What does an elegant clarkia look like. Growing clarkia from seeds at home: an elegant flower in your flower bed. Sowing seeds in open ground

Clarkia graceful is an annual that is very popular with gardeners due to its high decorative effect. This plant is very unpretentious, coexists wonderfully with neighbors in the flower bed, such as roses, asters or phlox, and is great for cutting. Another plus:growing clarkia graceful from seedscan be carried out even by the most inexperienced plant grower, this flower is so unassuming. Clarkia is a bush with herbaceous stems up to 1 m high. Flowers lilac, pink or white, collected in a brush. The plant belongs to the cypress family. It grows wild in Chile and in the west of the North American continent. It got its name in honor of the English explorer William Clark, who introduced the plant into culture.

Preparing seeds for sowing

First you need to purchase high-quality seed in the store. Even better to collect seeds on your own. Clarkia seed box has an oblong shape, the seeds are brown, small. Retain excellent germination for 4 years, subject to storage conditions. To exclude possible infection of seeds with diseases, before planting, they should be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 2-3 hours, previously wrapped in gauze or other clean thin cloth. After that, they are laid out to dry on dry napkins or cloth. When the seeds dry, you can start planting.

Growing clarkia graceful from seeds

It is not at all difficult to grow an elegant Clarkia from seeds. It is enough to know a few nuances related to the care of young plants and their planting.

Letnik is sown both in open and protected ground. Moreover, the first option is more suitable for residents of the southern and central regions of our country. In a more severe climate, the plant may not have time to fully bloom and form seeds before the onset of cold weather.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Optimal time for sowing clarkies in closed ground - the beginning of spring. Best to sow material for seedlings in the middle of March. Seeds sprout quite quickly and amicably. In open ground, sowing is carried out in April, when the soil dries and warms up. Possibly also sow Clarke in autumn.

Plants planted before winter are more resistant to temperature changes and begin to bloom earlier.

Seeding tank

As a container for sowing, it is best to use medium or large wide shallow containers with drainage holes in the bottom. It is also possible to land in separate cups, but working with them will be more troublesome. Before filling them with soil, the landing containers are disinfected. This can be done by wiping them from the inside with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol.A nursery used not for the first time is better to pour boiling water over.

The soil

For growing clarkia from seeds usually they take light soil for seedlings and add river sand, humus and peat in equal parts to it. Mature plants are not so demanding, but loose, light-textured soil is best suited for them. You can plant Clarkia in dense, poor soil, for example, in loam. But this will significantly slow down its development and reduce the abundance of flowering. It is desirable to add coarse sand to such soil, it will serve as drainage and improve the structure.

When preparing the soil for sowing, do not forget about its disinfection. This can be done by steaming in a water bath or calcining in an oven..

Sowing clarkia

Growing clarkia graceful from seedsin closed ground consider step by step:

In the prepared soil, grooves of small depth are carried out. The distance between them should be at least 1 cm, but not more than 2 cm.
Seeds are sown in furrows. You can pre-moisten the ground so that the seeds do not scatter.
Top landing sprinkled with a small amount of earth.
The soil is carefully sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle.
The container is placed in a well-lit place and covered with a transparent material (glass, polyethylene).

Crops are aired daily to prevent rot. As soon as shoots appear, the container is no longer covered. At this time, young plants should be protected from drafts.

It is also possible nest planting seeds of 5-6 pieces at a distance of 25 cm from each other. After the emergence of seedlings, after about a couple of weeks, you can carefully thin out the plantings.

Clarkia seedlings

If it is necessary to plant seedlings from a container, this should be done very carefully. Seedlings have a thin root system that is easy to damage. Transplantation is carried out together with an earthen clod. Young bushes are tied up so that they do not damage the wind. Since the landing takes place in May, when the earth is still quite damp from melt water, at first it will not be necessary to water the young plants. In order for Clarkia to grow branchy and dense, pinch the tops of young bushes. The same procedure is carried out earlier, when 4 true leaves appear on the seedlings.

picking

Neither seedlings nor young plants planted into open ground , it is undesirable to dive. Clarkia, especially hybrid varieties, do not take root well when replanted. But if there are few seeds sown and you don’t want to remove extra plants, you can still pick a pick, and the sooner the better. The optimal time for this procedure comes when the first pair of true leaves appear.

Planting clarkia graceful in open ground

Planting clarkia immediately in open ground will allow the plant to quickly adapt to environmental conditions. However, it is worth strictly observing the sowing dates so that the flower does not die from too low temperatures and begins flowering on time.

When to Plant Clarkia

Landing of the Clarkia can be done at the end of September - November. If spring sowing is planned, it is carried out in the last decade of April, when the earth has warmed up enough and the threat of night frosts has passed. A plant sown before winter will begin to bloom in June, and if planted in spring, flowers will form by mid-July.

Seeds that have spent the winter underground undergo a natural cold stratification procedure. This makes the future plant healthier and more resilient.

How to plant a Clarkia

When choosing a landing site, it should be borne in mind that the Clarkia does not tolerate shade well, therefore, it is necessary to choose a lighter place for it. The bush is not afraid of drafts, but a strong wind can break and damage the branches. Therefore, it is worth avoiding open, unprotected places. The plant tolerates spring cooling and summer heat well, but excessive sunlight can harm it. Another nuance that is taken into account when planting: the Clarkia is prone to overgrowth, so it really needs space.

The algorithm of actions when sowing seeds of clarkia graceful in open ground is similar to the planting method described above:

The soil is dug up and fertilized (mineral supplements are mainly used for this, Clarkia does not favor organics. However, peat can be added to the soil at the rate of 1 kg per 1 m 2).
Grooves are drawn in it, located at a distance of about 5 cm from each other.
The seed is carefully laid out. For convenience, you can mix the seeds with coarse sand.
Sowing is sprinkled with earth and abundantly moistened.

If the spring is cool, you can leave the greenhouse until warming, opening it slightly in sunny weather. The emerging shoots of Clarkia must be thinned out so that the plants do not interfere with each other's development. This should be done in such a way that at least 15 cm remain between adult plants in summer. Thin and weak young shoots will need support and a garter. It can be made from a peg.

Outdoor care

Graceful Clarkia picky, which distinguishes it from most annuals. Caring for her is simple and not difficult. But if you want to admire a particularly lush and abundant flowering, it is important to take care of the Clarkia with all responsibility.

soil for clarkia

Clarkia grows well and develops on light, slightly acidic soils with a loose structure. If the soil is oxidized, you can sprinkle it with dolomite flour or lime chips. To eliminate excess alkali, the earth can be watered with a solution of citric acid. Clarkia loves rich, fertilized soils, so a solution of superphosphate must be applied a couple of weeks before planting. It would be useful to add peat.

It is worth remembering that the soil needs timely loosening and removal of weeds. At first, after planting, you need to be as careful as possible, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the weak root system.

Watering clarkia

Clarkia loves moderate watering, so moisten the soil as needed. In hot summer weather, it will have to be carried out much more often than on cloudy days. It is important to prevent drying out or, conversely, waterlogging of the soil.Watering is carried out in the evening or in the morning.

Clarkia fertilizer

Feed annuals twice a month. For this purpose, complex and mineral fertilizers for flowering plants are used. You can also use a solution of chicken manure in a ratio of 1:15. This will provoke a set of green mass and stimulate the growth of the bush. In addition, such dressings do not harm beneficial insects and do not interfere with pollination.Sometimes wood ash is added to the soil as an additional fertilizer.

pruning clarkia

When the shoots reach 12 cm in height, they are pinched for more intensive tillering. So that the plant does not lose its decorative effect and does not multiply by self-sowing, fading inflorescences are cut as needed.

Diseases and pests

Despite its hardiness, the graceful clarkia is susceptible to attack by pests and diseases on a par with other garden plants. To prevent the death of a flower and infection of other inhabitants of the flower bed, it is important to recognize the problem in time and take appropriate measures. Clarkia diseases: With improper care, specks and fluffy, mold-like growths appear on the leaves of the plant. This indicates the defeat of the flower by the fungus. In such a case, it is necessary to treat it with a fungicide, adhering to the dose indicated in the instructions. It also makes sense to adjust watering, saving the plant and the soil under it from moisture stagnation.

If root rot occurs, fungicide treatment and adjusting the frequency of watering can also help. It will also be useful to trim the affected parts. However, if the Clarkia has suffered too much from the disease, it will be easier and more convenient to remove it completely and grow a new young flower. Similar measures should be taken when downy mildew appears, manifesting itself in the form of dark spots on the underside of the leaves, causing them to curl and fall off. The cause of this disease is also waterlogging of the soil. Red spots on the leaves, called rust, can occur if the Clarkia is grown on loamy soil. The culprit for the appearance of these spots is a fungus that attacks the plant with an excess of nitrogen or stagnation of moisture in the soil. As a therapeutic measure, the treatment of the plant with Bordeaux liquid, carried out twice a week, is suitable.

Clarkia after flowering

With the completion of the flowering pore, the life of the plant does not end. Ahead is the collection of seeds and preparation for winter. These procedures must be performed correctly and on time, otherwise the garden beauty Clarkia may not please with her delicate flowers next year.

How and when to collect clarkia seeds

To collect seeds, several withering Clarkia flowers must be tied with gauze. This is done to prevent self-seeding. After 30 days, the seeds are fully mature and can be harvested. This will be indicated by the drying and darkening of the seed box. After collection, they are dried on cloth or paper and stored in a dark, dry place.

Clarkia in winter

After collecting the seeds, the plant is cut at the root and covered with straw or dry foliage. Thanks to intensive self-seeding, it will turn green again in the same place next year.

Sometimes warming happens in the fall and the seeds begin to sprout. In such a case, they need to be more securely covered. The plant tolerates frost and will safely overwinter.

If the Clarkia was planted late and did not have time to bloom, it can be transplanted into a pot for the winter along with a clod of earth on the roots. However, short daylight hours will not allowat homebloom as vigorously and abundantly as in open ground. In the event that it is planned to plant the Clarkia in a new place in the spring, the old bushes are removed with roots, and the ground in the place of their growth is properly dug up.

Types and varieties of clarkia

In the wild, there are more than 35 varieties of clarkia. But only 3 of them are grown in culture. On the basis of these species, breeders have bred many new interesting varieties.

Clarkia graceful or marigold (Clarkia unguiculata or Clarkia elegans)

This type of flower grows in California. The stems are lignified below, branched, their height varies from 30 to 90 cm. The leaves are oblong, serrated at the edges, dark green in color with a bluish tint and red veins. Flowers up to 4 cm in diameter, collected in a brush. The petals are simple or double, depending on the variety, red, orange, blue, white, purple. Possible: mixture of colors stripes, specks. Flowering begins in June and continues until October.

Clarkia is so hardy that it continues to bloom even when cut, without losing freshness for up to 10 days.

On the basis of Clarkia graceful, the following varieties were bred:

"Albatross". plant with pure white terry flowers. The height of the shoots is slightly more than half a meter.
"Sun". Variety with unusual single salmon-pink flowers. The height of the bush reaches 70 cm.
"Ruby". Bushes of this variety grow up to 60 cm, the flowers are rich ruby.
"Sakura" . Tall, over 1 m, variety, shape and color of flowers reminiscent of Japanese cherry.
"Diamond". Variety characterized by bright pink double flowers of large size.
"Sheftain". Plants of this variety are distinguished by an unusual purple color of the petals and low, up to half a meter, shoots.
"Orange". A shrub about 60 cm high, the flowers of which surprise with a bright orange color.
Salmon perfection. This variety is distinguished by an extraordinary salmon-pink color of the petals.
"Purple King". The flowers of this variety are large (up to 10 cm) and rich purple in color.

Clarkia Brewery (Clarkia breweri)

A type of clarkia that is rapidly gaining popularity, small flowers of which (up to 3 cm in diameter) have a magical aroma. The plant is a branched bush up to 60 cm high, resistant to cold. The most common variety of this variety is Pink ribbons, a short annual with pink flowers. Great for mixborders. Perfect for cutting, retaining aroma and brightness for a long time. Photo: © prseeds.ca

the charm and the tenderness of Clarkia will not leave indifferent any flower lover. And thanks to its unpretentiousness and high decorativeness, it will definitely find a place in a flower bed, near a hedge or along paths and will become an adornment of any site.

Clarkia is a very attractive and elegant plant that has a long flowering. Outwardly, it looks like a bush, showered with elegant double flowers, similar to roses.

As you can see in the photo, clarks are distinguished by a variety of colors and their brightness, they are white, pink, red, orange, lilac and purple, and there are also two-color ones, with various spots and haircuts.

To Europe from California brought by the English priest Clark. The flower got its name from his name.

The plant is an annual from the fireweed family. It has whole oval leaves of dark green color with red veins. Stems erect, branched, slightly pubescent. The flower reaches a height of up to 60 cm. Flowers are collected in an inflorescence at the top. There are more than 30 types of clarkia.

Types of clarkia

Gardeners give preference to only three types:

Clarkia graceful (marigold).
Clarkia is nice.
Clarke is pretty.

You can admire these graceful plants by looking at the photo.

For growing plants at home, there are excellent low-growing varieties. The varieties Joy and Khavskoe sun look most impressive. Their flowers are salmon pink and crimson pink.

Growing a flower is simple, subject to the following rules:

How to care for flowers?

Special care for a plant grown from seeds is not required.

Care is within the power of even an inexperienced gardener:

It is required to create additional lighting for seedlings using an ultraviolet lamp for the entire daylight hours.
It is necessary to observe regular, but without excess moisture, watering. It should be carried out when there are long dry days or when the soil dries up.
Feed only with mineral fertilizers 2 times a month. Fertilizers are especially needed for the plant in dry weather. You can add ashes to the soil for abundant flowering.
The decorativeness of the bush must be maintained with regular care, remove faded buds and dying leaves.

Ripe fruits-boxes containing seeds should be brown in color.

With periodic pinching of the tops of the plant, you can get denser bushes. But the escapes must already reach 25 cm height.

Tall plants are supported with pegs, which are driven in during planting. Otherwise, shoots in strong winds may break.

Before the onset of frost, the stems are cut flush with the ground.

The combination of clarkia with other plants

Clarkia in combination with other garden plants can create an amazingly beautiful flower garden. They look great with phlox, lilies, white daisies and asters.

Clarkia looks great against the background of low red roses. This is an excellent cut plant that can stay in water for up to 15 days, slowly opening its buds.

Below are photos of elegant clarkia of various decorative varieties:

Diseases and pests

On the leaves and flowers of the plant, you can sometimes notice gray spots with a dark border. This is the first sign of a fungal disease. The problem is eliminated by spraying the bushes with fungicides. Processing should be done twice a week. Usually the fungus appears from excessive moisture of the root system.

The most dangerous pest is the flea. It can destroy the plant even at the seedling stage. And even belated treatment with chemicals will lead to a complete loss of crops.

To prevent diseases, it is necessary to cover areas with seed crops with non-woven material, geotextiles. This will prevent fleas from attacking the crops and keep the soil moist.

If you follow the simple rules of planting and caring for a clarkia, the plant will bloom profusely and for a long time. It can serve as a spectacular decoration of the terrace and balcony.

Clarkia flower

Clarkia grows in nature in North America, from there, namely from California, in the 19th century the navigator William Clark brought them to Europe, whose surname gave the name to the flower.

Clarkia flowers are one-year-old and belong to the Cypriot family - tall herbal plants that reach the height of human growth and above.

There are about 30 species, three of which are considered the most popular:

Clarkia marigold has a height of about 100 cm, its stems are thin and strong, woody in the lower part.
Oval-shaped leaves grow on the stems, the edges of which have uneven teeth.
The color of the leaves is blue-green with reddish veins. Clarkia marigold flowers are available in white, red, pink and blue.
The petals are singly placed in the leaf axils, have the correct shape, 4 cm in diameter.

Clarkia pretty begins to bloom two weeks earlier than marigold.

It belongs to the dwarf plants of the Cyprus family, therefore the height of the plant usually does not exceed 40 cm. Its stems are dotted with long thin green leaves pointed to the top.

Flowers are ordinary or double, in deciduous axils they can be placed singly and in several pieces.

The petals of pretty clarkia have an unusual shape - divided into three parts (this species is also called - elk horns).

Clarkia breveri has branched stems about 50 cm high, which are dotted with small fleshy green leaves, oval in shape.

The flowers have a characteristic pleasant aroma, small petals are similar to butterfly wings, the size of the petals is about 3 cm in diameter.

Cultivation of clarkia

Clarkia flowers are propagated by seeds that can be planted immediately on the street (street seedless method) or in special containers, the cultivation takes place in a closed warm room, where later sprouted sprouts will need to be transplanted into open street soil (greenhouse seedling method).

With a street seedless method of growing clarkia, seeds should be planted at the end of autumn or in April in a nested way - together 5 pieces at a distance of 30-40 cm between nests.

Seeds are not planted deep, they are simply pressed into the ground and sprinkled with earth a little.

The soil will need to be prepared in advance: 14 days before sowing, add about a kilogram of peat to M2., After carefully digging the ground.

This is necessary for good fertilization, which contributes to better plant growth, since Clarkia needs a slightly acidic soil. Also, to prepare the soil, you can add 30 g of sulfate and superphosphate to it.

When your soil is not suitable, has a high pH, it can be acidified with the same peat or with 60 g of sulfur per m2 of soil.

Also, in order to oxidize the soil, you can pour the area with a solution of oxalic and citric acid (40 g per 10 liters of water). When the soil is too acidic, the soil is limed, and if it is too oily, sand is added.

The sown seeds of Clarkia will sprout in 14 days, at which time they can already be thinned out, but not much: it looks much better with lush bushes.

Clarkia, planted in autumn, also germinates before the onset of winter, the sprouts are well preserved under cover of snow and cope well with the cold.

It's okay if the seeds do not germinate, since they can also lie in the ground until spring.

The seedling method is more comfortable for plants, with this method there is a very high probability that a flower will grow from each seed. You need to plant in March, and by the beginning of June, the Clarkia will bloom.

Do not plant the seeds deep, just lightly press down and sprinkle with earth, then sprinkle with water and cover with a film or glass. Put in a warm and fairly bright place, but without direct sunlight.

When the first sprouts appear, the cover can be removed, and at the first leaflets it can already be transplanted outside.

How to care for clarkia?

Clarkia is quite unpretentious, it needs to be watered only during dry periods twice a week, with a small amount of water so that the earth can completely absorb it.

When the season is rather mild, not dry, the rain moisture will be enough for the plant.

During the flowering stage, the Clarkia will need to be fed with mineral fertilizers twice a month, and in order for all the energy of the plant to be spent on buds, the seed flasks will need to be cut off.

Clarkia is an annual shrub from the family Cypress, which is sometimes combined with the genus Godetius. The stems of the plant are branched, reach a length of 0.3-1 m, depending on the species. The lower part becomes woody by the end of the growing season. Clarkia blooms almost all summer with multi-colored four-petal flowers.

This flower culture is very popular with flower growers. Due to its attractiveness, it is successfully used to decorate flower beds, borders, open balconies and other places. Clarkia is unpretentious in care. It is easy to grow both in seedlings and by sowing seeds directly in open ground.

Types and varieties of clarkia for open ground

The homeland of the plant is the western part of North America, Chile. The Clarkia was brought to Europe from California in the 19th century by Captain William Clark, after whom it was named. Sometimes the flower is also called the "California marigold". In nature, there are about 30 varieties of it. But for home cultivation, only some types of clarkia are used.

Graceful

Shrub up to 1 m high. Leaf plates are oval in shape, have reddish veins. Flowers are simple and double in different shades. Flowering occurs in July-September.

Popular varieties:

Albatross- undersized plant up to 0.7 m, with white double flowers.
Salmon Perfection- shrub of loose form up to 0.9 m high. Terry flowers, pink-salmon hue.
Terry- low shrub with large double flowers collected in spike-shaped inflorescences.
Sakura- tall, has double flowers of a creamy-pink hue.

Pretty

Dwarf variety with straight stems up to 0.4 m high, narrow and long leaves. The petals are thin, tripartite, so this species is also called the "trident". It blooms from July to September with pink, lavender or bright crimson flowers.

Brewery

Cold-resistant clarkia up to 0.5 m high. Small flowers are collected in loose inflorescences. They look like butterflies. The aroma of this species is much stronger than that of other clarks. The most popular cultivar is Pink Ribbon, which has pink flowers with ribbon-like petals.

Growing seedlings from seeds

You can grow these flowers only from seeds - seedlings and seedless way. To achieve earlier flowering, many prefer to sow seeds for seedlings in advance.

Sowing dates

From the beginning of the growing season to flowering, Clarkia takes about 2 months. With this in mind, you need to plan the time of sowing seeds for seedlings. To get flowers already at the beginning of summer, it is better to sow no later than the first half of March. In some cases, it is shifted to the end of February. Seedlings are planted in open ground when the soil warms up well so that there is a minimal risk of bacterial root diseases. The best period for this is the second half of May. In the southern regions, you can do it earlier.

Planting capacity and soil

Seedlings can be grown in peat cups or in ordinary boxes. Young plants are not afraid of transplants. It can be sown in special pots, which, together with adult flowers, will be taken out into the garden or open veranda.

The soil for Clarkia should be loose and nutritious with a slightly acidic reaction. If it is heavy, the flower will not be able to develop normally. The best option for a plant is a substrate of equal parts of leafy soil, peat, sand, rotted humus. To prevent the future development of fungal and bacterial infections in the culture, it is recommended to steam or ignite the soil in the oven before use.

Seed preparation and sowing

Seeds before sowing are recommended to hold for some time in a solution of potassium permanganate. This is necessary not only for disinfection, but also so that pests do not spoil them. Fill the container with soil, level it. Scatter the seeds on top. Slightly deepen them into the ground by 1.5-2 cm, sprinkle with warm water from a spray bottle. Cover with glass or film on top, create a mini-greenhouse. Move the "bed" to a warm place, shelter from direct sun. The room should be well ventilated and dry.

How to care for seedlings

Shoots will appear in 1.5-2 weeks. After germinating the seeds, the glass or film can be removed and the box moved to a more lit place. Seedlings need to be watered regularly, but not abundantly. The soil should always remain slightly moist. Seedlings can be sprinkled with water. Clarkia grows well at a temperature of + 25-27 degrees. When the growth of seedlings reaches 15 cm, it can be pinched. So it will become more branched and powerful. But some hybrids do not dive, they do not tolerate transplantation well. In such cases, the plants are carefully thinned out so as not to injure neighboring seedlings.

Planting seedlings in open ground

Planting seedlings should be planned as early as possible. It is recommended to prepare the site for transplantation 2 weeks before the procedure. Dig up the soil and fertilize with potassium sulfate and superphosphate (1.5 tablespoons per 1 square meter), peat. If the soil is acidic, sprinkle it with dolomite flour on top, if it is alkaline, pour it with a solution of citric acid.

It is better to transplant seedlings in groups of seedlings along with an earthen clod. The distance between each group should be about 20-40 cm. Do not bury the root collars. They should be at ground level. Next to the flowers, strengthen the supports on which the growing stems will curl.

Planting seeds in a seedless way in open ground

If there is no time and desire to grow seedlings, seeds can be sown directly in open ground. This method guarantees stronger and healthier shoots. But Clarkia blooms in such cases later than from seedlings.

Rules and deadlines

Seeds can be sown in well-warmed soil when there is no longer a risk of sudden temperature changes. Otherwise, the sprouts that are not yet strong may freeze and die. Usually crops are planned for the first half of May. But if the climate and weather allow, you can move them to the end of April. Sometimes sowing is carried out in the fall, so that shoots appear in early spring.

Site selection and lighting

Like seedlings, the seeds themselves must be sown, choosing a place in advance. Clarkia, unlike many other plants, can grow not only in well-lit areas, but also in partial shade. She is also not afraid of drafts. More soil requirements. When choosing a place, it is taken into account how the culture will fit into the overall landscape.

soil

The soil should be fertile and light. If it does not meet the requirements on the site, some adjustments will have to be made. If the soil is dense, clayey, it needs to be dug up, add sand, peat. It is loosened to ensure free access of oxygen to the roots, to avoid moisture stagnation. It is necessary to prepare the soil and make the necessary compositions into it 2 weeks before planting.

Landing features

For sowing, recesses (nests) are made in the selected area at a distance of 25-40 cm from each other. If the variety is tall, the distance is increased by 20-30 cm. 4-5 seeds are thrown into each nest. Can be sown in rows. But then young shoots will have to be thinned out.

Outdoor care

Cultivation of Clarkia in the open field does not differ from the seed and seedling method of planting. For a flower, timely watering, top dressing, and prevention of the appearance of pests are important.

Watering

The amount and regularity of watering is affected by the weather, which will be set during the growth of the plant. If the summer is cool and it often rains, then there may be no need for watering at all. In other cases, it is necessary to moisten the soil when the top layer dries.

On a note! If the Clarkia is too saturated with moisture, this will lead to rotting of the roots. To avoid this, after each watering, the soil should be loosened near the shrub. You need to water the plant in the morning or in the evening, when there is no scorching sun. It is important to avoid getting water on the flowers, this can adversely affect the appearance of the crop.

top dressing

Fertilize flowers 1-2 times a month. Complex fertilizers for flowering plants effectively act on Clarkia:

Nitroammophoska- 15 g per 1m 2 during budding;
Kalijfos-N- 20-25 g per 1m 2;
Diamophoska- 2 g per 1 liter of water during the period of intensive growth.

Sometimes a solution of chicken manure (1:15) is used. It is applied at the beginning of the growing season.

pruning

If the Clarkia grows densely, it must be thinned out so that the bushes have room to develop. Between plants there should be at least 15-20 cm. But it is not worth it to thin out too much so that there are no voids. When the plant has faded, its stems are cut to the very soil. The remains of the roots are removed when digging the site. It is better to burn them to prevent the development of pathogenic bacteria or fungi that can infect the soil.

Flowering (how to prolong flowering)

With a seedling planting method, flower stalks may appear as early as late May or early June. When sowing in open ground - a little later. Clakiria can bloom until autumn. If you want to prolong flowering as long as possible, you need to adhere to certain conditions. Abundant flowering contributes to the tillering of sprouts. When the seedlings grow up to 10 cm in length, you need to carefully pinch off the top. This stimulates budding, and abundant flowering. After the flower stalks fade, they must be removed.

Seed collection and wintering

You need to determine in advance which flower stalks to leave for seed ripening. You don't need to remove them. Seeds appear after pollination of the ovary. They ripen in small oblong boxes. 1 g can contain up to 3,000 seeds. They ripen about a month after the end of flowering. When the seed pods turn brown, the seeds are ready to be harvested. A fabric bag is recommended in advance for the seed box so that self-seeding does not occur in the ground.

Seeds are additionally dried for several days, then stored in paper bags in a dry, cool room. After 3-4 years, the seed loses its qualities, germination decreases. Therefore, it is better to use fresh seeds for sowing.

Diseases and pests, control methods

Clarkia is characterized by stable immunity. Therefore, it is rarely exposed to diseases and pests. But sometimes it can be affected by fungal infections. Usually they are associated with excess moisture, frequent watering. First, the roots are damaged, the whole plant gradually fades. In such cases, it is almost impossible to save the flower. It is recommended to simply remove damaged specimens and regulate the irrigation system.

To prevent infection of other plants, it is recommended to treat them with such means:

Oksikhom,
bordeaux liquid,
copper sulfate.

Pests that damage the Clarkia:

garden flea.

Karbofos;
Fitoverm;
Confidor.

Combination with other plants (clarkia in landscape design)

Due to its unpretentiousness and abundant flowering, Clarkia deserves a place of honor in landscape design.

Scope of application:

in flowerbeds, along fences, alleys, fences;
in pots on balconies, window sills, on walls (undersized varieties);
in bouquets with other flowers (tall varieties).

In addition, its flowers have a beautiful aroma, it is a good peduncle. It goes well with other low plants:

phloxes;
asters;
white daisies;
Red roses.

Clarkia is a very popular outdoor crop. Caring for her does not require much effort. The flower reproduces well both in seedlings and in seedlings. It can grow almost anywhere, even in partial shade and in a draft. The main thing is to provide it with suitable soil and regulate the level of moisture.

More useful information about growing clarcia from sowing to collecting seeds can be found in the video:

Clarkia is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the fireweed family. This genus is very close to godetia and some botanists combine these two plants into one genus. Such a flower was named after Captain W. Clark, who brought it to Europe from California in the 19th century. In nature, this plant can be found in Chile and in the western part of North America. This genus unites about 30 species, while only 3 are cultivated.

Clarkia is a herbaceous annual that can vary in height from 0.3 to 0.9 meters. On the surface of upright branched shoots, there is often a pubescence consisting of short villi. Sedentary alternately arranged leaf plates have an oval-elongated shape and a light gray or rich green color. Axillary flowers can be double or simple, they have the correct shape, reach a diameter of 35 mm. And they can be painted in different colors. As a rule, they are part of the apical inflorescences, which have a racemose or spike-shaped form, but sometimes there are single flowers. The flower has a tubular calyx, the corolla includes 4 three-lobed or solid petals, tapering at the base into a nail. The fruit is an elongated polysperm.

Growing clarkia from seeds

Sowing

Such a plant is grown from seeds in two ways: seedless and through seedlings. If cultivation is carried out in a seedless way, then the seeds are sown directly in open soil. Sowing is done in April or in the first days of May, it can also be done in late autumn before winter. When preparing the site for sowing, for every 1 square meter, 1 kilogram of peat and 1 large spoonful of superphosphate and potassium sulfate must be added for digging. The seeds of the plant are quite small, they are sown in nests of 4 or 5 pieces. In this case, the distance between the nests should be from 20 to 40 centimeters. It is not necessary to bury the seeds in the soil, they should only be pressed down a little and sprinkled with a thin layer of soil. The first seedlings may appear in half a month, and you will need to thin them out, however, it should be noted that during flowering, the Clarkia looks much more spectacular in a dense bush. If sowing was done in the fall, then sometimes the seedlings also have time to appear before winter sets in, while they are well preserved under snow cover. When shoots appear in the spring, they will definitely need to be thinned out like carrots.

Growing through seedlings

If Clarkia is grown through seedlings, then young seedlings will be reliably protected from cold rains, frosts, sudden changes in temperature and strong winds. It is recommended to sow seeds in March, in which case the Clarkia will begin flowering in the first days of June. Sowing seeds is carried out in a slightly acidic substrate. It is unnecessary to deepen them, but you should only press down with a plank and pour from the sprayer. Cover the container with glass and put it in a warm and well-lit place, but there should not be direct sunlight there. After the appearance of the first seedlings, the shelter should be removed. The container must always be in a dry, warm place with good ventilation. Picking is done very early, after the appearance of the first true leaves.

What time to plant

Clarkia is transplanted into open soil in May. In the event that the soil on the site does not have a pH suitable for this plant, then this can be corrected. In order to acidify the soil, you can use one of three methods:

add 1–1.5 kilograms of peat per 1 m 2;
add 60 grams of sulfur per 1 m 2;
pour the soil with a solution consisting of a bucket of water and 1.5 large spoons of citric or oxalic acid.

In the event that the soil is excessively acidic, then lime is added to it. If it is greasy, then this can be corrected by adding sand for digging. It is also necessary to fertilize the soil, and about what fertilizers to use for this, it is said in the section on growing clarkia in a seedless way. Site preparation should be done at least half a month before planting.

How to plant

It is necessary to plant seedlings not one at a time, but take a plant from a container in small groups along with a clod of earth. Then this group is planted in one hole. It should be noted that the distance between the holes can vary from 20 to 40 centimeters. Adult plants will need support, as they have very thin shoots, so do not forget to stick a long rail or stick near each hole. Different varieties of Clarkia should be planted away from each other, as there is a high probability of their cross-pollination. When the bushes are planted, they need to be watered and pinched a little so that they grow more bushy.

Growing a Clarkia is relatively easy, and even a beginner can easily handle this task. Watering should be done only when there is a long dry hot period. At the same time, watering should be done only a couple of times in 7 days. At other times, rainwater will suffice for such flowers. When watering, it should be noted that the liquid should be quickly absorbed into the soil, and not stand for a long time around the bush. Top dressing should be done only during the period of bud formation and flowering, and complex mineral fertilizer is recommended for this. The frequency of top dressing is 1 time in half a month. From fertilizers, it is recommended to use Rainbow or Kemira, while organic matter cannot be applied to the soil. In order for the flowering to be long and lush, it is necessary to remove fading flowers in a timely manner.

Of the harmful insects, a mealybug can settle on the Clarkia. It is possible to understand that a bush is infected with this pest by the presence of a waxy cotton-like coating, which may be on the aerial part of the plant. To destroy this insect, it is recommended to treat it with confidor, actara or fitoverm.

In the event that the soil is loamy in the area where Clarkia grows, this can contribute to the development of a fungal disease. The fact that the bush is infected can be understood by the specks of a rusty-yellowish color with a brown border, which are placed on the leaf plates. To get rid of this disease, you should treat the bush with a fungicidal agent (oxych or Bordeaux liquid). If you plant this flower in suitable soil and properly care for it, then it will have a very high resistance to both diseases and harmful insects.

After flowering

This plant is able to multiply without your participation by self-sowing. In the spring, you will only need to carefully thin out the seedlings. If you need seeds, they can be collected very easily. When the plants bloom, you will need to note the most showy flowers. When they begin to fade, they will need to be put on gauze bags. The seeds will become mature 4 weeks after the flower has withered, while the color of the box should turn brown. Cut off the boxes and pour the seeds out of them onto a newspaper. These seeds can be sown before winter or poured into a paper bag, where they will be stored until the next spring.

Wintering

When the Clarkia blooms, the bushes, if desired, can be cut to the surface of the soil. And during the autumn digging of the site, it will be necessary to remove the remains of plants and burn them. It is not recommended to throw them away, as pathogenic microorganisms or fungi may appear in such plant residues.

Types and varieties of clarkia with photos and names

Only three types of clarkia are cultivated by gardeners, namely: marigold clarkia, or graceful clarkia; pretty clarkia, or pubescent clarkia; Clarke Brewery.

Clarkia graceful, or marigold (Clarkia unguiculata, Clarkia elegans)

This species can be found naturally in California. Branched lush annual plant in height can reach 100 centimeters. Thin rather powerful shoots from below are woody. On the surface of oval greenish-gray leaf plates there are red veins, their edge is unevenly sparsely serrated. The flowers have the correct shape and a four-centimeter diameter. They can be terry or simple and have a different color: red, pink, white, purple and blue. They are placed one by one in the leaf axils. Germination of small seeds lasts about 4 years. Blooms profusely in July-September. This species is often grown in mid-latitudes. Most popular varieties:

This species is dwarf. Upright branched shoots in height can reach 0.4 m. Long narrow whole leaf plates are green in color. They are pointed towards the top, and narrow towards the petiole. Flowers can be double or simple. They can be located both singly and be collected in small groups in the leaf axils at the top of the stems. Of particular interest is the shape of the petals, which are divided into 3 lobes, rather widely spaced. In this regard, in America this species is also called "elk horns". Flowering begins half a month earlier than that of the graceful clarkia.

Clarkia Brewery (Clarkia breweri)

Recently, this species has become increasingly popular with gardeners. This annual cold-resistant plant can reach a height of up to half a meter. The shape of the flower is similar to a butterfly, and in diameter it reaches about 30 mm. The flowers have a pleasant strong smell and are part of loose inflorescences. The Pink Ribbons variety has pink flowers with petals resembling ribbons, a bush can reach a height of about 0.3 m. The shoots of this variety are branched, and it blooms very luxuriantly.

Other types of clarkia grown by gardeners are actually Godetia.

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