Rosemary is an attractive and healthy plant that is rarely grown at home. The fact is that culture cannot be called unpretentious; caring for it takes a lot of time. In this material you will learn about the beneficial properties and contraindications of rosemary. And also we will share the secrets of growing this plant at home.
What does rosemary look like
This perennial evergreen shrub is a member of the Iasnatkovye family. In the natural environment, rosemary grows on the Mediterranean coast, in North Africa and southern Europe. It is often grown as a hedge, because the culture reaches 2 meters in height. But at home, its size is much more modest.
What does rosemary look like? This plant is a shrub with high tetrahedral stems. Its evergreen elongated leaves are located on short petioles. Their appearance resembles needles. Leaf plates have slightly curved blunt tips. Culture blooms in late April - early May. At this time, small blue buds appear on the tips of the shoots. After them, a brown nut fruit is formed.
The main feature of rosemary is a strong camphor aroma coming from the leaves of culture. In addition, the pleasant smell does not disappear even after heat treatment. Therefore, leaves have long been used in cooking as a spice.
Useful properties and contraindications
Rosemary is known for its choleretic, anti-inflammatory and tonic properties. The use of leaves for food improves immunity, increases pressure, helps to cope with the manifestations of menopause and sexual weakness in men. On the basis of the plant, ointments and grindings are prepared to help cope with radiculitis. In addition, baths with sprigs of culture relieve swelling and heaviness in the legs, increase blood circulation.
The essential oil of the plant has an anti-cellulite effect. Massage with this substance speeds up blood circulation in the deeper layers of the skin, which leads to the breaking of "fat" tubercles, smoothing the surface and losing weight.
Rosemary is also used in cosmetology. This plant improves the condition of the hair and accelerates their growth. Especially useful for the hair of a mask with a plant and clay, egg yolks, castor oil. The plant also helps with problem skin. Rosemary oil cleans and tightens pores, reduces rashes. It is recommended to use for bleaching spots after acne.
Despite the beneficial properties, the plant has several contraindications. It can not be used during pregnancy, epilepsy, a tendency to cramps and hypertension. In addition, culture should not be added to the food of young children.
Seed cultivation
You can start sowing at any time of the year. But for the seeds to sprout, it will take some effort. 3-4 days before sowing, wrap the seeds in wet gauze, folded in several layers. Spray the grains daily with warm water to keep them moist.
Growing rosemary from seeds at home includes the following:
- Fill the container with nutritious soil. A universal mixture for seedlings is suitable.
- Spread the seeds on the surface of the soil and sprinkle them with a thin layer of substrate.
- From above, gently spray the landing with warm water from the spray gun and cover the container with glass or film. Leave a small clearance for ventilation.
- Transfer the greenhouse to a room with a temperature of + 16 ... + 20 ° C.
- Daily moisten crops with warm water from a spray bottle.
A month later, when the first sprouts appear, remove the shelter and put the container closer to the light. But obscure seedlings from direct sunlight. When the plants are strong, plant them in separate pots, but do not plant several sprouts in one container. Otherwise, they will interfere with each other.
Landing
The plant prefers permeable soil. For the substrate, mix universal store soil mixture with perlite in a ratio of 2 to 1. If you want to make the soil yourself, then take in equal parts turf soil, sheet soil, sand and peat. After mixing all the components, do not forget to disinfect the substrate. To do this, bake the mixture in the oven or steam.
Keep in mind that the root system of a plant is strong and grows rapidly. Therefore, choose for it spacious and voluminous pots, preferably made of clay. How to plant rosemary:
- At the bottom of the container, lay out a 2-cm layer of drainage. For these purposes, use broken brick, expanded clay or pebbles.
- Sprinkle drainage with a layer of substrate. Set the plant on top and gently spread its roots.
- Fill the voids with soil, lightly tap on the walls of the container to compact the soil.
Moisten the substrate well and place the plant in a lit place. 2-3 weeks after planting, feed the culture with a weak solution of mineral fertilizers.
Crop care
Rosemary is a plant that cannot be called unpretentious. And to grow it at home, you will need to create a flower comfortable conditions. And for this you will have to maintain optimal temperature and humidity in the room, as well as regularly water and feed the crop. And also do not forget about the constant ventilation of the premises, especially in winter. From a lack of oxygen, the flower is often sick with powdery mildew. If this is not possible, then a fan will help to create air circulation.
Temperature and humidity
Despite its southern origin, the rosemary flower tolerates room temperature well. And in the summer it is advisable for him to maintain a range from +23 to +25 ° C. In winter, it is advisable to transfer the pot to a room with + 8 ... + 10 ° C. A glazed balcony or loggia is suitable. The main thing is that the temperature here does not fall below the +6 ° C mark.
If this is not possible, then keep the flower on a cool windowsill, away from batteries or radiators. And provide the plant with additional lighting with a phytolamp. Daylight hours for a crop should last 14 hours.
In summer, take the pot to the balcony or to the garden so that the plant receives maximum air and light. In winter, if you grow a rosemary flower in a heated room, be sure to install water containers near it to increase air humidity. Too dry atmosphere is detrimental to the plant.
Lighting
Rosemary is a photophilous plant that needs bright light for at least 6 hours a day. And for him it is better to choose the most lit places, that is, the south or east side of the room. In order for the crown to develop evenly, turn the pot every two days to opposite sides of the light.
If it is impossible to grow a flower on the sunny side, then provide him with additional artificial lighting. To do this, install a phytolamp 15 cm from the crown of the culture and highlight it 14 hours a day.
Watering
Rosemary is a drought tolerant flower, and stagnation of moisture is fatal for it. But the complete drying of earthen soil also negatively affects the plant. Therefore, approach watering responsibly. In the summer, moisten the flower abundantly as soon as the soil dries to a depth of 2.5-3 cm. Young shrubs need more frequent irrigation. In winter, water twice a month, but do not allow the soil to completely dry out.
It is not necessary to spray the plant, but still occasionally carry out this procedure, especially in hot weather. So you nourish the green mass of the bush with moisture, remove dust that impairs air access to the foliage, and improve the appearance of the crop. Use only warm, settled water for the procedure.
Top dressing
Providing rosemary care, one should not forget about regular top dressing. Indeed, without additional fertilizers, the plant does not build up green mass well. Therefore, during the growing season, once a month, feed the culture with liquid mineral compounds. But dilute the recommended dose with twice as much water. Otherwise, the fertilizer will burn out the delicate roots of the flower.
Transfer
Hold this event for young plants annually in April. Instances older than 5 years need to be transplanted every 3-4 years. But every spring they need to change the topsoil.
Propagation by cuttings
It is advisable to start the event during the period of active flower growth. Rosemary enters a dormant season in winter, and cutting the shoots will become stressful for him. Therefore, it is better to propagate the culture in the spring. For cuttings, choose lignified branches up to 10 cm long. Cut them with a sharp, sanitized knife. How to root cuttings:
- Pour into a layer of drainage and cover it with a nutrient substrate (peat with vermiculite in a ratio of 1 to 1).
- Trim all the lower leaves from the cuttings, and treat the cut with “Kornevin” or another growth stimulator.
- Moisten the soil and carefully deepen the branches.
- Put the plants in a warm place.
Regularly spray the landing with warm water to prevent the soil from drying out. But do not try to moisten the soil too much, otherwise the branches will rot. When the cuttings take root and grow, pinch off the tops. By this you stimulate the growth of side shoots. After a month, transplant the plants into separate pots.
Rosemary is a beautiful and healthy plant that can be grown at home. Of course, for this you will have to make an effort, but they will quickly pay off. After all, the culture will thank the rapid growth and buildup of green mass, which you can use for medicinal, cosmetic and culinary purposes.