Fritillaria

The genus Fritillaria is herbaceous bulbous perennial found naturally in the temperate climate of the Northern Hemisphere. There are many cultivated species and varieties that are grown mainly because of the bright color of bell-shaped or cube-shaped flowers. In addition, this plant is widely known in folk medicine, where bulbs are used (they have a beneficial effect on asthmatic diseases). The imperial hazel grouse (Fritillaria imperialis) is a species of Asian origin with a fairly rapid growth, reaching a height of even 1 m. Depending on the variety, the color of the flowers can be from yellow to orange and red. In April, very bright and catchy specimens with a characteristic unpleasant smell bloom. The acmopetala hazel grouse (F. acmopetala) grows more slowly and reaches no more than 50 cm in height. In April, the plant blooms in a special way with colored flowers: light green on the inner side of the corolla of the perianth lobes, on the outer side - dark purple and yellow-green with chestnut veins. The checkered hazel grouse (F. meleagris) grows up to 40 cm in height. The flowering period usually falls on April-May. There are many cultivars with differently colored flowers: from white to purple-green and from dark purple to red-purple. This species grows well in moist soils. It can even be used to create blooming spots on a grassy carpet. Similar to it, but smaller in size (height 20 cm), the broad-leaved hazel grouse (F. latifolia), which originated from the Caucasus and Turkey. Its flowers range from purple to reddish-chestnut and yellow. The flowers of F. delphinensis are dark chestnut with gray spots. Hazel grouse (F. tenella) has single flowers with a green tint and purple and chestnut spots.

The genus Fritillaria is herbaceous bulbous perennial found naturally in the temperate climate of the Northern Hemisphere. There are many cultivated species and varieties that are grown mainly because of the bright color of bell-shaped or cube-shaped flowers. In addition, this plant is widely known in folk medicine, where bulbs are used (they have a beneficial effect on asthmatic diseases).

The imperial hazel grouse (Fritillaria imperialis) is a species of Asian origin with a fairly rapid growth, reaching a height of even 1 m. Depending on the variety, the color of the flowers can be from yellow to orange and red. In April, very bright and catchy specimens with a characteristic unpleasant smell bloom.

The acmopetala hazel grouse (F. acmopetala) grows more slowly and reaches no more than 50 cm in height. In April, the plant blooms in a special way with colored flowers: light green on the inner side of the corolla of the perianth lobes, on the outer side - dark purple and yellow-green with chestnut veins.

The checkered hazel grouse (F. meleagris) grows up to 40 cm in height. The flowering period usually falls on April-May. There are many cultivars with differently colored flowers: from white to purple-green and from dark purple to red-purple. This species grows well in moist soils. It can even be used to create blooming spots on a grassy carpet. Similar to it, but smaller in size (height 20 cm), the broad-leaved hazel grouse (F. latifolia), which originated from the Caucasus and Turkey. Its flowers range from purple to reddish-chestnut and yellow.

The flowers of F. delphinensis are dark chestnut with gray spots. Hazel grouse (F. tenella) has single flowers with a green tint and purple and chestnut spots.

Cultivation

Grouse bulbs are planted in the garden from September to November, at a depth of 10-15 cm and observing the distance between them of 10-30 cm. The soil should be well treated and filled with organic matter, in particular rotten foliage. Planting bulbs in a permanent place, they pour coarse sand around them and do nothing more with the ground for at least 4 years. In the northern regions, the soil around the bulbs is mulched in autumn with leaves and peat. In addition, grouse can be grown in pots - on balconies and terraces. In this case, the bulbs are also planted in autumn, in the soil of garden soil, peat, sand and rotten foliage taken in equal parts.

Location

All grouse species prefer a sunny place, and only Imperial grouse grows well in slightly shaded corners. Bulbs of fritillary (the second name of grouse), grown in pots, are placed in a protected place for the winter and kept at a temperature of 5-6 °C.

Temperature

Depending on the species, the optimal temperature for growth and flowering is in the range of 14-22 °C.

Watering

In early spring, the bulbs of plants placed in the garden begin to be watered regularly. As it grows and develops and with the onset of flowering, it is watered more often. At the end of flowering, when the leaves begin to dry out, watering is reduced and reduced to nothing. The same method is followed for indoor specimens, making sure that the soil is slightly moist, including during the dormant period.

Transplant

Potted plants can be replanted in a new container in late summer, using new soil. The size of the pot is usually within 15-20 cm.

Care

To maintain the beautiful appearance of the plant, dry and damaged leaves are removed. In summer, when the leaves dry out, the stem is shortened to 5-7 cm.

Reproduction

Plants are easily grown from seed. In July-August, ripe seed pods are collected, seeds are extracted from them and immediately sown in boxes filled with light sandy loam soil, and its surface is covered with a small amount of coarse sand. The soil in the boxes is constantly kept in a slightly moist state, in summer - away from the sun, and in autumn and winter they are protected from frost and even low temperatures. Germination is very slow: shoots appear in the spring following sowing. In late spring, the resulting plants are transplanted in groups of 8-10 in 12-14-centimeter pots, trying to do not damage the roots. Flowering of plants obtained from seeds occurs in 4-5 years, and often their properties differ from those of the parent plant. Reproduction is faster with babies, which are separated from the main bulb in the summer months, when the leaves are dry. For the first year, the bulbs are planted in a box, and then-separately in cups and take care of them in the same way as for specimens obtained from seeds. Flowering in this case occurs in 2-3 years, and these plants retain the properties of the mother. Bulbs should be kept in the air as little as possible, otherwise they dry out, which can lead to permanent damage.

Plants are easily grown from seed. In July-August, ripe seed pods are collected, seeds are extracted from them and immediately sown in boxes filled with light sandy loam soil, and its surface is covered with a small amount of coarse sand. The soil in the boxes is constantly kept in a slightly moist state, in summer - away from the sun, and in autumn and winter they are protected from frost and even low temperatures. Germination is very slow: shoots appear in the spring following sowing. In late spring, the resulting plants are transplanted in groups of 8-10 in 12-14-centimeter pots, trying to do not damage the roots. Flowering of plants obtained from seeds occurs in 4-5 years, and often their properties differ from those of the parent plant.

Reproduction is faster with babies, which are separated from the main bulb in the summer months, when the leaves are dry. For the first year, the bulbs are planted in a box, and then-separately in cups and take care of them in the same way as for specimens obtained from seeds. Flowering in this case occurs in 2-3 years, and these plants retain the properties of the mother. Bulbs should be kept in the air as little as possible, otherwise they dry out, which can lead to permanent damage.

Diseases

The death of bulbs due to drying out can be avoided by immediately planting them or storing them in moist peat. It is also necessary to check for rot on bulbs and roots, in most cases it is the result of a fungal infection that occurs in conditions of waterlogged and poorly drained soil. Rotting bulbs can also occur due to damage and wounds caused during transplanting to a permanent planting site or to a new pot. Before transplanting, it is useful to treat the soil in the garden with a tiram -based fungicide, which is diluted in water at the rate of 30-40 g per bucket. Larvae of leaf beetles they eat young leaves at the stage of their formation. If individual specimens are affected, the pests can be removed manually: they often hide under the leaves or at the root neck of plants. Otherwise, it is recommended to treat the plants with appropriate insecticides.

Acquisition

Bulbs dry up and spoil, so when planting, pay attention to the appearance of the bulbs; the package must be intact. It is better to buy them in late summer or early autumn and immediately plant them on a permanent landing site.