Content
Planting and caring for Ixia in open ground requires the gardener to have certain skills and knowledge. To achieve success in growing a flower, you should study its characteristics and features of agricultural technology.
Description of Ixia with photo
The plant belongs to the Iris family. The origins of the flower are considered to be Africa, where there are more than 50 species of Ixia. Popularly its synonymous name is Velcro. This fact can be explained by the characteristics of the plant: the juice in the stems is very sticky.
Before planting Ixia, you should consider that most of its species grow no more than 0.5 m in height. The leaves are narrow and wedge-shaped, with sticky juice oozing. The stems are thin, decorated with star-shaped flowers, collected in spikelets.
If Ixia is planted in the fall, it will bloom in the spring, and if the plant is moved into open ground in May, then the buds can be seen in August
Types and varieties
The huge variety of colors of the flower allows the owner to create an interesting design on his site.Velcro can be planted either alone or in whole groups, combining different varieties.
One of the most exotic varieties of culture is the green-flowered ixia (Ixia viridiflora). The bush has bright green sword-shaped leaves, and the flowers have six petals of a soft light green color with a purple center.
The peculiarity of Ixia greeniflora is its uniqueness; it is very difficult to purchase planting material
In the Far East there is another interesting variety of flower. Chinese Ixia (Ixia chinensis) is on the verge of extinction. The plant has a short rhizome and long shoots, from 50 to 150 cm each. They have wide sword-shaped leaves attached to them. The buds are reddish-brown or yellow with dark purple speckles.
Before planting Ixia chinensis, you should take into account its peculiarity: a flower that blooms in the morning will fade by evening
There is a species that has become known in the world since 1770. Hybrid Ixia (Ixia x hybrida) is a perennial whose height does not exceed 30-50 cm. The leaves are arranged in two rows; on the peduncles, funnel-shaped flowers are collected in spikes or brushes.
The flowering time of hybrid Ixia is three weeks, and its most popular varieties are as follows:
- Ixia Spotlight is characterized by erect inflorescences of a white-crimson hue. In total, 20 or more pieces can form on the shoot. Externally, a blossoming bud resembles an apple tree, therefore it is very popular among florists.
Ixia Spotlight blooms for over four weeks
- Ixia Yellow Emperor is better known as the golden corn lily. The buds of the variety are elegant, bright yellow in color, with a dark bronze hue in the center. The variety is characterized by a very rich, pleasant aroma.
Ixia Yellow Emperor is best planted in a rock garden, but it can also be grown in flowerpots or rockeries
- Ixia Panorama is one of the low varieties of culture. The length of the shoots does not exceed 30-40 cm. 10-12 buds with a soft pink tint are formed on the peduncle. Their base is red. The diameter of the flowers is no more than 3-4 cm each. The exotic nature of the variety is its pleasant aroma and the ability of the buds to close at sunset and bloom in the morning.
Frost resistance of Ixia Panorama reaches -30 °C
A multi-colored mix is very popular among gardeners. Ixia has large inflorescences, up to 7 cm in diameter. But the shades of the petals can be white, pink, deep red and even yellow or burgundy.
It’s a fact, but the flowering of Ixia depends not only on planting and care, but also on the climate: the buds do not open in cloudy weather
When to plant Ixia
If you need to plant the bulb in an area where the climate is warm and mild, then the ideal time for the procedure is April-May. Autumn planting with subsequent care in November is also allowed.
Planting Ixia in open ground
To grow a crop, you need to provide it with all the necessary conditions. One should rely not only on the general principles of agricultural technology, but also take into account individual varietal characteristics.
Choosing a landing site
Caring for the plant will not be enough for it to grow quickly and bloom for a long time. It is necessary to allocate a sunny place for the culture, far from trees, well protected from the wind.
Soil preparation
It is best to plant Ixia in fertile or neutral soil.If the soil mixture is heavy, then sand should be added to it when preparing the flowerbed. The bed needs to be leveled and sides made.
Landing rules
The material should be sorted out: elastic and dense bulbs should be left without signs of rot or damage.
Algorithm for planting and caring for Ixia at home:
- Make holes and fill their bottom with a layer of nutrient soil. Each bulb needs to be deepened by 50-80 cm. The distance between them should be 10-12 cm.
- Cover the tubers with a layer of organic mulch 20-30 mm thick.
- You should not water the flowerbed on the day of planting. You can carry out the procedure after seven days.
The number of flowering shoots depends on the size of the tubers and care: specimens with a circumference of 5 cm or more produce three shoots
Caring for Ixia in open ground
The plant is considered unpretentious, but you need to know a number of nuances. In addition to basic care, Ixia needs favorable climatic conditions after planting: light, warmth and humidity. In autumn and spring, you can pay less attention to the plant than in summer.
Watering
During budding and flowering, Ixia should be watered daily. On hot days, late in the evening and in the morning, in addition to basic care, it is recommended to irrigate the bushes with a spray bottle of water.
Top dressing
When growing Ixia mix, fertilizing should not be neglected. When caring for a plant, it is necessary to alternate mineral and organic compounds, applying them in accordance with the instructions.
Wintering
In areas with warm climates, it is allowed to leave the tubers in the ground after planting. First you need to provide the plant with shelter.
In other regions, Ixia should be removed from the soil at the end of September or beginning of October.
Algorithm of actions:
- After the inflorescences have faded, the bush is not touched until the leaves dry.
- Remove the tubers, clean and sort. It is recommended to pack the planting material in a paper bag, then further care will not be required.
- The optimal storage temperature for tubers is +5 °C.
Ixia in the greenhouse
It is possible to plant a flower in a pot or greenhouse. The only problem a gardener will face is providing adequate lighting and maintenance.
The phytolamp makes it possible to illuminate the plant at any time
Planting Ixia at home
If you decide to grow the crop at home, you need to prepare a spacious pot with well-drained soil. Water should not stagnate.
The optimal time for planting Ixia mix is the beginning of May. To see the flowers as in the photo, you need to provide proper care: water and feed, remove dried leaves, cut off faded buds.
Reproduction of Ixia
Garden and hybrid varieties can be propagated with good care using tuber babies. It is best to carry out the division procedure in May, when the risk of frost has disappeared, in order to immediately plant the resulting material. Botanical species can be propagated by seed.
Diseases and pests
Thrips, which prefer to overwinter in the scales of planting material, can destroy the plant.
Outwardly, they look like elongated bugs. The color of the shell varies depending on the species: from black to burgundy.There are pests with a transparent body and small wings.
Thrips lead a hidden lifestyle, hiding under leaves or in stems, creating entire colonies
The best way to eliminate pests is prevention and proper care. Before wintering, tubers need to be treated with mothballs after drying and cleaning. Store the bulbs for three weeks at a temperature of +21 ° C, and then transfer to a cool room until the next planting.
The current drugs against thrips are Aktara or Vertimek.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for Ixia in open ground requires attentiveness and patience from the gardener. The abundance of flowering depends not only on watering and fertilizing, but also on weather conditions. In southern latitudes it is easier to grow a flower than in the middle or northern regions, even with minimal care.
