Content
Growing aquilegia at home is distinguished by simple and understandable agricultural technology and does not require special knowledge and skills. The flower, in simple colloquial speech “catchment”, delights with its splendor and harmonious combination of shades. This unpretentious decorative appearance has been very popular among flower growers and gardeners everywhere for decades. Outside the Russian Federation, the plant is called “elf slipper”, “dove”, “eagle” for the amazing features of the inflorescence and the original structure of the leaves. In the morning or after rain, the aquilegia bush presents a delightful sight: sparkling drops of rain or dew roll down the leaves and collect at the base of the stem in the form of large diamonds.
The aquilegia leaf has a unique “lotus effect”, so water is repelled by microprotrusions on the leaves and is not absorbed
The corolla of the inflorescence is an original funnel with outgrowths - decorative spurs. Depending on the type and variety, they can be curved, short or long, like the shoes of a magical eastern elf.
Terry aquilegia hybrids (for example, the Adelaide Edison variety) may have more than five petals per inflorescence
The nuances of growing aquilegia in open ground
A modest and at the same time sophisticated look is a worthy decoration for a local area, flower bed or flower garden. Planting and caring for columbine flowers does not require much effort. To start multi-colored eagles in your garden, you just need to know the simple rules for planting a plant in open ground and the basic subtleties of care.
Columbine can be grown from seeds. Most often they germinate in the spring in a dense brush as a result of uncontrolled self-seeding. In early March, seeds can be sown for seedlings. However, in latitudes with warm and temperate climates, sowing directly into open ground in early spring or late autumn is more preferable.
You should know that from seeds collected at home, it is not always possible to obtain a plant whose inflorescence color scheme is identical to the mother’s. During the growing season, crops cross-pollinate with each other many times. Reproduction by cuttings or dividing the bush will help preserve the variety of the aquilegia bush you like in the pristine beauty of its colors and shades.
Experienced gardeners do not recommend using seeds that have been stored for more than 3 years, since over time, aquilegia seed material almost completely loses its germination rates. The main stages of planting and caring for aquilegia, presented below and supported by photos, demonstrate accessible and simple steps that will help you grow healthy and unpretentious plants in any flower bed, garden bed, or flower garden.
Exquisite varieties of the unique elf slipper will delight and delight with magnificent flowering for up to 1 month, while the flowering duration of each individual inflorescence is up to 20 days
How to plant aquilegia in the ground
The conditions for growing aquilegia provide that plants can be planted in open ground in spring or late autumn (before winter). In order to start a decorative crop, you can use several methods:
- seeds (sowing in open ground or for seedlings, followed by thinning and care);
- cuttings (using separation and subsequent rooting of young basal rosettes);
- dividing the bush (dividing the root system of an adult plant into parts and then replanting it in the ground).
Plants must be placed in the hole carefully, trying not to damage the roots, carefully straightening, without bending, tucking or breaking the root shoots
When can you plant aquilegia?
The most suitable time of year for planting aquilegia flowers is considered to be autumn and spring. The main difference between the seasons is the natural stratification of seeds (when propagated by seeds), which is ensured when sowing aquilegia in autumn. If you sow the catchment in the spring, the seeds should be pre-treated.Planting cuttings and plots is also carried out in spring and autumn; it has its own characteristics.
Planting aquilegia in spring
Aquilegia is planted in open ground in the spring immediately after the snow melts. Planting material is stimulated by cold - stratified. Several methods are used for this. For one month, seeds intended for planting can be stored:
- in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator;
- in a separate container with well-moistened peat in a cool place (basement, veranda, barn);
- in a separate container under the snow.
In the spring, planting aquilegia by cuttings is more successful, when young basal rosettes are separated from the mother plant even before the leaves appear. Replanting by dividing the rhizome in the spring can negatively affect the process of survival of the plant’s root system in a new location.
Forced stratified seeds must be sown in open ground in March-April
Planting aquilegia before winter
Autumn sowing, according to most flower growers and gardeners, is the most effective and preferable for growing and caring for aquilegia in the open ground. During the winter period, the seeds undergo natural stratification (hardening), so in early spring they produce more productive and faster seedlings. Aquilegia can be replanted in the fall (after flowering ends, in early September) using cuttings and dividing the rhizome.
The autumn period is considered more successful for replanting and rooting the watershed
Site selection and soil preparation
Aquilegia prefers partial shade as a “permanent place of residence”, although it feels great in sunny meadows.In the partial shade of buildings or trees, the catchment produces brighter, larger inflorescences, with the longest flowering period (compared to plants placed in bright sun).
The elf slipper is not picky in choosing soil. The plant can be planted even in poor but moist soil.
When complex fertilizers are applied, the orlik inflorescences are painted in more saturated shades
How to plant aquilegia correctly
Proper planting and care of perennial aquilegia allows you to obtain beautiful, healthy, constantly flowering ornamental plants. To plant aquilegia correctly, you must follow the rules.
How to properly plant aquilegia seeds in open ground
In open ground, stratified catchment seeds are sown in small depressions of the required shape prepared with a hoe (depending on the configuration of the flower garden). The seeds are sprinkled with a layer of soil (0.5 cm), watered, and mulched with humus or peat.
A month after sowing, the first shoots appear
How to properly plant aquilegia seeds for seedlings
For seedlings, stratified aquilegia seeds are sown in a specially prepared, well-moistened soil mixture. The substrate for the catchment consists of equal parts of turf soil, coarse river sand and humus. The seeds are scattered lightly, lightly pressed down or sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. To create a greenhouse effect, the container is covered with plastic film. At temperatures up to 18 ⁰C and a sufficient level of humidity, the first entrances appear after 2 weeks.
If the plants have 2 permanent leaves, the catchment is collected in separate cups and transplanted into open ground in April-May
How to plant aquilegia cuttings correctly
Planting Orlik cuttings in open ground involves transplanting young basal rosettes, which are separated from the mother plant and rooted in a new place. The rosette is carefully removed from the ground, the cut site is treated with a stimulant, buried in the hole to a depth of 1 cm, and moistened abundantly until the cutting is completely rooted.
Plants from cuttings take root more successfully in the spring in a shaded place
How to properly plant aquilegia plots when dividing a bush
Planting of plots obtained as a result of dividing a bush of an adult catchment area is carried out in prepared holes. Bushes older than 4-5 years of age are dug up and divided into parts with a sharp knife so that each contains more than 3 viable buds. This planting method allows plants to be propagated while fully preserving the varietal characteristics of the shape, size and color characteristics of the petals. After placing the plots in the holes, the plants are pressed and covered with earth, thoroughly moistened.
The distance between individual elf slipper bushes should be at least 40 cm
How to grow aquilegia
Planting and caring for an aquilegia flower is not difficult. In the photos of individual varieties you can appreciate the beauty and natural splendor of shapes and colors. Modest and beautiful orlik inflorescences go well with any type of landscape design.
The delicate shades of the petals of the Aquilegia variety Mister Scott Elliot amaze with magical combinations of pastel shades
Watering and fertilizing schedule
Aquilegia is a fairly drought-resistant crop. After the first shoots appear, as well as until the cuttings or plots are completely rooted, the plants continue to be watered regularly and abundantly. On dry summer days, increase watering.If there is sufficient precipitation, the catchment area does not require additional irrigation.
To ensure spectacular flowering and rapid development, the elf's slipper should be fertilized in a timely manner:
- early May — feeding with humus (at the rate of 0.5 kg per bush);
- the beginning of June — potassium-phosphorus preparations;
- early August — fertilizing with potassium fertilizers.
In addition to regular watering, young plants in the catchment area should be protected from the scorching sun.
Loosening and weeding
Loosening the soil around the catchment area is one of the mandatory rules for caring for ornamental crops. The plant needs weeding of weeds, as well as thinning of seedlings (in the case of sowing seeds).
The thinning process leaves the healthiest, strongest shoots
Caring for aquilegia after flowering
After budding is completed, the faded inflorescences of the catchment are cut off. Since the plant spends additional energy on planting seeds, dry flower stalks should be removed in a timely manner.
If you leave faded inflorescences until late autumn, you can collect the seeds or the plant can reproduce by self-sowing
Preparing for winter
Aquilegia is a frost- and cold-resistant ornamental crop. Young (up to 1 year old) bushes are covered with non-woven material or spruce branches for the winter. Mature plants do not need shelter. During preparation for wintering, the bases of aquilegia leaves die and transform into part of the root system. For this reason, adult eagles have roots that protrude from the ground.
In the fall, a small layer of compost and humus should be poured under adult aquilegia bushes, which will provide additional fertilizer and also protect the root system of the crop from winter cold.
Pests and diseases
The watershed is characterized by strong immunity and is rarely exposed to diseases. In especially rainy summers, aquilegia can be affected by powdery mildew or gray rot.
Powdery mildew appears as a white coating on stems and leaves. To combat the disease, you can use treatment with the following drugs: soda ash (at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 5 liters of water), colloidal sulfur solution, Thiovit Jet, Fitospori-M, Chistotsvet, Skor.
Powdery mildew affects aquilegia during periods of prolonged rain.
Gray rot affects the leaves of the catchment area. The disease quickly spreads to neighboring plants.
If gray rot is detected, diseased plants must be burned and the affected areas of the land must be treated with insecticides.
The main pests of aquilegia are nematodes, spider mites and aphids.
Nematodes attack the root system of the catchment area.
At the first signs of the appearance of nematodes, affected ornamental plants must be burned
The aphids suck the juices from the stems, as a result of which the elf's slipper gradually dies.
Insecticides are used to get rid of aphids
Spider mites settle on the lower part of leaf blades.
To combat spider mites, you can use modern drugs such as Actellik
Conclusion
Even novice amateur gardeners can grow aquilegia. Following simple planting and care rules allows you to grow a mysterious perennial with an amazing flower shape. People have been cultivating orlik for several centuries. Creators glorified plants in their works. For example, Hamlet's Ophelia offered Laertes an elegant columbine flower, and medieval painters associated aquilegia with the presence of the Holy Spirit.
