Content
Decorating a garden is a very enjoyable and creative activity. Finding a suitable plant with unusual flowers, decorative leaves and ease of care is the dream of many gardeners. Increasingly, unusual representatives of the Saxifraga family are being chosen for these purposes. One of these plants is Eroika bergenia. This is a unique hybrid of heart-leaved plants, which captivates with its bright flowering and beneficial properties.
Eroika does not require special care
Description
Eroika is a fairly compact variety (the height of the bush does not exceed 30-40 cm). The leaves are rounded, with slightly wavy edges (outwardly reminiscent of the outline of a heart) and have a pleasant, glossy surface. They are painted in dark, rich tones of green. The average length of each leaf is about 10 cm, and their distinctive feature is the ability to change color with the arrival of cold weather (a gradual transition from green to purple).
Eroika bergenia flowers have 5 petals and are shaped like a glass. One inflorescence can contain about 120 small buds, colored in different tones of purple, red and white. Flowering begins at the end of April.The plant thrives in moderate shade and prefers light loams with neutral acidity.
For stable growth and development of Eroika bergenia, moderate watering without stagnation of moisture is required, as well as properly selected fertilizers
History of the hybrid
Bergenia cordifolia originally grew in Asia. Botanists became interested in this plant in the 18th century. Its scientific name, Bergenia, comes from the name of the German biologist Carl August von Bergen. Under natural conditions, bergenia grew in a temperate climate and consisted of 10 different species.
In modern gardening, only 5 of them are actively used. All of them were actively studied by scientists, and breeders bred a huge number of hybrids, a special place among which is occupied by the Eroika bergenia with its high resistance rates and fabulously beautiful flowers.
Badan Eroika is frost-resistant
When and how to sow
Sowing of Eroika bergenia begins in late February or early March. To do this, high-quality planting material is prepared in advance, as well as special containers (boxes, pots) and nutrient soil. You can prepare it yourself or use purchased soil mixture.
The container is filled with substrate and small grooves 5 mm deep are made, and a distance of 3 cm is left between the rows. The soil is moistened with a spray bottle with warm water and the grooves are filled with seeds. Next, the containers are sealed with film and placed in a warm and bright place. They are regularly ventilated and moistened as needed. In May, the sprouts peak.
Two weeks before transplantation, Eroika bergenia begins to be hardened, gradually increasing the time spent in the open air to a day
Planting in open ground and care
In regions with a mild climate, flower growers prefer to skip the picking stage and transfer the seedlings to open ground in June. This approach will only work if the Eroika bergenia seedlings have fully matured. Otherwise, fragile bushes may die.
Site selection and preparation
The best option is a shaded place with enough diffused light. In direct sunlight, the Eroika bergenia stops growing, and its leaves become covered with ugly brown spots that resemble burns.
Complete shading of Eroika bergenia is also not suitable, since in this case it is very difficult for the inflorescences to form, and the petals will have a faded color. Wetlands as well as heavy soils should be avoided. The soil should be sufficiently loose and fertile. First, remove all weeds from the area, dig it up and thoroughly loosen the top layer of soil.
For incense, choose a place with diffused light
Planting stages
This process will not take much time and effort.
Gardeners follow the following sequence of actions:
- Dig a planting hole with a diameter slightly larger than the volume of the root system.
- Good drainage is placed at the bottom (crushed brick or expanded clay).
- The hole is filled with garden soil, river sand and gravel mixed in equal proportions.
- An Eroika bergenia seedling is placed in it, carefully covered with the mixture and compacted.
- After this, the plantings are watered with clean water, which has previously settled for some time.
Watering and fertilizing
Bergenia Eroika requires periodic and not too much moisture.The first watering coincides with the period of bud formation, then the soil is irrigated during flowering, as well as a couple of days after. This scheme is relevant provided that there is no rain. If there is sufficient rainfall, additional watering for Eroika bergenia is not required. To protect the roots and retain moisture in the soil, plants are mulched.
Do not water the bergenia too much
Diseases and pests
The most vulnerable place of Eroik bergenia is watering errors. At the slightest stagnation of moisture, fungi quickly develop. The damage begins with the green mass of the plant: brown spots and a red border form on the upper leaves, and an unpleasant white coating forms on the underside. All infected areas are immediately removed, and the cut areas are treated with chemicals.
No less dangerous are putrefactive processes, as a result of which slobbering pennies and slugs appear on different parts of the Eroik bergenia. Nematodes are also dangerous. When it appears, the plant is completely dug up, the roots are treated with potassium permanganate and transplanted to a new location. The area where Eroika bergenia grew before is carefully dug up and treated with chemicals.
Bergenia Eroik is often affected by slugs
Trimming
Before the start of winter, the entire above-ground part of the plant is completely cut off. During the cold period, Eroika bergenia grows. Therefore, repeated pruning is carried out in the spring. With its help, the bush is given a compact and decorative appearance. It is important to promptly get rid of old and dead leaves, which gradually turn yellow and then turn brown.
The only condition is that the leaf must separate on its own; tearing off still “living” foliage is not recommended. The darkened dry leaves of Eroika bergenia form a kind of carpet on the soil that slows down the evaporation of moisture and protects the roots from overheating. This will make it easier for the plant to endure hot days.
Preparing for winter
Bergenia Eroika is generally frost-resistant. However, young specimens are sensitive to cold. Before frost, Eroika bergenia bushes should be additionally covered with spruce branches, dry leaves, sphagnum moss or non-woven materials. Strong adult plants in the middle zone do not need shelter.
Reproduction
In addition to growing from seeds, Eroika bergenia is propagated in other ways:
- Cuttings. Select specimens that actively grow for 4-5 seasons. They should have healthy and strong shoots with an apical bud and rosette. Eroik bergenia leaves are almost completely eliminated. The rooting process takes only a few days. Then the cuttings can be transferred to the garden, maintaining a distance of 40 cm between them. They require standard care.
- Division. For this purpose, 4-year-old Eroika bergenia bushes that have managed to grow well are suitable. New roots are usually located close to the surface, so dividing them does not require much effort. Only those roots that have root buds and several leaves are separated. To do this, use a well-sharpened knife. For disinfection purposes, cut areas must be treated with potassium permanganate or crushed activated carbon. Next, the divisions are transplanted into holes no more than 15 cm deep and watered.
Most often, the plant is propagated by division.
Photo in landscape
Bergenia Eroika is highly decorative and therefore highly valued when arranging a garden.It is used to decorate mixboards, rockeries and alpine slides. This plant creates a romantic atmosphere near artificial ponds and fountains. It fits perfectly into gardens decorated in Chinese and Japanese styles and looks beautiful with ferns, irises, astilbe, geranium and other plants.
The flower creates a romantic atmosphere
Bergenia Eroika is planted on alpine hills
Eroika bergenia decorates Japanese-style gardens
Conclusion
Badan Eroika immediately attracts everyone's attention. Its abundant small flowers in the form of tiny inverted glasses amaze with their generosity and pristine beauty. Compact bushes will become a real decoration for different corners of the garden. Badan Eroika is very responsive to care. A little effort is enough to create truly favorable conditions for him. In gratitude, he will bestow his delicate flowers and beneficial properties, and will become a real long-liver in his favorite garden.
