Transplanting freesia into open ground. Freesia - planting and care
Freesia care
Freesia or freesia is considered to be one of the most charming and delicate plants in the garden.
The flower belongs to the Iris or Iris family and is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants that unites more than twenty species of various freesias. The flower got its name in honor of the famous botanist from Germany - Freesia. With its exquisite, pleasant scent, reminiscent of lily of the valley, freesia is often referred to as Cape lily of the valley.Homeland and appearance of freesia
In natural conditions, freesia can be found in South Africa, where the flower feels great on the banks of rivers, where a humid climate remains, as well as among shrubs that protect the delicate flower from scorching rays.
Most often, hybrid freesia is grown in gardens. Its height reaches one meter. The stem is branched, the corm is covered with brownish scales. The foliage is thin, with pronounced veins. The length of the leaf plate is on average 20 cm and the width is 1.5 cm.
The flowers are very fragrant, 3 to 5 cm in diameter, collected in inflorescences, one-sided. The palette of flowers is very diverse: white, blue, yellow, red, cream, purple, pink. Often the throat of flowers has a contrasting color that stands out against the background of the petals. At the end of flowering, a fruit is formed on the plant - a box.
Also in the gardens are grown freesia refracted or broken and Armstrong's freesia.
Freesia is a rather whimsical and demanding plant. Plant care needs regular throughout the season.
Watering mode
Freesias need regular and abundant watering immediately after planting and throughout the season, however, it is important to avoid waterlogging the soil. The soil should dry out between waterings.
Watering is carried out in the morning.
Illumination requirements
The plant can tolerate direct sunlight, but it is important to ensure good ventilation of the air, that is, not to plant freesia too tightly.
In the garden, it is best to choose a place where the sun's rays are only in the morning and evening, and partial shade is formed in the afternoon.
Temperature regime
Freesia belongs to heat-loving plants and prefers air temperatures in the range of + 25- + 30 degrees.
To obtain abundant flowering from the moment of planting to the formation of the first leaves, it is better to keep the plant at a temperature of no more than +15 degrees.
Fertilizers and feeding
Freesia reacts best to liquid fertilizers and at the same time does not tolerate dry nutrient mixtures at all.
During the active growth of the flower, fertilizers with nitrogen content should be applied three times, in addition, manganese, phosphorus, iron, potassium and boron should be contained in the top dressing.
The following fertilization scheme is used in the garden:
- Immediately after sprouting - fertilizing with ammonium nitrate (20 grams of fertilizer per bucket of water);
- Twice a month - feeding with superphosphate (40 grams per bucket of water) and potassium salt (20 grams per bucket of water).
Planting and transplanting freesia
Planting freesia in open ground
The preparatory stage for planting freesia begins at the very beginning of spring - in early March. At this time, the plants are placed in pots filled with an earthen mixture consisting of:
- Sod land - two parts;
- Peat, humus and sand - one part at a time.
Nutrients need to be added to the soil: superphosphate, bone meal and fertilizer containing potassium.
It is important to plant freesia, observing a certain density: in a pot with a volume of three liters and a diameter of 15 cm, as a rule, no more than six plant tubers are placed. The temperature regime required for freesia is from +25 to +28 degrees, while the main thing is to maintain high humidity in the room and regularly moisten the soil.
Seedlings appear after two to three weeks, now the beautiful freesia is ready for planting in open ground.
It is necessary to choose a slightly shaded place for the flower in the garden, carefully protected from drafts, where there is fertile soil. Before planting, the land on the site is well loosened to a depth of 40 cm.You can immediately dig in the pegs to which the plants will be tied up in the future. The depth of planting of tubers is not more than 6 cm, the distance between plants is from 6 to 12 cm, depending on the variety and type of freesia. The flower can be grown in the garden, but in a container, this will easily protect the plant and possible frost and adverse weather.
If weather conditions permit, freesia can be planted immediately in open ground without germinating the tubers in advance, but first you need to check the planting material - no damage and soft parts have appeared on the tubers.
Some gardeners plant freesia tubers in the fall, but this planting is not suitable for those who live in areas with harsh climates and very cold winters.
Freesia bulb
Seed propagation
Before planting, the planting material should be soaked for a day in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Planting period is the second half of April or early June. The seeds are grown at temperatures from +20 to +25 degrees. When a second leaf appears on the sprouts, they dive and continue to grow in a greenhouse or greenhouse throughout the summer and autumn.
In the second half of autumn or early winter, it is necessary to lower the temperature to +8 and expect the appearance of buds. When the buds appear, the temperature is raised to +15. At the end of flowering, the tubers are dug up and then stored and planted as adult freesia.
Vegetative propagation (corms)
Before planting, the corm must be carefully inspected so that there are no damages and soft parts on it. Then it is cut into several parts so that each part retains one kidney. Sections should be treated with a fungicide (powder) and dried for two days in a well-ventilated area. Then each part of the corm is planted in a prepared pot and sprouts are expected to appear. Fortified young plants are transplanted into open ground.
In some cases, small children are formed on the corm, as a rule, 3-4 pieces. They must be dug up in the fall along with the mother corms, without separating them to store with an adult plant, and planted in the ground in the spring.
Storing freesia corms
In order not to lose all the planting material, freesia must be dug up when the leaves begin to dry out, do not wait until they fade completely.
After digging, the leaves are cut off, and the tubers are treated with a disinfectant and dried at a temperature of +27 degrees in a room with a good ventilation system. The period for drying the bulbs takes from two to three days.
The storage conditions for tubers depend on what kind of flowering you need to get next year.
- Early flowering
Planting material is injured for two weeks at a temperature of +28 to +30 degrees and an air humidity of at least 60%.
- Normal flowering
For 12-16 weeks, peeled and dried tubers are stored at temperatures from +29 to +31 degrees.
- Late bloom
Immediately after digging, the tubers are sent for storage at a temperature of 0- + 1 degrees. In this mode, the planting material is kept from six months to 9 months. Then the tubers are processed and planted in the ground.
In order to grow freesia flowers in winter, at home, you can do the following. After digging, the tubers are stored for three weeks at a temperature not higher than +13 degrees, and then immediately planted in containers. It is better to choose flowerpots with a volume of no more than one liter. Planting depth - from 5 to 7 cm, depending on the size of the tubers. Be sure to provide a good drainage layer. Stick to moderate watering and provide support for the plants.
Freesia flower
Flowers appear in the second half of August, the flowering period lasts until frost. However, growers can independently adjust the flowering period of freesia, creating certain conditions for the plant.
Freesia flowers are collected in loose inflorescences. Peduncles are quite flexible and thin, to avoid damage, they are tied up. Modern varieties of freesia are very diverse, there are simple flowers, double with different colors: monochromatic or variegated.
To extend the flowering period with the onset of cold weather, containers with plants are brought into the room and dry peduncles must be cut off in time.
Double-flowered varieties are more capricious, more difficult to grow, the flowering period is short-lived.
Freesia pruning is done to stimulate the re-emergence of the inflorescence on the plant. There are certain rules for pruning flowers and leaves.
- Pruning a withered flower
- The optimal pruning period is when the inflorescence has bloomed, but the fruit has not begun to form.
- A garden pruner or kitchen scissors are used for pruning.
- Pruning is carried out half a centimeter below the flower located at the top of the stem.
- Do not trim the leaves
Do not cut the leaves at the end of the flowering period, as the leaves help the plant accumulate strength for wintering.
- Leaves are cut off after complete drying
It is best to prune the foliage when it turns yellow or brown.
- It is necessary to cut off the leaves, leaving a stump 5 cm high.
- If the cut leaves are healthy and free of signs of disease or insect damage, they can be used for compost.
Note to the florist
Why do freesia leaves dry?
Leaves can dry out from lack of moisture, both in the soil and in the air. Also, yellow and brown spots appear from sunburn and an excess of fertilizers in the soil.
Why doesn't freesia bloom?
As a rule, the buds on the plant do not appear after the incorrect content of the corms (in a too warm room).
Why doesn't freesia emerge?
Sprouts do not appear mainly due to improper preparation of the bulbs for planting. Perhaps the planting material was not treated with a growth stimulant and was not soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. It is also possible the option of improper storage of corms after digging up.
Diseases and pests of freesia
Sometimes in the garden freesia is attacked by aphids, thrips, spider mites. If pests are found on the plant, they should be collected and treated with an insecticide purchased from a specialized store.
Freesia is also affected by fusarium and various types of rot. To avoid such troubles, it is important to follow all the recommendations for growing a flower:
- Do not use too cold water for irrigation (it is better to water the plants with settled water);
- Plant the plants in such a way that the distance between the bushes is maintained.
If signs of illness are found, it is urgent to treat the bush with a fungicide.
In the case of viral diseases that provoke necrosis of flowers and leaves, you need to get rid of the affected plants in order to avoid contamination of healthy bushes.
Freesia care videos
Despite its delicate appearance, freesia has an obstinate character. When growing a flower in the garden, it is important to find a bright, but protected from drafts place for it, provide the plant with a long daylight hours, but exclude the sun's rays during the hottest part of the day. The regime of watering and feeding is important. Mature plants tie up and mulch the soil around the bushes. For abundant and long-term watering, the correct storage conditions should be organized for the corms.
Freesia is a charming delicate flower with a subtle subtle scent of summer, freshness, lily of the valley, fruits and something unknown, not desired. One of the most beautiful, refined, elegant garden and home decorative flowering plants. Not every grower will undertake to grow freesia. She gained fame as a difficult-to-grow culture, appearing for a short time in flower shops as part of magnificent bouquets, and then disappearing until the next year. But is freesia really that hard to grow?
Of course, this is not the easiest culture to care for, but it is also far from a capricious azalea, for example, freesia. It belongs to the bulbous flower plants, accordingly, it is grown like any bulbous or corm flower. With some peculiarities and nuances, but without super-efforts. And it is not necessary to grow freesia only for cutting - it blooms beautifully and for a long time in a pot on a windowsill and in a garden flower bed.
The flower belongs to the genus of perennial grasses with corms. The freesia family is Iris. This "lady" is a direct relative of the irises. More than twenty varieties are grown in decorative garden and indoor culture. The most popular species is the crossed hybrid, which appeared as a result of the labor of breeders from several varieties of wild freesia more than a century ago.
Freesia was "born" in South Africa. There it continues to grow in nature on the banks of African rivers. In the wild, this herbaceous shrub reaches an impressive size - about one and a half meters in height, and forms rather impenetrable fragrant flowering thickets.
Freesia in the garden - beauty and tenderness all summer
The name of the flower was given by a botanist and an unknown doctor from Germany, Friedrich Fries. He did not regret his name for the African find, which made him famous all over the world. Today this amazing flower is known and loved by flower growers all over the world. Freesia is at the peak of popularity and, it seems, is not going to leave it.
How to tame an "African princess" and make her bloom in an apartment or in a flower bed in the climatic zone of the middle zone. Is it possible? Perhaps, if you follow the rules for caring for freesia and create favorable conditions for the plant.
Why freesia is good
Everyone! But the plant has several, of course, outstanding qualities, for which it is distinguished by flower growers from the order of bulbous and corms.
This plant:
Variety of varieties
Freesia can grow up to a meter (in accordance with the characteristics of the variety). The plant has a bare, leafless stem with multiple branches. Corm - with a brownish-gray scaly coating. Thin, sharp leaves, like sedge, are only one and a half centimeters wide, and can reach twenty in length.
The flowers are quite large, up to five centimeters in length. Collected in paired or one-sided inflorescences. The petals can be painted in the usual colors (white, orange, red, pink, yellow), or they can have an unusual shade (purple, lemon green, burgundy, blue). The middle of the flower in certain varieties is contrasting in color to the petals.
By the way! The fruits of freesia are seed capsules. But propagation by seeds is impractical. Freesias are propagated by corms, and only breeders use seeds for breeding new varieties.
There are only three main types of freesias successfully grown in indoor floriculture.
One is a hybrid, obtained by crossing the first two parental species, and is the most popular in floriculture. From all three species, through selection, many interesting varieties have been obtained, terry and smooth-petaled, multi-colored and variegated, large and miniature.
Freesia varieties
| Variety name | Peculiarities |
|---|---|
| The species from which the popular varieties "Alba" and "Fragrant" originated. This is a miniature plant form that does not grow taller than forty centimeters. Thin stems have a spreading shape. The spikelet is paniculate, there are up to five flowers on it. Flowering begins in April. Petals color: white, yellow, orange, variegated. |
| Large-flowered, up to seven flowers can be located on a miniature stem. Possesses a memorable bright aroma with a distinctly present note of lily of the valley. The color of the petals from the edge is lemon yellow, to the base - orange-orange. |
| Differs in large white flowers with lilac shading applied to them (nature). The inside of the flower is sunny yellow. It looks very impressive. |
| A medium-sized species, which under development conditions is better than average, can grow up to 70 cm. Large bell-shaped flowers are in panicles of 5 pieces. The petal colors are all shades of red and pink. They bloom in May, live for about a month. The most popular variety of this type is "Cardinal". |
| They are rightfully considered the most elegant variety. A tall, up to 70 cm bush gives at least three peduncles of 30-35 cm each. They are decorated with dark scarlet flowers, 10-11 pieces per panicle. The length of the inflorescence can be up to 9 cm. On the red "body" of the petal, yellow spots, yellow stamens, purple anthers and a dark blue pistil are visible. Here is such an elegant and majestic "Cardinal". |
| Not only is she herself a derivative of two other species, but also varieties are derived from her. But the beauty of "genetic" and parental traits is enough for everyone. The hybrid freesia itself grows up to a meter, branching strongly during the growth process. The inflorescences reach 7 cm in diameter, and there can be 6-7 flowers on each cluster. The aroma is strong, fragrant. Colors: lilac, violet, two-tone and variegated, crimson, yellow. The following varieties were derived from hybrid freesia: "Ballerina", "Rose Marie", "Pimperina". |
| Its base is yellow, like chicken fluff, the edges of the petals are snow-white, like the first snowball. Also corrugated petals. And a white "heart" with chaotic yellow stripes. The beauty reaches a height of 30 cm, and in one spikelet inflorescence there can be up to 12 flowers. Has an unusually tart odor. |
| The bush grows low, the peduncles reach a maximum height of 25 cm. The flowers are medium-sized, about 5 cm. The petals are bright crimson, the center is white with pink strokes. There are up to seven flowers in a spikelet. |
| The variety is mini, with peduncles barely 15 cm high. But it has large, six-centimeter flowers-bells. There are up to seven of them in the inflorescence. Rippled texture, dark red edge, yellow center with red shading. The aroma is subtle. |
All varieties can be both smooth-petaled and double-flowered. Terry petals are arranged in several rows. In shops selling seeds and bulbs, you can buy a mix varietal that will make your balcony box, flowerpot or freesia flower bed fun, colorful, unpredictable and festive.
How to grow
Although in cool latitudes, like ours, an African guest will feel more comfortable in a greenhouse, it is possible to grow freesia in an apartment or in an open garden bed. Growing can take place all year round. But if you have planted corms in a flower bed, they will have to be removed for the winter, and planted again in the spring, because they will not endure frost, even with shelter.
When growing a pot culture or a specially equipped greenhouse, the flowering of freesia can be timed to coincide with winter.
Freesia needs
What a freesia sissy needs for successful flowering. Here are a few of the required parameters.
Light
At least 14 hours a day during all periods of development, except for the rest period. At the same time - no direct rays. Shading only. If there is additional lighting (in the winter months), also through shading (light transparent fabric or thin white paper).
By the way! Freesia does not tolerate drafts, so it must be protected from aggressive ventilation. To change the air in the room where freesia grows, it is best to open all possible windows, and at this time take the flower to another room.
The soil
The soil is suitable only for increased looseness. The bottom of the pot must be drained. The soil consists of five components: turf, sand, humus, peat, leafy earth. Necessarily non-acidic environment.
Temperature
Strictly + 22 ° C, not more until flowering, if you want it to come at all. During the period of pecking, germination of bulbs, the temperature should be 5-7 degrees below normal, but as soon as the leaves appear, it must be maintained at the specified level.
Moisture
Freesia loves not only moist air, but also moderately moist soil. It is better not to flood the bulbs, but a humid environment will promote better flower growth and the formation of large flowers. Freesia can be sprayed. Only when the flowers bloom, do not spray water directly on them, they can fall off.
By the way! You can cut freesia flowers already when the first two flowers bloom on the peduncle. The rest will bloom in a vase in the same way as in a pot. After flowering, dried flowers are removed so that nutrients are not consumed by the plant.
Support
Broken freesia is called so because it has weak stems that break easily. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a support for a flower of this type. Also tall species will need support.
Growing in a pot
In home floriculture, freesia, like all bulbous ones, is not grown constantly, but for the sake of the winter flowering process. It is still snowing outside the window, in the courtyard it is time between the coming New Year, Valentine's Day and March 8, and on the windowsill you have a colorful fragrant garden.
- To "African" bloom in January, corms are planted in early autumn, early September.
- To bloom in February, planting, accordingly, must be shifted a month later, that is, to start in early October.
- For flowering in March, freesia bulbs should be placed in a pot with soil, starting the forcing process, it is necessary in the last decade of October.
Before boarding
Rested, dry, undamaged bulbs that have been properly stored in your home or store at the proper temperature and air conditions must be soaked.
1. Soaking is carried out in an antibacterial solution, which can be made:
2. Soak for an hour. After that, rinse with plain water and treat again, this time with a growth stimulant, in the role of which "Epin" has proven itself best of all.
3. Prepare the pots. Flower pots with a diameter of at least 15 cm must be washed and disinfected (washed with soap, soda or rinsed with a solution of potassium permanganate).
4. A medium-sized expanded clay is placed at the bottom of the pot, there, if any, is poured a little ash or charcoal, the soil mixture is poured (see composition above).
5. Under the bottoms of the alleged bulbs, a stick of prolonged potassium-phosphorus fertilizer is buried two centimeters in depth.
6. In one fifteen-centimeter pot, you can plant up to six onions. If large - four.
7. The bulbs are placed in holes 5 cm deep, covered with loose soil.
8. The pot is placed in a cool place - no higher than + 15 ° C temperature. No watering required. Necessarily a lot of light. When the seedlings hatch, the pots move into warmth and watering begins.
Home freesia care
It is easier to grow freesia in an apartment than in a flower bed. You can control humidity and control temperature, fertilize on time and prevent disease.
In the autumn-winter period, it is enough not to forget to organize the lighting. For thin stems, build a support.
It is better to water it with room water, which has stood for two days. Spray with it.
During the heating season, you need to humidify the air additionally, using a humidifier or simple household appliances in the form of wet towels or pallets of water.
Top dressing is carried out every 14 days with mineral components as long as the leaves remain green.
After flowering
When the flowering ended, the leaves began to wither and turn yellow, the stem with the peduncle must be cut off, but watering should be continued for about one and a half months. This is necessary for the corm to give children. Of these, in two years you will receive full-fledged flowering plants. In the meantime, after a month and a half after cutting the peduncle, watering is stopped. They are waiting for the soil to dry in the pot. The corms are removed with the children, disinfected with potassium permanganate, remove excess scales and put to dry.
Bulbs should be stored in mesh bags at + 20ºC… 25ºC and rather high humidity - up to 80%. One month before the next planting, the bulbs are placed in a cool place, where the temperature does not exceed +15 ºC.
A few words about growing freesia in a flower bed
For planting on a flower bed, it is better to subject delicate freesias to a preliminary germination procedure at home. Everything is the same as when planting in a pot when growing in an apartment. Only the time is different. With the arrival of spring, in the first or second month, the disinfected and stimulated bulbs are placed in pots, preferably peat ones. They should be hatching when, in May, you start planting corms in the garden.
Planting - in holes, 6 cm deep. It is better to plant freesia side by side, literally at a five centimeter distance.
The soil between plantings is mulched. Care is carried out as for the rest of the flowers.
Your freesias will start blooming in August and will continue to bloom if they like everything until October.
Video - Preparing freesia bulbs for planting
Video - Growing freesia in the garden and at home
Delicate and fragrant freesia adorns gardens and windowsills. It is appreciated by perfumers and is used in floral compositions. The flower is widely used to create lovely, colorful bouquets that retain their freshness for a long time.
Origin
The homeland of freesia is in South Africa, in the Cape region. In nature, it selects wet areas along the banks and between shrubs. The flower has a lily-of-the-valley-like scent and is therefore nicknamed “Cape lily of the valley”.
The first migration of Freesia to the European continent took place in the 18th century. In the next century, it began to be cultivated as an ornamental plant. After all, its captivating aroma could not fail to captivate the aristocracy and flower growers. A feature of the flower is a different aroma depending on the color. Each variety and color has its own, unique smell.
Freesia came to the territory of Russia at the end of the 19th century and had a very high price. For this, freesia was nicknamed “the flower of aristocrats” here.
Name
Freesia is named after the German botanist Friedrich Frese, who first described it and started breeding. The Latin name is Freesia.
Description
Freesia (Freesia) - bulbous perennial. It is part of the iris or iris family.
Freesia has narrow, tapered leaves of a dark green color with a vein in the center. They grow from the base of the stem and reach a length of 15-20 cm.Their width is only 1-1.5 cm.
With the beginning of flowering, a high peduncle is formed in the rosette of the bush, bearing an inflorescence of 3-10 funnels, open upwards. The color palette is varied: pink, red, orange, blue, raspberry, yellow, lilac. Freesia varieties of combined color and terry species have been bred. Flowers bloom in mid-August and bloom for 4-6 weeks.
The shape of small corms is lyre-shaped or elongated. Outside, they are covered with white and light brown scales. The bulb has a life span of 2 years. With the end of flowering, it dies off, and children grow in its place.
Freesia is often used for forcing in early spring.
Freesia varieties
Growing conditions
Freesia is grown in greenhouses, in open field flower beds and as a pot culture. The bulbs must be dug up for the winter.
The flower loves light and should receive it within 12 hours. It should be remembered that direct sunlight can damage the leaves, so plantings are placed in a light shade. In the room, you need to open the east or west window. And yet, freesia does not like drafts. In gardening, thin freesia stalks will need support. Removing dead flowers and dry leaves will help prolong flowering.
The soil for planting must be loose. For its preparation, mix in equal parts leaf, sod land with humus and peat.
Landing
The flower is planted with ready-made bulbs or seedlings are obtained from seeds. Before planting, bulbs and seeds are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
The flowering of freesia ends with the formation of 2-3 seeds. They are placed in containers with a light, nutritious substrate or in a greenhouse in April. Seedlings will be by the end of the month after the sowing day. The appearance of 2 full-fledged leaves allows you to transfer the seedlings to the flower bed.
It is important to know that freesia seeds have a low germination rate, therefore, experienced flower growers use bulbs.
The flower bulbs are planted on the flower bed in May, when soil frosts pass and the soil temperature will be 10–12 °. They are arranged in 7-10 cm increments, small species 3-5 cm. 15 cm recede between the rows.The depth of embedding depends on the density of the soil and is 6-12 cm.
The bulb will sprout in a month, in the middle of July, buds will begin to form, which will give color in August.
Temperature regime
The temperature regime of the content of freesia is different for each phase of development. The first month and a half after planting, while the buds are formed, the air temperature is maintained at 15-22 º, the soil should be 13-15º. A decrease in temperature prevents the formation of inflorescences, and keeping it warm stimulates active growth.
T = 15-20º is considered favorable for the development of flowers. To avoid flowering defects, a temperature of 15-17º is required during the budding period.
After the end of flowering, the corm begins to ripen. The daytime temperature regime for this is up to 25º, and at night - no higher than 13º.
Watering and fertilizing
Long-term flowering of freesia is possible only in high humidity conditions, which is ensured by daily spraying and watering.
Watering is carried out in the morning, so the leaves and the top layer of the earth will have time to dry out by the evening and will not rot.
- Mineral dressing is carried out with a mixture of ammonium sulfur and potassium phosphate, 5 g per 10 l of water.
- For distillation, make 1-2 dressings.
- During the period of active growth and flowering, fertilizer is applied every 2 weeks.
- From the middle of summer, the dose of dressing is doubled.
- Additional nutrition of freesia is necessary until the leaves wilt.
Bulb care
When the flowering ends, the ground part of the freesia is cut off. The bulb needs to be watered for 1 month more until the baby bulbs grow. The dug out tuber is freed from the remnants of soil and roots, and the scales are removed. The planting material is treated with potassium permanganate or fungicide, after which it is dried at t = 25-27º.
For storage, a room is prepared with a temperature of at least 25º and an air humidity of at least 70%. To maintain the humidity level, dishes with water are placed under the nets with onions. Bulbs should be illuminated for 12 hours during winter. Several times during storage, the tubers are sorted out in order to prevent the development of rot and diseases.
Since the end of winter, the tubers are kept cool with a temperature not exceeding 15º. This contributes to the laying of future inflorescences.
Damage by diseases and pests
The presence of the disease is judged by the state of the leaves. They do not bloom, spots appear on the surface. The leaves attack the flowers and die. At the first sign, they are treated with a fungicide.
Reddish spots are visible on diseased bulbs. They will not make a healthy plant and are destroyed.
The flower looks good in a separate planting and mixed flower garden. Several multi-colored varieties of freesia will be very effective in a flower bed. Roses, climates are suitable partners.
Watch also the video
How to believe in yourself and make your dream come true? An exquisite flower of aristocrats - delicate and fragile freesia - will help you with this. The Cape lily of the valley, according to legend, charges with unheard of belligerent strength of spirit and thereby opens the way to victory. Not only that, African iris (another name for freesia) is famous for the divine scent of lily of the valley and a whole palette of natural shades. Fortunately, freesia is an easy-to-grow flower that is great for budding growers. Unlike other bulbs, its flowering is constant, that is, having begun to bloom in July, it will continue to bloom until the very frost. Take advantage of our tips and tricks for proper outdoor freesia planting, thorough care and cultivation, and you are sure to win!
The most popular types of freesia are:
Video: types and varieties of freesia
How to prepare freesia bulbs for planting
You need to plant freesia in open ground at the age of 2 months, therefore, as a rule, in mid-late March, freesia bulbs should be removed from the refrigerator in order to plant them for germination.
On the outside, all the bulbs usually look good enough because they are in scales. But when you start peeling them off the scales (except for the tips, you do not need to touch them, only the bottom), then you may find dried specimens that you will have to get rid of.
To stimulate the formation of roots, each bulb should be lubricated with aloe juice - this is one of the simplest and most popular ways. Naturally, you can use more effective purchased products, for example, "Kornevin" or "Heteroauxin".
Planting freesia bulbs for germination
You can use the most ordinary plastic cups (0.2 liters) as a planting container. Do not forget to make drainage holes in them.
Advice! If you have small bulbs, then in 1 cup you can plant 2-3 pieces, if large enough, then 1 piece.
The soil for planting must be used loose and airy. You can cook according to the following recipes: take humus, sod and leafy soil in a 1: 1: 1 ratio.
Step-by-step instructions for planting freesia bulbs for germination:
Video: preparing freesia bulbs and planting them for germination
By the way! If you want to plant freesia babies for germination, then they need to be placed in a fairly deep pot (about 15 centimeters) at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other, depending on the size of the children. In this container, children will grow all summer, and in the fall they should be dug up and stored.
Freesia care after planting for germination
The optimum temperature for sprouting bulbs is + 15-18 degrees. In order to maintain such a low enough temperature on the windowsill, you can use a "screen", for example, from a ceiling tile. It is an effective protection against hot and dry indoor air.
Important! At high temperatures, freesias inevitably stretch and become thinner. As a result, their peduncle will be weak, and the flowers are small. It is unlikely that such a plant can please the eye.
Gradually, the temperature outside the window will begin to rise, and therefore on the windowsill, which should not be allowed, since the bulbs will begin to build up an excessively large green mass. Therefore, closer to the time of disembarkation, you should begin to carry out the planting during the day on the veranda or loggia, when the temperature there is above +10 degrees, and at night, bring it in and return it back to the window.
Watering freesia bulbs planted for germination should be done like ordinary seedlings, that is, as the soil dries up.
When the seedlings noticeably grow up, then it is worth installing small supports in the pot and tying up the freesia stalks so that it does not break off.
When and how to plant freesia seedlings in open ground
Landing dates
It is difficult to name a specific date for planting freesia in open ground. As a rule, it is necessary to look at the weather. The average daily temperature should be noticeably higher than +10 degrees, and the soil should be at least +10 degrees. The timing may vary depending on the region and climate. So, in the south it can be planted already in April, in the Middle Lane (Moscow region) it is worth waiting for May, in the Urals and Siberia it is most often planted in late May - early June.
By the way! If the seedlings are not yet crowded in the cups, then you can postpone the planting. If it has outgrown, then it is advisable to hurry up and plant it in open ground.
In general, freesias are not afraid of frost, but if there is a threat of them, and you live in a rather cold region, then after planting, you should put arcs and cover with foil. Also, the ground near the seedlings can be additionally covered with a black film.
According to the lunar calendar in 2019
Choosing the best date for planting the bulbs can help you Moon calendar.
Important! Planting freesia bulbs in a pot (for germination at home) is also recommended in accordance with the lunar calendar.
So favorable days for the spring planting of freesia bulbs in 2019 according to the lunar calendar are:
- in February - 15-17, 23-25;
- in March - 12-17, 22-25;
- in April - 6-8, 20-26, 29, 30;
- in May - 6-8, 14-17, 21-23, 31;
- in June - 1, 2, 9-11.
Unfavorable days according to the lunar calendar for 2019 for planting freesia bulbs in spring, the following dates are:
- in February - 4, 5, 19;
- in March - 6, 7, 21;
- in April - 5, 19;
- in May - 5, 19;
- in June - 3, 4, 17.
According to the lunar calendar from the magazine "1000 Tips for the Summer Resident".
Place and soil
A place for planting should be chosen such that the site is well protected from winds and drafts, and the sun does not stand over the flower throughout the day. In other words, the flower should be planted in light partial shade.
The soil for growing freesia requires sufficiently nutritious, loose and well-drained soil. For example, in the planting hole, you can add soil for seedlings, humus or mix garden soil with peat 1 to 1. You should also add superphosphate at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 1 seedling and mix thoroughly with the soil.
Landing in open ground
Step-by-step instructions for planting freesia seedlings in open ground:
Video: planting freesia in open ground
Outdoor freesia care
After planting and until the very digging of freesia in the fall, its care should include: watering, loosening and weeding the soil from weeds, as well as top dressing.
Freesia loves moisture and does not tolerate drought well, so during the summer it must be watered every day. But it should be understood that from excessive watering and stagnant moisture, the bulbs can rot, therefore, after heavy rains, it is advisable to loosen the ground next to the flower. After the end of flowering, watering is significantly reduced, and then completely stopped.
As always, before flowering, you can use nitrogen fertilizers to feed freesia, and already during flowering, potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
Home care when growing in an apartment
If you decide to leave freesia in the apartment and continue growing it at home, then caring for it is almost identical, except that it is advisable to water it before 5 pm so that the moisture does not stagnate in the pot at night, in other words, the earth dries up.
By the way! Freesia responds very well to evening spraying with "fog".
And do not forget to tie it to the supports so that the flower does not break under the weight of the peduncles.
It is worth remembering! Freesia is a light-loving flower, but direct rays should not fall on it, so it should be kept on the eastern or northern windowsill.
As soon as the plant has a dormant period, in other words, it will fade, the amount of watering should be reduced, and then stopped altogether.
When to dig up and how to preserve freesia bulbs
In the fall, the bulbs should be dug up, all the leaves should be cut off, then washed, disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and stored.
Freesia has become another popular flowering plant among gardeners. She belongs to the representatives of grassy breeds. Such a perennial plant will allow you to easily give a site or a small flower bed a stunning look.
Freesia for decorating the site
The plant is classified as a bulbous plant from the iris family. This flower was introduced from South Africa, which is reflected in the conditions that are required for the healthy growth of the flower.
Small flowers exude a scent reminiscent of lilies of the valley. That is why freesia got its second name - Cape lily of the valley.
The spectrum of shades of flowers of the plant is wide:
You can often find varieties where there are blotches of other shades against the background of one color.
The plant can reach a height of up to 100 cm. Its flowers are hardly placed on a peduncle. All this is framed by long belt-type leaves. Usually in a healthy plant, these leaves are bright green in color.
Thanks to the abundance of seedlings, magnificent freesias can be found in gardens, vegetable gardens, flower beds and personal plots.
In 19th century France, these aristocratic flowers were grown at court. The chambers of highly esteemed persons were decorated with fragrant bouquets.
The delicate petals, similar to porcelain, give the specific sophisticated look of freesia. Such a flower gives the compositions a special tenderness. Beautiful flowers are associated with youth and freshness.
Previously, thermophilic freesias were grown only in greenhouses and used for cutting. Modern varieties already perfectly tolerate cold weather and feel great outdoors. Among the varieties of freesia, only three are suitable for growing in the Russian climate.
Varieties of freesias
Those varieties that are suitable for growing on the site include:
The first variety can grow up to 70 cm in height. Usually, flowers of red shades can be seen on the peduncle of this variety. The inflorescences resemble panicles, in which there are from 3 to 5 flowers. The stems of this variety are branched, large leaves of an oblong shape grow on them.
Leaves grow directly from the rhizome. This variety blooms from May to June. One of the most beautiful varieties of this species can be considered "Cardinal". The flower got this name due to its bright red flowers.
Broken freesia does not exceed 40 cm in height. Its stems are distinguished by a particularly graceful structure. On them you can see inflorescences, collected in a brush, with flowers of yellow and orange shades.
This variety begins to bloom earlier than others in April. The varieties of this variety include "Odorata". Its flowers are bright yellow in color and have a pleasant scent that is felt as soon as the flowering period begins.
The hybrid freesia demonstrates a combination of all the best qualities of other varieties. The bush can rise up to a meter from the ground. The inflorescences of this variety are especially lush and bright. The flowers on such bushes are large, which is not typical of the plant.
Up to 10 flowers are usually collected in inflorescences. Thanks to this feature, the hybrid freesia looks luxurious during the flowering period. This variety can bloom with flowers of different colors, which gives it a luxurious look.
For an unrivaled effect, you can plant several bushes of different colors side by side. The result will be bright bouquets that enliven the landscape design.
Features of planting freesia on the site
Since the flowering of freesia depends on the correct temperature regime, it is necessary to correctly choose the place and time of planting. Before planting, it is necessary to prepare: the tubers are placed in a ventilated bag and arranged in a warm place under a container of water.
After a certain time, root embryos will appear on the tuber. This means that a peduncle has already originated inside. Just before planting, the temperature of the root content should be reduced to 12 grams.
It will also be useful to disinfect with a drug from the fungus. You can also spray the planting material with a substance from pests and growth stimulants. This will speed up the emergence of roots. In extreme cases, potassium permanganate will be enough for processing.
The soil at the site of the freesia planting should be well-drained and nutritious. Top dressing from rotted humus is useful for these flowers. You can add a mineral fertilizer substrate to it.
The pH of such a soil should be neutral. To achieve this, dolomite flour can be added to the ground.
The best time to plant freesia is mid-April. When the soil overheats, the inflorescences dry out in it and stop growing. Therefore, it is important not to miss the time when the temperature of the upper soil layer did not rise above 15 degrees.
Freesia thrives best in shaded areas of the garden. It will be useful to mulch the ground under the plant, this will help keep the moisture necessary for the flowers. The first fresh sprouts can be seen after 2 weeks.
The most effective freesia care
Usually the flowering period of this plant reaches one and a half months. If, after cutting the flowers, the plant itself is also pruned, then the buds remaining on the secondary stems will still bloom, which will slightly increase the overall flowering period.
Freesia requires moderate but frequent watering. The buds need to be maintained as they are very thin and may not support the weight of the flowers. To do this, you can drive pegs between the plants and pull the rope.
Weeding is also essential for the healthy growth of freesia. It is better to remove faded buds, as they spoil the appearance of the plant. In mid-October, the freesia tubers need to be dug up. In this case, the part that was on the surface of the earth is cut off. Peeled and dried roots are sorted out and stored warm until next season.
