Adonis flower - planting and care in the open field
Content:
Spring adonis is a perennial plant that can be found in the steppe. Used for the manufacture of medicines. The flower is capricious, but with proper care it can be grown at home.
Description of the plant
In the description of the spring adonis it is said that its root system is short and wide (4 cm) with a huge number of corded brown roots. Several bare stems, up to 60 cm high, extend from the main root. Narrow leaves are located on them, at the root they are brown in color and resemble scales. Closer to the bud, shaggy sessile leaves of a rich green hue.
Adonis vernalis in natural habitat
The flowers are quite large, up to 60 cm in diameter. The petals are golden yellow. One flower can be from 15 to 20 up to 3 cm long. Outwardly, adonis resembles a yellow daisy. Blooms in early spring.
The Legend of Adonis
There are many legends and myths about the adonis. One of them tells the story of the wife of the Cypriot king and Aphrodite. The king's wife boasted to the goddess that her daughter Mira was more beautiful than her. Aphrodite got angry and cast a spell on Mira. The girl fell in love with her father and became pregnant, after which she was expelled from home. She roamed the world. After the birth of her son, Adonis turned into a myrrh tree. Aphrodite felt ashamed of what she had done. She took the baby, put it in a chest and gave it to Persephone, who raised the baby. Adonis died while hunting, from the drops of his blood a flower of adonis grew.
Types and varieties
Adonis is a plant that has about 40 species. Among the main ones are the following:
- fluffy adonis (Adonis Vernalis). It got its name from the leaves, which look like fine hairs. Adonis vernalis is one of the most demanded varieties;
- summer adonis. It differs from its relatives in red petals. The middle of the flower is black, which resembles a small spot. Aestivalis blooms throughout the summer;
- Amur adonis (Adonis Amurensis). Distributed in China, Japan and Korea. It grows up to 15 cm. It blooms earlier than spring varieties, and only two weeks;
- adonis annual red. Flowers are small red with a black spot in the middle. The leaves are narrow and dissected. It grows up to 50 cm. It blooms in early summer and blooms through September inclusive.
Fiery red summer adonis
Growing adonis from seeds
Growing an adonis flower is a laborious process. The plant loves nutritious and moist soil. An adonis needs a lot of sunlight to grow, a lack of it can lead to death. The plant is grown by seed method. The difficulties of this method include the duration of seed germination.
Sowing
It is better to plant seeds in the soil in the fall after precipitation. You can also plant it in the spring in early May. Before planting in spring, it is recommended to keep the seeds in the cold (5 ° C) for about a month. Then they are sown immediately to a permanent place or temporarily to a greenhouse. The first shoots appear after 14 days.
Often seeds are sown in containers, and after the seedlings appear, they are planted in open ground.Nutrient soil is poured into the boxes, then seeds are sown and sprinkled with earth. The containers are stored in a cold room. Then they are transplanted to the site and covered with snow.
Seedling care
After the emergence of seedlings, they must be looked after. Seedlings need bright diffused light. At first, young seedlings should be shaded. The flower needs regular watering and loosening of the soil around it. After the sprouts grow a little, they must be thinned out. The distance between them should be 15-20 cm.
Planting adonis in open ground
Before planting the plant on the site, it is placed in a cool place for two hours. The temperature should be around 12 ° C. In a few days, the place where adonis will grow is dug up and top dressing is applied. The soil should be light and slightly acidic. A good place is where the sun shines in the morning and shade appears in the afternoon.
Planting one-year-old adonis is carried out in a well-lit area
When to plant adonis
Seedlings are planted in open ground when they grow up and get stronger. Usually, planting is carried out in late April - early May. Can also be planted in autumn. It takes a month for a flower to adapt and take root.
How to plant
The adonis flower is planted by transferring it from the pot to the pit. To plant adonis, you must follow the step-by-step instructions:
- Dig up the site and add organic matter.
- Dig holes at a distance of 15-20 cm. They should be wide so that the root system fits freely.
- Pour a drainage layer (expanded clay or pebbles) on the bottom.
- Place the seedlings in a hole and spread the roots along its bottom.
- Cover with soil on top.
- Drizzle and top with peat, charcoal or humus.
Caring for adonis in the garden
Adonis is a capricious plant that requires attention and special care. Flowers are demanding on the composition of the soil. If you can find the perfect place, then they will reveal themselves in all their glory.
How to grow
In order for adonis to please with a beautiful flowering, you must adhere to the watering regime. The soil after watering needs to be loosened. Also, the flower needs fertilization. The first top dressing consists of nitrogen and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, which are applied in early spring. Mineral elements at this stage contribute to the build-up of green mass.
After a couple of weeks, re-feeding is applied. Potassium and phosphorus are added to the soil, they are necessary for flowering. In autumn, organic matter is introduced into the soil.
Fertilization provides abundant flowering
How to water a plant
Adonis flowers are moisture-loving, with a lack of moisture they can die. For full growth and development, the plant needs regular watering. Waterlogging of the soil must not be allowed, the flower will die. Moistening is carried out when the topsoil dries up. If the summer is rainy, there is no need for watering. Loosening and weeding will be enough. During extreme heat, flowers should be watered systematically.
Reproduction of adonis
The plant is propagated in two ways - by seeds and by dividing the bush. The second method is rarely used. During division, the roots are damaged, the plant may die. When sowing, not all seeds germinate.
Flowers that are 4-5 years old are suitable for dividing. This method involves replanting bushes. If reproduction by dividing the bush is not planned, a flower transplant is necessary every 10 years. This breeding method is carried out in August or September. In the spring, reproduction is carried out before the beginning of the growing season.
Diseases and pests
Adonis is a poisonous plant and is practically not damaged by pests. The roots and leaves of the flower are not edible, the pests simply crush it. Even the seeds of Adonis are not attacked by insects. Also, the plant practically does not suffer from fungi and infections.
Among diseases, two ailments are common:
- gray rot. Occurs due to standing moisture. The root system starts to rot. The leaves become covered with a gray bloom, begin to dry and fall off. The affected part is carefully cut off, the cut sites are treated with wood ash;
- fusarium (fungal disease). The plant should be treated with benomil (foundationol).
Adonis after flowering
After the flower has faded, seed collection and preparation for wintering begin. Until the inflorescences have finally faded, they can be collected and dried for the preparation of medicinal raw materials.
Application in medicine
During flowering, Adonis serves not only as a decoration for a garden or a personal plot. In addition to decorative purposes, the flower is used in medicine. Raw materials from it contain many useful properties. Adonis treatment allows you to get rid of many diseases of the urinary system in the shortest possible time, helps with heart problems, lesions of the central nervous system. It is better to collect adonis on warm and sunny days, then the flowers will bring maximum benefit. Raw materials from adonis are contraindicated for gastritis and ulcers, hypertension.
Adonis flowers are used in folk medicine
Collecting seeds should begin when they are not yet fully ripe. Planting material is not stored for a long time; after collection, it must be immediately planted in the soil.
Preparing for winter
The adonis is a frost-resistant plant, therefore it does not need shelter. It is necessary to cover young seedlings. Peat, hay, and polystyrene are used as shelter. You can cover it with spruce branches. After the plant gets stronger (after about a year), it no longer needs shelter.
The adonis is a beautiful flower that is of great importance in medicine and landscape design. Combining adonis with other flowers can create delightful compositions.
