By the colors of gazania, time can be verified, since they open at noon. For this they are called the "midday sun." The plant is not only bright in appearance, but also unpretentious in care. The flower is a real decoration of gardens, parks, balconies. Where did he get to European countries?
Places of distribution of the flower
The birthplace of flowers is the distant Mozambique in Africa. It was there that the Europeans first saw him. The plant also grows in Tanzania, South Africa, in the forests of South America, in the coastal dunes of Australia. Europe began to grow gazania since the mid-seventeenth century. Until now, these flowers remain in demand among gardeners and florists.
In Russia, the flower took root quickly. It is often called the "African daisy." The plant spread especially widely in the steppe regions of the middle zone. This is due to the hot sunny summer, which is so popular with gazania.
Plant description
Flowers are perennial representatives of the aster family. Although among the entire diversity of species there are annual specimens.
Description of gazania flower:
- low grassy bush;
- height is up to 30 cm;
- the stem is either completely absent or very short;
- basal leaves are going to the outlet;
- peduncles short;
- leaves are dense, dark green;
- on the leaves there are numerous silvery villi;
- the inflorescence is presented in the form of a basket with a diameter of up to 9 cm;
- the fruit has the appearance of a fleecy achene, similar to a dandelion seed.
In total, one plant has up to thirty inflorescences. They replace each other, so the flowering process continues for more than one month. You can enjoy their beauty for a long time.
Popular varieties
There are about fifty species of "African chamomile." First of all, they differ in the color of inflorescences.
Popular Views:
- Brilliant gazania is a flower whose photo strikes with variegated colors of petals in two rows. They are painted in red-black, orange, yellow with a splash of white and black spots.
- Potsi - the color of the petals is similar to a brilliant gazania, but the size of the inflorescence is larger - eleven centimeters.
- Longshot - flower refers to annual crops. Its height is up to twenty centimeters. Flowers are yellow-tone baskets with a brown base.
- Peacock - The basket has white and pink narrow and long petals, darkened at the base.
- Hybrid - this is the result of crossing long-shoot and brilliant species. The resulting plants are more resistant to the external environment and diseases. Different varieties differ in color of inflorescences. They are white, pink, orange with the addition of other shades.
In all these species, inflorescences are open during the day and closed at night. Although varieties have already been bred in which the flowers do not hide at night. Many gardeners hesitate to grow these plants due to the fact that they can not tolerate cold winters. But solving the problem is not so difficult. The beauty of the flowers is worth it. Where to start?
Seed cultivation
Before you start growing, you need to get seeds. They can be purchased or assembled independently. They are quite small and at any moment can fly out of the box on their parachutes, so there are tricks in this matter. Usually flower growers tie a gauze bag around a faded basket. Seeds fall into it. Then you can not check the baskets daily. Harvested seeds can be stored for up to two years, while retaining the ability to germinate. How does the planting of gazania flowers occur?
To get flowering plants, you need to sow the seeds for three to four months. For this, each seed is placed in the ground. It should be light and nutritious. The distance between them should be three centimeters. Top them sprinkled with a small layer of soil, sprayed with water, cover with a transparent film.
The container should be placed in a bright place with an air temperature of +20 ° C. Seedlings need regular ventilation. The first shoots appear in seven to fifteen days. After the first four leaves appear, it is better to lower the air temperature by 4 ° C. Then the plants will more actively grow.
Transplanting
Gazania flowers are planted in open ground not earlier than May. To keep the root system intact, it is worth growing seedlings in peat pots.
Flowers love open places that are well lit by the sun. The soil should be light, nutritious. You can not worry about the scorching sun. "African Daisy" is not afraid of them; it tolerates drought well. But she does not like excessive moisture and shadow, which is why she should not be planted near trees with a large crown. It will create a lot of shadow, and moisture will stagnate in the ground.
Propagation by cuttings
A gazania flower, the planting and care of which is described, can propagate by cuttings. They are cut in July with a sharp knife. Part of the stem should be with a heel. Its length is about ten centimeters. It is necessary to remove the bottom sheet, and cut the place of cut "Kornevin."
The resulting cuttings are planted in pots with soil. They are watered and covered with a transparent film. Root formation takes a month. After this, a transplant is possible. But due to the onset of cold weather, it is better to put gazania in a pot and put it in a well-lit room. The main thing is that there are no drafts that even mature plants do not like. Landing in the open ground can be carried out in the spring.
Care Features
Growing gazania flowers will not bring much trouble, but there will be many joys from the realization that they managed to achieve such fantastic beauty with their own hands.
Basic rules for plant care:
- Loosening the earth is worth it regularly so that the roots are filled with oxygen.
- Weeds are best removed so that they do not pick up nutrients from the ground and do not obscure the sunlight, which is really needed gazania.
- Withered inflorescences should be cleaned on time, so that the general appearance does not deteriorate.
- Mulching the soil will retain moisture during a severe drought. If you fill the soil around the flower with sawdust or another mulch, the weeds will no longer bother you. It is also a good option in the prevention of slugs.
- Top dressing depends on the quality of the soil. Usually, watering with a solution of mineral fertilizers is required once or twice a month. It is important not to overdo it with the amount of fertilizing so that the flowers do not decrease in size.
Do not over-water the "African daisy". Its root system can rot. Care should be taken of the drainage system. So, before landing in open ground, you need to pour expanded clay or pebbles under a layer of soil. Then the excess water will freely go away.
With good care, flowering can continue until the frost. If the plants are supposed to be grown as an annual crop, then after flowering is complete, they should simply be disposed of. However, you can keep a multi-year view for the next year. Then there will be no need to sow the seeds again and engage in seedlings.
Winter flower care
A gazania flower, the maintenance of which is not difficult, may not endure winter frosts. That is why many flower growers grow it in flowerpots. Then the container with the plant is simply transferred to the house or greenhouse. The main thing is that the air temperature does not fall below +10 ° .
If the perennial plant grew in the open ground, it is dug up and placed in a container with soil. Before this, drainage holes should be made in the container and expanded clay should be poured into it. The plant needs to provide good lighting. If natural light is not enough, you will have to take care of the artificial. But abundant watering is strictly forbidden so that gazania does not die.
Return to the open ground
What else does a gazania flower mean, a photo of which can be seen in the article? In open ground, it is better to carry it in mid-spring. Then you can not be afraid of severe frosts. Landing pit can be about twenty centimeters. The soil should be moist, but without overflow.
Expanded clay should be placed at the bottom, as well as a mixture of sand and peat. You can also add mineral dressings of any origin.
Gazanias need to be carefully pulled out of the pot with an earthen lump. In order not to disturb the root system, before pulling the plant out of the container, it is worth watering it along the edge. Water will soften the earth, and it will more easily move away from the walls of the pot.
Flowers should be planted from each other at a distance of thirty centimeters. Watering them after planting should not be, it is better to wait three days.
Pests and diseases
Gazania flowers can be attacked by pests or susceptible to disease only if they are not properly taken care of. If plants are affected by gray rot, they are removed and disposed of. Non-infected flowers are treated with Fitosporin.
Among pests, gazania is most often attacked by:
- snails - they are collected manually and destroyed;
- spider mite - “Fufanon” and “Ditox” helps to fight it;
- aphid - destroys pests "Fitoverm", "Akarin".
In addition to treatment, the conditions of the plant should be reviewed. Otherwise, the problem may recur. For example, slugs will return again if there is too humid shaded ground.
Combination with other colors
Photos of gazania flowers, the planting and care of which are considered, are beautiful in flower beds, where the plant is adjacent to other crops.
Flowers that blend perfectly with the African Chamomile:
Other low shrubs will do. And if gazania is planted in a hanging flowerpot, it is placed in the center. Empty edges will fill curly ampelous plants. The composition will be excellent.
Application in landscape design and not only
Miniature but very bright flowers are often planted in flowerpots and containers on the streets. They bloom for a long time, are not susceptible to disease.
Gazanias on alpine hills and in stone gardens look beautiful. A small bush has many inflorescences; it looks good against stones and sand. It is impossible to pass by these flowers.
An ordinary garden becomes surprisingly beautiful with such plantings. Having placed them in pots, they can decorate a veranda, an arbor, a balcony. They will be ideal plants for the sunny sides of the house. Burning rays will not harm them, like other flowering shrubs. This is their great advantage.
They are beautiful in bouquets. Compositions can only be made from gazani or combine them with other colors. Florists often use them when creating their masterpieces.
All that gazania needs is a lot of bright light, fluffy soil, plentiful, but not frequent watering.