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Astilbe Fanal is a prominent representative of shade-tolerant plants. The plant is valued for its unpretentiousness and decorative properties. The flower is grown from seeds through seedlings. If you choose the right place for planting, astilbe requires minimal care.
Botanical description
Astilbe is a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Saxifraga family. In nature, the plant is found in East Asia and North America, in deciduous forests, on the banks of rivers and reservoirs. Since the 18th century, the flower has been grown in Europe.
Astilbe Fanal is a hybrid obtained in 1930 by the German breeder Georg Arends. The name of the variety is translated as “beacon” or “beacon light”.
Description of astilbe Fanal:
- height 60 cm;
- rhizome is powerful, woody, shoots are erect;
- leaves are shiny, about 40 cm long, unpaired, pinnate and dissected;
- the edges of the leaf blades are serrated;
- when blooming, the leaves have a brown or reddish tint; in summer they acquire a rich green color;
- petioles and stems with a reddish tint;
- crimson flowers, collected in paniculate inflorescences 20 cm long;
- The width of the inflorescences is up to 8 cm.
Flowering of astilbe Fanal begins in June-July and lasts 20 days. The flowering period depends on the planting location and weather conditions. At high humidity and temperature, astilbe blooms earlier.In drought or cool weather, flowering begins in August. The flower is valued for its decorative properties. The inflorescences do not wither for a long time and remain on the bushes.
After flowering ends in August-September, seed boxes are formed. They are collected to obtain planting material. Seed germination persists for several years.
Photo of astilbe Fanal:
The Fanal variety is unpretentious and prefers dark areas. The plant is grown in flower beds and garden beds. The flower looks good in single and group plantings. The shoots are used as cut flowers to create summer bouquets.
Seeds are available for sale from the companies Avista, Russian Ogorod, Flos, etc. Planting material is also supplied from Holland.
Growing astilbe
The astilbe variety Fanal is grown by planting seeds at home. The seedlings are provided with the necessary conditions, after which they are transferred to a permanent place. Plant seeds are also planted in open ground, but the seedling method is more reliable and proven.
Boarding order
Planting work begins in March-April. First, prepare a substrate consisting of equal amounts of peat and sand. It is allowed to use peat cups or purchased soil mixture.
Before planting, it is recommended to steam the soil in a water bath for disinfection. Another option is to keep the soil for several months in the refrigerator or on the balcony at sub-zero temperatures.
Before planting, it is recommended to disinfect the seeds by placing them in a Fitosporin solution for 2-3 hours. Treatment will avoid diseases of seedlings and adult plants.
Procedure for planting astilbe seeds:
- The containers are filled with the prepared substrate.
- A layer of snow 1 cm thick is poured onto the soil. If there is no snow cover, use ice from the freezer.
- The seeds are placed on top. As the snow melts, the planting material will end up in the soil.
- When the snow has completely melted, the containers are wrapped in a plastic bag and kept in the refrigerator for 20 days.
Due to stratification, the emergence of seedlings is accelerated when changing temperature conditions. When the first shoots appear on the surface of the soil, the containers are transferred to the room. In the future, astilbe seedlings provide the necessary care.
Conditions for seedlings
Astilbe Fanal seedlings develop successfully when a number of conditions are met:
- temperature regime: from 18 to 22 °C;
- regular watering;
- lighting for 10-12 hours.
Seedlings of the Fanal variety are watered with warm, settled water. When the soil begins to dry out, it is moistened with a spray bottle. Moisture should not get on the leaves and stems of plants.
Additional lighting is installed for seedlings if the daylight hours are not long enough. For seedlings, fluorescent or phytolamps are purchased. They are installed at a distance of 25 cm from the plants and turned on in the morning or evening.
When the astilbe seedlings have 2-3 leaves, they are planted in separate containers. When grown in peat cups or cassettes, picking is not required. The most gentle method for plants is the transfer method, when they are transplanted into a new container along with a lump of earth.
A couple of weeks before planting in the ground, they begin to harden the plants. First, you can open the window for a couple of hours to ensure the flow of fresh air. Then the plantings are transferred to the balcony or loggia.Hardening allows you to speed up the adaptation of plants to natural conditions.
Landing in the ground
The place for planting Arends Fanal astilbe is chosen in advance. In the fall, the soil is dug up and cleared of weed and previous cultures. The flower prefers loamy, fertile soils. To improve the quality of the soil when digging, add 2 buckets of humus and 1 tbsp. l. complex fertilizer per 1 sq. m.
The flower is replanted at the end of May or beginning of June, when spring frosts have passed. Astilbe Fanal grows well in partial shade. In illuminated areas the plant blooms profusely, but not for long. The flower can be planted in an area with a high groundwater level.
Ideal places for planting astilbe are northern areas along buildings or fences. The plant is comfortable near ponds and fountains, under the shade of trees and shrubs.
Sequence of actions for planting astilbe Arends Fanal:
- In the spring, deep loosening is carried out in the garden using a rake.
- For planting, prepare holes 20 cm in size and 30 cm deep. 30 cm are left between plants.
- ½ cup of wood ash is poured into each hole.
- The plants are watered, carefully removed from the containers and transferred to the planting hole.
- The root collar is deepened by 4 cm. The soil is compacted and watered abundantly.
After replanting the astilbe, the soil is kept moist. Mulching the soil with peat or humus will help reduce the frequency of watering.
Astilbe care
Astilbe Fanal develops with minimal care. Plants are watered abundantly, especially in drought, the soil is loosened and weeded to remove weeds. Abundant flowering of astilbe will be ensured by fertilizing with mineral or organic substances. Autumn treatment will prepare the plants for winter.
The lifespan of astilbe in one place is 5-7 years. With good care, this period can be extended to 10 years. Then the bushes are transplanted to a new place or new plants are prepared for planting.
Watering
Astilbe Fanal is watered abundantly throughout the season. The soil in the beds should remain moist. For irrigation, take warm, settled water. The procedure is carried out in the morning or evening hours.
After watering, loosen the soil to speed up the absorption of moisture and beneficial components. The beds are weeded to remove weeds. You can mulch the soil not only after planting, but throughout the season.
Photo of astilbe Fanal in landscape design:
The rhizome of astilbe gradually grows upward, so it is hilled 2-3 times during the summer. Without hilling, the root system will lose access to nutrients and die.
Feeding
During the season, astilbe can be fed several times. If the soil is quite fertile or has been well fertilized in the fall, then fertilizing is carried out as necessary. If the plant has a depressed appearance and slow development, then minerals or organic matter are added to the soil.
Frequency of feeding astilbe Fanal:
- in the spring after the snow melts;
- before flowering begins;
- after flowering is completed.
To increase green mass, fertilizer containing nitrogen is prepared as the first feeding. From organic substances, use an infusion of mullein or bird droppings in a ratio of 1:15. Plants can be fed with ammonium nitrate solution. Then add 20 g of the substance to 10 liters of water.
The second treatment of astilbe Fanal is carried out using potassium. For a similar volume of water, 2 tbsp is enough. l. potassium sulfate.After flowering, the plants are treated with a superphosphate solution, which is poured under the root. Take 20 g of phosphorus fertilizer per bush.
Autumn work
In the fall, when flowering is completed, the astilbe is cut at the root. Leave 20-25 cm above ground level. The plant is mulched and covered with spruce branches.
According to the description, Astilbe Fanal is a frost-resistant plant and tolerates winter frosts well under snow cover. In the absence of snow, the astilbe is additionally covered with agrofibre. In spring, the shelter is removed.
Conclusion
Astilbe Fanal is an ideal option for decorating shady areas of the garden. For abundant flowering, plants are provided with regular watering and fertilizing. It is recommended to grow the flower at home and transfer it to an open area in early summer.
