Viscaria (Lychnis, Smolka): planting and care in open ground, growing from seeds at home, when to plant seedlings, photo

Planting and caring for Viscaria in open ground will not cause difficulties if you follow some rules. The plant can be grown either by seedlings or without seedlings. At the same time, Lychnis seedlings (as Viskaria is called) are transferred to the flowerbed only in the second half of May. In the future, you need to monitor hydration and periodically fertilize.

Types and varieties of Viscaria

In the genus Lychnis (Viscaria), 30 species and varieties are known and described. They differ from each other in different heights (on average from 40 to 100 cm), color of flowers and other indicators. The most popular varieties of Lychnis flowers with photos and names will allow gardeners to choose the option they like.

Lychnis Viscaria

A shrub with a height of 45 cm to 100 cm. In the upper part, the shoots stick to the hands due to a natural secretion, which is why this species is also called resin. The flowers can be white or bright crimson, they are combined into panicles (5-7 pieces each). This species Viscaria vulgaris includes two popular varieties that are cultivated:

Rosetta (rosetta) is an interesting plant with lush double inflorescences, colored in crimson shades.
Flora is captivated (flore pleno) - miniature plants (25-35 cm in height) with graceful purple inflorescences up to 3 cm in diameter.

Lychnis chalcedony

This species (Lychnis chalcedonica) is also called Zorka for its characteristic fiery red flowers. The bushes of Lychnis chalcedony are quite tall - reaching 80-100 cm. The flowers are united in hemispherical inflorescences (heads), the diameter of which is 8-10 cm. Lychnis chalcedony is characterized by high winter hardiness. This allows it to be grown in most regions of Russia.

Lush inflorescences of Lychnis chalcedony contrast effectively against the background of bright green leaves

Lychnis Haare

This is another variety of Lychnis (Lychnis x haageana) with a red color. It belongs to the hybrid varieties, so it easily grows on different types of soil, blooms luxuriantly even with minimal care. The height of the shoots of Lychnis Haare can reach no more than 45-50 cm. The leaves are elongated, ovoid in shape. The inflorescences are graceful, racemose, each of them contains from 3 to 7 flowers.

Lychnis Haare flowers are distinguished by their bright colors and original shape.

Lychnis of Jupiter

Lychnis Jupiter (Lychnis flos-jovis) has an unusual appearance with lilac-colored flowers. Found naturally in the foothills of the Alps. The bush is tall, up to 80 cm, the inflorescences are also white, small in diameter - up to 2 cm.

Lychnis Jupiter flowers have an interesting color and original shape.

Lychnis crown

Lychnis crown is a medium-sized shrub from 0.4 to 0.9 m in height. It has pale green leaves, against which red and pink (less often white) flowers contrast perfectly. This type of crown lychnis (Lychnis coronaria) is represented by two common varieties:

Angel Blush (Angel Blush) - a crop with rich pink or bright crimson inflorescences.
Mysterious Island (Mysterious Island) (mixture) – viscaria with two colors (white and pinkish-red).

Lychnis sparkling

Sparkling lychnis (Latin name Lychnis fulgens) grows in the harsh climate of the Eastern Siberian regions; it is also found in China and neighboring countries. Erect shoots grow up to 40-60 cm.

The main advantage of sparkling lychnis is its attractive orange inflorescences.

The flowers are quite large. The diameter of the inflorescences is 4-5 cm.

Arkwright's Lychnis

This type of lychnis (Lychnis arkwrightii) is represented by low-growing bushes 35-40 cm in height. The leaves are rich green in color, elongated in shape. The flowers are orange, can be organized in inflorescences, and there are also single varieties.

The bright orange flowers of Arkwright's viscaria reach 2.5-3 cm in diameter.

Lychnis alpine

Alpine (Lychnis alpina) is the shortest variety of the crop. The bush grows to only 15-20 cm. It has good winter hardiness. Under natural conditions, it can be found even in the tundra (Greenland, Alaska), as well as in the mountains (Alps). The leaves are bright green, the flowers are pale pink, collected in paniculate inflorescences.

Viscaria alpine flowers are pink or crimson.

Methods of propagation of Lychnis

The plant can be propagated in several ways:

Seeds – seedlings (growing at home) and non-seedling methods (planting directly into the ground).
Dividing the bush – for this, adult plants at least 4 years old are selected. At the beginning of summer, they are divided into 3-5 divisions, each of which should have several healthy shoots, and then planted at a distance of 20-30 cm.
By cuttings – this method is used for those species and varieties of viscaria that produce double flowers. Cuttings with three internodes are obtained in June and immediately planted under film in open ground. You can also grow it at home in a container, and transfer it to a permanent place in September. For the winter, cover with leaf litter, peat and other mulch.

Growing Viscaria from seeds

There are two methods of growing viscaria from seeds:

Traditional seedling. In this case, seedlings are first obtained, and only then are they transferred to the ground.
Seedless – sowing directly into open ground.

When to plant Lychnis for seedlings

It is recommended to sow lychnis seeds for seedlings in mid-March with the expectation that the seedlings will be transferred to the flowerbed in the second half of May. The specific time for planting seeds depends on the region:

in the south - at the end of February;
in the middle zone - in early March;
in the Urals and Siberia - in mid-March.

Preparing seeds and sowing Lychnis for seedlings

Preliminary preparation of viscaria seeds is carried out in 2 stages:

First, they are placed on one of the refrigerator shelves for a month and kept at a temperature of 5-6 degrees (can be wrapped in a fabric bag or a dry towel).
A few hours before planting in the ground, viscaria seeds are soaked in a solution of any stimulant - Epin, Zircon and others.

Soil for sowing can be purchased at the store or made independently based on turf soil, compost and humus (2: 1: 1). To give the desired porosity, add a few pinches of sand. Seeds are buried to 1 cm and planted at intervals of 2-3 cm.

Caring for seedlings at home

Caring for lychnis seedlings is not very difficult. It is grown at normal room temperature (the first weeks - in a greenhouse under film or glass). If the weather is cloudy, it is advisable to illuminate it with a phytolamp (although not necessary).

The soil is moistened regularly by spraying it with a sprayer. The first shoots may appear after 2 weeks or a little later. After 1-2 true leaves appear, the seedlings are transplanted into individual containers and grown until the second half of May.

Viscaria seedlings are picked after the appearance of 1-2 leaves and then grown in individual pots

Planting and caring for Lychnis in open ground

Caring for viscaria is not difficult - the main thing is to ensure regular feeding and watering, but at the same time not to allow the soil to become waterlogged (monitor the volume of water, do not water the day before and after rain).

When to plant in open ground

Lychnis seedlings are transferred to a permanent place in May:

in the south - at the beginning of the month;
in the middle zone - closer to the second decade;
in the Urals and Siberia - in the last days.

It is necessary to focus on the fact that the soil has warmed up sufficiently and night temperatures do not fall below 10-12 °C.

Planting perennial Lychnis directly in open ground

Viscaria seeds can be planted directly in open ground, without growing seedlings at home. This method of propagation is less labor-intensive, but you can expect the first flowers to appear only next year.Seeds are planted either before winter (September - October) or in early spring (March - April). If the region has a short summer (Ural, Siberia), it is better to plant in May or even June.

Initially, the area is dug up, complex fertilizer is added (50 g per 1 m²) and plant the seeds under the film. If you do this in May or June, you can do without additional shelters. During the first weeks it is regularly cleaned for ventilation. As soon as the seedlings reach 10 cm in height, the film can be removed, and the viscaria seedlings can be planted at intervals of 20-30 cm. In the future, you need to monitor regular watering.

Lychnis is best planted in an open area with maximum light.

Transplanting

Seedlings should be planted in well-lit places where moisture does not accumulate. Sequencing:

The area is cleared and dug up.
Add a bucket of sand and two large spoons of superphosphate and potassium magnesium per 1 m² soil (if the soil is depleted).
Several shallow holes are marked at intervals of 20-30 cm.
Drain the bottom with small stones.
Seedlings are planted, leaving the root collar 1.5-2 cm above the ground surface.
Water well with settled water and mulch with peat, sand, sawdust or other materials.

Aftercare

In the future, caring for lychnis comes down to regular watering: water is given weekly, and in drought - 2 times more often. After watering, the soil is thoroughly loosened and weeded periodically. All fading inflorescences and leaves are immediately removed.

Fertilizing is not done very often: 2 or 3 times per season is enough. You can give complex mineral fertilizer or superphosphate mixed with potassium salt (the ratio is approximately the same).The first feeding occurs in April or May, and the subsequent ones in June and July with an interval of 20 days.

Fertilizing is especially important during the formation of buds and flowering of lychnis

Diseases and pests

Different types of viscaria are distinguished by good immunity, due to which they rarely suffer from diseases. However, if you do not follow the watering rules and give too much water, the plants may suffer from root rot. In addition, damage to leaf spot and rust is possible.

Therefore, as a preventive measure it is recommended:

Do not over-moisten the soil - its surface should remain slightly moist.
Do not plant plants too densely - the interval should be at least 20 cm.

If the first signs of the disease appear (spots on leaves, wilting, etc.), the bushes must be immediately treated with fungicides - for this, any effective preparation is used: Bordeaux mixture, Maxim, Fundazol, Profit and others. If the plant is quite badly damaged, it is better to dig it up and take it away so that the infection does not spread to neighboring viscaria bushes.

In summer, various pests can grow on the stems and leaves of lychnis - aphids, whiteflies, leaf rollers, spider mites and others. Folk remedies work well with them (for example, a solution of wood ash, a decoction of tobacco, celandine, tomato tops, an infusion of garlic, chili peppers and others). If the colony is rapidly growing, it is necessary to treat with insecticides: “Fitoverm”, “Aktara”, “Decis”, “Confidor” and others.

Important! Spraying of lychnis bushes is carried out late in the evening in the absence of rain and strong wind.

Seed collection and wintering

The type of viscaria fruit is a capsule. Its ripening begins after flowering, closer to the beginning of autumn.As soon as the box becomes dry, turns brown and begins to crack, you must:

Bend the plant stem.
Shake all the seeds into a natural fabric bag.
Cut off wilted flower stalks and empty fruits.

Viscaria seeds are stored under normal room conditions, and in early February they begin to stratify in the refrigerator.

Lychnis in landscape design

Lychnis is often used in different compositions:

framing flower beds and paths;
multi-tiered flower beds, mixborders, rocky slides;
plantings along the fence, near the entrance and seating areas;
single landings.

Important! Viscaria does not need to be planted in the garden next to aggressive, actively reproducing plants, for example, buttercups, bells and others.

Conclusion

Planting and caring for Viscaria in open ground is carried out after growing seedlings or immediately with seeds. The timing depends on the region - usually seeds are sown for seedlings in March, and grown lychnis bushes are transferred to open ground in the second half of May.

Lychnis (Viscaria) flowers: planting and care, photo with name, types and varieties