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Primroses begin to bloom immediately after the snow melts, saturating the garden with incredible colors. Primula Akaulis is a type of crop that can be grown not only on the street, but also at home. To achieve long and beautiful flowering, it is necessary to recreate the conditions prevailing in the natural habitat of the primrose.
Primula "Akaulis" - one of the earliest flowers in the garden
Description of Primrose Akaulis
Having once planted the Acaulis primrose, the gardener will be able to enjoy its flowering for many years. The blossoming of buds begins at the very beginning of spring and lasts in ideal conditions until mid-summer. Bright flowers of various colors with contrasting centers appear on short, barely noticeable stems. Because of this, the second name of the species arose - stemless primrose. The flowers are collected in a neat bunch, surrounded by ribbed, pubescent leaves. In their place, boxes with seeds appear.
For growing on a personal plot, stemless primrose seeds are produced in a “mix” format. The result is a motley multi-colored carpet.For home growing, they usually purchase seedlings or bushes of the desired color: white, yellow, red, blue, burgundy, lilac or pink. Primrose "Akaulis" is represented by varieties and hybrids with flowers of different shapes, including double ones.
Features of reproduction
Primrose is propagated in three ways:
- grown from seeds;
- divide adult bushes;
- Leaves are cut and rooted.
Propagation of primrose "Akaulis" by seeds is easier than long-stemmed varieties. They use purchased material or collected from their own bushes. In late autumn, direct sowing is done in open ground. Then they begin to grow seedlings to plant them in the garden in early spring. Sometimes primrose "Akaulis" is propagated by seeds for home use.
The process consists of the following steps:
- A shallow wide vessel is filled with universal soil with the addition of vermiculite.
- Akaulis seeds are sown in dry soil, sprinkled 2 mm deep.
- Place the container in a bag and put it in the cold (-10-15 OWITH).
- After a month, place the container on the windowsill without direct sunlight and moisten the soil.
- Before germination, the mini-greenhouse is ventilated twice a day, and the room temperature is maintained at +15-18 OWITH.
- With the appearance of sprouts, increase the temperature to 20 OC and provide 10-12 hours of daylight (in winter - with the help of supplementary lighting).
- When three leaves appear, the seedlings are planted in separate pots and provided with standard care for adult primroses.
Root division is the easiest and fastest way to propagate primrose.From a 2-3 year old bush, a part with several leaves and long intact roots is disconnected and planted. A young plant is cared for in the same way as an adult specimen.
Cuttings of the Akaulis primrose are carried out when the bush has a weak root system and only one rosette.
Perform the following sequence of actions:
- The leaf with the growing point is separated from the root collar.
- Cut off its top half.
- Plant the leaf in a container with peat and cover it with glass or polyethylene.
- During the period before rooting (3-4 months), maintain a temperature of +16-18 OC, regularly ventilate and moisten the substrate.
- With the appearance of several young leaves, the plant is planted in a permanent place.
Caring for Primrose Acaulis at home
At home, the primrose "Akaulis" is grown in a pot whose diameter is equal to the height of the bush. It must have holes for water drainage. A drainage layer 3 cm thick is laid at the bottom. Soil consisting of leaf soil, peat and sand is poured on top. You can prepare it yourself or buy a ready-made universal mixture for indoor flowers.
It is important for primrose to create the right microclimate, otherwise it may refuse to bloom. The main attention is paid to illumination, temperature and humidification regime. For intensive flowering, primrose "Akaulis" requires a regular supply of nutrients.
Microclimate
In order for the stemless primrose to feel good on the windowsill, you need to create optimal conditions for it. He loves soft, diffused light and does not tolerate direct rays of the sun in summer.Primrose "Akaulis" feels good in a cool room, but begins to fade at high temperatures. Ideally, the thermometer will not show more than +15 OC. Drafts do not prevent primrose from developing, but hot currents emanating from the heating system can be detrimental to it.
Primrose does not tolerate direct sunlight
Water is extremely important for Acaulis primrose. In addition to wet soil, the flower needs high air humidity. It responds well to regular spraying with settled water during hot periods. The leaves should not be too wet after this.
Watering and fertilizing
Moisturizing primroses is based on the following principle - the top layer of soil should not dry out. It is from this that they start when deciding how often and abundantly to water the bush in different periods of the growing season. Lack of moisture during the flowering period leads to rapid withering of the buds. Water is introduced at the root, being careful not to wet the leaves and flowers. In summer, lightly spray once a month.
Primrose "Akaulis" needs fertilizer throughout the entire growing season. Fertilizers are applied regularly from February to October. Frequency - once every 2 weeks. The first time fertilizer is applied before flowering. It is best to use complex mixtures that combine organic and mineral substances.
Transfer
Young primrose bushes "Akaulis" are transplanted into a new container as they grow. Typically, such a need arises once a year. Adult bushes are transplanted into a new pot every 3 years. It is selected so that it is 2-3 cm wider than the roots.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- A week before transplanting, stop watering.
- They dig up the primrose, inspect the roots, and cut off the damaged parts.
- Add 3 cm of drainage and some soil to the bottom of the new pot.
- Straighten the roots of the primrose and cover it with substrate.
- Water the plant abundantly.
Growing Primrose Acaulis in open ground
Only residents of the northern regions, where the earth does not warm up much even at the height of summer, can afford to grow primroses in sunny places in the garden. Basically, shady areas are chosen for it, for example, under the dense crowns of fruit trees. Various varieties of primrose "Akaulis" look great along paths, near a pond and in multi-level flower beds. It is better to plant in groups densely so that the leaves protect the roots from drying out. The soil for primrose should be light and moisture-absorbing.
In a single planting, the soil under the primrose dries out quickly
A flower is planted in open ground in three ways:
- Sow primrose seeds "Akaulis" in moist soil - November or December.
- Plant seedlings grown in advance at home or in a greenhouse - late February or early March.
- An adult plant is planted immediately after flowering or in the fall.
When growing stemless primrose in open ground, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Choose shaded areas.
- Make dense group plantings.
- Mulch the soil.
- Do not allow the soil to dry out.
- Apply fertilizer regularly.
Diseases and pests
In conditions of high humidity and hot air, fungal spores actively spread.Since watering primrose "Akaulis" cannot be reduced during the hot period, you need to be prepared to encounter gray rot, black spot, rust or powdery mildew. It is best to arm yourself against them with Fundazol.
Primrose "Acaulis" is not often attacked by pests, but sometimes it can become a victim of weevils, aphids, spider mites or nematodes. Aphids are easily removed by hand. The hardest part is fighting nematodes. They are resistant to insecticides. In this case, the flower will have to be destroyed.
Conclusion
Primula Akaulis is an exquisite decoration for a country plot and apartment window. When the right conditions are created, the flower will delight the owner with lush and bright blooms for a long time. Primrose is not afraid of frost, resists diseases well and is rarely affected by pests. The main reason for everyone’s love for the Acaulis primrose is the early appearance of bright flowers that give a festive mood.
