Content
Godetia Monarch is one of the most popular varieties of this herbaceous annual. It is popular in landscape design due to its compact bushes and beautiful flowering. This godetia is planted with seeds or seedlings. For successful cultivation, it is important to properly care for the flower.
Description of Godetia Monarch
Godetia Monarch forms compact spherical bushes 0.2-0.3 m high. The plant is cold-resistant, which is why it is grown even in northern latitudes. Main characteristics:
- bell-shaped flowers, diameter 4-5 cm;
- petals are silky;
- color white, pale or bright pink, crimson;
- there is a carmine spot at the base of the petals;
- flowers are simple, have 4 petals;
- abundant flowering;
- leaves are narrow-lanceolate with smooth edges;
- increased frost resistance;
- flowering begins in June when planting seedlings and in August when planting seeds in open ground, it continues until frost (October);
- fruit cylindrical capsule;
- the seeds are very small;
- The root system is compact, the branches are small.
Godetia Monarch seeds are usually sold as a mixture; flowers grow in different shades
Application in landscape design
Thanks to its long and lush flowering, Godetia Monarch is a welcome guest in the garden. It can be used to decorate all kinds of flower beds. It is effective to surround taller neighbors with it or combine it with other low-growing plants. Photos of Godetia Monarch flowers in a flowerbed do not fully convey their real beauty.
Godetia Monarch looks good alone if you combine different shades of the same variety
The flower is great for borders and the front edges of borders. Its neighbors may be: ageratum, lobelia, nasturtium, low-growing carnations, tricolor violet, cineraria.
A good background for Godetia Monarch will be a lawn or various green plants that do not bloom.
Godetia Monarch can be grown on balconies. The flower looks good in pots and flowerpots.
Growing Godetia Monarch in a pot allows you to move it around the garden, creating new combinations
Godetia Monarch can be planted in a line along the house or as a few bright accents.
Features of reproduction
Godetia is an annual plant, therefore it reproduces in only one way - by seeds. It is not necessary to buy them every time, since seed material can be prepared independently. Subject to certain conditions, its germination persists for 3-4 years.
Only ripened seeds need to be collected. To do this, you need to wait about a month after flowering. When the boxes begin to darken, you should carefully cut them off and dry them. After this, you can shake out the seeds.
Growing Godetia Monarch from seeds
To grow Godetia Monarch seedlings from seeds, they should be planted in the last days of March or at the very beginning of April. First, they are sown in one box or container, then picked into individual containers.
To grow seedlings, it is advisable to buy a ready-made soil mixture suitable for flowering plants. You can make it yourself from equal parts of garden soil, peat and sand. It is necessary to disinfect the soil - freezing, heating in the oven or steaming, or another suitable method.
Algorithm:
- Make a drainage layer in the selected container. Expanded clay is good for this.
- Fill the container with loose soil.
- Soak the seeds for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This treatment prevents diseases and pests.
- Mix seed material with sand. This is for convenience, but is not required.
- Moisten the soil in the planting container and wait until the moisture is absorbed.
- Distribute the seeds evenly over the surface and sprinkle with soil. The layer is no more than 0.5-1 cm. You can make grooves at intervals of 3-4 cm and a depth of 0.5 cm.
- Organize a transparent shelter - glass, film, container lid.
- Place the container with the crops in a warm place with good lighting
It will take approximately 1.5-2.5 weeks before the first shoots appear. During this period, it is necessary to ventilate and moisten the crops daily. For this it is better to use a spray bottle.
With the appearance of the first seedlings, the shelter must be removed. Drafts are not allowed.
Picking is carried out when the plant has 2 true leaves. For planting, you can use small pots and cups - the optimal diameter is 4 cm.You can plant 2-3 bushes in one container, then its size should be larger. It is important to trim the central roots, removing a quarter of the length.
2 weeks after picking, the seedlings need to be fed. Complex formulations should be used. Effective flower fertilizer "Ideal".
All containers for growing seedlings must be thoroughly washed and sterilized - this is the prevention of many diseases
Planting and care in open ground
Godetia Monarch is planted in open ground with seeds or seedlings. The timing of planting depends on the method chosen. After this, the plant must be provided with comprehensive care.
Deadlines
Godetia Monarch is planted with seeds in open ground from mid-April to the end of the month. If seedlings were grown first, they are moved to the garden at the end of May or beginning of June. Seedlings should be 5-7 cm in height.
It is recommended to plant seedlings in the evening after sunset or early in the morning before it appears. In the second case, if possible, choose a cloudy day.
In regions with warm and mild winters, winter sowing of Godetia Monarch is practiced. During this period, it is better to plant the plant in open ground with seeds. The plants that emerge from them have higher resistance to adverse weather and stronger immunity, which means a lower risk of disease.
Site selection and soil preparation
Godetia Monarch prefers sunny areas. At the same time, the plant does not tolerate intense heat, therefore, when forecasting for such a summer, it is worth choosing a place with shade in the middle of the day. The problem can also be solved with shelter.
The soil for the flower should be loose and rich in organic matter. The best option is loamy, slightly acidic or neutral soil. It must be properly prepared:
- Apply fertilizers - per 1 m² 0.3 kg of ash, 5 kg of humus, 2 tbsp. l. potassium-phosphorus combination (nitrophoska is effective).
- Dig and thoroughly loosen the selected area.
- Spill the soil generously. Use a watering can with small holes.
Godetia Monarch does not like dry and clay soil, this has a bad effect on the growth and development of the flower
Landing algorithm
If you plant Godetia Monarch seedlings, then the algorithm is as follows:
- After fertilizing, digging and watering, mark the area. A 20x20 pattern is recommended.
- Make 5 cm indentations for the seedlings. It is convenient to form them with the handle of a shovel.
- Remove the bushes from the pots carefully and together with the earthen lump.
- Carefully place the seedlings in the holes one by one, dig in and mulch.
When planting godetia Monarch with seeds, prepare the soil in the same way. For ease of sowing, it is better to make grooves. This is a must if you want to create even rows of flowers. The seeds are buried 1 cm.
After emergence of seedlings, thinning is necessary. There should be 20-25 cm between the bushes.
Watering and fertilizing schedule
For godetia Monarch, regular but moderate watering is very important. The flower does not tolerate drought, especially on hot days. Overwatering is also detrimental to it.
Another important care measure is feeding. For abundant flowering of godetia, you need to give a complete mineral fertilizer with a small nitrogen content once every 3-4 weeks.Use nitrophoska effectively. To prepare the solution, you need to dissolve 1 tbsp. l. fertilizers in 12 liters of water.
Loosening, weeding, mulching
One of the mandatory measures for caring for Godetia Monarch is loosening the soil. This must be done systematically, combining with weeding. It is necessary to loosen the soil after watering and rain. Together with weeding, this measure promotes the development and strengthening of plants and improves soil aeration.
For mulching, you can use peat, straw, sawdust, and pine needles. Such materials prevent moisture evaporation, weed growth, and crust formation on the soil.
Installation of supports
Godetia Monarch is a dwarf variety, therefore it does not need supports. They are necessary for bushes 0.5-0.6 m high. Planting Godetia Monarch in the foreground allows you to hide the supports of its larger neighbors from view.
Care during the flowering period
While Godetia Monarch is blooming, it is important to regularly follow basic care measures - watering, weeding, loosening. In order for the flowering to be as lush as possible, it is necessary to systematically remove the seed pods. The plant spends force on their development, which can be directed to the buds.
It is recommended to remove faded flowers. It's better to do this every week.
Diseases and pests
One of the main problems of Godetia Monarch is root rot, also called blackleg. It can be caused by fungi or high humidity. The affected roots turn black and begin to rot. Diseased annuals must be removed and burned.
To prevent root rot, moderate watering and disinfection of soil and garden tools are important.
Godetia Monarch may suffer from peronosporosis (downy mildew). The disease manifests itself as stunted growth, thinning of the stems, and a whitish coating on the back of the leaves.For control, fungicides are used - Alirin-B, Baktofit, Vectra, Raek. Bordeaux mixture, colloidal sulfur, and copper sulfate are effective.
Downy mildew is a fungal disease that can affect many garden plants and garden crops.
One of the main enemies of Godetia Monarch is aphids. Because of it, plants quickly weaken and their vital functions are disrupted. The pest is very dangerous because it multiplies quickly. It feeds mainly on tender young leaves and buds.
The best way to combat aphids from folk methods is with soap or ash-soap sprays. Infusions of garlic, onions, tobacco, dandelions, chamomile, sorrel, and citrus peels are effective.
Aphids are often carried by ants, so you need to get rid of them too
Conclusion
Godetia Monarch is a beautiful annual with lush and long-lasting flowering. It is important for him to provide proper comprehensive care. The flower is grown in open ground and on balconies. You can plant it with seeds or seedlings.
