Perennial musk mallow - planting and care
Content:
If not for the wonderful aroma and tenderness of the petals, mallow could be considered a weed. Moreover, it can be found in nature in various places. Birds or a favorable wind often throw mallow seeds into private property. If you look closely, this flower can serve as a decoration for any area. The bushes are quite compact, the flowering is violent and long. The plant leaves with buds in the winter.
Description of the plant
Musk mallow (Malva) is a herbaceous perennial plant. It grows to a height of no more than 1 m. The culture got its name due to the musky smell of flowers.
What does musk mallow look like?
The stems of the bush are densely branched. The entire surface of the mallow is covered with fine hairs, including the seamy side of the leaf. The latter are oval in shape and are attached to the stem on elongated petioles. Along the peduncle, the buds are single, and the crown is crowned with an inflorescence of three flowers.
Pearl pink or dazzling white petals in a three-lobed calyx. For his snow-white outfit, he is sometimes called the mallow white bride. The opened bud reaches 5 cm in diameter.
The fruits of culture are also interesting. They look like a wheel of 15-20 seeds around the middle-cone.
Growing mallow from seeds
When growing a plant from seeds, there is always a danger of getting a specimen that does not look like the parent bush. Often the characteristics of wild-growing ancestors take over. But many gardeners like this method of getting new shrubs.
Sowing
Seeds are sown in 3-4 pieces. in one hole. The depth of the planting hole should not be more than 1 cm.The distance between the holes is maintained at 30-45 cm.
Musk mallow seeds
For sowing mallow, the best time is May. Seeds hatch in 18-24 days.
For autumn sowing, the depth of the holes is 3-4 cm. It is required to protect the crops from frost.
Seedling care
The germination of mallow seedlings begins at the end of winter. Step by step description of the procedure:
- Prepare containers with nutrient mixture.
- Put seeds in shallow holes and sprinkle with earth.
- Moisten the soil.
- Cover with foil.
- Provide a temperature regime from 18 ° C to 20 ° C.
- Monitor soil moisture.
On the 8-10th day of planting, you should start hardening. After the appearance of three real leaves, they can (but not desirable) dive.
Planting mallow in open ground
In open ground, mallow is planted in the form of rooted cuttings.
The soil for planting should be rich in organic matter and loose. To avoid stagnation of water, a well-drained area is allocated for planting.
Up to half a meter of distance is left between the future bushes. The seedlings are planted one at a time.
When to plant
Rooted cuttings can be planted outdoors until mid-summer. Before winter, the young plant will have time to adapt and take root well.
Seeds can be sown in early spring and before winter. Autumn sowing requires shelter for the winter. Dry leaves, spruce branches, straw, etc. will do.
How and where to plant
It is very important to plant a plant with a strong root system. Best of all with an intact clod of earth. In this respect, it is difficult to replant mature plants. Its taproot is rather long.
For abundant flowering and optimal decorativeness, it is advisable to plant mallow in a place protected from the winds.
Caring for mallow in the garden
Perennial nutmeg purifies the air in the environment. At the same time, it requires a person to enrich the soil.
Therefore, the flower needs to be looked after, that is, fertilized, watered and weeded. Ideally, it is enough to feed the bushes every three weeks. The main thing is that the complex includes:
- potassium;
- nitrogen;
- phosphorus.
In the spring, it will not hurt to scatter humus over the flower bed.
The systematic removal of wilted buds and leaves will increase the decorative effect of the bush and will prevent diseases and pests.
Before freezing, the mallow is trimmed to the root. In order to avoid freezing of the roots, the area with mallow can be densely mulched (with straw, sawdust, leaves, compost).
How to water a plant
Watering frequency depends on weather conditions. In hot weather, it is recommended to water 2-3 times a week. In normal weather, sufficient weekly irrigation.
The water should be kept warm. Watering is done at the root of the plant.
For good aeration of the root system, watering should be combined with loosening and weeding (at least once).
Reproduction
Mallow reproduces well by cuttings. For germination, the twigs should be planted in the ground.
Mallow cuttings
Planting material is cut from the middle of a healthy stem. For this, late spring and summer are suitable.
For seedlings, you can use ready-made soil or prepare it yourself. A mixture of turf and peat (humus) works best.
With regular watering, the cuttings will soon take root. This can be understood by the external manifestations of the seedling: it does not wither, but starts growing.
In a permanent place, the bride mallow is planted with a lump of earth.
Diseases and pests
Mallow is protected from infection by fungal diseases by the phytoncides it produces. But with improper care or adverse weather conditions, protection is weakened.
A weakened plant is attacked by all kinds of fungal diseases:
- spotting;
- powdery mildew;
- leaf rust;
- stem cancer;
- mosaic virus.
In low lesions, diseased parts can be torn off and disposed of. Severe lesions are treated with such drugs:
- trichodermin;
- phyto-doctor;
- mycosan-V.
Aphids and spider mites are also dangerous for mallow. Insecticides will help from them:
- fitoverm;
- kinmix;
- fufanon.
Flowering and care during this period
Nutmeg mallow begins to bloom in early June and continues until the very frost. During this period, the plant needs feeding and regular watering. The essential elements during this period are potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. In order not to spoil the decorative appearance of the bush, wilted buds must be removed. Also, experts advise to inspect the plantings for pests and infectious diseases.
Pink mallow
How and when to collect seeds
New plants usually appear self-seeding, which can disrupt the layout of the flower garden. Therefore, without waiting for this, you should collect the ripe seeds in advance. The readiness of the seed pods can be understood by their color change to yellow. Next, you need to cut off the seed pods, pull the seeds out of them.
Preparation for wintering
The plant in the garden can hibernate without shelter. Before the first frost, the used stems are cut out. Trimmed shoots can be left in the flowerbed until spring. They will serve as some guarantee in severe frosts and will help keep snow over the landings (additional shelter). Moreover, in the spring, excess moisture will not hurt.
Mallow in landscape design
The plant is often used in landscaping, especially in a rustic style. Mallow looks great as the central figure of a flower garden, and for zoning individual areas. A flower bed consisting of different varieties of mallow looks very harmonious. The musky bush is combined with delphiniums, dahlias, marigolds. With them, the mallow will make a composition that blooms until the very frost.
Flowerbed of mallow
Experienced gardeners decorate fences, walls of houses and other buildings with them.
If you follow the simple rules, musk mallow will grow well in any area. She will delight with lush flowering and delicate scent of musk until the frost.
