Content
Astilbe is an ideal option for decorating shady corners of the garden. Plants look good in single and group plantings.
Astilbe blooms profusely with regular watering and fertilizing. The size of the bush and color scheme depend on the variety. The flower is frost-resistant and tolerates temperature fluctuations well in summer. The plant is rarely more and is little susceptible to attack by pests.
Botanical description
Astilbe is a herbaceous perennial plant of the Saxifraga family. Naturally found in North America, China and Japan. Prefers deciduous forests, banks of rivers and streams. In Europe, the flower has been grown since the 18th century. The plant adorns shady areas of gardens and greenhouses.
The flower has a powerful rhizome; the above-ground part dies off in late autumn. The stems of the plant are erect, reaching 2 m. The leaves are green, sometimes with a reddish tint, petiolate, simple or pinnate.
Astilbe flowers are collected in apical inflorescences in the shape of a panicle or pyramid. The color scheme includes white, pink, red, purple shades. Depending on the variety, flowering begins in June - August.
Astilbe Arends includes more than 40 varieties. The varietal group is characterized by powerful spreading bushes up to 1 m high. Inflorescences are spherical or pyramid-shaped, white, red, pinkish. Flowering begins in July and continues for 40 days.
Chinese hybrids reach a height of 1.1 m. The leaves are large, the inflorescences are up to 40 cm long. The flowers are lilac, purple or white. Representatives of the group grow well in illuminated areas.
Photo of flowers of the Chinese variety Purpurlanze:
Japanese astilbe has a height of up to 80 cm. Pink or white paniculate inflorescences bloom in June. All varieties are resistant to cold weather.
Simple-leaved astilbe is a compact plant up to 50 cm high. Drooping inflorescences look impressive on the site. The color scheme is represented by white, pinkish and coral shades.
Astilbe looks good in group and mixed plantings. Low-growing varieties are used to decorate borders and ponds. The plant is combined with heucheras, hostas, and ferns.
Seeds from producers Gavrish, Tsentr-Ogorodnik, Agronika, and Aelita are available for sale. Agricultural companies sell both individual plant varieties and their mixtures.
Growing astilbe
At home, astilbe is grown from seeds. The emerging seedlings are provided with the necessary conditions. When warm weather arrives, the plants are transferred to the garden bed.
Planting seeds
There are certain times when to plant astilbe seedlings. Work is carried out in March-April. First, prepare the substrate and process the seeds. To grow astilbe, take equal amounts of sand and peat.
The soil mixture is steamed in a water bath to destroy pathogens. Another disinfection option is to place the soil in the refrigerator. At sub-zero temperatures, the soil is kept for several months on the street or balcony.
For disinfection, planting material is placed in a Fitosporin solution. Using the drug allows you to grow healthy and strong seedlings. s
To grow astilbe from seeds, prepare containers 15 cm high. To avoid picking seedlings, use cassettes with cell sizes of 5 cm.
Seed planting order:
- The containers are washed with hot water and filled with soil.
- A layer of snow 1 cm thick is poured on top. If there is no snow cover, you can use ice from the freezer.
- Astilbe seeds are sprinkled on the snow.
- After the snow melts, the seeds will be in the ground. Then the container is wrapped in a plastic bag and left in the refrigerator for 20 days.
Temperature changes stimulate seed germination. When shoots appear, the containers are transferred to a warm, illuminated place.
Conditions for seedlings
Astilbe seedlings are provided with a number of conditions, which include temperature, soil moisture and lighting.
Microclimate for growing astilbe from seeds at home:
- temperature 18-23 °C;
- lighting for 12-14 hours;
- regular watering;
- ventilation of the room.
If the length of daylight is not sufficient for seedlings, then the installation of phytolamps or fluorescent devices is required. Lighting is placed at a distance of 30 cm from the seedlings. The lamps are turned on in the morning or evening.
Plants are watered with warm, settled water. Moisture is applied at the root until the top layer of soil dries. To avoid high humidity, the room is periodically ventilated.Plantings are protected from drafts.
When astilbe develops 2-3 leaves, it is planted in separate containers. To minimize stress for plants, they are transferred to new containers along with a lump of earth.
2-3 weeks before transferring to the ground, they begin to harden the seedlings. Plants are kept for several hours on the balcony or loggia. Gradually this period is increased. Hardening will help astilbe quickly adapt to its natural environment.
Landing in the ground
When growing astilbe from seeds, it is transferred to the garden bed in May-June after warm weather sets in. Northern areas located in the shade of buildings or fences are suitable for plants.
The flower develops well next to trees and shrubs. When planted in a lighted area, astilbe blooms profusely, but for less time.
The plant prefers loamy soils. The high location of groundwater ensures soil moisture. In the spring, the area is dug up and fertilized with compost in the amount of 2 buckets per 1 square meter. m.
When to plant astilbe seedlings in open ground depends on the climatic conditions of the region. It is necessary to wait for warm weather and the last frost.
The procedure for planting seedlings in the ground:
- Prepare planting holes measuring 20x20 cm and 30 cm deep. Leave a gap of 30 cm between plants.
- 1 tbsp is poured into the bottom of each hole. l. diammofoski and 1 glass of wood ash.
- Planting holes are watered abundantly.
- The seedlings are also watered and taken out of the containers.
- Astilbe is placed in a hole, the growth buds are buried 4 cm.
- The roots of the plants are covered with earth, which is compacted well.
- The soil is mulched with peat, the layer thickness is 3 cm.
Astilbe care
Astilbe is an unpretentious plant that requires minimal care.A flower grows in one place for 5-7 years; with regular care, this period reaches 10 years. Plantings are watered and periodically fed. In late autumn, plants are prepared for winter.
Watering
During the season, you need to monitor soil moisture. The intensity of watering astilbe depends on weather conditions. In case of heavy rainfall, watering is reduced to a minimum. During drought, the plant is watered 2 times a day.
Photo of astilbe flowers:
After watering, loosen the soil and weed weeds. After loosening, plants better absorb moisture and beneficial components. It is recommended to hill up the bushes.
Feeding
Astilbe grown from seeds responds positively to fertilizing. During the season, fertilizers are applied 3 times:
- in the spring after the snow melts;
- in mid-June;
- after flowering ends.
For the first feeding, nitrogen fertilizer is prepared. Nitrogen stimulates the development of new shoots. When hilling, rotted compost is added to the soil. Among the mineral substances used for plants, urea or ammonium nitrate is used. 20 g of the substance is dissolved in 10 liters of water, after which watering is performed.
The second treatment is carried out using potassium nitrate. Take 2 tbsp for a bucket of water. l. fertilizers After flowering, the plant is fed with superphosphate. 25 g of the substance is embedded in the soil or added to water when watering.
Diseases and pests
Astilbe rarely suffers from diseases. When growing astilbe from seeds, diseases can be avoided by processing the planting material.
When there is excess moisture, the plant is affected by root rot and spotting. Brown or black spots appear on the affected bushes. Plants are sprayed with copper-based preparations and transplanted to a drier area.
Of the pests, astilbe attracts pennies and nematodes. Insects feed on plant sap, as a result the flowers lose their decorative properties and begin to deform and fade. For pests, the drugs Karbofos or Aktara are used.
Autumn work
Astilbe inflorescences retain their decorative properties for a long time. Therefore, they are not cut, but left on the bushes in a semi-dry state.
At the end of the season, plants need special care to prepare them for winter. The flower stems are cut at the root.
Plants are mulched with dry leaves and covered with spruce branches. If there is a lot of snowfall in the region, then additional shelter is not required. The flower tolerates frosts down to -35 °C.
Conclusion
Astilbe is an unpretentious plant that blooms profusely in the shade. The flower is grown from seeds that are planted at home. Seedlings are provided with a number of conditions, including temperature, watering and lighting. Grown flowers are transferred to a permanent place. When fertilized and added moisture, astilbe pleases with abundant flowering.
