Ixia

About 40 species make up the genus Ixia. These are perennial corm-like herbaceous plants that bloom early in spring. They grow up to 30-50 cm in height, depending on the species. The leaves are narrow, linear, arranged in two rows. The flowers are funnel-shaped, of various colors-white, yellow, red, blue with a dark core, collected in 6-10 flowers in an ear or brush on a thin leafless peduncle. Various hybrids were obtained from crossing the species: unicolored and mixed colors. Ixia flexuosa is a species that grows up to 30 cm in height, with pink flowers. Ixia maculata (I. maculata) is characterized by bright orange flowers. Green-flowered Ixia (I. viridiflora) - a plant about 30 cm tall with green-blue flowers. From this species, many garden hybrids are obtained, usually tall and strong, with larger flowers of various colors, in particular, yellow, red, purple and blue with a dark core.

About 40 species make up the genus Ixia. These are perennial corm-like herbaceous plants that bloom early in spring. They grow up to 30-50 cm in height, depending on the species. The leaves are narrow, linear, arranged in two rows. The flowers are funnel-shaped, of various colors-white, yellow, red, blue with a dark core, collected in 6-10 flowers in an ear or brush on a thin leafless peduncle. Various hybrids were obtained from crossing the species: unicolored and mixed colors.

Ixia flexuosa is a species that grows up to 30 cm in height, with pink flowers.

Ixia maculata (I. maculata) is characterized by bright orange flowers.

Green-flowered Ixia (I. viridiflora) - a plant about 30 cm tall with green-blue flowers. From this species, many garden hybrids are obtained, usually tall and strong, with larger flowers of various colors, in particular, yellow, red, purple and blue with a dark core.

Cultivation

Plants of the genus Ixia are grown in the open ground in flower beds and in pots on balconies and terraces, for obtaining flowers for cutting (they are valued for standing in vases for a long time) and as a pasture crop. Plants are planted in the open ground in spring, in well-drained soil. In pots, bulbs are planted in autumn for 4-12 pieces, depending on the size of the pot (10-20 cm in diameter). Planting depth 3-5 cm. The soil is a mixture of earth, sand and peat (1:1:1), taken in equal parts. When preparing the soil, a complete long-acting mineral fertilizer is applied at the rate of 20-30 g per day. bucket of soil. If the climate is mild, the bulbs can be left in the ground for the winter, covering the soil with straw or peat on top, and in colder climates they are dug out of the ground and stored in a cool, dry place until spring. Potted plants are brought indoors for the winter.

Location

Plants of the genus Ixia prefer a place in the open sun.

Temperature

These plants are resistant to high temperatures, but do not tolerate cold weather below 0 °C.

Watering

In the spring and summer period, they are watered often and abundantly, but they do not allow water to stagnate. At the end of flowering, the intervals between watering are increased. If the bulbs are removed from the ground for the winter, then after flowering, watering is stopped altogether.

Transplant

Transplanted in the spring, once every 2-3 years, in a new pot slightly larger than the old one.

Care

Remove faded inflorescences and damaged parts of the plant.

Reproduction

Babies formed around the main bulb are planted in several pieces in November (as late as possible) in a mild climate or in spring. Large corms (with a diameter of more than 1 cm) give flowering plants for the next year, and babies "bloom" only for the 2-3 th year. For forcing corms, they are planted in September-October in a mixture of turf, leaf, peat land and sand. During the month, the temperature is maintained at 6-8 °C, do not water until the growth begins. In budding-flowering is watered abundantly and the temperature is increased to 12-14 °C.

Diseases

If the ground is excessively wet or not well drained, the bulbs are more likely to develop mold. Preventive measures: selection of suitable soil and treatment of bulbs with fungicides before planting.

Acquisition

Bulbs of plants of the genus Ixia can be purchased in gardening centers and flower shops offering a wide range. Make sure that the bulbs are fresh and of high quality.