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Large bright flowers on tall stems, decorating fences and flower beds of summer residents, are familiar to everyone from childhood. Mallow attracts attention with its decorativeness and grace. It exists in several species, by crossing which the magnificent terry mallow was obtained.
Double mallow flowers are a hybrid species obtained as a result of many years of work by breeders. They resemble peonies in their appearance and form many beautiful shades - from pink to purple.
Plant characteristics
Mallow also has other names - mallow, stockrose, marshmallow. More than 3 dozen varieties of flowers are found in nature, including annual and perennial, wild and cultivated species. Most of them are represented by herbaceous plants growing up to 2 m. They are indispensable in landscape design and look great both in single and group plantings, and can become an excellent colorful background for smaller plants in flower beds. Thanks to the long flowering period, terry mallow remains a decoration of the site until mid-September.
Site selection
Double mallow flowers take root better if they are planted immediately in a permanent place where they will continue to grow in the future. Therefore, it is important to immediately select a suitable site. Perennial mallow loves open areas, sufficiently illuminated by the sun. In shady places, its stems stretch towards the light and become thin and weak. Lack of light also reduces its flowering. The delicate petals and tall stems of terry mallow are easily damaged by the wind, so the area should be protected from drafts. Flowers grow well in light, fertile soils with good drainage - loam is ideal. At the same time, perennial mallow thrives in poor soils if you feed it regularly.
When preparing a site for planting terry mallow, the following measures are necessary:
- deep digging of the soil;
- on problem soils, the addition of compost is required; it can be replaced with rotted manure;
- The drainage properties of the soil can be improved by adding coarse sand.
Growing options
The timing of planting terry mallow is determined by the method of its cultivation - from seeds or seedlings.
Growing by seeds
Having sowed perennial mallow seeds in open ground in May or June, you can expect them to bloom only next year. For sowing, you can collect your own plant seeds from already faded bushes in July-August to plant them next season.
The best germination is demonstrated by perennial mallow seeds collected two years ago. In the first year, sprouted plants form rosettes of large, slightly pubescent leaves and develop powerful branched roots. But you can get flowers earlier if you plant the seeds in a greenhouse.To sow seeds, there is no need to prepare holes - they can simply be placed in a flower bed and sprinkled with soil. If you take care of regular watering, the first sprouts of terry perennial mallow will sprout within 2-3 weeks.
Experienced gardeners prefer autumn sowing of mallow seeds. They are planted in holes up to 3 cm deep with an interval of 40-50 cm. The holes are filled with loose fertile soil or peat. For the winter, crops should be covered with fallen leaves or straw. Before sowing, seeds are checked for germination.
Seedling method
With the seedling method, terry mallow seeds are sown at the beginning of spring - around March-April; the grown seedlings are transferred to open ground by mid-summer. In order to speed up the emergence of seedlings, you should first soak the seeds in warm water for several hours, and after sowing, cover them with glass or transparent film.
Since terry mallow does not tolerate transplantation well, it is better to immediately plant the seeds in peat cups. They can then simply be transferred to open ground. The seedling method does not always ensure flowering in the same year, but the earlier the plants are planted, the faster it occurs.
The first shoots of perennial mallow should appear in 10-15 days. During this period you should ensure:
- constant temperature of about 20 degrees;
- regular watering, which will accelerate the development of seedlings;
- removal of weak copies;
- hardening - it will help the plants adapt faster in the open ground in the future.
Some gardeners are engaged in picking seedlings when they have 3 true leaves, although this procedure is quite labor intensive and retards the growth of young terry mallow bushes. When picking, you should carry the plant along with a lump of earth to keep its roots intact. A more preferable option is when several seeds are planted in a peat pot, and then the healthiest and strongest plants are left.
The most comfortable time for replanting plants will be September - young bushes of perennial terry mallow will have time to strengthen their root system by the beginning of frost, and for the winter they can be well covered with a layer of peat or fallen leaves. By spring, the plants will have gained enough strength for further development and flowering.
Propagation by cuttings
Terry varieties of mallow are also propagated using cuttings planted in greenhouses or at home in boxes. However, this method can only be done by experienced gardeners, as it is characterized by a low survival rate of cuttings. The advantage of propagation using cuttings is the possibility of obtaining plants of the same variety with the same properties. Cuttings of terry mallow, as seen in the photo, can be planted in spring or summer:
- For summer planting, cuttings taken from the stem are used;
- for spring - they are cut off from mature plants in the root area.
Propagation of terry mallow by cuttings should be done very carefully, following the correct technology:
- to cut cuttings use a well-sharpened garden knife;
- the cut is treated with charcoal powder;
- leave them for 5-6 hours to dry the sections;
- ready-made cuttings of perennial mallow are placed in a nutrient substrate or peat pots;
- using irrigation, ensure constant soil moisture;
- evidence of rooting of cuttings will be the appearance of fresh leaves;
- when the plants begin to grow, they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Agricultural technology of flowers
Perennial terry mallow is considered an unpretentious plant. Caring for it consists of timely implementation of normal agrotechnical measures.
Organization of watering
Perennial mallow has a long and branched root system that goes deep into the ground. Therefore, there is no need for frequent watering - in sunny weather once or twice a week is enough, and in dry seasons the plants can be watered up to three times. Perennial mallow consumes the greatest amount of moisture during the period of mass flowering, but even then water stagnation in the soil should not be allowed, otherwise the plant may die.
Proper feeding
Perennial terry mallow responds very well to regular feeding in small doses. Phosphorus and potassium salts must be added to the soil every 2.5-3 weeks, and organic salts - once a year. Plants consume especially a lot of nutrients during the budding period, so it is necessary to feed them with complex fertilizer. Throughout the growing season, flowers should be mulched with compost.
Other care measures
The root system of terry mallow, which goes deep into the soil, requires the creation of favorable conditions for oxygen access. It is necessary to periodically loosen the soil under the flowers. However, this procedure requires caution, since even minor damage to the roots can lead to the death of the entire flower.Simultaneously with loosening, the soil should be freed from weed, otherwise they can stifle the growth of young plants.
Terry mallow is an ornamental plant that is used to create a variety of compositions, which is why it is so important to shape the plant using pruning. It should be carried out before or after the flowering period. During pruning, you must also remove all dried or damaged shoots.
Perennial mallow belongs to tall plants. If the area with double flowers is not protected from gusty winds, they require gartering to stable supports.
In middle and more northern latitudes, mallow flowers require shelter for the winter. It can be organized using a thick layer of fallen leaves or straw, under which the terry mallow will overwinter well. Spruce branches will also be a good shelter.
Disease Control
Among the diseases that most often affect perennial mallow are powdery mildew and leaf mosaic. It happens that its leaves are covered with brown spots of rust. When the first signs of the disease appear, all diseased parts of the plants should be removed and burned, and the bushes should be treated with Bordeaux mixture and appropriate preparations. To prevent diseases, you should not plant perennial mallow for 3-4 years in areas where crops that were susceptible to the same pathologies previously grew.
The consequence of waterlogging the soil under plants can be the appearance of slugs. Among other pests, mallow is most often affected by spider mites or aphids. Insecticidal or folk remedies can save you from them. For example, a soap solution of dry mustard effectively fights against aphids.
Conclusion
Simple rules of care, a variety of varieties and the extraordinary charm of flowers make terry mallow indispensable in garden compositions and popular among summer residents.
