Knifofiya planting and care in the open field in Siberia. Knifofiya, planting and care in the open field Knifofiya planting seeds
Knifofia - a general description of the flower
Knifofia is a perennial herbaceous plant used for cultivation in open field. Its area of \u200b\u200bgrowth is moist soils. You can often meet knifofia in nature on damp ground near the banks of rivers, lakes or other bodies of water. Many varieties of culture have good decorative qualities and are grown in household plots.
Some types of knifofii are not just perennials, but evergreens. The culture has dense foliage up to 90 cm in length, the shape of the leaves is narrow, sword-shaped, the shade is gray-green.
The peduncle of Knifofia grows from about July to September and can reach 1-1.5 m in height. However, there are varieties that are shorter and taller. The top of the stem of the plant is crowned with cylindrical or spike-shaped inflorescences. Their shade is bright and catchy, which is why the flowers from afar resemble torches. Even the names of the varieties indicate that the culture has a very expressive, spectacular look. This can be judged, for example, by such names of varieties of knifofiya as Flamenco, Traffic Light, Dance of Fire, knifofiya Alkazar and others.
Although modern gardeners have already managed to cultivate varieties of calmer colors with yellow, greenish, pink buds.
Common varieties and types of knifofiya
Let us consider in more detail what varieties of culture can most often be found in the household plots of our country:
- Knifofia berry. This species is considered one of the tallest, because its stems with buds grow up to 2 m in height. Spikelet inflorescences are also quite large - up to 25 cm in length. They are painted in rich red, coral, bright orange. Flowering continues for a long time, about 2 months. The following varieties belong to this species: Fire Flame, Dr. Kerr, Orange Beauty.
- Knifofia Tukka is an unpretentious and cold-resistant variety. Its stems are low, about 80 cm. Inflorescences reach 15 cm in size, painted red. Due to cold resistance, this species winters well in the middle lane, it only needs shelter.
- Knifofia hybrid is a mixture various kinds with their own characteristics. Popular varieties include: Fleming Torch with a red-orange color, Burnox Triumph with rich orange buds, Cardinal with its bright red spike-shaped inflorescences, Rocket with large red inflorescences and a long stem.
Knifofia, photo
Knifofia - conditions for growing a flower
Knifofia is a guest from African countries, therefore, she loves a hot climate. When planting knifofiya and its reproduction, this factor must be taken into account. If you are growing a crop on your site for the first time, then it is best to buy seeds from a flower shop. They often sell different varietal mixes, so you'll get an abundance of variegated and varied buds in your flower bed.
Let's talk about the features of growing Knifophia:
- The seeds of knifofia are planted for seedlings at the end of the first spring month, having prepared the substrate in advance. The culture is undemanding to the soil, so you can simply buy land for flowers in the store. Important Features soil: lightness, friability, nutritional value, ability to pass air and moisture.
- Seeds are germinated in a greenhouse, that is, they cover containers with them with a film, ventilate them from time to time, and sprinkle them with water. Keep the crops under the film for about 2-3 weeks, until the sprouts turn green above the ground.
- The film can then be removed and the plants transferred to growing at room temperature. When 2 true leaves appear on the stems, then it's time to plant the sprouts in separate cups.
- You can transfer seedlings to a permanent place in the flower beds in July.
Reproduction knifofii
Knifofia is grown mainly from seeds bought in a store. But when there is a desire to propagate a particular variety, it is better to grow a crop by dividing the bush.
For vegetative propagation of knifofia, a plant is chosen from the age of 3 years. On such bushes you can find stolons - they are planting material. The daughter shoots are separated from the mother plant in the first weeks of May. They are planted immediately in open soil, after preparing the holes and filling them with a nutritious earth mixture.
At first, the plants are watered frequently and abundantly, as they grow older, the amount of water and the frequency of irrigation are somewhat reduced. Even young seedlings need to provide shade until they finally take root. Bookfia blooms, propagated by vegetative means, a year after transplantation.
Bookfia care
Growing knifofiya and caring for it provide for the observance of some rules:
- The soil in the flower bed where the culture will grow should be sandy if possible. It should also be nutritious, fertilized, well loosened.
- So that water does not stagnate in the soil, it is desirable to provide drainage. Or you can just plant the plant on a small hill.
- Since knifofiya is grown as a perennial, it must be prepared for wintering. Preparation includes shelter for the winter. But before you do this, all the leaves of each bush must be collected together and tied up. So you protect the roots and the central part of the bush from excess moisture. Then the plant must be covered with spruce branches, on top of which a roofing material should be laid, protecting the culture from water.
- Bookfia care includes pruning. The first time it is carried out in the spring, when the roofing material and spruce branches are removed. Then the dead, yellowed, frost-bitten parts of the bush are cut off. After the buds have faded, the knifophy is also cut off, the flower stalks are removed almost under the root. But if you want to collect seeds from a bush, then several flower stalks can not be cut off.
- It is necessary to feed knifofiya with fertilizers several times. For the first time - immediately after landing. Then, at the end of flowering, potash fertilizers must be applied to the ground. In the spring, before the formation of new shoots, it is necessary to feed the knifofia with nitrogen and organic compounds.
- The knifofia flower, if properly cared for, rarely gets sick. As a rule, the culture is affected by harmful insects that eat foliage. To get rid of them, it is necessary to spray knifofiya with insecticides. If you water the plant too often, root rot may occur. You can also get rid of it if you treat the bush with a fungicide. If some individual specimens are not amenable to treatment, they must be dug up and disposed of so that the rest of the cultures in the flower bed are not infected.
Knifofia in landscape design
Knifofia looks attractive and decorative throughout the growing season, so it can be planted in flower beds both as the main, "solo" crop, and as an addition to other plants. Tall species are successfully used to create a background or a screen; low varieties make a good decor for stone gardens and rock gardens.
If knifofia is grown in company with other crops, it is important to choose neighbors for it, taking into account the characteristics of care, flowering periods, size, and height of the bushes. In flowerbeds, in combination with knifofia, salvia and dahlias, irises and rudbeckia are often planted. Lupine, sage, eremurus or gypsophila can become a wonderful neighbor for her. To complete the composition, it would be appropriate to plant perennial decorative cereals along the edges of the flower garden.
Knifofia. Video
Knifofia is a perennial plant that came to us from Africa. It has dense gray-green leaves, forming a rosette at the root. From July to September, a long stem rises up from the outlet, at the top of which a peduncle is formed.
The peduncle forms an inflorescence in the form of an ear, the buds on which bloom one after another, either from top to bottom or from bottom to top: it all depends on the plant variety. Each of the blooming flowers is similar in shape to a bell. One of the most amazing qualities of this crop is the ability to change color during flowering. So, at first the flower can be red, then, as it blooms, turn orange, and at the very end, acquire a lemon hue.
Our growing conditions are characterized by such species as:
- Knifofia berry is a fairly large variety, the peduncles of which can grow up to 2 m, with an inflorescence size of 25 cm.
The most popular varieties are: "Martian", "Eskimo", Makowen's knifofiya, "Dr. Kerr Lemon". Each of the varieties has a different color of inflorescences.
- Knifofia hybrid - artificially bred from knifofiya berry.
Common varieties: "Cobra", "Rocket", "Cardinal", "Atlanta".
- Knifofia Tukka is a low type of plant (up to 80 cm), with an inflorescence size of 15 cm. Resistant to cold and temperature extremes. Can be grown at home.
Popular varieties: Alcazar, Celiano, Fleming Torch.
Planting knifofii
Since this culture comes from Africa and sunny Madagascar, it loves the abundance of sun and light. In the shade, the color of the flowers fades, and growth slows down.
Does not accept knifofiya and drafts, lowlands and stagnant water.
Knifofia prefers sandy, well-fertilized soil. The earth needs to be loosened. A hole is dug, at the bottom of which drainage is poured, after which fertile soil is introduced. And thanks to the stones laid out around the plant, the soil will warm up better.
Knifofia is drought tolerant, so it does not require frequent watering. It does not like an excess of moisture, to avoid this it is better to plant it in elevated areas or in places with good drainage.
With the onset of spring, when the first leaves appear, the plant should be fed with nitrogen fertilizer. Then you can make humus, compost or peat.
After flowering, top dressing is carried out with the addition of potassium or ash for additional nutrition and better wintering.
Care
It is important to water the plant correctly, apply fertilizing and fertilizers in a timely manner, and also do not forget to prune.
Prune knifofiya should be with the onset of spring. It is recommended to remove the frozen and yellowed parts of the bush.
After the end of flowering, flower stalks must be removed at the very root.
Wintering
In the south, the culture is left for the winter in the open field, while not forgetting to cover the plant. In autumn, the leaves are tied up so that moisture does not get into their sockets, after which they are covered with leaves or covered with spruce branches, you can also use a regular film. If you prefer the latter option, then it is necessary to provide ventilation, for this you can press the film not completely to the ground, thus leaving gaps.
In the north, knifofiya is dug up before the onset of winter and placed in pots with nutritious drainage soil. Containers with a plant are left in a room with a temperature not exceeding 8 ° C.
Knifofia transplant
Diseases and pests
Culture is rarely exposed to disease.
When leaf-eating and sucking insects appear, knifofia is treated with insecticides.
Too much moisture can cause root rot. In this case, treatment with a fungicide will help. In the absence of a positive result, the flower should be dug up so as not to infect other plants.
Combination with other plants
Before planting a flower bed different colors individual care, watering, plant size, flowering time should be taken into account. Thus, irises, sage, lupins, dahlias, ornamental cereals are best combined with knifofiya.
The culture does not require any special care; when growing it, you will save time and effort. And if you follow all the above simple rules, an unusual African beauty will make your site more original and bright.
Reproduction knifofii
Reproduction by seeds and vegetatively is possible. Propagation by seeds is a rather laborious process and for the ripening of seeds in our climatic conditions there is not enough heat and daylight hours, so the vegetative method is preferable.
Reproduction by seeds
For this, only purchased seeds are used. From the middle to the end of March, they are sown in loose soil that passes moisture well. In order for the seeds to sprout faster, the container with them is covered with a film for 2-3 weeks. Since it will be a kind of greenhouse, it needs to be aired regularly. In addition, periodic moistening of the soil with crops is required.
After the appearance of 2 leaves in the sprouts, the culture dives into different pots. In the middle of summer, knifofia is planted in a place where it will grow in the future.
With this method of growing, the plant will begin to bloom for 3 years.
You can learn more about planting knifofiya with seeds from the training video:
Reproduction by dividing the bush
Is the most common way. When the plant reaches 3 years old, it begins to form rosettes, which will be used for reproduction in the future.
The child sockets are separated from the main bush with a sharp knife. After that, the cut is sprinkled with charcoal.
After a couple of hours, the cut sockets are placed in pre-dug holes with a nutrient mixture. In the first weeks after planting, the plant should be watered abundantly, and after some time, watering should be reduced to 1-2 times a week.
With this method of reproduction, knifofia begins to bloom the very next year after planting.
Knifofiya or kniphofiya (Kniphofia) is a perennial rhizomatous herbaceous evergreen plant of the Asphodelaceae family, which includes about 70 species. All species of Knifophia originate from Africa, but some of its species are also found on the island of Madagascar and in Yemen. Knifofia is named after the 18th-century German physician and botanist Johann Hieronymus Kniphoff. In vivo wildlife Knifofia grows in large colonies along the banks of rivers or other bodies of water.
Knifofia is a very exotic and original plant, its narrow long gray-green leaves up to 50 cm high, the leaves are collected in a dense bunch. From June to September, flower stalks about 1 m high with panicle inflorescences constantly appear from the middle of the bush. Inflorescences are very dense, spicate, up to 25 cm long, consisting of long tubular flowers. In the lower part of the inflorescence, the flowers are bright yellow, gradually changing their color towards the top to orange or coral red.
Inflorescences of knifofii are striking from afar and resemble burning torches: they are too bright, as if they have absorbed all the colors of the African sun. Yes, and the names of the varieties are too eloquent: Coral Light, Flamenco, Shining Scepter, Roadside Flame, Traffic Light, Dance of Fire. At present, varieties of knifofiya of a calmer color have already been bred: yellow, orange, pink, lime green.
Knifofia easily propagated by dividing the rhizome, which is done in early spring or autumn after flowering. Also knifofiya can be grown from seeds.
Sowing seeds of knifofiya for seedlings in room conditions start in late March - early April. For better germination, place the container with planted seeds in a mini-greenhouse. Knifophia shoots appear after about 3 weeks. Seedlings in the phase of 2-3 true leaves dive into boxes, and in July they can be planted in a permanent place in the garden, keeping a distance of 30-40 cm between plants when planting.
Because of their African roots knifofiya prefers elevated sunny places but can tolerate light partial shade. It grows well and develops on nutritious, sufficiently moisture-intensive and permeable soils, but it is completely does not tolerate stagnation and excess moisture. When planting knifofia, you should know this, and if the site is lowland, then groundwater must be diverted from it, or an elevated place should be artificially created.
Bookfia care. Knifofia usually tolerates drought easily, however, it is not at all against moderate watering. In the first year, the plants need weeding. You can use soil mulching: it will keep the soil under the plants moist and prevent weeds from developing. In the spring, mineral fertilizers, preferably potash, should be applied to the plantings of knifofia.
With excessive moisture, knifofia is affected by root rot. To prevent damage to root rot, plant knifofia only on easily drained soils, at the first sign of damage, spray the plant and shed the soil under it with fungicides (drugs against rot). If it is not possible to save the plant, then it is better to remove it from the flower garden so that the disease does not spread to other plants. The main pests of knifofia in the garden are thrips, spider mites, leaf-eating insects. Against them, spraying with insecticide preparations is carried out in accordance with the instructions.
Preparing for winter. In the autumn, the inflorescences of knifofii are pruned. In a mild warm winter, the leaves are tied into bundles, the entire rosette is covered with dry leaves interspersed with peat chips, covered with spruce branches on top. On top of the spruce branches, knifofiya bushes must be covered with a material that does not allow moisture to pass through, for example, roofing felt or plastic film. If the winters are cold, then it is advisable to dig up the knifofia bushes, transplant them into large pots and put them in a cool room for the winter.
Knifofia, grown from seeds, blooms in the second year. The flowering period for some varieties of Knifofia begins in spring and summer, others bloom in August, when the air temperature drops slightly. Flowering continues for 1.5-2 months. The bright flowers of Knifophia attract bees and butterflies from all over the area.
Knifofia is very decorative throughout the growing season. It looks spectacular in group plantings, in mixed flower beds, near water bodies, in
Modern flower beds are often decorated with exotic specimens previously unknown in our country. Basically, these plants come from the tropics, but this does not prevent amateurs from successfully breeding them in the Moscow region. Knifofia is one of these perennial flowers. Tall whimsical candles rising from a rosette of narrow long leaves - such magnificence is spectacular both as a single plant and as part of a mixborder or alpine slide.
Knifofia was brought to Europe from Africa
The charming flower got its name in honor of the botanist Johann Kniphof, who first described the exotic plant. In wildlife, it can be seen in Africa (Southern and Eastern parts) and Madagascar. Cultivated flowers, also known as kniphophia, tritoma and notoskeptrum, are bred all over the world. However, due to the thermophilic nature of this culture, hybrid varieties of knifofia, which grow well in the southern regions, are most widely used.
Features of growing ornamental culture
The origin of the plant dictates its own laws - for favorable vegetation and confident flowering, most varieties require a hot climate with sunny weather and short mild winters. In the northern regions and the central part of Russia, only one variety of perennial is often planted - knifofiya Tukka.
It is better to grow exotic flowers in areas where most day the sun reigns - elevated spaces, southern slopes. In order for the plant to bloom longer, only light partial shade is allowed. When determining the landing site, drafts should be excluded.
It is best to plant knifofiya in places open to sunlight and near water bodies.
Due to the fact that knifofia is a rather tall plant, it is better to use it in the middle of flower arrangements. And the brightness of the coloring of this African exotic recommends a competent approach to the formation of a flower bed - next to a perennial it is better to place squat representatives of the flora with discreet flowers and an abundance of greenery.
Under natural growing conditions, knifofiya settles with pleasure in places with high humidity - near swamps, ponds. In landscape design, you can use this natural "love" for water and plant a flower next to artificial ponds in the garden.
Popular varieties
Botanical reference books describe about 75 modifications of Knifophia. The most famous are the following types:
Application in landscape design: examples in the photo
Knifofia in landscape design Knifofia in landscape design Knifofia in landscape design
Knifofiya in landscape design Knifofiya in landscape design Knifofiya in landscape design Knifofiya in landscape design Knifofiya in landscape design Knifofiya in landscape design Knifofiya in landscape design Knifofiya in landscape design Knifofiya in landscape design Knifofiya in landscape design
Landing methods
Cultivated types of knifofii can be planted in open ground both by seeds and by dividing the bush. A plant sown with seeds is able to sprout even the next year, therefore, for faster vegetation, it is advisable to plant knifofiya through pre-grown seedlings.
How to grow seedlings
Agrotechnics for growing knifofiya from seeds is reduced to the following manipulations:
- seeds for seedlings must be planted in specially prepared boxes in March;
- the soil should be loose and light, with good drainage properties;
- after landing, the earth is watered, and the box is closed with a film. So that the seeds do not suffocate and do not become moldy, you need to periodically remove the cover for ventilation;
- after 15–20 days, sprouts appear, which must be picked out after the appearance of three leaves. When the seedlings become friendly, the film is removed so that young plants receive enough oxygen;
- for two months, seedlings, picked up in separate containers, grow and harden. With the onset of stable heat, it should be taken out to the balcony or terrace.
Flowering begins only two years after planting seedlings
In early July, a grown perennial seedling can be settled in a permanent place in open ground. Flowering will come in the third year after planting seedlings.
The division of the bush
It is possible to accelerate the flowering of knifofia when the plant is propagated by dividing the bush. A three-year-old perennial begins to form sockets that are used for transplantation. Young layers are separated with a disinfected sharp knife from the mother bush and left in the air for 2-3 hours. The cut needs to be processed charcoal and wait for a slight wilt. Then the socket can be planted in a permanent place.
Immediately after transplantation, the young bush needs intensive watering, after a few weeks you can switch to watering 1-2 times a week. In hot weather and bright sun, the seedling is shaded.
Planting scheme in open ground
Knifofia is a rather large plant, therefore, for a more comfortable existence, it needs free space. Both seedlings and daughter outlets should be planted at a distance of at least 0.4 meters from each other.
Perennial does not need to change the permanent "residence" without good reason. A transplant is justified only if the plant is more and more withering in the old place.
garden care
Caring for an ornamental plant is not difficult
Growing knifofii in the open field is not associated with particular difficulties. The heat-loving plant is basically unpretentious, the agricultural technology of the perennial consists in the following methods:
- loosening and mulching the soil with regular removal of weeds;
- fertilizer application;
- periodic watering;
- regular removal of faded spikelets.
Despite the moisture-loving nature of knifofii, it does not tolerate stagnant water at all - the roots of the plant begin to rot and the perennial may die. Therefore, knifofia is planted on hills or in pits with drainage. For more intense heating of the soil around the perennial, you can place a black film or small pebbles.
At the onset of the autumn months, flower stalks must be completely removed and the plant prepared for wintering. To do this, the bushes are covered with a large amount of straw, leaves or coniferous litter. You can use a special covering material with holes for ventilation.
For the winter, knifofiya must be covered with a special film.
With the onset of spring, the protective shelter is removed from the bush, but this should be done gradually so that the perennial gets used to the ambient temperature.
If a cold winter is expected, then it is better to dig up the bushes, plant them in separate containers and bring them into a cool room with a temperature not higher than 8 0 C.
Pests and diseases
Cultivated types of knifofiya are very resistant to flower diseases. The main scourge of the plant is root rot, which develops due to a constant excess of moisture in the soil and too dense soil. If signs of the disease are found, knifofia must be dug up, the rhizomes inspected and the affected parts removed. After aseptic treatment (powdering with charcoal, ash or sulfur), the bush is transplanted to a more comfortable place for the perennial.
In rare cases, knifofiya can be attacked by pests - aphids, thrips, spider mite. For prevention, fragrant herbs or green manure can be planted next to the perennial, and if pests are found, the plant is treated with an insecticide.
A bright and unusual plant that came to us from Africa and the island of Madagascar.
Knifofia or Kniphofia (in different sources, the reading of the Latin name Kniphofia is interpreted differently) is a sunny perennial of the Liliaceae family (according to some sources, Asphodelaceae), the flowering of which resembles a raging fire and lasts quite a long time - from July (in the southern regions, an earlier start of flowering is possible ) until the first frost. But not all summer residents of the Middle Strip manage to see him.
Knifofia is picky about the soil, the place chosen for planting, humidity and temperature changes.
Many recommend growing it in the most favorable southern regions (in the Krasnodar Territory, Crimea). But most often, not severe winters ruin the beautiful Knifofia, but spring thaws and frosts, prolonged wet weather and an unsuccessfully chosen place. Therefore, often summer residents of much more northern regions (up to the Leningrad region) manage to safely enjoy the flowering of this plant every year, and southerners complain about another decay of their favorite flower.
Depending on the species, the height of Knifofia can vary from 50 cm to 3 meters. The aerial part of the plant is a dense bunch of decaying leaves, in the center of which a peduncle rises, crowned with its spike-shaped inflorescence of small bright tubular drooping flowers. The rhizome is short and thick.
Kinds.
The genus Kniphofia includes more than 60 species. Consider the most successful for growing in the Middle lane:
Knifofia Tukka (Kniphofia tuckii) - the most frost-resistant and hardy type of plant, it is it that is most often recommended for cultivation in Central Russia. Plant height up to 80 cm. Perennial. Blooms in July. The flowers are yellow and red, collected in spike-shaped inflorescence up to 15 cm long. Flowering lasts more than a month.
Knifofia berry (Kniphofia uvaria) - perennial herbaceous plant, up to 2 meters high. The species itself is larger and has a larger inflorescence, up to 25 cm in length. It contains yellow and red flowers. Flowering can last more than 1.5 months.
It is on the basis of the type of Knifofia Berry that many garden hybrids that have become widespread in some European countries. All of them have a lower height than the natural species (max. 130 cm), different shades of flowers, but retain such qualities as long flowering, large inflorescences. In some sources, hybrids are even trying to be combined into a separate species - Knifofia hybrid .
The most popular garden hybrids:
The most "undersized" (up to 60 cm in height): Little Maid with yellow flowers and Bernocks Triumph with orange.
One of the first hybrids that Europeans fell in love with and still retains popularity - Royal standard has a height of about 1 meter, red buds and yellow blooming flowers.
Star of Baden-Baden the same changeable - the buds are red, the flowers are yellow, but a little higher.
Hybrids have bright red fiery blooms John Benary, The Rocket, Cardinal.
Landing and care.
The soil.
Nutritious, at the same time light, with the addition of a lot of sand, moist, but without stagnant water (do not plant in lowlands).
Place.
Open, sunny, draft-free, elevated or raised bed.
Reproduction.
seed and vegetative.
Seed propagation of Knifofia, like many other southern perennials, is laborious and very difficult for an ordinary summer resident. It is also complicated by the fact that in our climate in 99% of cases (when grown in open ground) Knifofia seeds simply do not ripen.
Vegetatively, knifofia is propagated by dividing a bush with a rhizome. Do this at the end of spring, when the earth has warmed up enough. A bush (its age must be at least 4 years old, in younger plants, daughter buds are laid very rarely) are dug up and a part of the rhizome with buds is carefully separated. Plant the delenki immediately after digging and dividing, as indicated below.
Landing / transplant.
When growing a plant from seeds, in the spring (late March-early April), they are sown for seedlings in a container with nutrient soil mixed with sand. At the stage of formed 2-3 true leaves, dive into separate containers. Gradually temper. Planted in open ground no earlier than mid-June.
Planting seedlings (when growing from seeds) or divisions (when vegetative propagation) in open ground is carried out in pre-prepared holes at a distance of at least 40-50 cm from each other or from other plants (for the largest species, the distance is even greater).
Plant care.
The soil around young plants is best mulched with natural mulch, covered with black film or laid with pebbles.
Soil moisture needs to be monitored. Knifofia loves moisture, but rots when waterlogged.
Rotting can also be caused by weeds growing around the plant, so do not forget about weeding.
To save Knifofia, many people dig up the plant for the winter, transplant it into a pot and store it in the basement or underground.
If you leave the plant for the winter in the garden, it is necessary to cut the flower stalks, tie the leaves into a bundle and cover the plant tightly first with spruce branches, tie a film over it so that moisture does not pass inside.