Godetia flowers - planting and care at home
Content:
Godetia flowers are an annual herb that is widespread throughout California. Such flowers are popular among flower growers, as they are unpretentious in care and are easy to grow. They also attract with their beauty and unforgettable aroma that emanates from the petals during flowering.
Short description
The godetia flower belongs to the Cyprus family. Moreover, the characteristics of the flower are very similar to those of plants from the genus Clarkia. The stem of the plant is erect. In its natural environment, it can grow up to 20-50 cm in height.
Godezia
The leaves on the bushes are oval in shape. The diameter of each leaf varies between 5-10 cm. The godetia flower has racemose inflorescences that bloom in the second half of spring. The petals are of different colors, which largely depends on the type of plant. In flower beds and gardens, bushes with red, peach, purple or orange flowers are most often seen.
Types and varieties
There are more than 20 varieties of godetia. However, only four of them are best suited for home growing.
Large-flowered
Large-flowered godetia fully lives up to its name. She has rather large oblong flowers. The petals of a large-flowered plant can be colored lilac, red and crimson. The bush is not very tall and only grows up to 40 cm, so it can be grown not only outdoors, but also in an apartment.
Common varieties of large-flowered godetia include:
- White Swan. A low-growing flower no more than 35 cm high. During flowering, snow-white petals are formed on the bush;
- York. This is a low-growing variety that is ideal for growing in an apartment or on a balcony. In late spring, York begins to bloom, flower buds with bright red petals appear on the plant;
- Rembrandt. Outwardly, this flower is very similar to the York variety. The only major difference is the height of the bushes, which can reach 45-50 cm.
Adorable
This is a medium-sized godetia, the cultivation of which can be carried out both in the open field and in an apartment. Bushes of this species grow up to 60 cm in height. In spring, double flowers appear on the plant, the diameter of which can reach 8 cm. They are collected in small racemose inflorescences of an oval shape.
Popular varieties of this type of godetia include:
- Crystal snowflake. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests. Also, the Crystal Snowflake perfectly tolerates frost, so it can be grown in the garden;
- Rosea. This flower is considered an excellent decoration for flower beds. At the end of spring, pink inflorescences appear on the bushes, which bloom for 2-3 months;
- Meteor. This variety looks very similar to the Rosea variety, as its petals are also colored pink. However, unlike the previous variety, Meteor's petals have a reddish tint.
Terry
Terry godetia is a hybrid species that cannot be found in natural conditions.
There are several hybrid terry varieties that are ideal for growing at home:
- Beauty. Godetia Beauty has medium-sized bushes up to 50 cm high. During flowering, they bloom with double flowers of a dark red hue;
- Ornage glory. These are low-growing flowers that are often grown in flower beds. Their distinctive feature is their bright orange buds that bloom in June;
- Summer paradise. Cultivation of summer paradise godetia can be practiced both indoors and outdoors. The variety is resistant to low temperatures, so the planted flowers hibernate in the open field without any problems.
Azalea flower
For outdoor cultivation, it is best to use azalea godetia. This type of flowers is considered the most frost-resistant. It is able to withstand even severe winter frosts.
Azalea flowering godetia
Landing
There are two main ways of planting a flower, which are most often used by flower growers.
Godetia from seed: growing
Before you start growing godetia from seeds, you need to figure out when to plant it and how to do it correctly.
To grow flowers with early flowering, planting seeds should be done no later than the first half of April. For growing flower seedlings, you can use small peat pots or short plastic boxes.
Seeds are planted in holes 1-2 cm deep. Within two weeks after planting, seedlings should be watered daily. When the godetia seedlings have two true leaves, they are transplanted into open ground.
Winter planting
This planting method is only suitable for regions where there is a lot of snow in winter. At the same time, the air temperature should not fall below −20 ° С.
Care features
So that the planted flowers do not hurt and bloom on time, you need to take proper care of them.
Watering
It is a moisture-loving plant that needs to be watered regularly. In the spring, watered no more than three times a week. In summer, watering should be intensified, since at this time the godetia blooms and begins to consume more moisture. Starting in June, flowers are watered every other day.
Watering the crop requires abundant
Top dressing
If the planted flowers do not start to bloom, then they do not have enough nutrients. You need to feed the godetia at least twice a season - in spring and summer. At the end of spring, when flower buds begin to form on the bushes, mineral dressings are added to the soil.
In summer, more manure, bird droppings and other organic fertilizers are added to the soil, which prolong flowering.
Formation
Flower shrubs should be pinched every month. Thanks to this, the plant begins to look more neat and also begins to bloom longer. During the formation of the bushes, dried flowers and yellowed leaves are removed.
Pinching must be carried out constantly
Weeding and loosening
The soil near the bushes should be weeded regularly to get rid of the weeds. Even if there is no weed, the soil must be loosened. This is done after rains or watering.
Possible problems
When growing godetia, growers can face several unpleasant problems.
Diseases
Most often, flowers suffer from the following diseases:
- root rot. The development of this pathology leads to drying of the foliage and rotting of the root system. It is impossible to cure root rot, so the infected plant is dug up and burned;
- powdery mildew. Powdery mildew infection of the bushes is evidenced by a white bloom on the leaf blades. All infected plants must be treated with fungicidal agents;
- peronosporosis. The disease manifests itself as a yellow spot on the foliage. Previcur and oxychom will help to overcome peronosporosis.
Pests
The only dangerous pest that often attacks godetia is aphids. This insect feeds on sap from the foliage, which is why it begins to gradually fade. You can get rid of aphids with insecticidal preparations, as well as mixtures of tobacco and wood ash.
Aphids are the main enemy of flowers
Godetia is a beautiful flower that is often used to decorate flower beds and garden plots. People who seriously decide to start growing this crop should familiarize themselves in advance with the peculiarities of planting and caring for godetia.
