shallow, in order to avoid damage to the roots.

To strengthen the root system, it is necessary to huddle the bushes.

Asters like to be fed, especially when the flower is actively growing and buds are forming.

With the onset of spring, at the wintering site of asters, the snow cover is quickly removed so that the water does not stagnate, because this will negatively affect the roots of the flowers.

Prevention of diseases and harmful insects.

The variety has a high immunity to common diseases, but if you take care of flowers poorly, they can get sick with powdery mildew or fusarium. When the first symptoms of the disease appear, the removal of the infected fragments and their destruction is required, the bushes are treated with medicines against the fungus or Bordeaux mixture.

The flowers can also be attacked by harmful insects, for example, spider mites, caterpillars, slugs. Prevention and treatment are carried out with various drugs or folk remedies, for example, ash or soap solution. The best preventive measure is to provide favorable conditions for the life of flowers. Then you won't have to heal.

Asters when decorating landscapes.

The decorativeness of the aster, its various colors are very productively used when decorating landscapes.

With the help of asters, they create a background for the alpine slides.

Group planting of flowers in rockeries.

Asters line the curbs and paths in the garden.

Flowers are planted in flower beds to contrast with other vegetation.

A rich, fragrant rug is created from asters in their territories.

Asters are planted on the banks of the water bodies of the garden plot.

Variety "Alpine aster" is an ornamental perennial plant that pleases with its richness, beauty, variety of colors and allows you to create original designs, flower beds, flower beds.