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Chalcedonic lychnis (Lychnis chalcedonica) or Common Dawn is a perennial species from the Carnation family. A dicotyledonous flowering plant common in the European part of Russia. The design uses wild-growing crops and varieties created on its basis.
Description and characteristics
Lychnis chalcedony can bloom in one area for more than 5 years. The culture is unpretentious in care, is highly frost-resistant, and does not respond to temperature changes in the spring. The only requirement is well-drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil.
Zorka vulgaris is a light-loving crop, the brightness of its color depends on the amount of ultraviolet radiation.
In the shade the plant loses its decorative effect. Lychnis chalcedony responds poorly to high air humidity and exposure to the north wind. A place is allocated on the site that is protected from drafts.
Zorka is classified as a wildflower. The main concentration of the culture is observed in meadows, forest edges, and clearings. It is found on high ground at the foot of the mountains among rocky debris.Lychnis chalcedony practically does not grow alone; it forms dense groups covering quite large areas.
External characteristics of culture:
- Lychnis chalcedony grows in the form of a bush formed by numerous stems up to 80 cm long. The shoots are erect, thin, densely pubescent with long white pile, which makes the branches look silvery.
- Lychnis chalcedony forms many leaves: the basal ones are larger in the form of an elongated oval; stem round or lanceolate, alternately arranged. The leaf blades are hard, dark green, with smooth edges. The pubescence is long, dense in the lower part, shorter along the veins on the surface.
- The flowers are simple, consisting of five wide petals separated at the top. They form a spherical, dense inflorescence at the end of the stem. The wild species has scarlet or orange flowers with a carmine tint.
- The fruit is an egg-shaped capsule, the seeds are dark red, oval.
- The root system is superficial, with numerous interlacings.
Several cultivars for ornamental gardening have been created based on Zorka vulgare. Lychnis Red Ball comes in bright burgundy and crimson. The flowers are large, inflorescences 10-15 cm in diameter.
The Red Ball variety blooms from July to September
This is one of the tall varieties of Lychnis. Stems grow up to 120 cm.
Lychnis chalcedony Rauraife with white paniculate inflorescences and large flowers. Referred to as a low-growing form, the plant forms a dense compact bush with a height of 50 cm.
Raurayfa flowering period is June-August
Planting and caring for Lychnis chalcedony
Lychnis chalcedony is placed in a permanent place of growth in early spring, approximately in mid-May. If there is a threat of return frosts, the deadlines are not postponed. The frost-resistant culture is not afraid of a sharp drop in temperature. For spring planting, you can use the method of sowing seeds or dividing the bush. At the end of the growing season, immediately after flowering, you can also divide the mother bush and plant seedlings from cuttings. In the southern regions, sowing seeds is allowed.
The soil is prepared on the day of planting. The area for Lychnis chalcedony is dug up, at 1m2 add 10 kg of coarse sand and mix well with compost (8 kg).
Landing algorithm:
- The root is treated with an antifungal agent.
- A hole is made with a drainage pad. The depth and width of the planting hole is 20 cm.
- Lychnis chalcedony is placed in a hole, the roots are untangled and covered with nutritious soil mixture.
- The soil is compacted and watered.
Transplantation of seedlings is also carried out in drained pits. To adjust the depth, add substrate. Next year, Lychnis chalcedony will form a root completely during the season.
After propagation by a generative method, the plant will enter reproductive age after 2 years.
Agricultural technology consists of the following activities:
- The irrigation regime for Lychnis chalcedony is adjusted according to seasonal precipitation. If there is enough rain, then additional watering is not required. In dry summers, water with a large volume of water once a week.
- Weeding is of an aesthetic nature; they do not cause any particular harm to the plant.
- The root circle is mulched. If this technique is used, then loosening is not carried out.
- Chalcedony lychnis is fertilized before budding with potassium sulfate, superphosphate, urea, 30 g per 10 liters of water per plant. The second feeding is carried out in September with the same composition, only instead of urea, organic matter is included in the solution.
The aerial part of Chalcedony Lychnis completely dies at the end of the growing season, the stems are cut off at the root. The plant is frost-resistant and can overwinter without shelter. If the region is unfavorable for cultivation, then the bush is covered with straw.
Reproduction methods
In the wild, the flower Lychnis chalcedony or Zorka vulgaris reproduces by self-sowing and basal shoots. In gardening, the generative method is used, cuttings and dividing the bush.
Growing Lychnis chalcedony from seeds
The planting material ripens at the end of September, the boxes are cut off and laid out on a flat surface. In a warm room they will open on their own in about a couple of weeks. The seeds are sown in a garden bed before winter and covered with straw; the material is removed in the spring.
You can grow seedlings in a container.
Plants that have reached a height of 10 cm are planted in separate containers and planted in the garden in the spring.
If you plan to sow material in open ground in the spring, then 2 months before work the seeds are placed in the refrigerator.
Cuttings
Cuttings are prepared from strong stems. Work is carried out in mid-June. The material is taken from the middle part. The sections are treated with charcoal. All lower leaves are removed from the stem, leaving 2-3 on the top.
A substrate is prepared from sand, peat and compost. Superphosphate and nitrogen fertilizer are added. You can grow the material in open ground or fill containers with a nutrient mixture and place the cuttings in them.In any case, the rooting site of Chalcedony Lychnis should be open. Future seedlings are watered periodically. After 1.5 months they will take root and Chalcedony Lychnis is transplanted to a permanent place.
Cuttings are cut 15-20 cm long
Dividing the bush
The generative method for propagating Chalcenone Lychnis on the site is not often used. For the plant to bloom, it takes 2 years of growing season. The cuttings take root, but not all of them. The most effective way is to divide an adult plant. To rejuvenate the bush, this procedure is carried out once every 5 years.
The bush is dug up and the remaining soil is removed. Cut off dry and damaged areas on the roots. The procedure is carried out in the spring. In autumn, Lychnis chalcedony is propagated after flowering. After transplantation, the stem is cut off, and it is advisable to cover the plant for the winter.
Lychnis chalcedony is divided so that each stem has part of the root shoots
Pests and diseases
In the wild, the crop practically does not get sick. If agricultural practices are incorrect, a fungal infection may appear on the site:
- root rot;
- spotting;
- rust.
There is only one cause of infection - waterlogged soil. The Lychnis chalcedony bush is replanted and the watering regime is adjusted. If a disease is detected, treat with any fungicide.
Of the parasitic insects, the main damage to Lychnis chalcedony is caused by aphids and leaf rollers. If the spread of pests is not widespread, then the plant is treated with a concentrated soap solution; if there is a large accumulation, an insecticide will be required.
Application in landscape design
In ornamental gardening, mainly varietal varieties of Lychnis chalcedony are used. Tall varieties are used in group plantings with flowering and ornamental crops.They are used to decorate flower beds and garden beds. With the help of Lychnis they create hedges. The Raulife variety is used to create white gardens.
Medium-sized Zorka is suitable for a rock garden, rock garden or rock garden
Below are several examples with photos of the use of Lychnis chalcedony in the landscape design of a garden or summer cottage.
White hydrangea combines harmoniously with the red inflorescences of Zorka
Linear planting will help to delimit zones of the site
A mixborder created with contrasting colors always attracts attention
Zorka vulgare is often included in a composition in the style of wild nature
Conclusion
Lychnis chalcedony is a perennial rhizomatous plant with a long flowering period. Cultivars based on wild species are widely used in ornamental gardening. Zorka vulgare is unpretentious in care, drought-resistant, and frost-resistant. The culture is characterized by high vitality.
