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To propagate astilbe correctly, it is enough to use the appropriate method. This perennial ornamental plant is popular among gardeners due to its variety and color diversity. The reason is that astilbe is often used in landscape design as an independent plant or in a group with other flowers. The main thing is to propagate the bush, properly plant the separated roots and provide the flower with proper care.
Methods for propagating astilbe
Before growing a flower on your own plot, you need to know exactly how it can be propagated.
Reproduction methods:
- Root division. The oldest method, carried out by digging up the rhizome of a flower bush and dividing it into elements of 3-4 living buds. It is applied only to an adult plant; astilbe is most often divided in the fall.
- Cuttings. A troublesome method available at the beginning of the growing season. For propagation, young rosettes with a pair of leaves are used.
- Kidney renewal. Let's use it on young bushes during their active spring growth.To do this, the shoots are separated from the main bush along with part of the rhizome (heel).
- Seeds. This propagation of astilbe is used exclusively by breeders because of its labor intensity and duration - 3 years will pass from the start of work to the appearance of a flowering bush.
Astilbe is an excellent plant for creating an original garden design.
Timing of reproduction of astilbe
Flower division can be done from early spring to late autumn. It is only important to decide on a suitable method of reproduction.
In spring, astilbe is usually divided by roots, seeds or cuttings. At the same time, but only in mid-May, it is recommended to separate the renewal kidneys.
In the summer, if the beginning of the growing season is delayed, you can propagate by cuttings and buds. The specific time is the first ten days of June.
More often, it is in the fall that astilbe is propagated by dividing the bush. It is better to plan work at the end of September, so that the separated and newly planted elements have time to take root before frost.
To propagate astilbe, you need to remove the young plant from the soil and divide its rhizome into several components
Is it possible to propagate astilbe from cuttings?
This method is really applicable to a flower, but there are no cuttings on the plant. They mean young rosettes with several leaves. Such elements are usually found next to the rhizome.
Astilbe propagation by cuttings proceeds according to the following scheme:
- Separate the young shoots along with the “heels” from the main root.
- Sprinkle the cut area with crushed charcoal, or activated charcoal.
- Prepare special soil by mixing 25% sand with 75% peat. Plant the workpieces into the resulting mixture.
- Cover the cuttings with film or a glass cap.
- Water periodically.
To propagate a flower by cuttings, you will have to find young rosettes on it
How to propagate astilbe by dividing the bush
This method of dividing a flower is used to rejuvenate it. By propagating the “old” astilbe using this method, it will be possible to obtain 3-4 new, more compact seedlings. If the procedure is not carried out for more than 7 years, the plant loses its decorative effect, the number of flower stalks decreases every year, and the root system gradually dies off.
Astilbe propagation by dividing the bush goes like this:
- Peduncles and stems are cut at a height of 7 cm from the rhizome.
- The base is dug up and divided into several parts with live buds.
- The resulting elements are planted in new holes at a distance of 30-40 cm.
In order for the astilbe to take root better, mineral feed, ash and a little hydrogel are added to the pit. The latter will retain a sufficient amount of moisture near the roots for as long as possible. All that remains is to water the seedlings, wait until the water is absorbed, and then mulch the surface layer.
You can divide the “young” astilbe using improvised means: a knife or pruning shears
Site selection and soil preparation
Since astilbe grows best away from the sun, the ideal place to plant it is next to large garden trees. Exposure of the flower to sunlight is permissible only in the morning or evening hours. In this case, it will bloom much longer. It is good if a suitable site is located next to a body of water. Otherwise, the plant will have to be constantly watered.
To prepare the soil, it is enough to dig it up, remove the remains of previous plantings, and add several buckets of humus or organic compost.
The landing site should be in a low area, away from direct sunlight
How to dig and divide astilbe
Once every few years, the flower needs to be replanted. To do this, the plant needs to be dug up and propagated. To avoid damaging the rhizome, it should be watered with several buckets of water the day before the procedure. This will make the soil softer and it will be much easier to remove the bush from it. If the root is young (2-3 years), it can be propagated by hand, otherwise a shovel will be required.
If you propagate astilbe in the fall after flowering, then there should be 5-6 buds on each new element of the rhizome, otherwise it will be more difficult for the flower to survive the winter.
Landing rules
You can plant blanks in open ground no earlier than mid-May. The specific period depends on the region where the work is carried out.
Steps:
- Dig a hole up to 30 cm deep.
- Place ash, humus and mineral components on the bottom. Mix the fertilizer and add water.
- Place the root with cuttings in the hole, without deepening it to the very end.
- Cover with fresh soil, tamp lightly, water again, then mulch with sawdust or peat.
The hole for planting should not be very deep, otherwise the flower will take longer to take root in the new place
How to propagate astilbe with renewal buds
The following division method is completely different from propagating astilbe by cuttings.In this case, the rhizome is not divided into equal parts, but selectively. Only young shoots (renewal buds) are of particular value. They need to be cut off with part of the root, and the affected area should be treated with ash. Place the resulting seedlings in a pot with a substrate of equal amounts of sand and peat. Astilbe can only be transferred to open ground in the spring of next year so that the shoots have time to get stronger.
Planting care
Before dividing astilbe in the fall and preparing it for the next season, you need to understand the basic steps of proper care for it.
Stages:
- Watering. The flower does not tolerate drought, so on hot summer days it will have to be moistened twice. To retain moisture in the soil, it is enough to mulch its top layer.
- Feeding. In order for a perennial plant to please gardeners with abundant flowering even after reproduction, it is enough to stimulate its rhizome with potassium and phosphorus. First feeding
- produced before the buds open, and the second - in the fall.
- Weeding.
- Weeds can become carriers of various diseases. Their timely removal will protect the flowerbed from many problems.
Conclusion
Propagating astilbe yourself is not so difficult if you know exactly how and at what time of year this procedure is permissible. This is a completely unpretentious flower with a large variety of varieties, so it will definitely be able to satisfy the needs of even the most selective gardeners.
