Content
- 1 Description of bidens plant with photo
- 2 Varieties of bidens flower with photos and names
- 3 Planting a bidens flower in open ground
- 4 Growing bidens seedlings
- 5 Caring for bidens in open ground
- 6 Methods for propagating bidens flowers
- 7 Pest and disease control
- 8 Bidens landscape design
- 9 Conclusion
- 10 Reviews
Bidens is an annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. The second name of the flower is decorative string. Its homeland is the countries of central America. The flower is unpretentious, so it blooms in regions with a temperate climate.
Description of bidens plant with photo
Russian flower growers learned about bidens relatively recently - a little more than 20 years ago. Translated from Latin, it means “two-toothed”; it got its name due to the bristles-teeth on the seeds. Planting material is attached to animal fur, human clothing or the plumage of birds and transferred to a new location.
Decorative string of bidens is an annual herbaceous shrub with strong, erect shoots.The height, as well as the diameter of the plant, does not exceed 85 cm. In the wild, the bidens flower is a perennial.
In some sources, the culture can be found under the name ferulolist series
The stems of bidens are heavily leafy. The leaf blades are dissected and openwork, needle-shaped or pointed. Painted emerald green. The diameter of the inflorescences is about 4 cm. The petals of the flower are bright yellow in color. Flowering continues from spring to late autumn. At the end of the season, seeds are formed in each basket, which are suitable for flower propagation.
Varieties of bidens flower with photos and names
There are more than 250 varieties of bidens in nature, but only annual varieties are used for cultivation for decorative purposes. Almost all species adapted for cultivation in European latitudes were bred by breeding scientists from Holland and Germany. Russian online stores and garden nurseries still offer a small assortment.
Varieties and photos of bidens flowers that have become widespread in Russia are presented below.
Bidens Painted Red (painted red))
Painted Red diameter reaches 45 cm
The plant belongs to the low-growing variety. The height of the bush does not exceed 30 cm. The core of the flower is painted yellow, the edges have a red tint. During flowering, the plant emits a strong aroma.
Port Royal Double
Terry inflorescences of Port Royal Double resemble marigolds from afar
The bush is dense and spreading. The flower petals are painted in a bright yellow hue.
Taka Tuka
Taka Tuka - low-growing decorative flower
The size of the crop does not exceed 35-40 cm.The petals are shaped like tongues. The cores of the inflorescences are painted bright yellow.
Golden ball
The shoots of the Golden Ball have a huge number of branches, which creates volume
The height of the bush reaches 80 cm. The flowers are golden yellow. Their size does not exceed 3-4 cm.
Golden goddess
The bushes of the Golden Goddess are medium-sized, the leaves on the shoots are slightly shortened.
This variety has the largest flowers compared to other representatives of bidens. They are yellow and shaped like a daisy.
Planting a bidens flower in open ground
The method of growing ampelous bidens from seeds in open ground is suitable only for residents of the southern regions. In this case, the bush may not bloom in the year of planting.
When to plant
When propagated by seeds, they can be planted in open ground no earlier than mid-May, in some regions at the beginning of June. A flower that has recently emerged from the ground will not tolerate even a short drop in temperature below 0ᵒC.
Site selection and soil preparation
Bidens planted in the shade will not produce lush and beautiful flowering. Here it will only grow a green mass, occasionally decorated with weak inflorescences.
Choose a sunny site for cultivating bidens flowers.
The main thing for culture is permeable, aerated fertile soil. Representatives of the Asteraceae family prefer light soil - sandy or sandy loam. Heavy soils can be adapted to bidension requirements by adding river sand or peat.
Before planting seeds, the area should be prepared: cleared of weeds, dug up, and distributed organic fertilizers.
Sowing scheme
Sowing is carried out in shallow holes, the distance between them is at least 40-45 cm. 3-4 seeds are placed in each hole.They may not all sprout, but two seedlings are enough to form a beautiful bush in the shape of a ball. If all the seeds germinate, thin out the seedlings and transplant them to another place.
Growing bidens seedlings
For central Russia, it is recommended to grow the ferulophyllum series in seedlings.
Sowing of seeds is carried out a month before planting seedlings in open ground:
- A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the containers, and a light, loose compound is filled on top.
- Make grooves 1.5 cm deep in the soil and place bidens seeds at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other.
- The planting material is sprinkled and the soil is moistened. The container is covered with plastic film. To prevent the plants under the cellophane from becoming stubborn and starting to rot, it is removed briefly every day.
Bidens sprouts will appear in 7-10 days. From this moment on, carefully monitor the soil moisture. The soil should not dry out, but you should not flood the flowers with water, as fungus may appear and the seedlings will begin to wither.
10 days after the emergence of seedlings, the plants should be fed with mineral fertilizers. In order for lateral roots to form on the shrub, soil mixture is periodically poured into the container in small portions.
Before planting bidens seedlings in open ground, they are hardened off. First, open the window in the room, then take it outside, gradually increasing the time.
For growing bidens in hanging flowerpots, a universal soil mixture, which is sold in flower shops, is suitable. Or the container is filled with soil prepared from humus, garden soil and sand in a ratio of 1:2:2.
Caring for bidens in open ground
It is recommended to transplant bidens into open ground on a cloudy day or in the evening.Brick chips or expanded clay must be added to each hole, equipping a drainage layer. For better plant growth, you need to maintain a distance between seedlings. It should not be less than 30 cm.
Watering
The bidens root does not go too deep into the soil, but rather grows wider. Moisture evaporates quickly from the soil surface, so watering the plant should be done frequently, but not too much. If the summer in the region is cold or rainy, the number of waterings is reduced to a minimum. The bush tolerates drought well, but does not tolerate excess moisture.
After watering, mulch the soil around the plant
Loosening
Weeds prevent bidens from growing normally and blooming luxuriantly. Therefore, as necessary, the soil around the flower is loosened and wild plants are removed. During the procedure, the tool is not deeply buried in the ground so as not to injure the roots of the decorative row.
Top dressing
Every two weeks, fertilization is combined with watering. Before flowering begins, it is fed with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.
Trimming
Regular pruning and pinching of the stems gives the bush the desired shape. If the side shoots of bidens are not shortened, they stretch upward and the number of flowers decreases.
If the bud has faded, it is cut off. This stimulates the appearance of new flower baskets on the plant.
Methods for propagating bidens flowers
The crop can be propagated on the site in two ways: cuttings and seeds. Each method of breeding ampelous bidens has its own characteristics of care and cultivation.
Propagation by cuttings
To preserve the varietal species of the plant, in the first days of autumn it is recommended to transplant the bush into a flowerpot, shorten its shoots to 1/3 and move it to a cool room.
With the arrival of spring, cuttings are cut from the stems of the plant and buried in water or wet sand. After about two weeks, roots will appear on the seedlings. If weather conditions permit, cuttings are planted in flower beds. When there is a threat of frost, it is better to temporarily transplant the flowers into separate glasses.
After transplanting into open ground, I cover the seedling with film, so it will take root better.
Collection of planting material
Collecting bidens flower seeds is not as easy as it seems. If the plant is a varietal plant, then it is better to abandon this idea completely, since it is unknown what qualities will be transferred to the bush. A crop grown from such seeds will not give signs of the mother variety.
Collection of planting material is possible only from ordinary representatives of the variety. The procedure is carried out in the fall, immediately after the plant has flowered. High-quality seeds will only be obtained from flowers that bloom at the end of summer. By the beginning of October, the boxes will ripen. Wilted flowers are cut and dried, after which the seeds are separated. It is recommended to store them for spring planting in paper bags.
If the gardener’s plans do not include the option of propagating a flower by self-sowing, it is necessary to promptly remove faded buds
Pest and disease control
The main advantage of the culture is that it is not susceptible to fungal spores and viral infections. Pests don't touch it either.
Bidens landscape design
With its bright colors, bidens lifts your spirits even in rainy weather.The bush looks good in single and group plantings and is suitable for creating any flower arrangements.
An ornamental plant is often planted in hanging boxes and flower pots, and placed on balconies.
The flower is suitable for framing flower beds and garden paths.
Bidens harmoniously combines with lobelia, verbena and petunia
When composing an ensemble with perennials, bidens are combined with those plants that, together with them, will decorate the front garden until late autumn.
Shrubs with lacy leaves look good in rock gardens and rock gardens
Conclusion
Bidens is a low-maintenance shrub that is immune to all diseases that affect members of the Asteraceae family. The decorative sequence is used to create landscape compositions of various types.
Reviews
