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Cylindrical Imperata Red Baron is used by amateur gardeners to give a beautiful appearance to the site.
The variety is unpretentious to weather conditions and care, has decorative characteristics, and also grows well, which facilitates reproduction. Red Baron is a perennial cereal crop.
Description of the cylindrical Imperata Red Baron
Due to the specific shape of the leaves of a rich red hue with clear lines, imperata cylindrical is called “red lightning”, and due to its Asian origin it is sometimes called “Japanese blood grass”.
Cylindrical imperata grows up to 30 cm in height, and sometimes can reach 0.5 m. The stem is straight, the leaves are narrow and hard, with pointed ends.
During the flowering period, which occurs in mid-spring, it produces spikelets up to 15 cm long.The fluffy silvery ears create an interesting contrast with the leaves.
Cylindrical imperata red baron is an exclusively ornamental plant. Due to their hardness, the leaves are unsuitable as food for animals and nesting birds.
The root of the cylindrical imperata is actively used in cosmetology (as a moisturizing component). The root extract of this plant is able to saturate the skin with moisture in the shortest possible time, as well as provide the body cells with calcium.
Also used in tropical countries in brewing.
Imperata decoctions are used to treat the respiratory system, digestive tract, and also to strengthen the immune system. The decoction has a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, expectorant and diuretic effect.
The use of Imperata Red Baron in landscape design
Landscape planning is a responsible process that must be approached consciously.
Thanks to its neat and well-groomed appearance, Red Baron is increasingly gaining popularity for landscape design in both single and group plantings.
A photo of a cylindrical imperata in an autumn landscape is presented below.
Cylindrical imperata is suitable for decorating not only private courtyards and personal plots, it is also used to decorate parks, squares, and lawns.
Photo of Imperata cereal with stones in landscape design.
Photo of the use of the Red Baron cylindrical imperata in landscape design.
Photo of the cylindrical Imperata Red Baron in combination with coniferous plantings.
In group compositions, cylindrical imperata looks great together with feather grass, juniper, elderberry, cypress, millet, bitter weed, primrose, dahlias, as well as roses in bright colors.
In compositions with perennial deciduous shrubs, Red Baron can be combined with heather, elderberry, hawthorn, lilac, bookendia, euonymus, wild rosemary, abelia, and jasmine.
In single compositions it looks great against a green lawn.
A photo of the cylindrical Imperata Red Baron in a single composition is presented below.
A special place is occupied by planning your own pond and decorating it with the help of a cylindrical Red Baron imperata.
Reproduction methods
Imperata cylindrical Red Baron is propagated in various ways: seeds, seedlings and vegetatively.
In temperate zones, seed germination is low, so it makes little sense to grow the crop in this way.
If you want to plant Red Baron with seeds, then at the end of March - beginning of April, clean the area (remove weeds and debris) and loosen the area in a sunny place. Lightly moisten the soil and plant the seeds directly on the surface, sprinkle a small layer of dry soil on top. As needed, water and thin out the seedlings.
Growing seedlings is considered a more reliable way. To do this, at the end of March, take a pot with a volume of at least 1 liter, as well as nutritious soil. The seeds are laid out on the surface of the soil at a distance of 4 cm, while slightly pressing them into the ground. Water carefully from a spray bottle. Then cover with film to create a greenhouse effect, not forgetting to ventilate periodically. Required air temperature 25 °C and diffused lighting. When the first shoots appear, the film is removed.
Before planting in open ground, seedlings are hardened for 10 days. Planted at the moment when consistently warm weather sets in. Seedlings are placed at a distance of 35-40 cm from each other.
The vegetative method involves dividing the root system of an adult bush. The procedure is carried out in the spring, when the soil is sufficiently moist. Carefully dig up the bush and separate part of the root from it. Dig a hole 20 cm deep, add mineral fertilizers and compost. The separated root is planted at a fairly close distance (as it grows very slowly). Sprinkle with a fertile layer of soil, compact it, water it abundantly and mulch with a thick layer of compost or peat. It is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out.
If everything was done correctly, then within a month a new bush will appear.
Vegetative propagation of the cylindrical Imperata Red Baron is shown in the photo.
Planting and caring for the cylindrical Imperata Red Baron
Based on the fact that the cylindrical Imperata Red Baron in temperate latitudes does not have the ability to actively reproduce, it can be planted without worrying about other crops.
Recommended timing
The optimal temperature for growing cylindrical Imperata Red Baron is from +22 to +27 °C.
For areas with harsh climates, pre-planting in containers is practiced.
Site selection and soil preparation
In order for Imperata Red Baron to receive the maximum amount of heat and light, it is necessary to plan planting on the southern or western part of the site.
Placement in partial shade is also possible, but it is advisable that the plant be illuminated by the sun for several hours during the day.
For planting cylindrical imperata, light loam and sandstone are suitable, which have properties such as lack of moisture stagnation, excellent ventilation and ease of processing. Soil acidity should be in the range of 4.5-7.8. The most important thing is the presence of high-quality drainage.
How to plant correctly
Before planting Red Baron Emperors, spacious holes are dug in open ground, twice as large as the roots of the seedlings (about 20 cm). The bottom must be mulched with compost, and mineral fertilizer is poured on top.
Carefully place the seedling in the hole and cover it with a fertile layer of soil, thoroughly water it and compact the soil. The soil around the seedling is mulched with compost or peat. The thickness of the mulch layer is at least 3 cm.
Growing rules
To grow a beautiful Imperata Red Baron on your plot, you must adhere to the rules of cultivation and care.
Watering
During dry periods, Red Baron is watered regularly. To check the soil moisture, carefully dig 5-10 cm into the ground. If the top layer of soil at a depth of up to 2 cm is dry, water the imperata.
Cylindrical imperata has no special requirements for air humidity.
Top dressing
Provided that the cylindrical imperata has been planted correctly, no additional feeding is required.
In early spring it is necessary to fertilize with potassium fertilizers, and in the fall add compost. It is advisable to feed with organic and complex mineral fertilizers several times during the growing season.
Preparing for winter
Cylindrical Imperata Red Baron has high winter hardiness. Up to -26 °C it can winter in open ground without shelter.But it is better to insulate the plant with peat or mulch from dry leaves and cover it with an old blanket on top.
In colder climates, imperata is grown in containers and brought indoors in winter.
Every year, in the fall, the imperata is pruned 10 cm from the ground.
At the end of the growing season, the plant is mulched. If there are green shoots on the Red Baron bush, then they must be cut off.
Periodically, old bushes are rejuvenated: all old shoots are dug up and removed to the roots.
Pests and diseases
Cylindrical Imperata Red Baron is resistant to diseases and pests.
Due to stagnation of water, the most common disease to which the plant is susceptible is fungal infections. Prevention of diseases is the correct choice of planting location, good drainage, and timely watering. To get rid of the disease, they are treated with fungicides, for example, Quadrix, Fundazol, as well as other antifungal drugs.
If the imperata plant does not take root for a long time, this means that it does not have enough moisture.
If the leaves of the Imperata do not turn red, the reason is that the plant does not have enough light.
Conclusion
Cylindrical Imperata Red Baron is a fairly unpretentious plant. To grow on the site, you will need to make a little effort and the result will not take long to arrive.
