Kalachik is the popular name for pelargonium. It is grown all over the world and is loved for its unpretentiousness and beautiful flowers.
Types of Pelargonium
The genus Pelargonium unites about 250 species of various plants of the geranium family. Among them there are grassy shrubs, as we used to see them, and shrubs. A plant called geranium is a separate genus. But often indoor flower pelargonium is called geranium. The name of the flower comes from the Greek word "Pelargos", which means "stork". After all, its flowers resemble the head of this bird. In our country, it is customary to call it a little fist. This is probably due to the round shape of the leaves.
All numerous types of pelargonium, or kalachka, are conditionally divided into:
Ampelic ones grow down, bushy ones grow up.
Zonal small beetles - plants with beautiful flowers that can have 5, up to 8 (semi-double) and more (double) petals.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that all these are punches. Flowers (photo) can be of the most diverse form.
They are collected in a hemispherical umbrella. All kinds of colors: from white, salmon, pink to burgundy, almost black. There are no purely yellow and blue little hands. Flowers are often painted in two colors. Moreover, their location may be as follows:
- inside - light; outside - darker;
- rim around the edge of the petal;
- different petals are painted in different colors.
The leaves can also be monophonic or with multi-colored zones (therefore, the canine is called zonal). They can even be tricolor. Varieties with very brightly colored leaves are isolated in a separate subspecies. Their colors can be red, brown, yellow, white, purple.
Royal (English large-flowered) small flowers are so large that they reach a diameter of six centimeters. They, like the princess, require special care. In winter, they need to be highlighted, and the temperature should not exceed 10 degrees, otherwise flower buds will not form. And they bloom only 3-4 months.
Fingers of this species are distinguished by maroon spots or dark stripes near the veins on the lower petals.
The little angels have flowers that look like viols. A bush 30 cm tall blooms all summer.
Many pelargoniums have a strong odor. Such a flower is called fragrant pelargonium. It blooms with small purple or pink flowers. All its charm is in dissected leaves, which have the smell of mint, lemon, lilac, needles, pineapple, roses and many other fragrant plants. Geranium oil is extracted from the leaves of this tree.
Ampel tubes have stems up to a meter long with small ivy-like leaves and colorful buds.
There are still succulent fist, but with us they are not common. They are used in creating bonsai compositions.
A geranium bush grows in height from 10 cm (miniature) to 60 centimeters. But it can be higher, reaching 80 cm (ayrins). There are microminiature small arms, the height of which is less than 10 cm.
The plant blooms in our latitudes from late March to November.
Breeding
Kalachik is a flower that easily propagates by cuttings. They are broken off or cut off from the side branches or apex. The length of the handle should be from 5 to 7 centimeters and have at least two leaves. Planted immediately on a permanent place in light earth. The slice is treated with ash.
Cuttings can be year round. But it is better to do this in the spring - in March or April, and in the fall - in August and September.
Cuttings help to improve the appearance of the plant. If it is very long, and the flowers are placed only at the top, cutting off the top causes the growth of side shoots from sleeping buds. In the future, they will be covered with peduncles.
Withered flowers are removed in order to quickly form new ones.
Temperature
Kalachik is a flower that does not like heat. It grows best with moderate. During the rest period, the air temperature in the room should be in the range of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius. In winter - at least 8 degrees.
Lighting
Kalachik is a flower that loves sunlight very much. Easily tolerates even direct sunlight. This allows you to grow small fences on the flower beds. In very intense heat, they are slightly obscured so that the leaves do not turn red and do not burn.
They grow well in partial shade. You can create beautiful compositions using such as hands, flowers.
Care
Water the plants as the soil dries. A Kalachik is a flower that loves moisture, but you should not fill it. In summer, the worm is watered more often, at rest much less frequently. But still, the soil must be constantly moistened.
Excess moisture escapes through the drip tray. But the drainage in the pot should be of good quality.
Fist does not need to spray. He loves dry air.
Fingers are indoor flowers. But in summer they feel better in the fresh air.
And top dressing will not hurt them. Spend it every two weeks with a liquid complex mineral fertilizer. You can use the tool "Bud".
Transfer
The transplant is produced in the spring. They do this in the event that the fist has grown greatly and does not fit in the pot. But you need to take into account the peculiarity of the fist: in a wide pot, leaves grow on it, not flowers.
Application
Fragrant Kalach has bactericidal substances. While in the air, they kill many pathogenic microbes and even staphylococcus aureus.
Fragrant pelargonium helps treat tonsillitis. To do this, use an infusion of leaves.
With otitis, the geranium leaves are kneaded and a compress is made on the ear, which relieves pain and reduces the inflammatory process.
The same compress, but from a larger number of leaves, is used for radiculitis or osteochondrosis.
The smell of a fragrant throat has a beneficial effect on patients with neurasthenia, hypertension, diseases of the heart and stomach, suffering from insomnia.
But its main purpose is to decorate our lives. As soon as the threat of frost is over, a huge number of feces of all kinds and colors appear on the streets.
They are used to decorate balconies, flower beds, rabatok.
Why does not the bloom
- This may be because the room is too warm in the winter, and the flower cannot enter a state of rest. Therefore, he continues to produce leaves, not peduncles.
- Due to damage by ticks, weevils and other pests or gray rot.
- Due to improper watering. From excess moisture, the plant rots and fades. With its lack, the leaves dry out.
- Damage to the root by fungal and bacterial diseases.
- Very big pot.
Among these causes, diseases and pests are of particular concern. Without their elimination, the fist disappears.