Many flower growers lovingly equip recreation areas and flower beds on which decorative herbs are planted . One of these plants is cineraria, which retains decorativeness until frost, can often be found on various flower beds.
Silvery cineraria (Mediterranean godson) - is a decorative-deciduous plant, the main decoration of which are openwork velvety silvery leaves.
An adult bush reaches a height of no more than 25 centimeters. Cineraria is unpretentious in leaving. It is not demanding on soil fertility, and it can be said that it even acquires the best appearance on not too humid and nutritious lands. Under such conditions, the bush remains compact throughout the season, and the foliage acquires an almost white color. The plant loves sunny places and soil with good drainage. Despite its resistance to droughts, silver cineraria does not tolerate frost well and can die when the temperature drops.
For cultivation, special care is not required, watering is done as necessary, when the soil dries up, weeding is done when weeds are formed. No need to feed and fertilize.
In the first year of life, rosettes of leaves form in plants, and in the second year, peduncles appear in cineraria, at the ends of which small yellow inflorescences bloom. Since flowers do not bring special decorativeness, it is appropriate to remove them at the stage of bud formation. Such a measure will allow the plant to maintain its beauty.
Silver cineraria is propagated by seedlings, by seeds. Since the grains are very small, when sown (February-March) they are sprinkled on the surface of compacted moist soil, and then covered with film or glass and put in a bright place, for example, a windowsill. The air temperature should not be lower than 20 degrees. Seeds can be lightly sprinkled with fine sand.
The first shoots appear together in two weeks. When they develop, and small leaves appear, the shoots dive into a separate container. Seedlings are transferred to open ground after the likelihood of frost has passed. Landing pattern: 20 cm between holes and 25 between rows. An exception is those cases when silver cineraria is used as a carpet or border plant, then the intervals can be reduced. Due to the property of the plant, it is good to tolerate transplants, and in summer it can also be transferred to another place for the formation of the intended compositions.
Silver cineraria goes well with any flowering or ornamental plants, with its slow growth, a neat compact form is preserved throughout the growing season until the first frost. Thus, the grass is perfect for decorating borders, ornamental flower beds and various garden compositions.
Today, varieties of cineraria with quite beautiful flowers, similar to daisies or daisies, have been bred. Such species of the family Asteraceae are commonly used as potted flowers.
The dried leaves of the plant are a valuable material for florists making up whole pictures of flowers. Openwork foliage is easily dried and for many years does not lose its properties and color, it is convenient to work with it.
Cineraria silver dust is not only a wonderful background for other colors of red, violet, purple tones (begonia, petunia, geranium, etc.). In addition, it looks intricate when landing on an alpine hill, because its homeland is Africa, Madagascar. In nature, it is often found between rocks in the southern part of Crimea.
An unusual silver-blue color is acquired by a flowerbed, on which silver and bright purple lobelia are planted together.