Chionodoxa

The genus Chionodoxa includes 9 species - low-growing bulbous perennial plants with a height of no more than 20 cm, blooming in winter. Glossy dark green leaves (young often with a bronze edge) are belt-shaped, yellowish, bloom simultaneously with star-shaped flowers collected in 4-10 rare brushes. The perianth lobes are fused at the base. The bulb is 2-3 cm in diameter and forms several peduncles. Chionodoxa grows into thick carpets. Chionodoxa cretica is a 15 cm tall species with blue or white flowers that appear in March. Chionodoxa Forbesa (Ch. forbesii) grows by 10-30 cm, on each peduncle-4-12 flowers of intense dark blue color with a white core. The most common type of Chionodoxa Lucilia (Ch. luciliae) is up to 15 cm high with blue-blue flowers up to 3 cm in diameter, which are collected in 3-7-flowered racemes. Chionodoxa large-flowered (Ch. grandiflora) - a plant with a height of 20 cm. It has light mauve-blue flowers with a white throat, collected in brushes and blooming from February to April. It is very similar to chionodoxa Lucilia (they have flowers of the same color). Chionodoxa sardinica (Ch. sardiensis) is a low species (10-15 cm) with drooping blue flowers with a white throat and almost white stamens. Blooms in March-April.

The genus Chionodoxa includes 9 species - low-growing bulbous perennial plants with a height of no more than 20 cm, blooming in winter. Glossy dark green leaves (young often with a bronze edge) are belt-shaped, yellowish, bloom simultaneously with star-shaped flowers collected in 4-10 rare brushes. The perianth lobes are fused at the base. The bulb is 2-3 cm in diameter and forms several peduncles. Chionodoxa grows into thick carpets.

Chionodoxa cretica is a 15 cm tall species with blue or white flowers that appear in March.

Chionodoxa Forbesa (Ch. forbesii) grows by 10-30 cm, on each peduncle-4-12 flowers of intense dark blue color with a white core.

The most common type of Chionodoxa Lucilia (Ch. luciliae) is up to 15 cm high with blue-blue flowers up to 3 cm in diameter, which are collected in 3-7-flowered racemes.

Chionodoxa large-flowered (Ch. grandiflora) - a plant with a height of 20 cm. It has light mauve-blue flowers with a white throat, collected in brushes and blooming from February to April. It is very similar to chionodoxa Lucilia (they have flowers of the same color).

Chionodoxa sardinica (Ch. sardiensis) is a low species (10-15 cm) with drooping blue flowers with a white throat and almost white stamens. Blooms in March-April.

Cultivation

Chionodoxa is used for group plantings in the open ground, in curbs, as well as in rock gardens, flower beds and pots on balconies and terraces, for forcing. It prefers loose, well-drained soil fertilized with organic substances. Plants are planted together with other bulbs in autumn, at a distance of 2-6 cm from each other to a depth of no more than 10 cm. When growing in a pot, a mixed soil is used, prepared from earth (50%) and peat, humus and sand, taken in equal parts, with the addition of organic fertilizers at the rate of 200-300 g per bucket of soil. In spring 2-3 times in water for irrigation potted specimens add a complex fertilizer in the amount of 15-20 g per bucket. In addition, potted plants can be made to bloom earlier by providing bright lighting (additional illumination).) at a temperature not lower than 10-12 °C. If you do not cut the wilted flower stalks, boxes filled with numerous seeds are formed. They are collected while they have not yet opened (starting from the end of May).

Location

Chionodoxa requires a sunny place.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to both high and low air temperatures.

Watering

Until the end of flowering, water abundantly. After the flowers wither, watering is reduced and stopped altogether when the leaves begin to turn yellow (from June).

Transplant

Transplanted in the fall, when the bulb no longer fits in the pot.

Care

If you do not plan to collect seeds, then after flowering, the peduncles are removed, which contributes to the" pouring " of the bulb. In addition, remove yellowed leaves.

Reproduction

Sowing of seeds is carried out in open ground or in a container. Finally obtained grown bulbs are planted next year in the fall.

Diseases

After flowering, the bulbs can be covered with smut-a fungus that forms a black mass of spores. In this case, remove the bulb, remove it.

Acquisition

Seeds in sealed bags are easy to find on sale, in retail trade (check the expiration date), and flowering plants in pots or bowls are purchased in flower nurseries. Make sure that the plants are compact and covered with buds.