Content
Astrantia (star) is an indispensable perennial in landscape design. The plant has become famous for its beautiful white, pink or purple flowers that resemble pointed stars. They do not leave the bushes all summer, attract pollinating insects and are great for cutting. Planting and caring for astrantia in open ground does not require much effort. This is another plus in the treasury of the virtues of culture.
Methods for propagating astrantia
Astrantia can be propagated on a site in two ways: by dividing the bush and by seeds. The first method is applicable only to plants over 5 years old. It is preferable for valuable varieties of crops - their unique characteristics are fully preserved. Thanks to this event, the mother bush rejuvenates and becomes more decorative.
You don’t have to wait for years to get the desired astrantia “cuts”, because they can be purchased from trusted suppliers.If planting material was purchased in winter or early spring, it can be grown before planting in open ground. In addition to a full-fledged “dividing”, rosettes with root rudiments can be separated from the bush. First, they are planted in a mixture of peat and humus, and then settled in a permanent place.
When astrantia is propagated by seed, some unique features of the variety are lost
Astrantia has a high percentage of seed germination. After planting, a large number of new specimens are obtained to decorate the garden. The emerging sprouts adapt well to environmental conditions, but lose some of the characteristics of the mother plant.
Astrantia seed propagation is carried out using two methods:
- direct planting in open ground;
- sowing in a shelter for seedlings.
When to plant astrantia
Gardeners plant seedlings obtained by dividing a bush in early spring or late autumn. It is important that the plant at this moment is not in a state of active vegetation. The time for planting seeds depends on the approach used:
- For seedlings in early spring. Seeds are planted in boxes in March. So, by the end of May, astrantia seedlings will be ready for transplanting to a permanent location.
- In the open ground in springy. The period suitable for planting is when the earth has warmed up to a depth of 15 cm. By this time the seeds must undergo artificial stratification.
- In open ground in autumn. The seeds are immersed in the ground after the first frost. Thus, planting of astrantia in the Moscow region and other regions of the central zone is planned for November, and care will begin after the appearance of spring shoots.This is how the seed undergoes natural stratification.
How to grow astrantia from seeds
Even beginners can successfully plant and further care for astrantia in the open ground, as evidenced by numerous photos of elegant buds. It has no special requirements for the location and composition of the soil. The plant can survive for a long time without fertilizing and watering. However, seeds and young shoots should be given more attention.
Thanks to the work of breeders, many garden forms of astrantia have appeared
Preparing seeds and soil
When planting astrantia in a permanent place before winter, the seeds do not need to be specially prepared. Propagation material collected in the same year is sown on slightly frozen soil and sprinkled with a thin layer of earth. There is no need to water the area after planting. Winter cooling (stratification) will contribute to the friendly emergence of seedlings in early spring.
If the gardener decides to save the seeds until spring, artificial stratification is a prerequisite. To do this, they are mixed with wet sand and poured into a jar. The container is placed in the vegetable section of the refrigerator for the entire period before planting. It is important to ensure that the sand with seeds does not dry out.
In order for astrantia to exhibit maximum decorative value, the soil should be enriched with organic fertilizers before planting. A small amount of river sand in the soil will help the roots develop faster. For seedlings, both a substrate for flowers or vegetables and garden soil enriched with organic matter are suitable.
Planting astrantia with seeds
In autumn or spring, astrantia is planted in open ground in this way:
- dig up the soil to 15-20 cm;
- make grooves 1.5 cm deep;
- sow seeds;
- sprinkle them with a thin layer of earth;
- mulch with peat.
Planting seedlings consists of the following steps:
- select a box with drainage holes;
- fill it with a light nutrient substrate;
- sow seeds on a flat surface;
- sprinkle them with a thin layer of earth;
- moisturize from a spray bottle;
- cover with transparent film or glass (temperature should not exceed 20-23 oC).
Seedling care
When growing astrantia seedlings from seeds at home, it is important to adhere to some rules. Immediately after the seedlings appear, the shelter is removed. The box is placed in the brightest place. If there is not enough sun, you need to provide additional lighting to the young shoots. Astrantia seedlings must be protected from drafts.
Activities for caring for seedlings:
- Polyc - carried out after the soil surface has dried.
- Looseninge - follows soil moisture.
- Thinning - produced 7-10 days after the seedlings appear.
- Picking - at the stage of two leaves, the plants are planted in separate pots.
- Hardening - 10-14 days before landing at a permanent place.
Thinning is carried out in such a way that there is a distance of 2-3 cm between adjacent sprouts. Hardening is a step-by-step process. First, the container with young sprouts is kept in the fresh air for 2-3 hours. Every day the duration of hardening is increased slightly. Before transplanting, seedlings must be prepared to spend 24 hours outside.
When and how to plant in open ground
Planting of hardened seedlings in a permanent place is carried out in the last days of spring or early summer.Both sunny and slightly shaded areas are suitable. Astrantia has no special requirements for soil, but it is better to enrich it with organic matter to increase nutritional value and looseness.
The plant is resistant to cold and drought
First of all, the soil in the selected area is thoroughly loosened. To plant young shoots, holes are dug at intervals of 30-40 cm. They are immersed underground at the same level as before. Finally, the soil is thoroughly compacted and watered abundantly.
Aftercare
Astrantia tolerates slight drought well. If the hot season drags on, it is necessary to provide it with weekly watering. In order for the first wave of flowering to be replaced by a second, the surrounding soil should not be allowed to dry out. After planting astrantia, you should not forget about removing weeds and loosening. A mulching layer of humus or peat will prevent moisture evaporation and the growth of weeds.
In order for astrantia in the garden to look as attractive as in the photo, it needs feeding every spring. Complex mineral fertilizer is applied in March under each bush. The second time the crop can be fed in July or August using potassium-phosphorus fertilizer. To prevent self-seeding and stimulate the formation of new flowers, fading buds should be cut off. Over time, the long stems of astrantia may bend to the ground. In this case, you will need reliable support. After 5 years, the bush is rejuvenated through root division and transplantation.
Diseases and pests
Astrantia has high immunity against all kinds of diseases. Defeat occurs only with extremely improper care. The most common case: the development of fungus as a result of excess moisture.If the problem is not excessive watering, but natural precipitation, you need to loosen the soil as often as possible, reduce its acidity and make it lighter. Reliable fungicides help in the fight against fungus.
Naked slug is the main pest of astrantia
Even with proper care of perennial astrantia after planting, you may encounter the spread of naked slugs shown in the photo. They mercilessly eat the leaves of the crop. Several methods are used to combat them:
- add dry soil;
- place baits in the form of glasses of beer;
- collect pests by hand.
When and how to collect seeds
The collection of seeds for planting is carried out according to the following plan:
- Several of the largest and most beautiful buds are left without cutting.
- Wrap them with gauze to prevent seeds from scattering.
- Cut the flowers after they are completely dry.
- Lay them out on newspaper in a dry room for additional drying.
- The seeds are released and the petals are removed.
- Place them in a fabric bag or paper box.
- Place for storage in a dry and dark place.
Preparing for winter
The root system of astrantia tolerates frost well. In autumn it is necessary to carry out major pruning, making cuts at ground level with sharp pruning shears. After this, the bushes are covered with a layer of peat or humus.
If the planting was done this year, it is better to additionally protect the fragile bushes with spruce branches or leaves for the winter. An adult plant does not need additional insulation. However, if the region experiences very frosty winters, it will not hurt.
Astrantia in landscape design
Landscape designers often practice planting astrantia in a separate flowerbed on the lawn. It looks good among trees and against bushes.It is used to create borders and ridges, as well as compositions in a natural style. Thanks to its small roots, it can be planted in a rock garden. Different varieties of astrantia are successfully combined with each other, although monoplanting also looks attractive.
The culture looks most impressive in mixborders. Here it often coexists with lungwort, astilbe, acroclinum, ayuga, geranium, heuchera, mordovik, bellflower, gaillardia, buzulnik, dahlias, daylily, phlox, begonia, hosts and cereals. A striking example of a successful combination of astrantia with other flowers in a flower bed is shown in the photo.
Most often, astrantia is used to create mixborders.
One of the popular ideas for landscape design is placing astrantia in the center of a decorative composition near the entrance to the room. It looks especially effective surrounded by young, sedum or loosestrife. Various flowering and leafy crops are used as additional elements.
Conclusion
Planting and caring for astrantia in open ground does not require much effort. The plant grows well in sun and shady areas, on fertile and poor soils. Its star-shaped flowers throughout the summer perfectly complement various compositions on the site, and also become components of live or dry bouquets.
