Astilba belongs to perennial herbaceous plants that make up the Kamnelomkov family. In the garden culture, 10 of its species are used, on the basis of which breeders have bred various hybrids with high decorative properties. Lush, airy inflorescences of red, delicate lilac, pink, cream and white flowers - this is what astilba represents. Growing and caring for it is not too complicated. It is not demanding on sunlight, feels great in partial shade. She loves moisture and fertilized, loose soil.
Different varieties of astilbe differ in different flowering periods, from early to late. Its inflorescences adorn gardens from the beginning of July until the end of summer. Having planted plants of different flowering periods on the plot, you can admire the astilbe for most of the summer. The plant is resistant to diseases and can grow up to 5 years in one place without changes.
Let’s figure out how to grow an astilbe in your area. It can be propagated in several ways: cuttings, buds of renewal, division of the bush, seeds. Of these methods, kidney reproduction and bush dividing are practically used. In autumn, the lower part of the rhizome of the astilbe dies away, from above new buds develop on it. These are the kidneys of renewal, due to which astilba is preserved.
Growing from seeds is mainly used in breeding work.
Seed planting
For sowing seeds, use a mixture of peat with sand in a ratio of 3: 1. The soil for planting is poured into boxes and moistened. The seeds, mixed with sand, are distributed over the surface (they do not need to be covered with earth), they are sprayed with water and covered with a film. Periodically, the soil must be moistened. Seeds germinate in about a month. In the phase of the first real leaf, they are dived into separate pots. There, astilbe will continue to grow there. Growing and care continue in the spring in a permanent place. When planting between plants, an interval of 50 cm is observed, since in the future they will grow. When planting seeds, plants bloom only in the third year.
Planting buds renewal and dividing the bush
These methods can be planted in spring and autumn. Although it is preferable to do this in the spring, from April to May, and in the southern regions - starting in March. Landing in early autumn is also possible, but you need to have time to plant an astilbe in such a way that it gets stronger before the cold. If planted too late, the plant may freeze. With autumn planting, you can even plant a flowering plant.
It is necessary to take into account when landing the conditions that astilba likes. Growing and caring for her will be easier if you find a place for her in partial shade, on wet and loose soil. Dig the soil, add humus, peat or compost, moisten, remove weed roots. Wells for plants are made on the bayonet of a shovel, put in them fertilizer (any complex or Kemira) 30 g each, add bone meal and ash.
When planting by dividing the rhizome, it is cut so that on each part there are from 1 to 3 kidneys, and the rhizome has additional roots. If the plant is used for group planting, between the bushes should be at least 50 cm, for small astilbe - 30 cm. If the bush is planted in the spring, the plant will have time to bloom in the summer.
When multiplying by the kidneys, they take from the maternal instance the so-called kidney of renewal with the adjacent part of the rhizome. The kidneys are rooted in greenhouses. The soil for this is taken the same as when sowing seeds. Astilba is planted in a permanent place next summer.
All fresh astilbe plantings must be mulched with a layer of up to 5 cm, using peat, tree bark or shavings for this purpose.
Astilba Care
Actually, we have already figured out what the astilbe needs. Growing and caring for it should include, first of all, regular watering. The ground under the plant should not dry out. Therefore, in extreme heat, it must be watered in the morning and evening. The soil is periodically loosened and necessarily mulched. Especially you should not forget about this in the fall, because otherwise the roots of the plant can freeze in frost. Astilba is fertilized in spring with a predominance of nitrogen, and at the end of summer, with a predominance of phosphorus and potassium.
These simple rules allow the plant to grow well and delight people with its wonderful flowers.