Each amateur gardener tries to dignify his site and make it unique. Creating beauty in your area is not so easy. Nevertheless, desires do not fade away, and unique garden masterpieces are created.
Ornamental plants are the best helpers in the design of a personal plot. These include a plant such as kohiya.
Kochiya corolla fibrous is a decorative annual deciduous plant. She is loved for her beauty and form, which are changed by the person himself at his discretion and desire.
Botanical Description
Cochia from the Amaranth family, Marevaya subfamily, originally from China. There are a huge number of species, about 80. The differences are characterized by the size of the plant and its colors.
The plant is a grassy shrub. Cochia has an oval conical shape. The stems are erect, strong and flexible. They are often covered with narrow green leaves. The leaves have a slightly curved shape and soft structure.
In height, kohiya reaches 1 meter. The flowers are spike-like, barely noticeable in the fluffy crown of foliage. In autumn, the plant turns red, purple.
One of the worthy species is cochia coronaria. It is widely used in the design of plots and decorative needs.
The people have the name "summer cypress".
Crowned Kochia is unpretentious in cultivation and care. From a distance, the plant resembles a family of conifers. But when you touch the green fluffy creature, softness and tenderness are felt.
Kochiya coronet is a kind of summer chameleon. For the season, it will delight its owners with different shades. The whole warm period of kohiya proudly wears a bright green decoration. And in autumn, the plant dresses up in yellow and crimson tones.
In the flower beds, such changes look simply amazing.
Growing cochia coronaria. Care
The cultivation of cochia coronaria is carried out either by seedlings, or by planting in open ground. The plant does not require excessive attention to itself.
Crowned Kokhiya, landing and care of which are carried out in accordance with all the rules, will demonstrate all its possible splendor and greatness.
The place for growing kohii should be sunny, preferably without drafts. But even in partial shade, the kohiya will feel quite comfortable.
The distance between the bushes on average is 50 cm. If you plan to grow a lush single bush with further defined pruning, it is better to increase the distance to at least 1 meter.
When planting a border, the distance between the bushes is 10-15 cm. In this case, a hedge is formed.
Cloch corolla loves fertile and moderately moist soil. It does not tolerate drought, it starts to fade, lose color and fade.
Does not like kohiya and temperature changes. Needs periodic cultivation and weeding.
Seeding and propagation
The timing of sowing seeds and growing seedlings depends on the characteristics of the local climate. In an average climate, sowing of seeds can begin in late March or early April.
Features planting cochia coronaria on seedlings and sprout care are as follows.
- The right choice of container or other container. The depth of the box should not be less than 12 cm, since the roots of cohia are long enough and for good development they need enough space.
- Before boarding, the container must be thoroughly sanitized. To do this, rinse the box with hot soapy water or water with the addition of vinegar.
- The soil should be light, airy and nutritious. Ready-made earthen mixtures are on sale, but you can also prepare them yourself. The mixture is best prepared from peat with the addition of river sand. Good to add a little humus.
- The soil before sowing is treated with a warm solution of potassium permanganate.
- The soil needs to be tamped a little. Seeds are evenly immersed in the soil and lightly sprinkled with a thin layer of humus.
- After landing, the container is covered with a special non-woven material, greenhouse conditions are created.
It is necessary to regularly moisten the soil with a spray gun. Drying of the soil should not be allowed, but through measured moisture it is unacceptable.
In autumn, you can remove seeds from the bushes and sow them the next year. Seeds can be stored for two years. But of course, fresh is preferable.
Some gardeners prefer to sow cochia seeds in the fall. The subtlety of this planting is only in the sowing period. It is not recommended to sow before October. Otherwise, the seeds will germinate prematurely and freeze.
Often it turns out self-seeding, especially with group landings. It is very comfortable. A lot of seeds will spring up. They will only have to thin out at their discretion.
Seedling Care
The seed germination period takes up to two weeks. The optimum temperature for growing seedlings is 16 degrees, you can slightly lower. The temperature regime at this stage is very important. If the rules are not followed, the seedlings run the risk of getting a black leg.
Watering is carried out regularly, very carefully, along the edges of the container, so as not to injure weak stems.
When the seedlings grow and 5 leaves are formed on the stem, you need to pick. In a pot with a small diameter, about 10 cm, 1-3 seedlings are planted.
Planted in street maintenance after all frosts in about the second half of May.
Cochia seeds in open ground
If there is no possibility or desire to engage in growing seedlings, you can sow the seeds directly into the open ground.
It is worth waiting for the warm May weather.
We prepare the soil by loosening and making peat, mullein, compost or humus. After the soil is moderately moistened, you need to tamp a little. Seeds are sown sparsely. Top with a thin layer sprinkled with earth or sand.
If possible, it is better to cover the sowing place with non-woven material. You should not use a film as a shelter, seeds need air.
Of course, seed germination will take longer than with home or greenhouse cultivation.
Thinning of seedlings is mandatory.
If the temperature in the daytime or at night falls below +10 degrees, it is better to cover the seedlings.
Top dressing and spraying
Nutrition of the soil is recommended before planting the soil. For intensive growth and the formation of a dense crown, the plant is fed weekly (during the growth period). Fertilizers are used liquid specialized, with the content of minerals, and most importantly - nitrogen.
The first dressing should be carried out after 1.5-2 weeks after transplantation.
Cochia coronary disease
Cochia seedlings are susceptible to a disease such as a black leg. If a diseased seedling is present in the container, it should be removed immediately. Temporarily stop moistening the soil.
In the case of the spread of the disease, healthy seedlings are transplanted into another container.
Crowned Kochia is quite resistant to various diseases. Nevertheless, it is recommended to spray the cochia bushes in the open regularly from various pests.
The most dangerous for an ornamental plant is a spider mite. If a small cobweb is present on the plant, cohia should be treated immediately with an insecticide.
On too wet ground, the trunk may begin to rot. If a problem forms in the upper part of the plant, you need to trim the damaged areas. When rotting near the root of the cochia will have to be removed.
Kohiya in design
Crowned Kochia is a favorite of landscape designers and gardeners. The plant is widely used in various compositions. Kokhiya looks perfect in the group mix of his relatives and other colors.
It is combined with various flowers and bushes. You can verify this by looking at the photo of the cochia coronaria.
Used as a mini-fence, decorative fences. It is widely used in the separation of horticultural zones.
If you correctly create the contrast of plants, it will turn out just great. It will look unusual, for example, a ring from cochia coronet with a blue or red center from other colors.
With the onset of autumn cold, kohiya begins to fade. You can extend the summer a bit and enjoy the greenery at home, for example on the balcony. For 2 months before the onset of severe frosts, the green beauty will delight households and guests.
The dried bush can be used for decorative purposes, made ikebana or added to a bouquet. Get an unusual composition.
Shaping and trimming
Caring for cochia coronata involves cutting a bush. This procedure allows the branches to grow evenly and in proportion.
Various geometric shapes and more are also created.
Haircuts can be done every 2 weeks. You need to regularly pin young shoots. This will provide the plant splendor.
After cutting, the plant needs top dressing.
In Kohia, it’s easy to train and stuff your hand before cutting conifers, especially for beginners.
There are many different options for transforming the garden using cropped kohii.
You can create curbs, mini-fences of rectangular or conical shape. A lonely bush can be arranged in the form of a square, circle, or, for example, a butterfly. It will be very impressive and diverse. The kohiya will look unusual in the image of a real spruce.
The benefits and application of kohii
Crowned Kokhiya, whose description is being considered, is used in folk medicine. Medicinal properties have all parts of the plant.
Cochia is used:
- as a means for bowel movement;
- with heart problems;
- with diseases of the genitourinary system;
- with kidney disease;
- with fungal diseases of the nails.
Medicines are prepared by drying and preparing decoctions, tinctures and ointments.
The use of kohiya also affected the culinary sphere. It perfectly complements the taste of the first dishes, giving them a special piquancy.
Also, from time immemorial, kohiya has been used for household needs. A dry plant is used instead of the usual broom.