What is a laskolka and how to grow a flower?

Recently, such a plant as chickweed is gaining more and more popularity. Most gardeners choose this culture as the main or complementary element of landscape design. Before growing this or that variety, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic rules of planting and care.

Yaskolka is a popular herb in the clove family. The bred varieties can be both annual and perennial. The flower is usually fibrous with a rather shallow rhizome. Thanks to the horizontal branches, the crop multiplies quickly over long distances.

The main stem of the plant is erect, creeping or ascending and develops from the very base. A distinctive feature of the flower is a silvery growth with shades of green.

The foliage of the opposite type sits rather tightly on the main stem, while being characterized by small petioles. The leaf plate is lanceolate or oval, depending on the variety bred.

From the beginning of May, the plant begins to bloom profusely and for a long time. In most cases, re-flowering begins in July. The overwhelming number of buds, the diameter of which varies from 1 to 3 cm, is located on the shoots. In the corolla structure, there are 5 separate petals and an additional core, at the end of which there is a branch.

The result of the pollination of the chrysalis is the fruit of a cylindrical shape. It also contains a large number of seeds of the "horned" type, characterized by a brownish tint. The literal translation of the name of the plant from Latin is "horned flower".

Based on the official data of the encyclopedic resource The Plant List, there are more than 200 different varieties and species of yaskolka. In addition to common or soddy chippings, the following varieties have gained particular popularity.

• Field. The plant is a semi-shrub type, the height of which reaches 40 cm. The foliage and shoots are usually greenish, characterized by hard and short pubescence. The leaves have small round or oval petioles. This variety is also called low-flowered due to its characteristic flowering characteristics. Snow-white flowers usually open at the end of May.

• Felt. A compact variety of plant, from 15 to 25 cm high. A distinctive feature is the increased hairiness of the trunk and leaves of a silvery hue. Small leaves of a lanceolate or crowded shape are located along the entire length. Flowering usually begins in early May and lasts 30-35 days. The diameter of the flowers is no more than 1 cm. The species is characterized by slow growth.

• Alpine. A meadow variety of a flower, the bushes of which rarely reach a height of 20 cm. The leaves are distinguished by silvery and green ovoid shades. It usually opens in early or mid-May. A characteristic feature is the dissection of the foliage into two separate parts.

• Silver carpet. This variety is characterized by a loose structure and shoot length from 10 to 30 cm, depending on the region of growth. The foliage is usually five-chained, lanceolate. The foliage is 40 to 80 mm wide. The color in most cases is white, while the petals are dissected.

• White. It is also called groundcover. The bushes of the plant are covered with tomentose, which allows the flower to create rather dense cushions. The upper plates of the leaves are horizontally arranged. The colors are silvery, white and greenish.

In addition to the varieties described above, gardeners around the world cultivate unique varieties of Emerald Falls, Crystal Falls, pink and many others. Their distinctive features are beautiful appearance, large inflorescences and long flowering.

Planting a perennial plant is usually done by seed. It is recommended to plant seeds immediately in open ground in early April. In order to avoid various difficulties in the ripening process, the emerging seedlings should be immediately thinned out.

A characteristic feature of the culture is excessive aggressiveness, because the plant is able to quickly take over the territory. Due to this nuance, experts recommend limiting the site in advance.

It is quite easy to care for a plant outdoors. The gardener is not required to perform specific activities - it is enough to do timely watering, cut the crop and follow all the growing recommendations.

Yaskolka is a perennial plant with an increased love of sunlight. Despite the fact that the culture can actively grow in direct light, experts still recommend shading it. The flower also grows well in places with increased windiness.

Although the plant is unpretentious to the soil substrate, it is better to grow it on loose soil with sufficient drainage. Excessively fertile soil is not suitable for most popular varieties. It is recommended to use peat, sandy loam or sandy soils. If the soil has a lot of clay, you can add a little sand to it.

The overwhelming number of varieties and varieties of yaskolka needs active watering, carried out 1-2 times a week. In the presence of a natural amount of precipitation, it is possible not to resort to additional soil moisture. During a drought period, it is necessary to increase the intensity of watering.

Experienced gardeners do not have a single correct opinion about whether the chickweed needs additional feeding. While some agronomists are confident in good growth without fertilization, others are of the opinion that it is necessary to feed the crop frequently.

If, nevertheless, there is a desire to fertilize the plant, this must be done in the summer season. Usually, specialized feeding is used for small ornamental crops. Contrary to popular belief, chickweed responds well to organic fertilizers. In this case, it is recommended to use bird droppings or mullein solution.

Since the chrysalis is a plant with good and active growth, it is necessary to prune in a timely manner. Usually such events are held after flowering. Experts recommend using the molded pruning method, which can quickly improve the visual characteristics of the crop.

During the flowering period, the main branches are usually slightly pruned. Withered inflorescences must always be removed, regardless of cultivar or variety. And also you can additionally prune the stems with flower stalks.

Despite the fact that the plant feels good without transplanting, it is better to carry out this process 1-2 times every 5 years. Such a recommendation will increase the decorative properties of the crop and protect it from most pests or diseases.

After the transplant has been performed, the chick must be watered abundantly for 3-4 days. If this is not done, there is a great chance that it will not be able to grow effectively in the new soil.

Although chickweed belongs to winter-hardy plants, shelter is still required for it. Polyethylene is usually used to create a protective structure. The use of matte materials is harmful to the culture, since they are not able to transmit the necessary amount of sunlight.

If there is a lot of precipitation in winter, the chick could die. To avoid this, you should always use a good quality shelter. Additional insulation is usually not used, since the culture often withers and withers.

Reproduction of chippers is a very simple process that does not require specialized skills or abilities from a person. The plant can be propagated in the following ways.

• Seeds. Planting in open soil occurs in autumn or spring, depending on the varietal variety of the plant. The seeds are distinguished by good germination, so they can be grown in almost any soil. Seed watering is done in moderation. The seedling method is usually used. Flowering occurs in 2-3 years.

• Cuttings. In the first months of summer, cuttings are cut, characterized by abundant flowering. Next, the cutting must be rooted in open soil and tamped. Watering is carried out often - 2-3 times a week.

• Division. The bush usually divides in mid-spring or fall. This breeding method must be practiced exclusively in mild and temperate climates. Division is best done after pruning. To produce offspring in this way, the bush should be carefully dug up and divided into equal parts. New sprouts should be planted quickly and watered abundantly.

Of the above methods, the most practical and versatile method is the seed method. In this case, seedlings may appear on the 10-13th day. Watering the plant must be done with care, avoiding the accumulation of liquid in the root system and foliage. Seedlings are always planted in early June or mid-May.

Yaskolka is characterized by increased resistance to various diseases and pests. Usually, diseases or insects affect bushes that were previously weakened by improper or untimely care. If the above rules for caring are followed, the plant rarely gets sick.

For the prevention of culture, specialized organic-based compounds are usually used. Chemicals are not used due to their high toxicity.

Of the diseases, fungal processes are usually found that affect the plant due to improper planting conditions. Excessive moisture, cold or dampness negatively affects further growth and development.

Yaskolka has found wide application in landscape design. Usually this culture is grown on alpine slides, where stones can be used to recreate the most natural and natural look of the garden. The flower also looks great with bells, heuchera, stonecrop or cineraria.

Any plant species looks good on small lawns and garden paths. Many designers plant crops to create "air clouds" among the green lawn.In this case, white and silver are suitable.

Exclusively drought-resistant crops that do not require frequent and abundant watering should be adjacent to the shrub. This feature is due to the fact that excessively moist soil for other plants can harm the root system to a greater extent.

The neutral shade of chrysalis allows you to use plants of any color to create compositions.