Cineraria: species, breeding methods and growing rules

Cineraria are attractive flowering herbaceous plants that are fairly easy to maintain. Various types and varieties of cineraria can be grown both in the garden and in a pot on the windowsill. Let's get acquainted in more detail with the types of this unusual plant, methods of reproduction and growing rules.

The culture, which many conservative gardeners still call the ash pan, belongs to the Asteraceae or Compositae family. For cultivation, plants from the genus of cineraria are also used. In nature, you can find a flower in tropical regions of Africa and Madagascar.

The size of the plant is 30–90 cm. The leaves are lyre-shaped and covered with a light pile on the surface. Baskets with tongue flowers can be presented in snow-white, purple, scarlet or yellow. They frame a cluster of tubular yellow flowers. Flowering continues from the second half of summer until the first frost.

In floriculture, decorative species and varieties have become widespread, which are classified as annual and perennial varieties. Consider the most popular types of the represented culture.

The plant can be found under the names "Ashy Rustic", "Dusty Miller", "Yakobeya Primorskaya", "Maritima"... In warm conditions, the culture is kept as a perennial, and in regions with severe winters, it is grown as an annual. The foliage has a decorative appearance - it has an emerald color and is covered with a pale gray down, collected in rosettes that grow on long erect stems.

Currently, flower growers choose the following varieties of the presented species:

• "Silver dust" is a semi-shrub, reaching a height of 25 cm, with openwork leaves;
• Cirrus has high stems up to 45 cm in size, the leaves are characterized by an oval shape and serration;
• "Diamond Powder" - an aesthetic variety with carved silvery leaves, which flower growers prefer to use in the landscape as a background;
• "New bow" it is distinguished by a voluminous hemispherical bush and large serrated leaves of a silvery-green color; gradually the color of the foliage is replaced by a silvery-white tint.

This type can be used both when planting in a summer cottage, and as a room culture. During the season, the plant is decorated with aesthetic flowers of rich color. The height of the stems reaches 70 cm, and the leaves have a decorative appearance due to the openwork or oval shape and emerald color. The color of the flowers may vary depending on the variety. In floriculture, it is customary to use the following varieties:

• "Grandiflora" - This is a semi-shrub with stems 50–70 cm and large inflorescences up to 8 cm in diameter;
• "Double" it is a shrub 30–70 cm in size with bicolor flowers of contrasting shades;
• "Steplat" differs in a variety of shoots reaching a size of 70–90 cm; flowers are characterized by long, slightly elongated, dark blue petals.

The plant with highly branching stems reaches a height of 50-60 cm. Leaves and shoots are covered with a dense downy. At the top of the stems, simple or double inflorescences are formed. The following varieties of graceful appearance are in demand:

• Nana - the plant of the presented variety grows up to 25 cm, its large flowers are star-shaped with pink petals and a burgundy center;
• Liguljsus - this shrub reaches a size of 50–70 cm and is distinguished by double flowers of bright and juicy shades.

This is a special hybrid group that includes a whole series of varieties with a variety of colors. The choice of gardeners for this species falls due to its short growing period. It is kept as an indoor culture by many amateurs. Several varieties deserve special attention, which belong to different categories of the presented plant.

• "Satellite" suitable for keeping in a pot, while prefers to be located on the east side. The stores offer mix options, that is, those that include flowers of different colors. This variety belongs to the early annuals, it reaches a height of 25-30 cm, the diameter of the flowers is 5 cm.
• "Sympathy" belongs to tall species with a size of up to 70 cm. The shrub itself is compact, and the leaves are heart-shaped, slightly pubescent. The width of the flowers is 8 cm, their color can be one or two colors. Flowering lasts 4-6 weeks.
• Jester... Plant height - 25 cm, flowers are also miniature - 2.5-3.5 cm in diameter, but are decorative, forming in dense "caps" of inflorescences. Most stores offer mix options.
• "Snowball"... This plant grows up to 20-25 cm. The main decorative effect is the appearance of the foliage, which is covered with a silvery-white color. The flowers are small, yellow, dull, therefore they are eliminated by gardeners.
• "Masterpiece". The culture belongs to domestic perennials. It is distinguished by a rich shade of colors that can have blue, lilac, pink, orange, red colors, two-color options are possible, but not yellow. The bush is small - up to 30 cm, and the leaves have a light green color and light hairiness.

If the plant is planted in a summer cottage, then it is worth paying attention to the location. This is a light-loving culture that is quite vulnerable to the bright rays of the sun. Therefore, an open place is suitable, which will shade in the hot midday hours. As a soil, give preference to permeable soils enriched with useful components, it can be neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Planting is carried out only when the probability of frost return at night is zero, usually mid-May.

To grow an aesthetic healthy plant at home, there are several content rules to follow.

• Temperature. This culture does not like heat, it will feel more comfortable at a temperature of + 10– + 15 degrees, the maximum limit is +20 degrees. If the plant bloomed in winter, then it can be completely taken out to an unheated closed balcony, where the temperature is set to +5 degrees - such conditions will allow the grower to admire the flowering as long as possible, since the culture fades quickly in the warmth. In the summer, it is recommended to take the container with a flower outside and leave it in partial shade or near a reservoir, and with the onset of autumn, return it to the windowsill.

• Watering... Humidification should be moderate; neither overdrying nor waterlogging of the substrate should be allowed. Direct the water under the root so that the drops do not touch flowers and greenery. For watering, soft, settled warm water is suitable. Moistening is carried out regularly, the soil should always be slightly damp.It is recommended to slightly loosen the soil after watering so that the roots always have access to moisture and oxygen.

• Humidity. The culture prefers to grow in high humidity, but does not like spraying. To achieve comfortable moisture indicators for the plant, you can cover the radiators with wet towels, put a bowl of water next to the flower, place household air humidifiers in the room, use pallets with wet expanded clay. Remember to regularly ventilate the room, but avoid drafts.

• The soil. For cultivation, a mixture made from peat, compost and fragments of pine bark and charcoal is suitable. Such soil allows air to pass well and is able to protect the root system from diseases.

• Capacity. When selecting containers, keep in mind that the culture has a voluminous root system, so it needs a spacious container. The bottom of the pot must have drainage holes. If they are not there, then the florist should drill them out on his own.

• Top dressing. When growing a flower as an annual in good soil, the plant does not need fertilizer. For perennial specimens during the flowering period, complex mineral liquid fertilizing should be used once every 2 weeks - with additional nutrition, the flowering will be more magnificent and abundant. Fertilizer is applied some time after the watering procedure.

Caring for a flower that is grown in a summer cottage is also not difficult and is quite similar to the rules for keeping a houseplant. It is very important to water the culture in moderation, since a lack of moisture leads to weakness of the flowers, and waterlogging can provoke rotting of the roots. Nevertheless, even without moisture, the plant feels comfortable and usually it has enough natural precipitation for its full development.

Fertilizer is applied a couple of times a month. With the development of buds, the bushes need additional organic mixtures. For the winter, the flower can be dug up by the root and placed in a cool room, which will preserve the health of the plant for spring planting. After wintering, it is important to eliminate frozen leaves that may hinder the development of new growth. Some gardeners leave ashy species on the flower bed, but the culture should be covered with dry foliage, which will serve as a warm shelter for the winter.

The seed of the presented culture has good germination, but this is not characteristic of all species and varieties. Sowing is done in early April. The process looks like this:

1. prepare the substrate by combining peat and sand in equal parts, and fill the container with it;
2. place seeds on the surface of the soil without burying them;
3. compact the soil with a wooden ruler;
4. moisten the planting site and cover the container with glass;
5. when the first shoots appear (after 1–1.5 weeks), place the container in a well-lit place;
6. when forming two true sheets, make a pick in separate containers.

The grafting method is used, for example, for varieties of the seaside species. To propagate a specimen, strong healthy cuttings 10 cm long are used. The process consists of the following steps:

1. mix garden soil and sand in equal proportions, place the mixture in a box;
2. make drainage holes at the bottom of the box for oxygen access;
3. level the soil and moisten it with water with the addition of potassium permanganate;
4. soak the collected cuttings in Kornevin's solution and deepen into the soil mixture;
5. compact the earth around the planting material;
6. cover visible fragments of cuttings with plastic bottles, pressing them into the ground to create greenhouse conditions;
7. a box with plantings can be left in any corner of the garden, covering it during hot lunch hours;
8. once every two days, cuttings need watering;
9. after the formation of root shoots, begin to remove the bottles for a short time, thereby adapting the young seedlings to the new climate; gradually remove the bottles altogether.

This representative of the flora is distinguished by a rather high immunity, but if the rules of agricultural technology are not followed, diseases and pests do not bypass the plant. Let's take a closer look at the most common ailments.

• Powdery mildew. The damage to the flower is indicated by darkened spots on the green mass, its wilting, white deposits that emit droplets, flying around the foliage. You can deal with the problem with a soda solution or garlic infusion. From purchased funds, the funds "Tiovit Jet", "Baylon", "Topaz", "Hom", "Vitaros", "Fundazol", "Skor", "Vectra" help well. After the treatment, the topsoil should be replaced with a new one.
• Rust. You can recognize this disease by the orange pustules, from which "rusty" powder is poured, the whole process is accompanied by yellowing and falling of the leaves. In the fight against the problem, it is important to eliminate the affected leaves, treat the plant with 1% colloidal sulfur or Bordeaux liquid. And also drugs "Abiga-Peak", "Cumulus", "Poliram", "Strobi" cope well with this ailment, but it is important to repeat the treatment after 1-2 weeks.

Next, we will consider what methods can be used to combat the main pests.

• Aphids are considered one of the main enemies. If the grower noticed that the leaf of the plant is eaten away, a sticky bloom has formed on the aerial part, and the entire specimen is covered with black and green microscopic bugs, then the flower has become a victim of aphids. These individuals can be fought with soapy water or Fitoverm, Strela, Tanrek. Some gardeners buy the larvae of natural enemies specifically to combat aphids: lacewings, ladybugs, and some wasps.
• Another insect that loves to feast on the juice of this plant is the spider mite. It can be recognized by a thin cobweb and white bites on the sheets. Under the influence of a tick, buds and leaves take an irregular shape, the greens become yellow. To get rid of the insect, you should wash off all the individuals with a stream of water, treat the affected flower with an alcohol solution, apply the preparations Apollo, Aktofit, Vermitek, Aktellik, Neoron.

Cineraria can become the main decoration of any flower garden. It can be presented as a bright accent when creating a flower arrangement in the garden. Low-growing varieties can be planted to decorate flower beds and borders. Silver species are popular, which are most often used to create a background for other crops. The sophistication of foliage emphasizes the brightness of neighboring flowers. For example, a beautiful landscape will be obtained by planting silvery varieties next to flowers of cold and bright shades. Blue and purple buds, for example, petunia, phlox and lobelia, will look picturesque against the background of cineraria.

For the care and proper planting of cineraria, see below.