Content
Large periwinkle is a very unpretentious flowering plant. And the Variegata variety is also decorative due to its variegated green and white foliage. It is not difficult to care for it, but it is still necessary to know in advance the most important nuances regarding planting, agricultural technology, and reproduction.
Botanical description of Periwinkle greater Variegate
Large periwinkle is a perennial evergreen subshrub from the Kutrovaceae family. Its variety Variegata differs from the “original” in its two-color white-green leaves.
The botanical characteristics of Vinca major Variegate are as follows:
- superficial (goes 10-15 cm deep), actively expanding root system, the roots are thin, “fibrous”;
- the stems of the plant are creeping, about 1.5 m long, herbaceous or semi-lignified, with pronounced internodes, from which roots easily sprout upon contact with the soil;
- peduncles are smooth or with sparse “villi”, height – 0.6-0.7 m;
- the leaves are hard, smooth, glossy, oppositely located, 7-9 cm long and 5-6 cm wide, almost round, sharply tapering towards the tip, with clearly visible veins;
- the color of the plant’s leaves is a creamy-white border and spots on a rich green background (the intensity of the “spotting” depends on the cultivation conditions and the age of the bush);
- petioles are short (1.5-2 cm), “hairy”;
- the flowers are axillary, single, five-petaled, 5-6 cm in diameter, lavender or blue-lilac with an almost elusive aroma.
Other important features of the Periwinkle plant Variegata that are important for gardeners:
- long (April-September) annual flowering;
- ease of propagation by both generative (seeds) and vegetative (cuttings, rooting of layering, plant division) methods;
- frost resistance up to -30 °C;
- ability to adapt to direct sunlight and deep shade;
- drought resistance;
- undemanding to the quality of the substrate;
- good resistance to pathogenic fungi and harmful insects.
Periwinkle variegata is planted mainly where a green flowering “carpet” is needed. The plant looks beautiful in landscape flower beds, alpine slides, and rockeries. Less often, low borders are formed from it. It does not bloom too profusely, but the decorativeness of the flowerbed does not suffer from this.
Great periwinkle Variegata grows quickly, covering the space allotted to it with a continuous “green carpet”
How to plant seeds
Growing Greater Periwinkle Variegata from seeds is not a very popular method of propagation. The plant will begin to bloom only 3 years after the seedlings are planted in the ground.
Seed preparation
Before planting, variegated periwinkle seeds are culled, discarding those that definitely will not sprout. They are soaked in saline solution (a tablespoon per 0.5 liter of water). 10-15 minutes are enough for the seeds without embryos to float to the surface.
The second important stage of preparation is disinfection. Self-collected seeds are soaked in a fungicide of biological origin (Alirin-B, Maxim), diluted according to the instructions, for 15-20 minutes. For the same purpose, a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate is used, but then the processing time increases by 1.5-2 hours. If desired, a few drops of any biostimulant (Kornevin, Epin) are added to the liquid to accelerate seed germination.
Growing seedlings
For seedlings, the seeds of the Great Variegata periwinkle are planted in the last days of March or in the first ten days of April:
- A shallow wide container with drainage holes is filled 2/3 with soil for seedlings or a mixture of peat and fine sand (1:1). The soil is moderately moistened.
- Seeds are planted one at a time to a depth of a maximum of 2 cm with an interval of 3-4 cm. They are not covered with soil, they are sprayed with a spray bottle.
- The container is covered with black plastic wrap or covered with thick cloth and put in a dark place. The plantings are provided with a temperature of 23-25 °C. The container is ventilated daily for 5-7 minutes, getting rid of accumulating condensate.
- The first shoots appear after 7-10 days. Immediately after this, the container is transferred to the light. Water moderately as the top layer of soil dries.
- In the phase of the 4th true leaf, picking is carried out.By this time, seedlings of the Great Variegata periwinkle grow to 8-9 cm.
Seedlings of the Great Variegata periwinkle are transferred to the ground in the first ten days of May. Holes are dug at intervals of 20-25 cm to such a depth that an earthen ball with roots can fit in them. You can throw a handful of humus at the bottom. After planting, the plants are watered moderately. The root collar should not be buried.
Planting in open ground
Greater periwinkle Variegata can be sown directly into the ground in both spring and autumn. The main thing is to choose a cool, cloudy day for this. When sowing in winter, it is important to calculate the time so that there are 2-3 weeks left before the first frost. If you hurry, the seeds will have time to germinate, but the seedlings will die in winter. In spring, time is not so important, but you should not rush and plant a plant when there is still a threat of return frosts.
Site selection and preparation
The optimal substrate for the Great Variegata periwinkle is nutritious and loose. But it easily “puts up” with soil of poorer quality. Acidity is not important for it; the plant will take root in both moderately acidic and alkaline substrates.
Greater periwinkle Variegata feels great in partial shade. It will also survive in dense thickets, but it will not bloom, and the variegated color of the leaves will disappear.
In direct sunlight, the Great Variegata periwinkle will have to be watered more often, but it will tolerate such conditions
Preparation of the planting site for the plant is standard:
- dig the soil to a depth of one shovel bayonet;
- remove weeds, other plant debris, stones;
- add humus (up to 5 l/m²) and complex fertilizer for flowering garden plants into very “poor” soil;
- add sand to “heavy” soil, and powdered clay to “light” soil (in approximately the same proportion as humus).
Planting stages
Planting the seeds of the Great Variegata periwinkle itself is extremely simple:
- Immediately before the procedure, the soil is slightly loosened.
- Make grooves up to 2 cm deep, and spill water on the bottom. When it is absorbed, add a thin layer of sand.
- Sow seeds at intervals of 15-20 cm. Some gardeners prefer to sow them more often and then replant the seedlings, avoiding “crowding”.
- The grooves are sprinkled with soil and compacted. The flowerbed is watered again.
Watering and fertilizing
Greater periwinkle Variegata growing in fertile soil needs feeding once every 3-4 years, not more often. In the spring, when the soil has thawed sufficiently, add humus or rotted compost (2-3 liters per adult plant over 5 years old). After 12-15 days, it is watered with a solution of any mineral nitrogen fertilizer (15-20 g per 10 l).
In autumn, fertilizing containing phosphorus and potassium is applied to the plants (dry or diluted with water). Nitrogen is excluded at this time; it interferes with normal preparation for winter. A natural alternative to fertilizers is wood ash, dolomite flour, ground eggshells.
Greater periwinkle Variegata is most sensitive to a lack of moisture in the soil in the first two years after planting.It is recommended to monitor the soil moisture level and water the plant when it dries 3-5 cm deep.
The frequency of watering is influenced by the following factors:
- time of year (in spring, during the active growing season, the plant especially needs watering)
- type of substrate (water evaporates faster from light soil);
- weather outside (in hot weather more frequent watering is needed).
Frequency of watering periwinkle large Variegata | ||
Plant age | Watering frequency | |
During the heat | In cool cloudy weather | |
1-2 years | Once every 2-3 days | Once every 4-6 days |
3-4 years | 4-6 days | 8-10 days |
5 years and older | 7-10 days | 12-15 days |
The nuances of planting and caring for the Great Variegata periwinkle:
Diseases and pests
Greater periwinkle Variegata rarely suffers from diseases and insects. But it is still recommended to inspect the plantings for the presence of suspicious symptoms. The plant may be affected:
- powdery mildew (whitish powdery coating on all parts of the plant);
- rust (saffron-yellow “hairy” coating on the underside of the leaves, gradually “thickening” and changing color to rusty).
Fungicides are used to control fungal diseases on plants. Preparations tested by several generations of gardeners are Bordeaux mixture and copper sulfate. More modern means are Topaz, Skor, Horus, Kuprozan. The concentration of the solution, the number and frequency of treatments are determined by the instructions.
Powdery mildew is one of the most common diseases that can affect almost any garden crop.
Of the pests, the Greater Periwinkle Variegata can attack:
- Aphid (small insects of different colors - from salad green and yellowish to black-brown).They cover the plant in entire colonies, preferring to settle on the tops of shoots, buds, and young leaves. Affected tissues become discolored, dry out and die.
- Shchitovka (grayish-brown “tubercles”, gradually increasing in volume). Like aphids, they feed on plant sap. The tissues around the attached pests gradually change color to red-yellow.
To combat aphids, any universal broad-spectrum insecticide (Fitoverm, Aktara, Iskra-Bio) is suitable. Scale insects are destroyed by Actellik, Fufanon, Phosfamide.
Reproduction methods
To propagate the Great Variegata periwinkle, gardeners resort to one of the vegetative methods. This makes it easier and faster.
Cuttings
The cutting is the top of a shoot of the large Variegata periwinkle, about 20 cm long. The lower cut is made at an angle of about 45°, and half of each leaf is also removed. The base of the cutting is sprinkled with any powdered root formation stimulator.
Plants are planted in late August or early autumn according to the same algorithm as periwinkle seedlings. The interval between them is 20-30 cm.
Cuttings of the Great Variegata periwinkle take root in 15-20 days
Dividing the bush
This method is only suitable for adult bushes of the Great Variegata periwinkle (5 years and older). The procedure is carried out in late spring or early autumn. The bush is dug out of the soil and the soil is shaken off from the roots. If possible, they are unraveled by hand; where this does not work, they are cut with a knife. One plant is divided into 2-3 approximately equal parts and immediately planted in a new place.
Preparing for winter
In relatively warm regions, the Greater Periwinkle Variegata winters quietly without any special preparation. But in temperate climates (and more severe ones), it is better to be safe.
In the fall, the large Variegata periwinkle bush is pruned, removing shoots that are clearly protruding beyond the flowerbed, dry, and broken. This is also useful for the formation of buds for the next season. The soil is weeded, it is advisable to mulch it.
The flowerbed is covered with covering material or covered with spruce branches. As soon as enough snow has fallen, they throw it on top, creating a snowdrift. A crust of hard crust forms on the surface; it is recommended to break it several times during the winter.
Photos in landscape design
In the photo you can see what the flower looks like in plantings near the house.
Greater periwinkle Variegata is successfully used by gardeners as a ground cover plant.
The “Lawn” of the Great Variegata periwinkle looks very elegant
A border of periwinkle large Variegata is an interesting edging for both flower beds and garden paths
Large Variegata periwinkle bushes look good, “braiding” the stones of alpine hills
Conclusion
Greater periwinkle Variegata is valued by gardeners for its ability to “cover” large areas, adapt to a wide range of climatic and weather conditions, cold resistance and rare low maintenance requirements. The plant's agricultural technology is extremely simple; planting and caring for periwinkle, and its propagation, is possible even for beginners.
