Planting and caring for acidantera in the open field: varieties, photos. Spring protection of garden plants from pests and diseases Fragrant gladiolus planting and care

Acidanthera is a type of herbaceous corms perennials iris family. The homeland of this plant is the territory of tropical Africa, and to be more precise, Ethiopia and Mozambique.

Atsidantera has several alternative names. If this name is translated from Greek, then it will mean "sharp flower", this name is given to the plant because of the shape of its petals. This plant actually resembles gladiolus in appearance. In addition, both plants are similar to each other regarding care, wintering conditions.

Let's take a closer look at what an acidantera flower is, planting and care in the open field, as well as growing at home.

General description of acidantera

The flower has a root system, presented in the form of small corms of a slightly oblong shape, which are about 6 cm in diameter. There is also a white, milky core, which is under the scales, brown and slightly reticulated. The stem of the plant is smooth, straight, in some plant varieties it can reach more than one meter in height. The main part of the acidantera is foliage, which is very abundant. The leaves are located at the base of the stem. On the shoot itself, only a few linear and very dark leaf blades are formed.

At the top of the stem are beautiful large flowers. The size of one petal can reach 10 cm. Their size seems even larger due to the luminous color. The petals are collected in spike-shaped inflorescences, in which there are about 5 flowers. All flowers usually open at the same time. Each bud forms 6 wide open petals. The bud is attached to the stem with a long, curved tube. You can find both monophonic species and variegated.

Traditional are white colors with a pearly glow. But among the variety of species, you can also find light pink, pale lilac, cream, milk and yellow varieties acidants.

The flowering of the plant begins quite late. Flowers bloom in September or August. But flowering continues until the first frost. After flowering, the acidantera forms a fruit, which is a long box with large quantity seeds.

The versatility of Acidantera

Acidantera is a versatile plant due to the fact that in addition to growing in the open field, it can also be kept as an indoor or greenhouse plant. Many flower growers want to watch the flowering of this beautiful flower during off-season. Despite the fact that acidantera forcing is quite difficult, it is quite possible to ensure that fragrant gladiolus blooms in your house or greenhouse with the onset of spring.

Of course, Such versatility means and different care behind the acidifier. Weather are very different from stable greenhouse or indoor plants. That is why there is no guarantee that summer period it won't be rainy or cold. Such unfavorable conditions can adversely affect the flowering of the plant. If you grow a flower as an ornamental crop, then you need to implement a number of specific care conditions.

Required growing conditions

chief necessary conditions growing acidantera is to choose a sunny location. This condition can be explained by the birthplace of the plant. The site for growing fragrant gladiolus should be fairly quiet and protected from the wind.

If you want to grow these plants as indoor plants, then it must be placed only on the southern windowsills. At the same time, direct contact with the flower should be avoided. sun rays. If the light isn't enough, then it is recommended to use phytolamp lighting. In the summer, the acidanter is allowed to take out to the balcony or terrace. A houseplant must be protected from drafts and kept indoors with an air temperature of about 20 degrees.

Particular attention must also be paid to the choice of soil. The soil should be slightly acidic or neutral. It is recommended to add peat to the substrate. Acidantera prefers to grow in fertile, high-quality, deeply dug soil. In addition, it is completely necessary to eliminate the risk of stagnant moisture in the soil. It is also recommended to make a good drainage layer. Fragrant gladioli are allowed to be grown in elevated places.

If you decide to grow atsidantera at home, then you can use garden soil as well as prepare a loose, airtight substrate by yourself. In this case, the substrate should consist of the following types of soil:

• Two pieces of turf;
• One part sand;
• One part of leaf humus.

Landing rules:

• If you are planting fragrant gladiolus in boxes, then you must observe the distance between plants from 12 to 20 cm.
• For a single planting of plants, a pot is suitable, the diameter of which is from 12 to 15 cm, no more, since the excess of free soil will not benefit the flower.
• Recommended planting pattern: 3 to 5 bulbs per 1 garden container.

Planting and care in the open field

If you are going to grow an acidantera on the street, then the soil must be improved in the fall, in advance, while not leaving this occupation until the arrival of spring. Timely introduction into the soil is very important. organic fertilizers. It is recommended to use compost. The soil also needs to be mulched, using peat, hay, straw, humus. If necessary, drainage and sand can be added to the soil. The site is dug up together with mineral fertilizers, and the planting itself is carried out at the end of May. In this case, it is worth focusing on weather conditions.

Acidantera tubers also need to be prepared before planting. This procedure should be carried out a few days before planting fragrant gladiolus. Preparation involves the following steps:

• Corms must be inspected, carefully peeling from the dry shell.
• After that, the tubers must be pickled in potassium permanganate. This action will serve as a preventive measure against diseases and pests.

The bulbs of the plant are planted in open ground to a depth of about 10 cm. Such a deep planting can save the tubers in case of unexpected cold snaps at night. As for the distance between plants, for this it is necessary to take into account the size of the bulbs. For medium tubers, the distance should be from 15 to 20 cm. Accordingly, the distance increases for large tubers, and decreases for small ones. . To fragrant gladiolus quite comfortable in a new place, interval with other species garden flowers must be at least 20 cm.

Cultivation and care in the open field

Acidantera is a fairly undemanding plant in terms of care. It only needs regular watering, but their amount will depend on weather conditions. Weather conditions also affect the amount of watering. Under no circumstances should overdrying of the soil, it is also necessary to simultaneously monitor the timely departure of moisture so that the water does not stagnate in the soil, otherwise the plant may die. During the flowering period, watering is slightly reduced.

If the soil does not meet the above requirements, then it must be fertilized by applying complex fertilizers several times during the growth period. Top dressing is carried out in the following cases:

• During boarding;
• During the growing season, when there is an increase in the volume of green mass;
• During budding, stimulating the flowering process.

Periodically, it is also necessary to loosen the soil, especially after heavy rains, so that the fragrant gladiolus develops better. To avoid evaporation of moisture and nutrients from the soil, it is recommended to mulch the soil. The most common mulch options are: humus, freshly cut grass, peat. If you want the acidantera to please you with a full flowering, it is necessary to remove the faded inflorescences, which will also allow the plant bulb to grow stronger.

When the flowering period ends, you need to help the plant go into a dormant stage. Acidantera differ from other bulbous species in that given plant can't do it on his own. To do this, cut off the aerial part of the stem, leaving the lower leaves intact. Corms are not dug up, they should be stored in the ground, but watering should be stopped.

How to properly dig an acidantera?

When you have cut off the top of the acidantera, the tubers should remain in the soil to gain strength and also make a reserve. nutrients. It is necessary to dig up tubers only with the onset of the first frost. As a rule, the first frosts come from September to the end of November, depending on climatic conditions.

Dig up tubers very carefully. while taking a large supply of soil so as not to damage the fragrant gladiolus bulb. When you have removed the bulb from the soil, you need to clean it from the soil and dry it. Tubers are heard at an air temperature of about 20 degrees and with intensive air circulation.

The drying period is quite long, it is about 1 month. If there is such a need, then for the prevention of tubers can be treated with fungicides. This will prevent mold and rot from forming. After drying, it is necessary to clean the bulbs from scales. Next comes the wintering stage for tubers..

Atsidantera, fragrant gladiolus, gladiolus Muriel, skewer Muriel is a charming and rare plant so far in Russian gardens. Growing and caring for acidantera in the open field have their own difficulties, but this does not stop flower growers, the plant is confidently gaining ground.

Outwardly, it really looks like a gladiolus and is its closest relative. Attracts attention with xiphoid dense foliage that allows you to create a bright vertical spot and dramatic, but at the same time graceful, like butterflies, white flowers with an inky purple spot in the center. Everything about planting, care, storage of acidantera is discussed below.

The plant belongs to the iris family, genus gladiolus, species - gladiolus Muriel. More recently, it was attributed to the independent genus Atsidantera, therefore, discrepancies can sometimes be found in the literature. foreign name bulbous flower atsidantera received in honor of Lady Muriel Agnes Stuart Erskine (1879-1967), who belonged to one of the oldest families in Scotland.

The herbaceous plant has a corm. Suitable for open ground and indoor. The height of an adult specimen can reach 1 meter. The leaves are xiphoid, wide, up to 60 cm long. Each bulb has two leaves, but usually the plants are grown in groups. Peduncles are long, thin, up to 1.5 meters high. The flowers are quite large, from 5 to 8 cm in diameter, soaring, collected in an inflorescence up to 10 flowers. The outer part of the petals is snow-white, closer to the base there is a contrasting spot, the color of which can vary from dark crimson to inky purple or almost black. The flower has the shape of a butterfly, the petals are strongly pointed towards the ends.

It blooms in late summer-early autumn, depending on the timing of planting.

Note! Sometimes flower growers have a question why the fragrant gladiolus does not smell. The strength of the smell varies from species to species, the aroma can be light, barely noticeable. But, in any case, fragrant gladiolus emits a fragrance, unlike ordinary gladiolus. The smell is not strong, but very pleasant and original, slightly reminiscent of jasmine. Attractive to bees. There is a hybrid of adidantera with gladiolus called gladantera - it has a weaker smell.

Bulb selection and pre-planting

It is better to buy planting material in domestic nurseries, dutch bulbs may be too soft.

How to store acidantera bulbs before planting? The disassembled bulbs are treated with fungicides before planting to avoid further damage by root rot, kept at a temperature of +22 ° C for 2 weeks.

Immediately before planting, it makes sense to keep the bulbs for several hours in any growth stimulator (Epin, Zircon).

Landing in open ground

Any soil is suitable for the plant, the main thing is to ensure good drainage. Planting and caring for mariella acidantera (murielae, two-tone, white) will be easier if you immediately choose light, fertile neutral, slightly acidic or neutral soils. Planted only in well-warmed soil.

The plant loves warmth and abundant diffused sun. Light partial shade is acceptable. Doesn't like dampness. In a cold and too rainy summer, the acidantera flower may not bloom.

A distance of 20 cm is maintained between adult bulbs, they are buried to a depth of about 10 cm. A little river sand is added to each hole. Water well after planting.

Perhaps the germination of bulbs before planting in open ground. This method has its advantages:

1. The plant will be stronger and more resilient.
2. Flowering will come faster and will be longer.
3. When planting, you can immediately calibrate the plants for quality.

For germination, in early March, bulbs are planted in peat cups up to 15 cm, to a depth of 3-4 cm. Optimal - 1 bulb - 1 pot, but 3-5 bulbs can be placed in a 15-cm container. They put it in a warm, and, most importantly, well-lit place (in the middle lane, additional lighting is required in February and early March). Provide cultivation and care, like any other seedlings. Tender seedlings are watered regularly with a drip method, provide access to fresh air without drafts. A month before disembarkation, they are gradually accustomed to fresh air. With the onset of stable heat, plants are planted directly into the ground, without disturbing the root system.

Features of care in the open field

Growing and caring for acidantera in the open field is not much different from the agricultural technology of gladioli. The main difficulty is how to save acidantera bulbs until spring, the rest does not cause much trouble for flower growers.

Watering

Acidantera bicolor likes abundant but moderate watering. What does this mean? The plant should receive enough moisture, but the bay is unacceptable. Loose, water-intensive soil and good drainage will eliminate most of the problems associated with watering. The rest should be guided by the condition of the soil and the weather. In a dry summer, daily watering may be required, it is unacceptable that the soil around the plant is dry - the bulbs will dry out quickly enough, the plant will weaken.

With the onset of flowering, watering is slightly reduced to get brighter, contrasting flowers, but still continue to monitor the flow of a sufficient amount of moisture.

Loosening and weeding

Weeds around the plant are regularly removed, they can become a breeding ground for pests, loosen the soil to prevent the soil from drying out too quickly, especially if the summer is dry and hot. Mulching the soil can be a good move, allowing you to simultaneously get rid of weeds and retain moisture in the soil. Not to mention that it gives an additional decorative effect. Mulch looks beautiful from crushed cones, bark, wood chips, rotted sawdust, peat, fine gravel, granite chips.

top dressing

The plant is not too capricious in terms of nutrition. If it was planted in fresh, nutritious soil, with good care it will not need any fertilizer. But support will not hurt, especially if there is reason to think that the soil is poor. The interval between top dressing is chosen at your discretion. Regular timing: 1 time per month, 1 time in two weeks, 1 time in 10 days (for especially poor, stony soils). During the flowering period, it is desirable to feed with complex mineral fertilizers once a week.

Dosages are usually indicated on the drug packaging.

Important! Don't overfeed! Otherwise, you can get juicy "tops", not flowers. Fertilizers must be well diluted in water and applied only to already moistened soil.

Other events

Caring for acidanthera in the fall includes the timely removal of wilted buds - this will prolong flowering. You can shed the plant with a solution of potassium permanganate, 5 g per 10 liters of water, especially if the weather in autumn is unstable, cold, with frequent prolonged rains. In severe cold and dampness, it is better to dig up the plants earlier.

When exactly to dig and how to store acidantera? Consider below.

Wintering

Do I need to dig an acidantera for the winter? If in your area warm winters and the soil does not freeze, you can leave the bulbs in the soil, just mulch the surface. And be sure to monitor the drainage - so that during the spring flood the tender bulbs do not get wet.

Preparing acidantera for winter in the middle lane involves digging. The natural habitat of the fragrant gladiolus is Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Tanzania). Temperatures below zero are negatively tolerated, therefore, in the middle lane, bulbs are dug up for the winter.

They dig up the acidantera in the same way as gladioli - with a decent clod of earth so as not to damage the children. Faded plants are given time to accumulate nutrients in the bulb, then, without waiting for the first frost, they are dug out along with the leaves. The term of digging and leaving for the winter depends on the region - approximately the end of September, October, the beginning of November.

Interesting. How to spread the plants to dry - with or without leaves? This point is debatable. Someone prefers to cut the leaves so as not to risk the health of the bulbs (there may be pests on the leaves), someone puts the bulbs out to dry with the leaves so that the bulbs can extract the maximum nutrients from them. Experience shows that it is possible to keep acidantera in winter until spring in one way or another.

The general scheme is this preparation for winter:

1. The bulbs are dug up, the stems are cut off, leaving a stump 2 cm long.
2. Children separate.
3. How to store acidantera immediately after digging? Planting material should be dried. Dry in a dry shaded place at a temperature of 20-22°C. The term is about 1 month.
4. They clean the planting material from the remnants of roots, leaves - they will all fall off easily if the drying was of high quality.

How to store acidantera bulbs in winter? The dried material is laid out in peat or wrapped in paper napkins, laid out in boxes with good ventilation, or bags with holes, kept dry. dark place at temperatures from +15°C.

That is, storage of acidantera bulbs in winter can be successful at home in an ordinary apartment.

reproduction

• reproduces vegetatively and by seeds;
• bulbs.

Like an ordinary gladiolus, a fragrant representative of the same genus breeds well with children. They are separated in the fall when digging from the mother bulbs. In the spring they are planted together with adult specimens, observing general rules bulb planting: planting depth = height of bulbs, spacing between plants = diameter of bulbs. In the first years, flowers should not be expected from young plants, they will bloom in 3-4 years. If flowers appear, it is best to remove them to allow the plant to gain strength.

seeds

Like many bulbous, scented gladioli can be grown from seed. Occupation is laborious, lengthy, and very amateurish. Although it has advantages: plants grown from self-collected seeds will be more hardened, stronger and adapted to local conditions.

Note! Plants from seeds will bloom no earlier than in 4-5 years. In the best case, it will be possible to wait for flowers in the 3rd year - how quickly flowering occurs depends on the size of the planted bulbs.

Seed collection - in the fall. Seeds are sown in seedling boxes in early February, kept at normal room temperature +20°C. Be sure to supplement the light, otherwise the plants will stretch. Small plants dive into separate containers, several pieces each. You can plant them in the ground.

Species and varieties

Since the taxonomy of the species has turned out to be quite confusing to date, there are many synonymous names: Acidanthera bicolor Hochst. and Acidanthera bicolor var. murielae (Acidanthera bicolor and Atcidanthera Muriel are the same). Synonyms for them from a botanical point of view are Gladiolus callianthus Marais (Gladiolus beautifully flowered, or callianthus), Ixia quartinana (Ixia quartiniana A.Rich). Such confusion is due to the fact that descriptions of the same plant were carried out by different botanists, in different places, at different times.

In our country, as a rule, it is Acidathera Bicolor or Muriel that is grown. On the packages of bulbs on sale you can find the names: Two-color white, Muriela, Muriel, Two-color. It's all the same variety.

In addition to the two-color acidantera, today in the gardens of especially subtle connoisseurs can be found:

1. A. white (acidantera white) - flowers are medium-sized, with rounded petals, pure white, without spots, very fragrant. This is the most odorous type of acidantera. Today this plant is classified as white gladiolus.
2. A. fourcade. The plant is relatively low, with thin stems. The flowers are pink-purple, almost uniform in color, with a thickening towards the edges, without spots. There are only two flowers on one peduncle, but they are charming. Today the plant has been renamed Geissoriza Fourcade.
3. A. tropical. A powerful plant with ribbed foliage, very tall - up to 130 cm. The flowers are original, snow-white or pinkish, with very bright crimson strokes-prints, as if painted watercolor paints. The flowers are larger than in other species, collected in inflorescences of 5-6 pieces. Outwardly, it is very similar to the gladiolus nanus variety "Nymph" or "Prince Claus".
4. A. Cape (or panicled ixia - Ixia paniculata). Has a very beautiful flowers: white with purple streaks instead of spots.
5. A. grassy. The most elegant representative of the genus, with thin narrow foliage, like those of cereal plants, and the same flowers with narrow, elongated petals. The color is pale pink with a purple stripe in the center of each petal. Peduncles long drooping. Today, this type of acidantera is classified as a form of abundantly flowering gladiolus. This also includes A. few-flowered. It is very similar to the grass-leaved, only the flowers are red, not purple.
6. A. tubular or, as it is classified today, stemless geyssoriza. The flowers are similar to the flowers of the grass-leaved acidantera, with the same narrow, elongated petals, they resemble Fourcade in color - a delicate pink color with a slight thickening towards the edges.

Other names can be found: broad-leaved (with very wide perianths, which makes the flowers look like orchid flowers), pink-white (very rare).

Diseases and pests

The plant is quite resistant to diseases and pests. AT adverse conditions may be affected:

1. Bulb mite.
2. Shields.
3. Aphids.
4. Thrips.
5. Slugs.
6. Powdery mildew.
7. Rust.
8. Root rot.

Important! Remember that weakened plants, with undermined immunity, are susceptible to diseases. Incorrect agricultural practices are the main reason for the appearance of silver paths from thrips, or aphid settlements. Another reason is the proximity to diseased plants, carefully monitor the condition of flower beds in general.

Prevention measures: right choice places, good drainage, no moisture stagnation in wet summer, timely weed removal, correct pre-planting treatment(bulbs are treated with fungicides, growth and immunity stimulants).

Acidantera in landscape design

Even a non-flowering plant is spectacular and perfect for creating vertical dynamic accents. flowering bush looks even more impressive, therefore self-sufficient. Groups of fragrant gladiolus look great solo, surrounded by low-growing small-flowering or not at all non-flowering plants, or a lawn.

Acidantera would be appropriate:

1. In flower beds as a dominant.
2. Groups against the background of ground cover or undersized plants, lawns.
3. Due to the aroma, it is suitable for decorating recreation areas.
4. In front gardens, compositions in front of the house, along paths, especially those paved with stone.
5. On the Alpine rollercoaster. The homeland of the plant is rocky plateaus.
6. Near decorative artificial reservoirs.
7. In the gardens of the Japanese or English style, the flowers of acidantera are exquisite and refined.
8. in monogroups. Islands of fragrant gladiolus near entrance group in the house, in the flower beds during the flowering period, they look grandiose, and at the same time gently, like flocks of butterflies.

Can be grown in room and container culture. Flowers are suitable for cutting, last up to 5 days.

Pairs very well with:

1. Low-growing garden flowers that create a good dense cover: balsams, daisies, undersized asters.
2. Any flowers of blue and purple colors that emphasize the exotic tenderness of fragrant gladiolus: sage, aconite (remember that aconite is poisonous).
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Growing acidantera and care in the open field is within the power of even novice gardeners. Plants are unpretentious, prefer sunny areas and moderate watering. Blooming flowers are suitable for cutting, they can be used to make beautiful bouquets.

Acidantera, or gladiolus Muriel, is an elegant plant belonging to the iris family. In the wild, it is found in Mozambique, Tanzania, Ethiopia and other African countries. The flower looks very impressive. The long, straight and smooth stem grows up to 1 m, its grace is emphasized by a pair of thin xiphoid leaves. Dense thickets of plants resemble exotic jungles. Up to 10 buds bloom on each stem. The flowers have 6 triangular petals, at the base they are black-burgundy or dark purple, closer to the tips they take on a snow-white hue. Blooming inflorescences are quite large - from 5 to 8 cm in diameter. Growing conditions, degree of illumination, soil fertility affect their size and color intensity. The refined image is complemented by a pleasant subtle aroma that attracts pollinating insects.

Atsidantera is very thermophilic; in regions with a cold climate, plants may not take root. However, under the conditions middle lane they feel great. Atsidantera, the cultivation of which even beginner gardeners can grow, responds gratefully to care. The minimum effort is guaranteed by lush flower thickets that will adorn the site from mid-July to early September.

Fragrant gladiolus propagated by seeds or division of bulbs. The first method is very time consuming and is rarely used by amateur gardeners. When sowing seeds, seedlings will bloom only after 3 years. Bulbs are much more unpretentious. In autumn, they separate from the mother plant, and in early spring planted in flowerpots or in open ground. The first buds appear after 2 months.

In most regions of Russia, the acidentera is dug up before the onset of the first frost, the bulbs, peeled from the stems, hibernate in a shelter. For several months of dormancy, the plant manages to accumulate strength for abundant flowering. In the spring, the rested tubers are planted on the beds and immediately grow.

Start of the season

With the right care, Gladiolus Muriel can brighten up any garden. graceful plants look great on discounts and classic flower beds, they can be used to decorate paths or ornamental ponds. Acidantera, which is easy to care for, prefers sunny areas with light and nutrient soil. In dense shade, the stems stretch out, the buds become smaller or do not form at all. The soil should have a neutral or slightly acidic reaction, garden soil should be mixed with a small amount of peat. For successful flowering, good drainage is necessary; stagnant moisture in the soil is detrimental to tender bulbs.

Planting and caring for fragrant gladiolus is not very difficult. At the beginning of spring, dug out bulbs are sorted out, discarding dried or rotten specimens. Moving to open ground can begin when the soil is fully warmed up. Help speed up the process polyethylene film, which covers a loosened flower bed. In warm regions, planting begins in April, in the middle lane it is better to move it to mid-May.

The bulbs are laid out in holes 12 cm deep, sprinkled on top with a layer of loose soil. The distance between flowers depends on the size of the tubers. The smaller they are, the closer you can plant plants. Large specimens should be placed at a distance of at least 20 cm from each other. Experienced gardeners it is recommended to pour a little coarse river sand into each hole, and then pour the flowerbed well with warm water. Gladiolus Muriel needs top dressing, the first fertilizer can be applied after 2 weeks.

Pre-germination of tubers will help speed up the growth of flowers. In early March, they are placed in a flowerpot filled with light loose soil, deepening by 3-4 cm. The container is placed in bright light and watered regularly. You can move grown plants to a flower bed in the first decade of May. Such planting and care guarantee good immunity of flowers: they will be strong, hardy, elegant. If desired, several stems can be left in flowerpots, they will decorate open veranda, balcony or loggia.

Subtleties of care

Gladiolus Muriel is unpretentious. It should be watered at least 2 times a week, it is preferable to use water warmed in the sun. Once a week, the plants are fed with a liquid complex fertilizer. You should not abuse nitrogen-containing mixtures, otherwise the buds may not form. In the intervals between watering, the earth is gently loosened, trying not to injure the delicate roots. Timely cutting off faded inflorescences will help stimulate the formation of new buds.

Fragrant gladioli do not like excess moisture, reacting with a deterioration in flowering. The same effect is caused by a sharp drop in temperature. In the cold summer, the acidantera does not look very attractive, the growth of the stems slows down. But in hot and sunny weather, plants will delight with abundant buds.

It is important to carefully weed the beds, weeds take away nutrients and inhibit the growth of fragrant gladioli. The health of flowers can be threatened by insect pests that need to be dealt with:

1. 1 Naked slugs are harvested by hand, it is possible to spray the soil with an aqueous solution of ammonia.
2. 2 Sprinkling with a special installation will help get rid of the spider mite.
3. 3 Aphids are destroyed by washing the stems with warm soapy water.
4. 4 V difficult cases use industrial insecticides, diluted in accordance with the instructions on the package.

Health and appearance flowers can be threatened by gray rot. Frequent loosening of the soil, the introduction of an additional portion of peat, moderate watering and timely weeding of plantings will help prevent attack.

Preparing for winter

Acidantera, landing which does not require special difficulties, should not winter in open ground. This is possible only in regions with a very warm climate, but even there the bulbs often suffer from unexpected frosts or rodent invasions. It is much safer to store planting material at home, in a dry basement or in the attic.

Prepare plants for moving immediately after flowering. Having cut off the last wilted buds, you need to stop watering and top dressing. Peduncles are removed, but long leaves are best left: they are necessary to feed the wintering bulbs. Travel time depends on climatic conditions, but it is advisable to dig up all plants before the onset of night frosts.

The tubers are cleaned from the earth and roots, most the stem is cut off, leaving a stump 2 cm long. After that, the children are carefully separated from the mother bulb, they will be useful for reproduction. Planting material is laid out on a newspaper to dry. The ideal temperature is 20-22 °C, the room should be dry and well ventilated. After a month, the bulbs need to be sorted out and cleaned again, removing the upper scales of the shell, the remains of the roots, and lumps of earth with your hands. You can’t cut anything: injured tubers can rot.

Each bulb is wrapped in a clean napkin, then the planting material is folded into paper bags with holes for ventilation. You need to store them in a dark, cool place, dampness is excluded. For successful wintering, it is recommended to maintain a temperature of about 15 ° C. Some growers recommend placing the dried bulbs in boxes of peat, vermicult, or perlite.

Even with ideal conditions storage, some of the tubers die and require renewal. Gardeners who plant flowers in large quantities annually purchase at least 20% of fresh planting material. Successfully overwintered bulbs in early spring are removed from the shelter 2 weeks before planting, before germination, they must warm up at room temperature.

Acidantera Muriel is an elegant and easy to care for plant. Fragrant two-colored buds will decorate any garden, in perfect harmony with decorative leafy shrubs and bright annuals. In order for the original gladiolus to please the eye for as long as possible, the bulbs are dug up in the fall, returning to the garden in late spring.

Recently, you can often see a charming plant on flower beds, which many will consider very familiar and similar to either daffodils or orchids. This is acidantera (Gladiolus Muriel, or fragrant) - its cultivation and care in the open field requires a decent amount of effort and patience.

Researchers have identified about forty species. The plant belongs to the iris family of the iris.

Muriel impresses with its elegance: a thin stem and graceful flowers resembling a star with a diameter of 10 cm. In our area, the two-color atsidantera is considered the most popular, blooming with white petals with a dark spot in the center (shown in the photo). Grown as an annual. Its height can reach 120 cm in its natural environment.

Her homeland is Ethiopia, but, despite this, she can adapt to the less suitable conditions that characterize the zones. temperate climate- its cultivation becomes an easy task.

Types of acidantera

Many of the species are not yet cultivated. In addition to the two-color, there are other varieties:

• Tropical- inflorescences of 5-6 flowers on both sides. The tone of her flower is white with a bright pink spot.
• short tubular- the tube on which the purple flowers are located is short. Uncultivated plant.
• White- color corresponds to the name, strong smell.
• Cape- red streaks on white.
• Fourcade- white-pink, not culture.
• Grass-leaved- white flowers with a purple tint, unknown in culture.
• Muriel- homeland - the Cape Peninsula. White color with purple streaks, in the pharynx - a green spot.
• few-flowered - small size, leaves are thin, 2 flowers. Red and white tone.
• broad-leaved- three flowers on one plant, white with a purple tint.
• Pink white- three flowers Pink colour with a white spot (photo).
• tubular- long tube and four flowers.

How to choose a site for landing acidantera

Before planting it, you need to dig up the place that you have chosen, while applying fertilizers: organic, mineral.

Planting material: how to prepare

There are two ways to propagate a plant, followed by planting in open ground:

1. Corms - before planting, you need to dig and sort, choosing only the strongest and most ripe: round, 3-7 cm in diameter, milk-colored, in a dried golden shell (as in the photo). When you are going to carry out the procedure, then in a couple of hours worry about soaking its bulb in a solution of potassium permanganate.
2. Seeds - not very popular with flower growers, because to find good stuff accidanters is not an easy task. Yes, and growing it from seeds is too long a task - it will bloom only two or three years after planting.

disembarkation

• The soil is loosened, breaking up clods, followed by a strong moistening.
• The distance between the bulbs should be at least 15-20 cm. The depth of its burying is 6-8 cm for medium ones, 10 cm for large ones.
• At the landing site, you need to add peat or manure, which has rotted. It is necessary to reduce water evaporation, to prevent the rapid germination of weeds.
• If you want to speed up the process, cover the bed with a film, creating the effect of a greenhouse. When greenery begins to appear, remove the shelter.

Muriel blooms in mid-July - September. But, the plant loves light and heat, so a long absence of one of the factors can cause a delay or lack of flowers.

This can be avoided by growing it at home. The beginning of spring - 3-4 bulbs are placed in a flowerpot 12-15 cm in diameter. Contain in a warm and bright place, following the rules of watering. After that, digging and transfer to the ground takes place - the end of May - then the flower will grow healthy, the flowering period will increase.

Atsidantera - landing and care - though not a difficult matter, but requiring a sufficient amount of time and attention.

Care: features

Several simple rules, then your plant will look healthy and beautiful:

Preparing for winter

In late autumn or winter, when frost sets in, the bulbs should be dug up for storage. In winter, only large specimens can survive in the open ground - under a covering of dry leaves, but the possibility that they will deteriorate is high.

Small and medium-sized acidantera bulbs are removed from the roots, left for storage - 3-4 weeks in a dry, warm, well-ventilated place. Optimal temperature regime: +10° C - +15° C. The cold will cause the Muriel to not bloom in the future, the high temperature threatens to dry out. Proper Care able to keep the bulb for 5 years.

Atsidantera has received recognition from both experienced flower growers and beginners in this business. With rather uncomplicated and undemanding care, it will gratefully bloom with stunning beauty that will delight the eye of anyone who only turns their attention to the grace and elegance of this specimen of hot flora.

And the cydanthera, or gladiolus Muriel (Gladiolus murielae), was not accidentally ranked as a member of the genus Gladiolus (Gladiolus). The rules for growing acidantera and gladiolus are largely similar, which means they are familiar to many and not burdensome. (You are reading the continuation of the article about Acidantera, or Gladiolus Muriel. See the beginning of the article)

Growing acidantera.

In the acidanter garden, it is better to take a sunny place, in extreme cases, light partial shade. In the shade, flowering of acidantera is weak, sometimes completely absent. Although the acidantera peduncle is strong and rarely needs to be tied up, it is better to plant it in places protected from the wind. It is not demanding on acidanter soils. In addition to heavy clay soils it can grow on almost any, including shallow soils. Therefore, acidantera is well suited for planting in containers, and can be grown as indoor plant. Acidantera grows well in moist, well-drained soils. Upper layer soil, where rastotatsidantera grows, should never dry out. But pouring an acidanter is just as harmful as not adding, and here one must observe the measure. Water stagnation in the soil is especially dangerous for acidander, because of this its corm can rot. Best flowering acidanters in the garden can be obtained by growing on light, fertile, slightly acidic drained soil. Therefore, before planting, the soil is dug up and well seasoned with organic and mineral fertilizers. Acidanters are planted in open ground corms after the threat of frost. However, when planting this heat-loving plant in late May - early June, it is not always possible to achieve full flowering. In a cold and rainy summer, an acidantera may not bloom at all.

Growing acidantera.

Often the acidanter is planted in the ground in a grown state. In this case, she manages to bloom luxuriantly and for a long time during August and early September, and the corms have time to store enough nutrients for flowering next year. In March, acidantera corms are taken out of storage and placed in the light at room temperature so that they start growing and give an arrow. After that, the corms are planted in pots with earth and grown until April on the windowsill. In mid-April, pots with acidantera can be transferred to a loggia or a greenhouse, and in May they can be planted in warm soil or in containers along with a clod of earth from the container so as not to disturb the roots.

Acidantera. Landing and care.

The acidantera is planted in the ground to a depth of 8 cm, depending on the size of the corm, leaving a distance of 12 cm between plants. The acidantera loves moisture, so in summer, especially in hot weather, it needs watering. From the moment of flowering, watering is somewhat reduced. Once every 10-14 days, the acidanter is fed with instant complex fertilizers, combining top dressing with watering. To prevent evaporation of moisture, the soil where acidantera grows is mulched in the usual ways: peat, humus, mowed grass, etc. Mulching also helps prevent weeds. During the growing season, diseases are monitored (rust, powdery mildew, root rot, wilting, mosaic) and pests (thrips, aphids, spider mite, slugs), which can affect plants. In the event of these problems and for their prevention, drugs from the store are used. After flowering, the flower stalks are cut off so that the acidantera corm can ripen. Indeed, in the case of ripening of the seeds of the acidanter, it will not store nutrients in the underground organ, and the seeds will give flowering plants only a few years later. To prolong the growing season of the acidantera and protect it from spring or autumn frosts, during these periods, the acidantera is covered with lutrasil (or other material) or the containers are transferred to a warm place.

Storage of acidantera corms.

In autumn, acidanters corms are dug up for storage, usually at the end of September. The plant is cut upper leaves, leaving the lower ones, and dry for 2-4 weeks in the shade in a ventilated room at a temperature of + 18-20 ° C, for example, in the attic. Before drying, corms are recommended to be kept in any fungicide for plants according to the instructions. When the corms dry, the dried ground part of the acidantera can be easily removed by unscrewing. At the dried corms, the roots are cut off and placed in storage. Store acidantera corms, like gladioli, in a dry, ventilated room at a temperature of + 10-15 ° C, wrapped in thin paper such as a newspaper. You can put corms in a box with peat, perlite, vermiculite. When corms are stored at lower temperatures, their flowering is delayed or absent altogether. It is not always possible to save corms. Often they do not have time to accumulate nutrients during the growing season and become unviable. Therefore, lovers of these plants annually buy new acidantera corms.

Reproduction of acidantera.

Acidantera can be propagated by corms, babies and seeds. seed propagation rarely used in amateur floriculture, since after it you have to wait a long time for acidantera to bloom. More often, the acidanter is propagated by children, of which a lot is formed on the corm. They are planted on breeding beds and carefully looked after: watered, fed, loosened the soil, weeded, dug up for winter storage. Only after 2-3 years such corms reach a size capable of forming flowers. With good care, acidantera corms can live up to 5 years or more.

Once you get to know Acidantera, or Muriel's Gladiolus, you shouldn't have any trouble growing these flowers. Therefore, we wish you to fully enjoy the grace and armata of acidantera, wherever you grow it, in the garden or on the loggia. Good luck to you!

In the photo: Acidantera (Acidanthera). She is also Gladiolus Muriel (Gladiolus murielae), Acidanthera bicolor (Acidanthera bicolor), Acidanthera Muriel (Acidanthera murielae), gladiolus beautiful-flowered (or gladiolus callanthus) (Gladiolus callianthus), Muriel's skewer (Gladiolus murielae) and just fragrant gladiolus.

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