Content
Blush loosestrife is one of the most beautiful types of crop, which is widely used in single and group plantings in landscape design. The main advantage of the plant is its ability to adapt to any climatic conditions and at the same time delight with its flowering. The popular name for loosestrife is weeping grass, since at high humidity droplets of water appear on the tops of its shoots.
Blush loosestrife can grow in one place for several decades
Description of the loosestrife Blush
This variety, like other types of perennials, is a herbaceous plant. Lythrum Salicaria Blush forms large bushes, the height of which reaches 150 cm. If there are favorable conditions for growth, the perennial expands up to 1.5 m in diameter.
The root system of the plant is superficial and branched. The shoots are large, fleshy, and become lignified with age. At the top of the root are the recovery points.Every spring, a loose rosette grows from them, consisting of numerous shoots.
The stems of Blush loosestrife are rigid and tetrahedral. The leaves are lanceolate, about 7-8 cm long. Their surface is slightly pubescent. The hue of the plates is green, but with the arrival of autumn they acquire a crimson tone. In the lower part of the shoots the leaves are arranged oppositely, and in the upper part - alternately.
The flowers of the Blush loosestrife are small, star-shaped, up to 1.5-2.0 cm in diameter. They are collected in dense spike-shaped inflorescences located in the axils of the bracts. The petals have a beautiful soft pink hue, which fully justifies the name of the variety.
The flowering period of Blush loosestrife begins in the second half of June and continues until the end of August. The plant exudes a pleasant aroma and is an excellent honey plant.
The fruits of the Blush loosestrife are an oblong oval-shaped capsule. It contains seeds that can be used for sowing.
This variety has high frost resistance. It does not suffer from temperatures dropping to -34 degrees. Therefore, in regions with a temperate climate, the Blush loosestrife does not require shelter for the winter.
The decorative quality of a plant decreases with a lack of moisture in the soil.
Application in landscape design
The plant can be used to decorate flower beds, mixborders and frame ponds. This variety also looks good in the form of single plantings against a green lawn. And the conifers in the background can highlight its beauty.
The best neighbors for him:
- geranium;
- iris and gladiolus swamp;
- snake knotweed;
- loosestrife;
- daylilies;
- phlox;
- rudbeckia;
- host;
- astilbe;
- dicentra;
- yarrow;
- crocosmia;
- miscanthus.
Derbennik Blush is distinguished by its versatility of use in landscape design
Features of reproduction
This variety can be propagated by seeds, dividing the bush and cuttings. The first method is more labor-intensive, so it is inferior in popularity to the other two. The seeds of the plant can be planted in open ground before winter.
It is recommended to divide the bush in the fall after flowering or in the early spring at the very beginning of the growing season. To do this, you need to dig up the plant and cut it into 2-3 parts with a shovel. It is quite difficult for one person to do this due to the large root of the merlin. Therefore, gardeners most often propagate the plant by cuttings.
To do this, you need to cut off the tops of shoots 10-15 cm long before flowering begins. After this, remove all the leaves below, powder the cut with root-forming agent, and then plant it in a mixture of sand and peat, deepening it to 2 cm. To create a favorable microclimate, it is necessary to build a small greenhouse.
Growing Blush loosestrife seedlings
To grow loosestrife seedlings, it is necessary to prepare wide containers 12 cm high. You will also need nutritious soil consisting of sand and peat, taken in equal volumes. The optimal period for sowing is considered to be the end of February and the beginning of March. Planting depth 1 cm.
After sowing, the soil surface should be evenly moistened with a spray bottle, and then the trays should be covered with film. For germination, containers must be placed in a dark place with a temperature of +17+20 degrees.After friendly shoots appear, the containers should be moved to the windowsill and provided with at least 10 hours of daylight. Therefore, if necessary, you need to turn on the lamps in the evening.
At the stage of 2-3 true leaves, Blush loosestrife seedlings should be planted in separate pots with a diameter of 8 cm. 2 weeks after this, the seedlings should be watered or sprayed with the Zircon working solution to strengthen vitality.
Planting and care in open ground
In order for the Blush loosestrife to fully develop and delight with its long flowering every year, it is necessary to properly plant and provide care. Therefore, you should study the cultural requirements in advance so that problems do not arise in the future.
Recommended timing
It is necessary to plant Blush loosestrife seedlings in a permanent place in open ground when the threat of return frosts has completely disappeared. In this case, it is necessary to rely on the climatic conditions of the region. In the southern regions, transplantation can be carried out at the beginning of May, and in the central and northern regions - at the end of this month or at the beginning of the next.
Site selection and preparation
For the full growth of Blush loosestrife, it is necessary to provide light and moisture. Therefore, you need to select a site for the plant that is sunny or slightly shaded. The culture prefers loose, fertile soil with good moisture and air permeability, as well as a low acidity level.
This plant variety does well with high soil moisture. Therefore, this culture is ideal for decorating artificial ponds in the garden. But at the same time, the merlin is able to withstand drought.
Blush loosestrife can grow directly in water at a depth of up to 30 cm
2 weeks before planting, you need to select a site. To do this, you need to dig it up and level the surface. Then prepare a planting hole measuring 40 by 40 cm. It needs to be filled to 2/3 of the volume with a mixture of turf, sand, peat, and leaf soil, taken in equal quantities. Additionally, add 30 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfate, and then mix everything thoroughly.
Landing algorithm
Planting of Blush loosestrife is carried out according to the standard scheme. Therefore, performing the procedure will not be particularly difficult even for a gardener who does not have many years of experience.
Algorithm of actions when planting Blush loosestrife:
- Water the planting hole generously.
- Place the seedling in the center, straighten the roots.
- Sprinkle them with soil and carefully fill all the voids.
- Compact the soil at the base of the loosestrife.
- Water again.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
You need to water the loosestrife regularly, although the plant can tolerate drought. If there is a lack of moisture in the soil, the decorative value of the crop decreases. Watering should be done once a week, soaking the soil under the bush to a depth of 20 cm.
The plant should be fertilized moderately. Therefore, at the beginning of the growing season in spring, organic matter (chicken manure 1:15) or urea should be used at the rate of 20 g per 10 liters of water. And during the formation of flower stalks, you should use 30 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfide for the same volume of water.
Weeding, loosening, mulching
Throughout the season, you need to remove weeds in the root circle so that they do not take nutrients from the seedling. It is also important to loosen the soil after each watering and rain to improve air access to the roots.
During hot periods in summer, the soil in the root circle should be covered with mulch. This will prevent excessive evaporation and overheating of the root system. For this you can use humus and peat.
Trimming
Blush loosestrife needs to be pruned once a year. The procedure should be carried out in the fall, cutting off the shoots at the base. But you can leave dry branches of the plant to decorate the winter garden. Then pruning should be done in early spring, removing the above-ground parts of last year.
Wintering
Blush loosestrife does not need shelter for the winter. Sprinkle the plant generously with snow. In case of snowless, frosty winters, the perennial root should be covered with a thick layer of mulch made from humus or peat.
Pests and diseases
Blush loosestrife has high natural immunity. So far, not a single case of this plant being affected by fungal or viral diseases has been recorded, which is one of its advantages.
Only aphids that move with a row of planted roses can cause damage to the loosestrife. Therefore, at the first signs of damage, it is necessary to treat the bush with the Actellik insecticide.
Aphids form entire colonies on the tops of shoots
Conclusion
Blush loosestrife is a beautifully flowering, unpretentious perennial that can grow and fully develop with minimal care. The peculiarity of this culture is that it is highly resilient, therefore it is able to adapt and withstand any climatic conditions.But when growing it, it should be taken into account that this perennial is capable of taking over adjacent territories, so these attempts should be stopped in order to preserve the beauty of the composition.
