In nature, diasia can be found in the plains and mountains of southern Africa. This herbaceous plant is widely used in landscape design. It is planted in pots, hanging baskets, containers, placed on mixborders and rock gardens. Along the edges of garden paths, borders and grounds, you can also often see a beauty called diasia. Growing from seeds is the main method of propagation of this plant used by gardeners. Today there is a huge variety of varieties of this herbaceous flower on sale: felt, bearded, harsh, etc. In this article you will find answers to many questions related to breeding a plant with the melodious name of diasia (seed cultivation, care, reproduction methods, etc. . d.).
Description
In height, the flower can reach more than twenty-five centimeters. In the first months, the plant is erect. Then its shoots gradually begin to grow, turning into a sprawling bush. The leaves of diasia are quite small, glossy, dark green in color. The buds are also small, but there are quite a lot of them. The plant begins to bloom from mid-spring and pleases the eye of gardeners until the colds. Depending on the variety, the color of the flowers can be very diverse (white, red, apricot, pink, etc.). Light and warmth are the main factors necessary for the development of this southern flower.
Diasia: seed cultivation
This herbaceous plant is considered quite unpretentious. Small grains of diasia are sown in containers in the early spring. It is recommended to cover the drawers with glass. The most favorable temperature for flower growth is considered to be +17 degrees. Since the seeds are small enough, they should be mixed with sand. This will allow you to evenly distribute the grains on the soil surface. Deepening them is not necessary. Watering crops is possible only by spraying. Two weeks after planting, the appearance of the first shoots is possible. After the seedlings are a little stronger, they should be moved to separate pots. Indoors, the plant is recommended to be kept at a temperature of 12 to 16 degrees Celsius. With the onset of warm days, it can be taken out for a while on the street. Despite its miniaturization, diasia is quite cold-resistant. Therefore, in late spring, it should be planted in open ground. The first buds begin to appear somewhere in the middle of summer. And until the fall, your garden or front garden will be decorated with beautiful diasia. Some experienced gardeners grow seeds from seeds directly in the open ground. But this is possible only after the end of the frost. In this case, the plant will begin to bloom no earlier than August.
Propagation by cuttings
The procedure is recommended at the very end of summer. The plant cuts the stem cuttings, which are subsequently rooted in a loose, light substrate. For these purposes, a peat-sand mixture is best suited. Throughout the winter, cuttings should be kept in a rather cool, but not frost-free room. In the spring they can be transplanted into the open ground. Moreover, it is recommended to choose well-lit places, closed from the wind and facing south.
Care
Diasia flower feels great both in open soil and in a flowerpot on the balcony. In the hot season, the plant loves abundant watering. However, you should take care of good drainage, since stagnation of water in the pot is simply unacceptable. In winter, diasion should be watered to a minimum. Once every two to three weeks, it is necessary to apply liquid fertilizers to the soil intended for flowering plants. But do not abuse the top dressing, as this can lead to excessive growth of leaves and stems to the detriment of flowering. Pruning of fading buds and pinching after rooting - these are the necessary conditions necessary for the full development of such a plant as diasia. The cultivation of this culture is best carried out in not too fertile, but loose soil. A mixture of wet peat, coarse sand and garden soil (in equal proportions) is perfect for these purposes.
Bloom
The buds are set early enough, eight to nine weeks after sowing seeds in the ground. In a home greenhouse while maintaining a temperature of +19 degrees, young seedlings appear after fourteen days. It is recommended to pinch new shoots several times throughout the entire growth period. Thanks to this, the bushes will branch better. To maximize the flowering period, old buds along with the stem should be trimmed, leaving a twig about five to seven centimeters long. Abundant watering and top dressing are the main conditions for the growth and development of such a plant as diasia. Reviews of gardeners, despite the fact that the flower is considered a perennial, indicate the fact that in our regions it manifests itself as an annual. The fact is that being in the open ground, the plant does not tolerate severe frosts. Therefore, if you want to save a flower, for the winter it should be transplanted into a flowerpot and brought into a cool room. In spring, diasion can again be placed in open ground.