Campanula

The Campanula genus includes about 300 annual, biennial and perennial plants: both herbaceous and semi-shrubby. Many species are unpretentious, used in borders, rocky gardens, flower beds, and sometimes they are grown in pots. Campanula isophylla comes from the northern regions of Italy and is often grown indoors. In Europe, he is called the "Italian star". This is a tender perennial species with hanging brittle shoots. The plant can only remain outdoors in mild climates. In June and July, small star-shaped white or blue flowers bloom. The crop is well suited for hanging baskets. The Carpathian bluebell (C. carpatica), as you may have guessed, originated from the Carpathians. It is a perennial species used in borders and stony gardens. Oval-heart-shaped leaves are toothed along the edge. Blooming in June and July, the cup-shaped flowers are painted in transitional tones of blue and white. Broadleaf bell (C. latifolia, C. macrantha) is a perennial species with bell-shaped violet-blue flowers collected in brushes, blooming in May-June. C. medium, colloquially called "Juliet" in Italian, is a two-year-old species of Italian origin. In the period from May to July, bell-shaped white, blue, pink or purple flowers bloom, collected in brushes. C. persicifolia is a perennial species that blooms between May and August with white, blue, or purplish-blue flowers with an expanded corolla, collected in sparse racemes. This type is widely used in curbs. Portenschlag's bellflower (C. portenschlagiana, C. muralis) is a perennial species with rounded, heart - shaped leaves with a serrated edge and bell-shaped dark purplish-blue flowers that bloom from May to September. C. pyramidalis is a perennial species with bell-shaped blue, purple, or white flowers, blooming from June to August.

The Campanula genus includes about 300 annual, biennial and perennial plants: both herbaceous and semi-shrubby.

Many species are unpretentious, used in borders, rocky gardens, flower beds, and sometimes they are grown in pots. Campanula isophylla comes from the northern regions of Italy and is often grown indoors. In Europe, he is called the "Italian star". This is a tender perennial species with hanging brittle shoots. The plant can only remain outdoors in mild climates. In June and July, small star-shaped white or blue flowers bloom. The crop is well suited for hanging baskets.

The Carpathian bluebell (C. carpatica), as you may have guessed, originated from the Carpathians. It is a perennial species used in borders and stony gardens. Oval-heart-shaped leaves are toothed along the edge. Blooming in June and July, the cup-shaped flowers are painted in transitional tones of blue and white. Broadleaf bell (C. latifolia,

C. macrantha) is a perennial species with bell-shaped violet-blue flowers collected in brushes, blooming in May-June.

C. medium, colloquially called "Juliet" in Italian, is a two-year-old species of Italian origin. In the period from May to July, bell-shaped white, blue, pink or purple flowers bloom, collected in brushes.

C. persicifolia is a perennial species that blooms between May and August with white, blue, or purplish-blue flowers with an expanded corolla, collected in sparse racemes. This type is widely used in curbs. Portenschlag's bellflower (C. portenschlagiana, C. muralis) is a perennial species with rounded, heart - shaped leaves with a serrated edge and bell-shaped dark purplish-blue flowers that bloom from May to September. C. pyramidalis is a perennial species with bell-shaped blue, purple, or white flowers, blooming from June to August.

Cultivation

The bell of equal leaves is usually grown in pots and, as a rule, is kept indoors during the flowering period, and then put on a balcony or in the garden. However, in the northern regions for the winter it should be covered and monitor the temperature, it should not fall below 5 °C. Other types of blue-bell are usually placed in gardens, flower beds, and rocky gardens. Perennial species are planted permanently in autumn or spring, in well-drained fertile land. In some species (for example, bell peachleaf), pruning stimulates the formation of new flowers used for cutting.

Location

Usually, bluebells prefer a well-lit place, but not in direct sunlight. Bell peachleaf and some other species grow better in partial shade.

Temperature

The optimal temperature for growing a bell of equal leaves is 13-17 °C. After flowering, the plant needs a rest period at a temperature of 6-10 °C, this will have a beneficial effect on flowering next year. Most other species, with the exception of the brittle bell (C. fragilis) and the pyramidal bell (which require the same conditions as the equal-leaved bell), can tolerate temperatures from -15 to 20 °C.

Watering

During the growing season, bluebells are watered frequently, but not excessively. In winter, watering is noticeably reduced. It is best to water this plant with hard tap water. In addition, it is recommended to maintain a humid atmosphere by spraying it often, but not during flowering. If the temperature exceeds 17 °C, place the pot on a tray with pebbles or expanded clay and constantly wet the filler.

Transplant

The bell of equal leaves does not respond well to transplanting into a new pot. Therefore, in the spring, a part of the surface layer of the soil (about 2.5 cm thick) is replaced with well-drained soft fertile soil; this has a beneficial effect on the plant.

Reproduction

Bluebells are propagated by seeds and vegetatively. Sowing of seeds is carried out in October or March-April in peat-sandy soil, distributing them over the surface of the soil, without closing. Then maintain a low temperature (for most species 13-15 °C, for the bell of equal leaves 15-18 °C). Seeds are scattered. When the shoots reach such a size that they can be held in your hands (after 4-5 weeks), they dive. Later, the seedlings are transplanted into 8-cm pots. In spring or autumn, they are planted in a permanent place or transplanted into 12-14-centimeter pots. In plants obtained from seed, flowering occurs in 2 years. Sowing of biennial (and grown as biennial) species is carried out in early summer. Reproduction by dividing the bush is carried out in the spring. This method is not suitable for species with fleshy roots, like the pyramidal bell. Often cuttings are made, sometimes using the material obtained during pruning. In spring, 4-8-centimeter shoots are taken on cuttings and planted to root in a mixture of sand and peat taken in equal parts, maintaining coolness and high humidity; sometimes the rooting material is covered with a piece of plastic film. When they appear roots and shoots are transplanted into 10-12-centimeter pots with ordinary garden soil. Two-year-old (and those grown as two-year-old) do not cuttings.

Bluebells are propagated by seeds and vegetatively. Sowing of seeds is carried out in October or March-April in peat-sandy soil, distributing them over the surface of the soil, without closing. Then maintain a low temperature (for most species 13-15 °C, for the bell of equal leaves 15-18 °C). Seeds are scattered. When the shoots reach such a size that they can be held in your hands (after 4-5 weeks), they dive. Later, the seedlings are transplanted into 8-cm pots. In spring or autumn, they are planted in a permanent place or transplanted into 12-14-centimeter pots. In plants obtained from seed, flowering occurs in 2 years. Sowing of biennial (and grown as biennial) species is carried out in early summer. Reproduction by dividing the bush is carried out in the spring. This method is not suitable for species with fleshy roots, like the pyramidal bell. Often cuttings are made, sometimes using the material obtained during pruning. In spring, 4-8-centimeter shoots are taken on cuttings and planted to root in a mixture of sand and peat taken in equal parts, maintaining coolness and high humidity; sometimes the rooting material is covered with a piece of plastic film. When they appear roots and shoots are transplanted into 10-12-centimeter pots with ordinary garden soil.

Two-year-old (and those grown as two-year-old) do not cuttings.

Diseases

Excess or lack of moisture in the soil and atmosphere leads, respectively, to root rot and drying of the aboveground part. Roots are more likely to rot due to fungi of the Fusarium or Pythium genera. Keep an eye on watering. Gray rot (the causative agent is fungi of the genus Botrytis) leads to rotting of young shoots, leaves and flowers. Reduce the humidity level and treat with the appropriate fungicide. Among the pests, snails are dangerous, spoiling the shoots and leaves of species grown in the open ground. They get rid of them with the help of poisoned baits. The presence of ticks is recognized by their appearance under the leaves webs and specks that tend to merge; gradually the plant dries up completely. Against ticks, planting is treated with an acaricide, and prevention is reduced to maintaining high humidity around the plant. On the leaves of some species, rust appears in the form of orange pustules. Treat with one of the anti-rust medications.

Acquisition

Bluebells with already blooming flowers are quite easy to find in summer in gardening centers and branded flower shops. Choose plants with lots of unopened buds and no yellow or rotted leaves.