Bright glazing: how to properly grow an exotic plant. Gatzania - African chamomile, growing from seeds. When to plant seedlings

Gatzania is a low plant that attracts gardeners bright bloom. This begs the question: gazania growing from seeds at home difficult or not? If you follow our advice, then this amazing perennial flower long time will decorate the site.

How to grow gazania outdoors

By appearance gazania resembles chamomile, while leaves with back side many species are covered with gray down. The birthplace of gazania is Africa, so it loves a warm climate. Flowers bloom in sunny days, so the plant was called "midday gold". The Talent species is popular as the inflorescences remain open at any time of the day.

If you decide to plant gazania in open ground, then you will have to pre-grow seedlings from seeds. This is due to the fact that the seeds germinate for a long time. For this you need to prepare big boxes, fill them with soil with sand and gravel. Loosen the ground, and then pour it with a solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect. At a distance of 3 cm from each other, plant the seeds one by one in a checkerboard pattern and sprinkle them lightly with earth. It is important to provide good lighting, an ordinary fluorescent lamp is suitable for this.

It is best to plant gazania in March or April, then in May you will have good seedlings this flower. Seedlings will need to be transplanted carefully in open ground. Try to maintain a distance between seedlings of about 20 cm.

Choose sunny place in the garden, as it is a sun-loving plant. It is not afraid of wind and temperature changes. There is enough natural rainfall for him, so you don’t have to worry. In addition, gazania gets along well with other plants in the garden, so it is suitable for a flower bed that blooms all summer.

This African chamomile looks beautiful in flowerpots and flowerpots, so it will decorate not only your garden, but also a balcony. From June to September, gazania will delight you with pleasant flowering.

Diseases and pests of gazania

Although this flower is quite unpretentious, however, you still have to protect it from pests such as aphids. To do this, plant onions and garlic next to the yellow chamomile. Bordeaux liquid will help get rid of gray rot, which damages the foliage of the plant. Insecticides can help spider mite, and snails and slugs will have to be removed manually.

Even after the onset of cold weather, gazania will delight with flowering, so you can transplant it and bring it into the house. For winter bloom This chamomile needs good lighting and regular watering.

What to do if gazania does not bloom

1. Bad light. Even the shade of trees growing nearby can cause this flower to not bloom. It is advisable to choose an open sunny place.
2. Overwatering. Gatsania has enough natural rainfall.
3. late boarding. Try not to plant seeds immediately in the ground, it is better to grow seedlings. The time from planting seeds to flowering is up to 100 days, so gazania may simply not have time to bloom before frost if you planted it late.

You can grow yellow African chamomile gatzania if you follow the specifics of caring for it. different flowers decorate your flower bed and bring zest to landscape design. Try to grow a gazania and surprise others with a new yellow chamomile.

If you are interested in how growing gazania from seeds at home, then most likely you have seen this gorgeous flower. If you have only heard about its beauty, then we hasten to assure you that it can become a real decoration of your site, balcony or terrace. We have access to the cultivation of about 50 varieties of gazania, the main difference of which is the color.

This representative of the genus Asteraceae reaches a height of about 30 cm. The flowers are similar to daisies, only brightly colored. AT natural places habitat - in Africa - gazania grows like a perennial. In our latitudes, the favorite way to grow a flower is to plant seeds annually. Our site will tell you more about this today.

Ways to grow gazania

Gardeners have different approaches to growing this African plant:

Like an annual. This is the most common approach in our latitudes. Seeds are sown in winter for seedlings, and then planted in spring in a permanent place. So the plant will bloom in early summer and will delight the eye with bright flowers until the first frost.
Like a perennial. This becomes possible only if the gazania is transferred to the shelter for the winter. After digging up the plants and planting them in pots, you can continue to grow them at home. True, they will not bloom in winter. In spring, the plants are again carefully transferred to open ground. When transplanting roots, you should be extremely careful. With the help of gazania, planted in pots, they decorate balconies and terraces, and some devoted lovers of this plant grow them even on windows. The main condition is a lot of light and a temperature above 10 ° C.

Gatzania can be grown outdoors and in pots on the balcony or at home.

We sow seeds - we grow gazania at home

In our latitudes, the cultivation of gazania begins only at home. Why? The fact is that it develops for a very long time - 4 months can pass from sowing seeds to the beginning of flowering. In view of this, to see beautiful flowers summer, sowing should be carried out in winter.

Gatsania is not afraid of small frosts (up to -7 ° C), therefore, on open area in warm regions, it can be safely planted at the end of April. To do this, you need to sow the seeds in January. February seedlings can be planted in late spring. If you decide to leave the gazania to grow at home, place it in the sunniest window or balcony. Move flowerpots to the open air no earlier than April.

Gatsania grows for a long time, so seedlings are grown at home first

For planting gazania seeds, it is best to use peat tablets or pots. So it will be possible to avoid damage to the roots and, as a result, slowing down the growth of the plant. If it is still decided to plant in a common container, then tiny seeds should be placed at a distance of 3 cm from each other (preferably in a checkerboard pattern). It is not necessary to deepen the seeds strongly, it is enough to sprinkle 1 cm of soil. Top soil must be sprayed warm water from a spray bottle.

Now the planted seeds need to be covered with an airtight transparent material thus creating a micro-greenhouse. Now it remains to do the following: make sure that the air temperature does not fall below 18 ° C, regularly moisten the soil, ventilate the greenhouse, remove the resulting condensate and wait.

Taking care of seedlings

After about two weeks, small green sprouts will appear. Now they need a lot of light, and on the contrary, it is desirable to lower the temperature to 16 ° C so that the seedlings do not turn out thin and high. Be sure to use good artificial lighting, which will help plants gain strength on gloomy winter days.

The picking of seedlings (in the case of growing in a common container) is carried out until the first true leaf is formed. Before planting in open ground, it is necessary to expose the plant to the street for several days for hardening or to ventilate the room well.

Sprouts appear two weeks after sowing seeds

We transplant gazania without risks

Gatsania has a well developed root system, so the bushes should not be placed too close to each other. Leave a distance of at least 20 cm. If you intend to grow flowers in flowerpots, then make sure that the containers are spacious enough and have drainage holes. The soil should contain a high percentage of peat. Place a layer of drainage at the bottom.

Because he can't stand the gossip severe frosts, for the winter it must be taken indoors, otherwise the plant will disappear. In order for it to please with lush greenery, the temperature must be at least 10 ° C and it is imperative to provide additional illumination. Some plant varieties can be successfully transplanted into open ground after wintering at home.

In winter, the flower does not need any special care. Watering, loosening and an abundance of light is all he needs. low temperatures and drafts should not be allowed. Fertilize the plant in winter is not worth it.

We take care of the hotsaniye correctly

by the most important conditions for gazing are:

light soil,
good lighting,
adequate moisture,
loosening and weeding.

If the soil is not nutritious enough, then you need to take extra care of top dressing. It will be enough to carry them out once a month, using special mineral fertilizers for flowering plants. In essence, caring for gazania is quite simple and everyone can do it.

In our latitudes, only one way allows you to admire the delightful bright "daisies" - growing gazania from seeds at home. Since from the moment of planting to flowering takes from 3 to 4 months, sowing must be carried out in winter. Gatsania is not whimsical at all, but very elegant. Her appearance is always uplifting. Make it your decor personal plot, terraces, balconies or houses, and good mood you are guaranteed!

The Aster family has in its arsenal a wonderful plant called gazania or gazania. Popularly, it is often called the African chamomile or midday sun, because it bright flowers open at noon. It was brought to Europe from Mozambique. Cultivation of culture is carried out not only as an annual, but also as a perennial crop.

Today we will take a closer look at the process of planting this plant in open ground, its features, and tell you how to properly care for it. After that, you can independently grow amazing gazania on your site, filling it with colorful splashes and spectacular touches.

Gazania: varieties and varieties

Gazania grows only 30 cm in height. It has very dense leaves of dark green or grayish color, which serve as a kind of protection from the cold, and in hot weather help retain moisture. Bright, sunny flowers ghazani is difficult to confuse with others. They are characterized by orange, yellow, red tones with a darkened area near the base. One plant can have up to 30 inflorescences. You can see the magnificent gazing in the photo.

Gazania looks great in mono plantings

Charming African chamomile today has approximately 40 species. Consider the most famous of them.

In addition, one-flowered, feathery and hybrid glazing are also distinguished. A hybrid look is obtained by crossing a harsh (shiny) and long-shooter. It is more resistant to various climatic factors and diseases. Most famous varieties hybrid gazania:

Planting and plant care

You can’t even imagine what pleasure a perennial or annual gazania grown with your own hands will bring to you. Planting and caring for her is quite simple, and their result will be a fantastic abundant flowering.

Landing is best done in late May - early June, when the last night frosts have passed. Choose a sunny area with light and fertile soil for gazania. The plant easily tolerates drought, so do not be afraid to get direct sunlight on it.

Be careful when transplanting gazania into open ground: the root system of the culture is very delicate

In open ground, seedlings should be transplanted with pots or earthy clod so as not to damage the root system. The distance between plantings should be about 20 cm. Gazania blooms from early summer until winter.

Attention! Gatzania does not tolerate excessive moisture. Do not fill it with water, as this will lead to decay of the plant. In this case, it is worth providing her with a good drainage system.

This is unique plant it will also endure the first autumn night frosts quite steadfastly, if they are replaced by warm sunny days.

Do not forget to loosen the soil in a timely manner, remove weeds that interfere with the normal development of the plant, and also remove wilted inflorescences. The process of mulching the soil will help retain moisture during the drought period and will prevent rapid growth weeds.

So that the plant optimally consumes moisture - mulch the soil around it

If you want to grow a crop as an annual, then after flowering, the remains of the vegetation can simply be destroyed. To try and save the gazania until next year, flowering bushes must be carefully dug up, transplanted into boxes and stored at a temperature of about 10 degrees. Remember to provide them with good lighting and moderate watering. Cut the shoots in half. In the spring, the bushes are again planted in the ground.

Reproduction and feeding of gazania

Propagate stunning gazania by seed or vegetative method.

The plant blooms after 3-4 months from the moment the first shoots appear. The seeds themselves can remain viable for up to 2 years. They are sown individually, at a distance of about 3 cm from each other. From above, the seeds are sprinkled with a small layer of soil, sprinkled with water and covered with a transparent film.

Gazania seeds

A container with seedlings should be stored in a bright place at a temperature of 20 degrees. Don't forget to ventilate the landing regularly. The first shoots will appear in 1-2 weeks. To keep the root system intact, it is best to grow seedlings in peat cups. Transplantation into open ground is carried out only in May-June.

Advice. When the first 4 leaves appear, lower the room temperature to 16 degrees. This will contribute to a more active development of plants.

In July you can propagation of gazania by cuttings. For this sharp knife cut off parts of the stem with a heel, their length should be no more than 10 cm. The bottom sheet is removed, and the cut is powdered with root. After that, the cuttings are planted in containers with soil, watered and covered with a film. In March, the bushes are planted in the ground or in a large flowerpot in a permanent place.

Gazania propagation by cuttings

Gazania grown on fertile soil will require top dressing only once a month with a solution mineral fertilizer. Stony and heavy soil will need to be fed about 2 times in 1 month.

Dangerous diseases and pests

These plants can be attacked by dangerous pests and diseases only in case of improper or untimely care. For example, gazania can be affected by gray rot. Then diseased plants are removed, and the rest are treated with phytosporin.

Most dangerous pests for gazania are snails, aphids and spider mites. They fight against aphids with the help of phytoverm, acarin, against the tick - fufanon, ditox. Snails must be collected by hand.

Gazania in the garden

Combination with other plants and use in landscape design

The breathtaking flowering of undersized ghazania often adorns the original alpine slides. They are also used for landscaping borders, various discounts. They look especially attractive in combination with other plants, namely: with ursinia, lobelia, dimorphoteks, arctotis, iberis, blue ageratums, venidiums, etc. Successful application gotsany can be viewed in the following photos.

How to plant gazania: video

Gazania: photo

The family of aster flowers has about 40 species. Gazania or gazania stands out for its beauty from all asters. The birthplace of the flower is Mozambique, South African countries. Many people call the flower African daisy. Gatzania can be found on the dune-covered coast of Australia. Gatsania came to Europe in the 17th century.

People dedicated it to one Italian priest - Theodor von Gas. He did a great job, he devoted his life to translating the works of Theophrastus and Aristotle. Gazania blooms in the hot sun at noon, attracting with its golden color. In the west of Europe, it was called "midday gold". At night, the African chamomile closes, sleeps.

Description of glazing

Gatzania is annual and, the stem rarely grows more than 30 centimeters, sometimes it does not grow at all. root leaves form a socket. The flower is distinguished by dense leaves, rich green, sometimes they have a gray-green tint. The shape of the leaves may vary, it depends on the variety. On the inside leaves have villi that protect against cold and dehydration. Therefore, gazania will endure drought. The hot homeland makes itself felt, the flower will pass the test of intense heat and lack of water.

The flower basket has a diameter of 5-9 cm. The color range of flowers varies from yellow, orange to red. The base of each plant has contrasting spots. The middle is covered with many tubular flowers of yellow hues. After flowering, the hairy achene makes it possible to breed. Seeds can be planted again.

Growing gazania from seeds at home and in open ground

Many beginner gardeners are interested in growing African chamomile. They are interested in how to achieve marvelous flowering. The secret is simple, let's try to figure it out.

If we sow in the ground

Gazania flower in the ground Photo of shoots from seeds sown before winter

• When sowing gazania seeds in spring are taken into account climatic conditions. Cool climate, late spring prevents early landing. But as soon as the soil is ripe, you can safely sow: the plants will sprout only when they are created. favorable conditions.
• Seeds can be sown before winter with the expectation that they will not have time to ascend. It could be the end of October or the beginning of November. It is better to mulch the bed with fallen leaves, which also protect the seeds from frost. In the spring, the seeds will sprout as soon as the earth warms up.

Before sowing, the bed is carefully leveled, even grooves are made about 5 cm deep and they try to sow as rarely as possible. Later it will be possible to thin out if it still turns out thick. Row spacing is 20-25 cm if you don't repot plants. After thinning the bushes in a row, we also maintain a distance of 20-25 cm.

If the bed is planned as a nursery, you can make grooves every 8-10 cm and leave a distance of 5-6 cm in a row. When the seedlings rise, they are watered and pulled out with a clod of earth. You can use a garden shovel and carefully dig up the plants for transplanting.

If we grow seedlings at home

Optimal time for sowing seeds for seedlings - mid-March or early April. Containers for planting should be deep enough. The roots need to be given space.

• • Gatzania does not tolerate heavy soil. It is necessary to choose a light substrate that passes water well. The acidity index is 5.5-6.5.
  • Seeds are rarely sown (2-4 cm between them), the embedment depth is only 0.5-1 cm, otherwise they will not germinate.
  • To make the task easier, imagine that a piece of land is Chess board. Arrange the gazania seeds like chess, keeping the distance between them - 2-3 centimeters. Just put the seeds, sprinkle with earth.

• The spray gun will help moisten the crop: there will be no excess moisture, and the water will evenly moisten the entire surface.
• The air temperature should be at least 18-20 degrees.
• It is better to cover the seeds with a film, providing sufficient moisture. But the film must be opened daily. It is necessary to remove the condensate that forms under the film.
• Sprouts appear in 7-14 days.
• We remove the shelter, water it as the earth dries up, excess moisture is not needed.
• Thick seedlings can be pricked into separate cups when 2-3 true leaves appear. You can help yourself with an ordinary fork or a toothpick.
• A week before landing, leaving them outside for a short time at first, and gradually increasing the interval to a full day.

In general, growing seedlings of gazania is not a difficult matter, it is enough just to carry out timely watering. Diligent flower growers can show extra attention and feed the seedlings 1-2 times before planting in the ground, after 10-12 days at least.

How to sow gazania for seedlings, the video will tell:

Perhaps the laziest grower and inexperienced beginner can easily cope with such a simple task as growing gazania. At the same time, you will get an excellent planting material and a stunning perennial that can decorate any corner of the garden, make it bright and fantastically attractive.

Surprisingly, many flower growers cannot part with their favorite flower and grow it on the windowsill, decorate balconies with it in summer. There are also annuals specifically designed for this purpose.

Gazania seedling care

Gazania flower hybrid photo seedlings Growing from seeds When to plant gazania in open ground

If the gazania seedlings are in a deep container, picking is not needed. A shallow container will not give freedom to the roots. You need to wait for the fourth leaf to appear, plant the plants in separate disposable containers. Before planting seedlings in the ground, it is necessary to support it for some time at home. Young shoots can be on a closed loggia, at a temperature of 12-16 degrees. Start hardening the plants by opening the window for a few minutes. Avoid drafts. Hardening has a beneficial effect, the plant becomes strong. When you plant a gazania in a garden plot or flower bed, the seedlings will not die from the cold.

Planting gazania in open ground

Wait warm weather when you are sure that the last frosts are behind, only then plant with gazane. The optimal planting time is mid-spring. These flowers love the sun's rays, it is better to plant them in an open area. The soil must be sufficiently nutritious. Gatzania is not afraid of heat and will feel great even if a drought occurs.

• A peat pot with gazania seedlings is planted immediately in the ground.
• Seedlings in a box must be removed along with the root with a scoop, planted in the ground.
• Try not to damage the root system.
• Observe the distance between the bushes - 20 cm.
• Seedlings need 3 months to grow, and they will delight you with beautiful flowers.

Caring for African Chamomile Gazania

• This flower will not require special care. The soil is nutritious, well-drained, the sun's rays will give the plant vitality.
• A cold snap is not a cause for concern, gazania will withstand a slight frost of -5 ... -7 C.
• The soil where gazania grows needs to be loosened, weeds, dried inflorescences removed.
• To avoid problems with weeds, drought, the soil can be mulched.
• Even the most fertile soil cannot provide the flower with enough nutrients. Therefore, you will have to feed once a month. With poor soil, it is necessary to feed the plant every 2-3 weeks. For feeding you need to take a mineral complex fertilizer. 25 grams is enough for 1 square meter.

Bloom

After sowing seeds, after 3 months, wait for flowering. With a timely landing, this will happen in June. The plant will delight with its beautiful flowers until November. Life cycle one basket is about 3 weeks. At night, when it rains, the gate closes. Gatzania will not bloom if sunlight not enough. With an excess of moisture, a late transplant of gazania may also not open. Having provided optimal conditions, you will enjoy the beautiful, numerous flowers. But if the conditions are bad, you won't get flowers.

How to propagate gazania cuttings

Cuttings can be cut in any convenient time: it can be summer, autumn or even winter, when the gazania is in the house for the winter.

• We cut the cuttings 10-12 cm long, remove the leaves at the bottom of the trunk, dip the roots into the powder and “plant” them in a nutrient soil mixture.
• Support for rooting high humidity soil.
• After about a month and a half, the cuttings will give roots and begin to grow. After two or three months they will be ready for landing in the ground.

Diseases and pests

Although gazania is not very susceptible to diseases, they sometimes happen. In poor conditions, the plant becomes weak, can get sick with gray rot. Fitosporin helps to defeat the disease. Healthy parts of the plant are lubricated, the sick are simply removed.

Snails, spider mites, aphids harm gazania, the use of certain means will help get rid of misfortunes. You just need to clean the snails with your hands, destroy the aphids with a phyto-farm or acarin. Actellik, Fufanon, Ditoxom preparations will get rid of spider mites.

Seed collection

Gatsania rarely survives to bear fruit, as summer ends quickly in our area. But if the summer is hot and long, then it is quite possible to wait for the seeds. Unfortunately, the seeds of hybrid plants do not retain species characteristics. And on our garden plots mostly hybrid varieties.

Ripe seeds can fly away from gusts of wind, like dandelions. If you want to collect seeds from varietal plants, then protect the flower from the wind by wrapping it with gauze. When you see the appearance of a light fluff, tear off the basket and leave to ripen for a couple of weeks in a dark, dry place. It is recommended to store the seeds in a cotton bag or paper bag, always at a temperature not higher than 22-24 ° C. But it is better where it is very cool: 15-18 ° С. high humidity is not allowed.

wintering gazagna

Usually, after flowering, the remains of gazania are simply cut off and thrown away, and on next year and start all over again. There is no need to prepare seeds, sow, wait for good weather. An old plant is able to bloom again, delight with its beauty next year. To do this, it can be dug up and transplanted into a pot.

Then the glazing should be transferred to a cool room, where the temperature does not drop to 8-10. There should be enough light in this room so that the gazania can develop further. A sleeping plant must be watered, the earth should not dry out. In the spring, you can re-plant the gazane in a flower bed. New, newly appeared shoots, while you need to cut off to half.

New plants are obtained from the trimmed gazania, it is enough to simply lower them into the water until the roots appear, or simply plant them immediately in the nutrient mixture, providing abundant watering. In winter, gazania can be cut off and new full-fledged seedlings can be obtained by spring.

Types and varieties of gazania with photos and descriptions

Gazania long shooter Gazania longiscapa

Able to bloom for only one year. This gazania does not grow more than 15-20 cm. Near the roots are whole-cut leaves of bright green color. They usually go down. In the basket you can find many tubular and reed flowers. The flowers themselves have a bright yellow color, but their base is brown.

Gazania harsh Gazania rigens, or shiny - Gazania splendens

Grows up to 30 centimeters. Baskets of Gazania rigens can be up to 6 centimeters in diameter. The flowers can be tubular, blood black, and reed, ranging in color from yellow to red. At the base, as expected, are dark spots. The leaves may be entire or pinnatipartite.

Gazania pottsii Gazania pottsii

It strongly resembles a harsh one, but has a larger size. The diameter of the basket is about 12 centimeters.

Peacock Gazania Gazania pavonia

The leaves of this species are different from those of the other gatzans listed above - they are narrow and long. The diameter of the basket is 8 centimeters. The middle consists of only tubular flowers, the base is dark, and at the edges there are reed flowers of yellow hues.

When crossing some plant species, breeders were able to get a snow-white, pinnate, hybrid, single-flowered gazania. can please with its flowering even in bad weather, when there is no sun at all.

Gazania hybrid

Hybrid varieties that are popular with gardeners:
Daybreak Red Stripe - yellow flowers, characterized by stripes of a red hue, blooming full daylight hours;
Talent - a mixture that gives beautiful flowers, leaves all sunny day;
Ministar - gives flowers of yellow and white color with special beauty.

Gazania (Gazania), gazania or African chamomile - refer to the type of aster. Named after the Greek humanist Theodore Gaza. In this article, we will analyze the following topic: gazania growing from seeds when planted in the ground.

Gazania flowers description, photo

African chamomile is very beautiful and relatively unpretentious in care. He loves sunny weather, is not afraid of even direct sun rays resistant to drying out of the soil. Fits well in northern latitudes can tolerate light frosts. Has not big size, the height of the stem does not exceed 30 centimeters.

Inflorescences have a diameter of 5-9 centimeters. It was brought to Europe from South Africa in the 17th century. Differs in bright color. Blooms from spring to late autumn. Grows in dry areas. But the tap root system allows you to extract moisture from the depths, and dark green dense leaves retain it on the surface of the earth.

In its homeland - Mozambique and South Africa, it is a perennial plant, and in our country, due to intolerance to severe cold weather, it is an annual. In order to protect it from severe frosts, it is transplanted into pots, boxes, flowerpots. Store in rooms with heating. It is also called the "midday sun". It got its name for its bright color. About forty varieties are distinguished in the world, here are some of them:

• one-flowered;
• pinnate;
• peacock;
• snow white;
• long-range;
• shiny or hard.

After crossing the harsh and other species, botanists breeders bred hybrid species that reach a height of 15-25 centimeters and have a variety of color baskets: red, orange, white, pink, even two-tone.

Plant propagation methods

Propagated by seeds and cuttings. In the first case, the fruits are harvested on their own or purchased from a trusted supplier. Reproduction using cuttings allows you to save the properties of the flower.

Important! Some types of gazania, for example, terry, reproduce only vegetatively.

Gazania cuttings

Harvesting cuttings produced from mid-summer. For this, young, healthy shoots are taken with a slight thickening at the base of the outlet, no more than ten centimeters in size.

The bottommost leaf is removed, and the cut is processed special means that stimulates root growth. The stalk is located in a pot, no more than ten centimeters in diameter, watered and covered with a large bag, so as to create the effect of a greenhouse.

The cutting needs careful care, it is located in a bright place, a heated room, but away from direct sunlight.

The stalk takes root for more than a month. Planted in a flower bed by mid-May. If the temperature is not kept high, then they are transplanted into humus-peat pots.

Growing gazania from seeds

As a rule, the first buds, depending on the species, appear after 2.5-3.5 months. Accordingly, it is necessary to prepare for sowing from mid-March. Neither early nor late boarding. Since it is carried out early, it will require additional lighting with phytolamps, and if it is late, it may not bloom at all.

Necessary conditions for growing seeds

Before sowing seedlings, you need to take care of favorable conditions. Gazania has a tap root system and a deep box is chosen for planting so that the root grows straight.

The composition of the soil plays big role. Therefore, before buying it is worth studying the composition. It should be nutritious and loose, containing useful substances, necessary seedlings. You can make your own soil mix. You will have to prepare humus, sand, peat and sod in advance.

Attention! Drainage maintenance is a must. It will help to remove excess moisture and prevent oversaturation.

The temperature of the room in which the seedling box will be kept should not fall below 20 degrees Celsius.

What containers are needed for sowing

For planting, it is worth choosing deep boxes, pots, flowerpots. This is necessary so that the root grows vertically, without bending. Alternatively, trays with individual cells can be used. This is convenient because each plant sprouts in its own section. A pick from a box with sections is carried out after a month and a half.

When gazania is used as perennial, it is not necessary to transplant it into the garden. To do this, you can use flowerpots. They will create an imitation of a garden flower bed.

Soil for growing seeds

The prepared soil should be loose and nutritious with an acidity index of 6 Ph. Gazania does not tolerate clay and dense soil, as water is retained in it. Therefore, the earth must pass moisture well. To avoid a large accumulation of it, drainage should be added.

Attention! If there are not enough nutrients in the soil, this will delay the development of the sprout and its germination may also suffer. Therefore, top dressing is carried out 2 times in 30 days.

Preparing seeds for sowing

In most cases no preparation is needed. But some gardeners prefer to soak them first in plain water, then in growth stimulants. But it is quite enough to place it in moistened soil or a peat tablet.

When to plant seedlings

The sprouts are photophilous, therefore, the best time planting - mid-March, April. A humus-peat mixture is specially prepared. Best to use individual containers for each grain, so as not to damage the root in the future. When the manipulation was done earlier or the spring is not sunny enough, an ultraviolet lamp is used for good germination.

Seeding technology

Usually deep trays are used during sowing. The soil mixture is poured into the prepared container, moistened well, grooves are made. The distance between the grains should be 2-3 centimeters. Before spraying with water, the grains are sprinkled with a small amount of earth.

A box with future sprouts is covered with a transparent film to get a greenhouse. Until the shoots appear makeshift greenhouse it is necessary to ventilate, remove the accumulated condensate on the film. After the appearance of sprouts, they must dive into different pots.

Attention! The main thing is not to forget about breeding seedlings in peat tablets. It is very convenient and allows you to do without transplantation. At the same time, there is no risk of damaging the root system.

Peat tablets are used as follows:

1. It is necessary to prepare a deep container where the tablets will be laid out.
2. In order for the tablets to swell, water of 40-45 degrees Celsius is poured into the container.
3. Within a few minutes, the tablets will increase in size by 5-6 times. After that, the grains are immersed in specially prepared recesses.
4. When the manipulations are done, the container is covered cling film and placed on a sunny windowsill.

Thanks to peat tablets, the sprouts do not need further diving, but are planted immediately on the prepared bed.

Seedling care

In order for the gazania to bloom earlier, it is planted at the end of winter, but then the seedlings need to be illuminated. Usually, at a temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius, the first shoots appear within about two weeks. Seedlings are recommended to be grown in a house with a temperature of at least 15 degrees Celsius.

seedling care

After picking, fertilize every 10 days. Do not overmoisten the soil, this will lead to the death of seedlings. The temperature of the room in which the young animals are kept should not fall below 20 degrees.

When to dive seedlings

Usually the picking of seedlings is carried out one and a half months after germination. But the sooner the picking into separate containers is carried out, the better. This will help in the future to avoid injury to the root system.

When humus-peat containers or peat tablets were used for cultivation, picking is done directly on open areas.

hardening

An adult plant can tolerate light frosts, but young ones do not have such qualities. Consequently, they are hardened to get used to the temperature outside. At the beginning, open a window or window, without creating a draft. Then they take it out to a cool balcony or veranda. After hardening, planted in the garden.

When to plant seedlings in open ground

As a rule, flowering proceeds from early summer to late autumn. Transplantation in open areas is carried out in mid-May, early June. The sunniest area is allocated for landing. It is pre-fertilized and irrigated with water. Bushes are planted at a distance of 20-25 centimeters from each other.

How seedlings are planted

When the site is selected, proceed to the transplant. But before that, it is recommended to add to the humus, creating favorable conditions for growth. If peat tablets were used for breeding, then she is planted in a flower bed with them. The sequence of actions when transplanting to an open area:

1. If the seedlings did not dive, the earth in the pot is wetted.
2. They take it out of the pot without disturbing the coma at the roots.
3. Prepare a place for landing in advance. Loosen, water, fertilize.
4. The roots of the seedling are immersed in a recess in the bed, filling the voids.
5. African chamomile watered. When there is a possibility of frost, then it is covered with a dense film.

Gazania care after planting in open ground

She is not capricious, but compliance is required certain rules. Does not love abundant watering preferring dry conditions. The earth must be constantly cultivated so that excess moisture does not stagnate.

Timely removal of weeds, allows the bush to get everything useful material. Also, for the rapid formation of young buds, you need to regularly remove wilted inflorescences. Top dressing is carried out once every 2 months.

Important! Top dressing is carried out 1-2 times in 30 days, if the South African chamomile was transplanted not into open ground, but into a deep flowerpot.

A positive impact on the general condition of the flower garden, mulching. This will help to forget about weeds and watering for a while. If the summer turned out to be hot and dry, then the South African chamomile should be flavored with water from time to time. This procedure is carried out as a maintenance of flowering.

When to plant in Siberia

In Siberia, they are planted in the front garden towards the end of spring. Usually in this area it is used as an annual, but to save a copy, they use a transplant into a box for a while. cold winter. Should be kept in a cool place where the temperature does not fall below 10 degrees. Watering should be done infrequently, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out.

Flower care during and after flowering

During active growth required proper care. This will stretch the flowering period and protect against all kinds of diseases and pests. The gardener is required to perform the following manipulations:

• weed the bed from weeds in time;
• cultivate the land;
• provide moderate watering;
• remove faded buds.

Before the onset of cold weather, African chamomile is transferred from an open area to a deep container without damaging the root system. It is located in a cool place (where the temperature does not fall below 10 degrees) with good lighting. AT winter time years, provide rare watering. Occasionally, fertilizing can be done.

Potential Growing Problems

One of the problems regarding the growth of bushes is the lack of seedlings. Improperly created conditions can affect the late development of the sprout. Periodic drafts, a cold room, lack of lighting are the main enemies of future flowers that can destroy them. The lack of color and buds is also a constant problem.

Gardeners also encounter plant diseases and pests attacking it. Wrongly created requirements provoke their appearance.

Diseases and pests (treatment)

One of the qualities is resistance to pests and diseases. But unfavorable conditions will certainly provoke the occurrence of unpleasant consequences.

Waterlogging, poor lighting, insufficient ventilation will lead to the formation of gray rot. This disease affects those areas that have already begun to die. After, safely moving to healthy areas. As a gray mold warning, the following requirements are met:

• timely remove faded buds;
• do not fill with water;
• ventilate the room (while in the house);
• plant in the sunniest place;
• regularly cultivate the land in the flower garden.

Know! There are many substances on the market that protect garden flowers from diseases. They are brought to the place of the flower bed. When using them, the dosage is strictly observed.

When fighting a disease, remove damaged areas. After treating the remains of the plant with a special agent - a systemic fungicide. After 7 days, the procedure must be repeated.

Of the pests most often attacked: spider mites, aphids and snails.

The spider mite feeds on the cell sap of the leaves. After its appearance, the leaves are covered with small holes, which eventually begin to acquire a yellow tint and destroy the bush.

To get rid of the spider mite, you need to eliminate the damaged leaves and treat the bush with a special chemical agent. After the procedure, cover it with a large bag, so that there would be no access to oxygen. The procedure is repeated a couple more times, every 7 days.

Snails are usually harvested by hand, but infusions of hot peppers, coffee or tea are also used. Slugs and snails do not tolerate spicy odors. Sage, parsley, basil, rosemary will help to escape from them. As folk method spruce needles are used. They are poured into the flower garden so that the slug does not get to the sheets.

Salt is an excellent means of killing snails and slugs. Touching the slug to the salt path will cause it to dissolve. Not good humane way, but efficient. The main thing is not to sprinkle the beds with salt. She is being treated garden paths, thereby protecting the beds.

But if home methods do not help, then you will have to resort to the help of chemicals. During the use of insecticides, dosages and safety precautions must be observed.

They fight against aphids with the help of pungent odors by planting onions or garlic next to the flower garden. You can collect bugs by hand, but it will take a lot of time. Ladybug and its larvae do an excellent job with the invasion of aphids. There are also many commercial pest control products.

Why gazania does not bloom, what to do

After planting, inflorescences appear almost immediately. Each flower basket lasts approximately three weeks. But improper maintenance can adversely affect the bush. Even a small shadow will provoke the absence of buds. A mandatory requirement is discreet watering. From waterlogging, gazania can die or it can be affected by a disease - gray rot.

Late transplantation causes the lack of flowers. Buds appear 80 days after planting. But it depends on the variety. Therefore, the plant is transferred to the ground in late spring.

How to collect gazania seeds

In order for the fruits of gazania to ripen, you need a hot summer and a warm, long autumn. They mature within two months. You can collect them with gauze, at the moment when the plant begins to fade. Several large baskets are wrapped with gauze and tied so that they are not blown away by the wind.

Know! For horticulture, hybrid species of African chamomile are commonly used. Their grains do not retain all qualities. In order not to lose the properties of the mother flower, it is better to resort to cuttings and transplanting from a flower bed into trays.

Gatzania in winter

If the bush is used as a perennial plant, then it is forbidden to leave it outside for the winter. He will die from severe frosts. It is transferred to a flowerpot or box. Contained on a cool balcony or veranda. But the temperature should not fall below zero.

In order not to replant every year, they resort to the use of flowerpots. In the winter season, the African chamomile, which has retained its color, will have to be illuminated.

That's all I wanted to say on the topic: gazania growing from seeds when planted in open ground. After the transplant, she is not so demanding and does not bring trouble, but at the same time she loves a reverent attitude towards herself.

Despite the love of warmth, it has taken root well in the northern part of our country. The above recommendations will help in the care and bright flowers will please the eye for years to come.