An integral part of any flower garden is perennial plants. Moreover, such flowers are most often quite unpretentious in care. Today's article will be devoted to the flowers of the swimsuit. Today you will learn about the features of planting this plant and caring for it throughout the cultivation. And we will start by acquaintance with this wonderful plant, because not everyone knows what a flower swimsuit looks like. By the way, this plant has several names. But first things first.
Description of flower swimsuit
This plant belongs to the ranunculaceae family and has about twenty varieties. The leotard has a rather funny name - a flower of trolls. This name of the flower was obtained when translating the Latin name trollius, which came from the German troll-blum - the flower of trolls. There are Scandinavian legends in which the leotard is one of the most favorite plants of these funny characters.
The main advantage of this plant, despite its small inflorescences, is the presence of various attractive colors. On average, the size of the flowers of the leotard does not exceed eight centimeters in diameter. However, the branched stems of a plant can reach a meter in height. Juicy green leaves are collected in a neat outlet located closer to the roots.
The most popular varieties
Currently, about thirty varieties of flowers are known to the leotard. In our country, no more than twenty of them are grown. In this section we will introduce you to the most beautiful and popular.
- The swimsuit is Asian. Most often, this variety can be found in Altai and Siberia. Due to the rather cool climate, the height of this variety rarely exceeds 10 centimeters. The flower of the Asian swimsuit has a spherical shape and a diameter of about 6 centimeters. A large number of expanding orange petals form an incredibly beautiful terry flower.
- European leotard grows in European and Siberian forests, as well as in mixed meadows. It blooms briefly - from late May to mid-June. The flowers of the swimsuit are yellow and have a spherical shape, and the petals are closed. Their diameter rarely exceeds 5 centimeters with a total plant height of 30 to 80 centimeters. This type of flower of a leotard is entered in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus.
- The leotard is lilac. It grows in mountainous areas, namely in the Tien Shan and Altai mountains. The plant itself is stunted and difficult to take root in garden plots, but very beautiful due to its unusual color. Bright yellow stamens on the background of pale purple petals give the plant a very delicate look.
- The leotard is dwarfish. The total height of the plant rarely exceeds 30 centimeters. Peduncles with about 10 centimeters in height. Bright yellow-gold flowers have a flat, cup-shaped shape with wide open petals. The habitat is Nepal, Bhutan and China.
- The swimsuit is the highest. One of the giant plant species, growing to a meter and a half in height. The highest leotard grows in the Carpathians in the alpine meadows. The diameter of the flowers is about 5-6 centimeters, and the leaves are collected in a large outlet.
Plant application
Today, the flowers of the leotard are used as an ornamental plant, decorating gardens and summer cottages both as part of flower arrangements, and as an independent bush. Most often it is combined with irises or forget-me-nots. And due to the long-term preservation of the attractive appearance, the leotard is used as a component of bouquets.
It is believed that the flowers of the leotard are quite poisonous. However, it is actively used in folk medicine. For example, as a hemostatic, antiseptic and anti-edema agent. In order to avoid harmful effects on the body, it is important to observe the concentration of infusions and decoctions used for the purpose of treatment. Since too high doses can really be detrimental to the body.
Choosing a place and soil
It is best to give preference to slightly shaded places where the flowers of the bathing bowl will be exposed to sunlight for a short time. If you plant it on a too-lit area, the flowering time can be significantly reduced and the plant itself will be much smaller. Ideal places are sites under trees or shrubs.
The leotard is a fairly unpretentious plant, and therefore does not impose strict requirements on the soil. Enough loamy soil with good drainage, which will prevent moisture stagnation, leading to decay of the plant. If desired, a small amount of peat, humus and nitrophoska can be added to the hole for planting.
General features of planting and care
Planting flowers should be before the onset of autumn - it is optimal to do this in August. Otherwise, the plant may not take root and die with the onset of frost, despite frost resistance. Growing flowers of a leotard (as mentioned above) is an occupation that does not cause much trouble. It is important to water, weed and feed the plant in a timely manner, and it will delight you with its flowering for 3-4 weeks. Before the onset of winter, dead leaves are cut off with the preservation of cuttings that protect future buds.
It happens that the leotard does not start to bloom. This happens due to soil moisture, both excessive and insufficient. If the soil dries too quickly, then it is worth transplanting the plant to a more shaded place. And with high humidity - reduce the amount of irrigation and water.
Watering, weeding and top dressing
The flowers of the swimsuit require constant watering, but at the same time, the amount of moisture introduced should not be too large. Especially frequent watering is important for young plants. The process of soil moisture is also becoming more frequent in dry weather.
Weeding and loosening the soil around the flower is very important to provide access to the roots of oxygen and remove weeds. Do not loosen too deep and close to the plant - 3-4 centimeters deep and not less than 10 centimeters from the bush itself is enough.
It is advisable to apply fertilizers at least twice - at the beginning of May and during the formation of buds. The solution for feeding should consist of equal parts of urea, nitrophoska and "Agricola for flowering plants", diluted in large quantities of water.
Breeding methods
In this section, we will look at two of the most effective and used methods of growing flowers of a leotard. It will be about the seed method and division of the bush.
Seeds for planting are either purchased in a specialized store, or collected after full maturity - in early autumn. Immediately after collection, they must be planted in the ground, since this is how maximum germination can be achieved. The first shoots sprout with the advent of autumn and in small quantities. Also, do not worry about their slow development - with the advent of constantly warm weather, growth will increase. For spring cultivation, long-term stratification of seeds at a temperature of about 4 ° C is mandatory.
It is better to divide the bushes for propagation in autumn, so that during the winter they strengthen their immunity by hardening. It has been experimentally proven that during autumn planting, the best survival of the separated part of the bush occurs. Separated parts are planted in such a way that the root neck is immersed in the ground by 2-3 centimeters. After planting, abundant watering is required.
Diseases and Pests
Compared to other perennials, the flowers of the lentil have very powerful immunity. The plant is practically not susceptible to numerous diseases. An exception are fungal diseases, such as septoria and smut. Sometimes the swimsuit is affected by a penetrating nematode. This is mainly due to non-compliance with care rules. To prevent these troubles, it is important to remove dead parts of the plant in a timely manner and treat it with fungicidal preparations if any signs of infection are detected.